Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

CHOWNING'S TAVERN
Block 19, Lot 43

The first owner of the lot on which the house, now called Chowning's Tavern stood, was William Shields. Whether or not Shields bought the lot from the trustees of the city, or from an earlier purchaser cannot be said. But in October, 1739, he sold it to John Blair, whose adjoining gardens on the west are often mentioned in deeds to this lot. Thomas Hornsby, tailor, bought the lot from Blair, and on May 20, 1745, sold it to James Bird, blacksmith. All the above facts are found in the deed to Hornsby to Bird as follows:

Consideration: 95 Pounds ^{current money}

All that one lot of ground in the said city adjoining to the garden of John Blair, Esq., on the East side thereof, being the Easternmost one of the two lots which the said Blair purchased of William Shields, October, 1739 & by said Hornsby purchased of the said Blair.
With all houses, outhouses… (York County Records - Deeds - Book V, p. 126)

Before Bird had paid for the lot, he with the consent of his wife, Elizabeth, used it as security to his attorneys, John Fitzgerald of King William County and William Nugent, tailor, of James City. These were in his name to receive money from the colony for him and to pay Thomas Hornsby. These facts are drawn from the following source:

November 17, 1746

Consideration: 5 shillings (Secures 95£ to Thomas Hornsby)

All that lot or half acre of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg aforesaid adjoining the garden of John Blair Esq. which he the said James Bird lately purchased of the said Thomas Hornsby together with all houses buildings, yards, gardens, and he the said James Bird hath constituted the said John Fitzgerald and William Nugent and each of them, his attorneys for him and in his name to ask and receive from the Treasurer of this Colony all sum or sums of money due him for his salary for cleaning and taking care of the Public Arms, and to apply the said moneys towards payment and satisfaction of the said sum of £95… (Ibid., Deeds, Book V, p. 184)

2

In 1754, Bird and his wife mortgaged their lot and blacksmith shop to Patrick Mathews, butcher for £150. The mortgage reads:

October 1, 1754

All that lot or half acre of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburgh adjoining the garden of John Blair Esq. which lot the said James Bird purchased of Thomas Hornsby.

The Schedule to which this Indenture refers A Smith Shop and the ground whereon it stands in the Market Place in the said City of Williamsburgh leased by the said James Bird from the Trustees of the said city for a term of years not yet expired.

(Ibid. - Deeds - Book VI, p. 8)

Two years later the suit was tried and a decision rendered in which Bird lost. His personal property then passed to Mathews as the following document indicates:

March 15, 1756

Mathews, Patrick - Plaintiff
v.
Bird, James -
Elizabeth, his wife - Defendants

All that lot or half acre of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburgh aforesaid adjoining to the garden of John Blair, which lot the said James Bird purchased of Thomas Hornsby with all houses, buildings, yards, gardens.
Consideration: 150 Pounds secured to be paid to Patrick Mathews, never paid, Mathews seeks to eject and recover the lot or half acre of land, and a smith shop and ground whereon it stands in the Market Place in said city, leased by said Bird for a term of years.

Court orders attachment of property.

(Ibid. - Land Causes - p. 86) [See page 9 for the mortgage.]

Three years later Bird still had not paid off the mortgage, for it was necessary for him to sign the deed with Matthews. (sp. Mathews in the deed). The lot and houses were sold to a merchant, Graham Frank, for 126 pounds. The deed reads: 3

March 2, 1757

All that lot of half acre of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg aforesaid, adjoining to the garden of John Blair, Esq., which lot the said James Bird purchased of Thomas Hornsby and was by the said James Bird among other things mortgaged in fee simple unto the said Patrick Mathews by indenture bearing date the 1st day of October, 1754…
Consideration: 125 pounds (York County Records - Deeds - Book VI, p. 108)

On January 1, 1760, Graham sold ^{or leased} the lot to the well-known merchant, James Tarpley, who had already been established on the corner of Palace Green and then on the south side of the Duke of Gloucester Street at lot #20. (See report on Tarpley's Store) The deed ran as follows:

Frank, Graham - Merchant
to
Tarpley, James - Merchant

January 1, 1760

Consideration: 200 Pounds

All that lot or half acre of land situate, lying and being in the City of Williamsburg aforesaid adjoining the Garden of the Honourable John Blair, Esq., which lot was purchased by the said Graham Frank of Patrick Matthews and Ann, his wife, and James Bird, and Elizabeth, his wife, by their indenture of bargain and sale bearing date March 2, 1757… And all houses, outhouses…

(Ibid. - Deeds - Book VI, p. 230)

Tarpley evidently intended to use this lot for leasing purposes, as he leased it to Rebecca Bird, spinster, within 22 days:

January 22, 1760

Consideration: 5 Shillings

Grant and to farm let unto the said Rebecca Bird all that messuage, tenement and lot or half acre of land situate, lying and being in the said City of Williamsburg, adjoining the garden on the Honorable John Blair, Esq., purchased by the said James Tarpley of Graham Frank by indenture of Bargain and Sale bearing date the day next before the day of the date hereof and recorded in the County Court of York. And all houses, outhouses… (Ibid. - Deeds - Book VI, p. 232)

