Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

CONTENTS

	Page
Table of illustrations
Preface	1
Survey of archaeological artifacts recovered during the excavations of 1938	2 - 35
Introduction	2
Part I
Area 21A1	3 - 4
Area 21A2	5 - 9
Area 21A3	10 - 17
Area 21-A4	18 - 20
Area 21A5	21 - 28
Area 21A6	29
Part II
Excavation of the South Well and Dairy foundation, May - June, 1958. Summary	30 - 34
Survey of artifacts from the South Well	35 - 56
Ceramics	37 - 41
Glass	41 - 50
Small Finds	50
Stone	54
Wood	53, 55 - 56

TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Frontispiece - Wythe House South Well in course of excavation
Archaeological plan of site 21A	following p. 2
PLATE I Glass from vicinity of South Outbuilding	3
II Small finds of brass and copper	4
III Iron items from vicinity of North Kitchen	7
IV Examples of Creamware, Chinese porcelain, saltglaze, Delft and slipwares	11
V Objects of iron, copper, pewter and bone	15
VI Lug-handled stone mortar	16
VII Wig-curlers, marbles and counterfeit halfpenny of George III	17
VIII Examples of polychrome and monochrome decorated Chinese porcelain	18
IX Examples of coarse wares and brown stoneware	20
X German stonewares and English Delft	21
XI English saltglaze, scratch-blue and creamware	23
XII Glass beverage bottles of the period c.1740-60	27
XIII Iron shears, pewter spoon and iron equestrian items	28
XIV Diagrammatic section through South Well	31
XV White earthenware chamber-pots	37
XVI Chinese export, ironstone and other ceramics	38
XVII Native, white earthenwares and American stonewares	39
XVIII Coarse wares, Chinese Export and white earthenwares	40
XIX Pharmaceutical glass	41
XX Ceramic ointment pots and miscellaneous glass	44
XXI Chemical and table glass	45
XXII Snuff, blacking or pharmaceutical bottles	47
PLATE XXIIIGlass beverage and storage bottles	following p. 48
XXIV Bottles various & glass and ceramic tablewares	49
XXV Glass beverage and chemical bottles
XXVI Small finds of bone, pipe-clay, brass and iron	51
XXVII Objects of iron from the well's lower levels	52
XXVIII Base of wooden paint tub and inscribed wooden fragment	53
XXIX Items of brick and worked stone
XXX Fragment of inscribed gravestone	54
XXXI Shaped timbers, possibly from the well-head	55
XXXII Measured drawings of well timbers	56

INTRODUCTION

These notes deal almost entirely with artifacts in the Laboratory collection and are intended to serve as a supplement to the archaeological report dated August 31, 1939. Details of the excavations relating only to structural features are covered in the earlier report and are here omitted unless they have some bearing on the artifacts. When making use of this survey it should be remembered that all the items are unstratified and consequently can neither date the structures with which they may be associated nor by virtue of their archaeological provenance provide dating for each other. Consequently the given dates are based, not on their archaeological context, but on parallels from elsewhere, dated collectors' items, or more frequently by unsupported opinions. Many items which are clearly of post 18th century date have been omitted as also have pieces too fragmentary to be safely identified or to be of significance to the curator and architects.

It will be noticed that the described pieces were recovered from areas now the garden and outbuilding sites and not from the Wythe House itself. Some of the "finds" appear to have been recovered from cellars or pits which may have been used as disposal areas for refuse. Such pits contain rubbish from various parts of the property and consequently the artifacts do not necessarily bear any relationship to each other beyond the fact that they were thrown into the same feature.

1st November. 1957

I. N. H.

3.

PART I
AREA 21A1

This heading covers three features, an outbuilding tentatively described as an early kitchen and with less certainty an office, a dairy mentioned in an insurance plat of 1815, and a well which was excavated to a depth of 9 ft. in 1938 and yielded up nothing that was considered datable. This well was 4' in diameter, seemingly unlined and undated, but was used in evidence in the identification of the supposed kitchen and dairy.¹

There is no differentiation between artifacts from any of these three features. It can, therefore only be said that the finds cover a period stretching from c.1730 to well into the 19th century.

Ceramics

• 1.Frags. 2 chamber-pots, one Delft, one creamware. Colonial.
• 2.Frags. 1 dish and two Delft plates. 1st and 2nd ¼ 18th century.
• 3.Frag. brown stoneware indeterminate shape. Colonial.
• 4.Part of slipware plate, red ware, straight and wavy rings in yellow and brown over brown background, lead glazed red ware. New England. e. 19th century.
• 5.Porcelain largely 19th century. Also part of a large dish with floral pattern on wall and center, footring, rim and basal edge pale brown; part of small bowl with floral pattern on ext., brown rim hatched pattern on int. of lip. Both 2nd ½ 18th century.