4 Two years later, Tarpley sold ^{or leased} the lot to Daniel Hoye, city wheelwright, for £300. The deed read:

March 12, 1762

All that lot or half acre of land situate, lying and being in the said City of Williamsburg adjoining the lot of the Hon. John Blair, Esq., which the said James Tarpley purchased of Graham Frank, merchant, by indenture of Bargain and sale bearing date January 21, 1760…
And all houses, outhouses, yards… (Ibid., pp. 406-407)

Daniel Hoye kept an apprentice as his advertisement for a runaway one proves:

May 30, 1766

RAN away from the Subscriber in Williamsburg, on the 29th of this Instant, JAMES STUART, an Apprentice, by Trade a Wheel Wright, 19 Years of Age, 5 Feet 7 Inches high, and not very sturdy, of a fair Complexion, with a thin, long Face, and Black Eyes: he has a very roguish look, slow of Speech, and very surly. He wears a brown Wig. What other Things he may have on can't be described.

…
Whoever apprehends him, and secure him so that his master may get him again, shall have TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward, besides what the Law allows.
DANIEL HOYE

(Virginia Gazette, Rind)

The property passed into the hand of John Leggitts [?] who had purchased it of Daniel Hoye. (York County Records - Deeds - Book VIII, p. 97, February, 1771) The deed for this purchase was evidently registered in some other court, as it is not found in the York County Records. In 1766, Josiah Chowning announced that he intended to keep a tavern there:

October 10, 1766

I HEREBY acquaint the publick that I have opened tavern at the house where I f[or]merly lived, and lately possessed by Mr. John [L]eggits; wh[ere] all who please to favour me with their custom may depend u[pon] the best of entertainment for themselves, servants, and hor[ses] and good pasturage.
JOSIAH CHOWNING

(Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon)

Heretofore the house and lot had belonged by purchase and lease to a blacksmith, a butcher, a merchant, spinster, merchant, wheelwright, and was 5 now, according to the records opened as a tavern by Chowning who had already been living there. It seems never to have been a very important tavern, as it appears so infrequently in the records.

While in the ownership of Leggitts, it seems to have been occupied by another tavern-keeper who announced his desire for customers in the following notice:

April 7, 1768

William Elliot, Hereby acquaints the publick that he has opened Tavern in the house formerly occupied by Mr. Chowning: where all Gentlemen who shall please to favour him with their custom may depend upon good accommodation for themselves, servants, and horses, and the best entertainment.

(Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon)

Joseph Leggitts (relationship unknown) administrator of John Leggitts' estate, deeded the lot to John Tyler in February, 1771, for 137 pounds.^{Oct. 1770 house & lot} The deed is as follows:

House and lot of ground situate, lying and being in the City of Williamsburg, adjoining the lots of the Hon. John Blair, which the said John Leggitts purchased of Daniel Hoye. (York County Records - Deeds - Book VIII, p. 97)

As Marshal of the Vice-Admiralty Court, Tyler had to see that the orders of that body were carried out. Examples of his duties are found in sale notices in the Virginia Gazette (William Rind):

July 14, 1768

To be SOLD at public Auction, for ready money only, at the water side in YORK ____ [obliterated] by John Tyler, Marshall of the Court of Admiralty, on Tuesday, the 19th of this instant July, for the benefit of the insurers.
THE rigging, sails, anchors, cables, and other materials, belonging to the ship CHARLES of London, lately wrecked on the Eastern Shore; also great part of her Cargo, consisting of woollens, linens, iron ware, &c. of all sorts, saved out of the said wreck. All persons concerned in the remainder of the cargo so save, and not insured, are desired to attend them, to adjust and pay their proportions of the salvage of the 6 said goods, and to take their goods; otherwise such goods will be sold according to law. The above ship, stores, and goods, will be appraised on Tuesday the 12th instant.
WILLIAM WATERMAN. (Virginia Gazette, Rind)

October 5, 1769

To be SOLD, pursuant to a decree of the Court of Vice-Admiralty, at MARTIN'S BRANDON, on Tuesday the 17th instant,
THE Ship RAE GALLERY, and brigantine LILLY, as they now lie at their moorings, for ready money.
JOHN TYLER, MARSHAL. (Ibid.)

John Tyler, the elder, was perhaps the most important figure that lived in Chowning's tavern. His place in the town is attested by the obituary that appeared in the Virginia Gazette, William Rind, September 2, 1773:

September 2, 1773

Last Thursday morning Mr. JOHN TYLER departed this life, aged fifty five years. He was educated at the College of William and Mary, and after that was chosen a Magistrate for James City County, also a vestryman in the parish of James City, in which offices he accted upwards of thirty years, and never was impeached for partiality in any of his judicial decisions. He was also preferred to the office of marshal to the court of admiralty, and acted with such accuracy as always to give the highest satisfaction to every person with whom he had occasion to be concerned. In his private life he may truly be said to have acted a Christian's part; for, notwithstanding the many great losses he too frequently sustained in his estate, he never was backward in bestowing his mite wherever he could find an object fit so noble a purpose. His children must be sensible to the loss of a Kind parent, his servants and indulgent master, and his acquaintance a sincere friend.

In his will dated July 24, 1773, and probated in York County Court on September 20th of the same year, Tyler ordered his executors to sell his houses and lot in the city of Williamsburg to the best advantage. (York County Records -Wills, Inventories - Book XXII, p.188)

7

Soon after his father's death, John Tyler named as the executor in the will inserted this announcement in the Virginia Gazette, Clementina Rind:

November 4, 1773

TO BE SOLD
The houses and lots in this city, belonging to my father's estate. For terms apply to
John Tyler

Again in December he advertised:

December 16, 1773

ON Monday the 29th of this month will be sold all the personal estate of the late Mr. John Tyler; also the houses and lots, and a young cook wench with two children. Six months credit for all sums above forty shillings for the personal estate, and twelve months for the houses, &c. Bond and security will be required by
JOHN TYLER, Executor (Virginia Gazette, Clementina Rind)

The property went to Thomas Cole on April 9, 1774. For the first time in a record, the lot is numbered as will appear from the wording of the abstracted deed:

Consideration: 152 Pounds

ALL that lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg, County of York, adjoining the lots of John Blair, Esq., and denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 147, being the lot formerly purchased by the said John Tyler, dec'd of Joseph Jeggitts [Leggitts?].
All houses, buildings… (York County Records - Deeds - Book VIII, p. 424)

8

It is impossible to say whether the information that follows applies to lot 147, but it appears that the legal title to the property belonged to Graham Frank, evidently a loyalist, or so-considered. If this is true, all deeds since the one granting the property to Frank are leases.

On September 30, 1779, Graham Frank's property escheated to the Commonwealth and was described as

A house in the city of Williamsburg adjoining the Market Square on the North side of the Main Street, now in the possession of Bartlett Williams, Esq., being only one half of the said house and lot belonging to Graham Frank; the other half belonging to Mr. Haldenby Dixon. (York County Records - Deeds - Book VI, p. 66)

The phrase "adjoining the Market Square" should not necessarily be taken literally. Descriptions in documents of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries frequently give the general rather than the definite location.

An announcement in the Virginia Gazette (Dixon and Nicolson) of a sale by the Escheator of York County lists among the property to be sold before the Raleigh on January 6, 1780:

… half of a very convenient store and part of a lot where Bartlett Williams Esq. now lives opposite the house of Mr. Maupin, near the Market in this city; lately the property of Graham Frank. Likewise 11 negroes, consisting of women boys and girls, all young and likely, late the property of Andrew Sprowl, John Earnshaw and Graham Frank.
William A. Rogers
John Dickeson
Commissioners

N.B. The other half of the above mentioned store will be sold at the same time and the same place.

The location of Haldenby Dixon's store in 1769 was given in an act of the Assembly passed for the purpose of annexing part of York County to James City County. The part of the act affecting this property reads:

So much of the said Market-square as lies on the north 9 side of said street, [Duke of Gloucester], as far as Nicholson Street, and between the line of Hugh Walker's lot, on the west, and the paling where Haldenby Dixon's store stands, on the east, be, and the same is hereby added to and made part of the said county of James City.

(Hening Statutes, Vol. VIII, p. 420)

The exact location of this lot 147 and its houses on the northern side of the Duke of Gloucester Street near the Market Square is difficult to establish in view of the failure of William Shields to record his grant from the trustees in York County.

It is possible that the tavern may have been run by James Bird. For conjectural purposes the following announcement is included:

July 26, 1780

The money which was stolen from Colonel Boon and Mr. Grymes, at Bird's tavern in James City, is now discovered and the particulars of the robbery may be known by applying to Mr. John Rowsay in Williamsburg. (Virginia Gazette, Dixon and Nicholson)

(Mortgage from page 2)

Mortgage from Bird to Mathews.
Bird, James, - Blacksmith
Elizabeth, his wife
to
Mathews, Patrick, - Butcher
October 1, 1754
Consideration: 150 Pounds.

All that lot or half acre of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburgh, adjoining to the garden of John Blair, which lot the said James Bird purchased of Thomas Hornsby with all houses, buildings.

All goods and chattals in schedule annexed. Schedule referred to:

A smith shop and the ground whereon it stands in the market place in the city of Williamsburgh, leased by the said James Bird from the trustees of the said city for a term of years not yet expired. 4 feather beds, besteds and furniture, 7 wainscot English oak chairs, 2 large walnut tables, 1 large oak table, 1 small oak table, 4 pinetables, 10 3 looking glasses - 1 large, 2 small, 1 chest of drawers - walnut, 1 desk - walnut, 4 Russia leather chairs, 8 large silver spoons, 6 tea spoons, 2 cows, 3 mares.

(Land Causes, pp. 92-94)