Plate I. Glass from Vicinity of South Outbuilding

Glass

• 6.Two wine glass stems, these being the best pieces of glass from the entire site (a) a drinking-glass with solid-based bowl, solid stem supporting heavy, annulated knop, this roughly tooled up to the bowl base, a small ball knop at base of stem. Pl. I. No. 5. 2nd ¼ 18th century. (b) Opaque lace-twist stem with single outlining thread. c. 1750-80. Pl. I. No. 4.

It might be construed that the Delft and drinking glass (a) come from an earlier deposit than the rest of the material from this group. But there is no indication of any such division in the archaeological records of the area.

• 7.Rim fragments of green glass bell jar. Colonial. Pl. 1. Nos. 1-2.
• 8.Wine bottle fragments (not plentiful) c. 1750 - 1780.
• 9.Neck of large beverage bottle, probably gallon cap. c. 1740. Pl. I. No. 3.

Small Finds

• 10.Circular, brass, strap retaining loop, back missing, Catherine wheel decoration, diameter 1-¼". 18th century. Pl. II. No. 8.
• 11.Bridle boss from bit terminal, plain brass, width: 1-3/8". 18th century, Pl. II. No. 9.

Hardware

• 12.Part of iron grill, possibly drain grating, width: 7-½". Date?

Plate II. Small Finds of Brass and Copper

5.

AREA 21A2

This heading covers the area of the present kitchen, the chimney of which stood in a ruined state at the time of restoration. There is some evidence (see archaeological report dated 1939) suggesting that this kitchen dated prior to 1776.

Finds from this area range in date from c.1720 to the nineteenth century.

Ceramics

• 1.Fragment of Delft plate, foliate pattern in line and wash. C.1720.
• 2.Rim of small drug jar, cobalt banded decoration on shoulder, 1st 3rd eighteenth century.
• 3.Fragments 2 chamber pots of typical Westerwald type, and neck sherd with unusual decoration, bands of incised grooves flanked by broad single grooves cobalt filled, incised body decoration with cobalt filling, pattern uncertain. 2nd ¼ eighteenth century.
• 4.A number of brown stoneware fragments including pieces from two folded-rimmed, medium-sized storage jars (c.1730 onwards), also other eighteenth century pieces of indeterminate shape, and some nineteenth century fragments with internal Albany slip.
• 5.A few fragments of Green and Blue-edged wares, bias 10 to 2 in favor of the latter. Plates and serving-dishes, mostly late.
• 6.Creamware plate, no decoration, raised base but without footring, diameter 9-½". End of eighteenth century. Also fragment of late serving-dish.
• 6.
• 7.Few fragments English salt glaze; one sherd basket and hatched rimmed plate; ointment pot, and fragment cobalt decorated chamber-pot in Westerwald style. c. 1740 - 1760.
• 8.Coarse wares, mostly nineteenth century. Part of wide mouthed storage vessel, brown lead glaze (i.e. glaze over pink body), rim thickened and slightly everted, undercut beneath, ornamental groove 1" below rim. A shape which changes little from the late seventeenth century to the e. nineteenth century. Colonial.
• 9.Porcelain, largely nineteenth century. Fragment plate, base raised but no footring; base of small cup with black overglaze decoration; Ginger Jar sherds of uncertain date.
• 10.Ironstone plate marked "Mason's Patent Ironstone China. Imported by T. T. Kissam, 145 Maiden Lane New York." Date range 1813-1851.

Glass

• 11. Solid and heavy baluster from glass of uncertain type. e. eighteenth century.
• 12.Base of small tumbler, diameter 1-5/16", rough pontil mark at base. Colonial.
• 13.Elaborate decanter stopper, ground 1-¼", 2" collar above, tubular top, surviving ht: 1-7/8" and spreading, cap missing. Late eighteenth century.
• 14.Bowl and stem fragment, from a late Georgian wine glass, bucket bowl, tooling at junction of stem and bowl, angular knop at mid stem.

Small Finds

• 1.Part of wooden bat with flat blade and shaped handle. Length: 7. 9-¼", surviving. Blade width 2-3/8". Worm eaten, probably not found in the soil. Date?
• 2.Table knife, blade largely missing, handle bone plated, decorated with spine of fine hatching, with coarse hatching at either side, two iron rivets, short solid shank. Handle length: 3". 2nd half of 18th century.
• 3.Half pair of iron scissors, vertical loop, surviving length approximately 5-½" 18th century.
• 4.Pair of narrow-blade scissors, finger loops centrally set with decorative cordoning beneath, one loop broken. Length: 6-½". 18th century. Pl. III. No. 7.
• 5.Fragment of currycomb with crudely tapering handle looped on itself for hanging (?) Length of handle (total) 4-¼". 18th century. Pl. III. No. 5.
• 6.Fragment from cheekpiece of bit with brass rivet and remains of brass decorative boss (?) Length of fragment: 1-½". Pl. III. No. 8.
• 7.Iron hasp possibly from a gate or heavy chest, angled at the top to follow line of the post or lid, rolled grip below the eye. Total length: 7-½". Probably 18th century. Pl. III. No. 6.
• 8.Heavy gate hanger, straight-sided shank, but round sectioned pivot. Length 6-¾". Possibly 18th century. Pl. III. No. 4.
• 9.Round-sectioned iron rod with an angular hook at one end and a slot for a retaining bar or peg at the other. Possibly from the axle of a waggon. Length: 10-½". Date? Pl. III. No. 3.
• 10.Large iron pod auger, rectangular sectioned, shaft tapering and shaped to fit jaw of brace. Possibly 18th century. Length: 13". III. No. 2. Plate III. Iron Items from Vicinity of North Kitchen.
• 8.
• 11.Massive iron strap hinge bent back on itself at tapering end after use. 5 screw-holes on strap with a single nail hole on the remains of the decorative terminal. The jamb section possesses 5 screw or nail holes (the edges not recessed) and measures 7-5/8" in height. Surviving length of strap 23-½". Probably 18th century. Pl. III. No. 1.
• 12.Two buttons, one plain brass, brass shank, diameter ¾", marked DOUBLE GILT, probably late 18th century; the other a sporting button with greyhound and vine border on brass shell, brass back inscribed TREBLE STANDARD.........RICH Diameter 1-¼". Early 19th century.
• 13.Pewter spoons comprising handle of late Georgian example with remains of mark reading "Best Britannia Metal" surviving length 5-1/8"; another with spatula-shaped terminal with a raised spine both back and front concealing an iron core, and marked BRIT^A W, bowl missing, surviving length 3-1/2", early 19th century; the bowl of a large teaspoon 2" in length, e. 19th century; the handle of a tablespoon with moulded foliate decoration on both faces and mark "L.B." on one of them, lower end of handle melted and revealing iron wire core, bowl missing, surviving length 5", 19th century.
• 14.Iron pintle for supporting crane. This object is without a number, but it can reasonably be assumed that this is the item sketched on the archaeological drawing for Area 21-A, dated April 9, 1938, and which was found in situ in the west wall of the south fireplace. The tapering square-section bar, passed through the thickness of the fireplace, had a vertical pivotal bearing on the internal end and two retaining lugs or wings at the other. Length: 19-¾". The mortar still attached to one of the 9. lugs is of sandy character and of uncertain date. Mention is made in the archaeological report (1939) of "fireplace hardware in the south fireplace of the kitchen chimney," indicating that more than one item was recovered. An elevation shown on the archaeological drawing indicates the presence of a hook and of another pintle extending through the north wall of the south fireplace for use in the northern fireplace. Neither of these items are mentioned in the report of 1939 and there is no evidence that they ever came into the archaeological collection from the Wythe House property.
• 15.Two toy marbles, one white clay Pl. VII. 19, the other of ivory with a small hole at one side Pl. VII. 20. The latter could perhaps have been a knob from a lid and not a marble as here stated.

10.

AREA 2lA3

This heading embraces two separate features and is consequently misleading in that it cannot offer any association of date or purpose among the artifacts recovered.

The premier feature is described in the archaeological report as follows:

"A filled-in pit was dug out to a depth near 4 feet (sic). Its length (east to west) was about 12 feet, its width about 8. There were no evidences of paving or lining. Short sections of filled trenches at grade level to south and west may mark the location of foundation walls, or may indicate nothing more than old trenches of unknown purpose.

Brick steps were found leading into the pit from the northwest. This entrance way had been bricked across near the bottom by an 8-½" brick wall.

This pit may have been used as a storage cellar under an outhouse of unknown function. Brick: Size varies. Well brick in steps. Mortar: Shell."

The description of the secondary feature reads as follows:

"A fill in the same area was excavated to show a trench about 10 feet square on the outside, and nearly two feet wide and deep. Meat bones, glass brickbats, and mortar were taken out, but there was no continuous brickwork. It is possible that this trench contained a foundation which was later salvaged, or that it was dug for a building which was never erected."

The date range on the artifacts from the combined features may be set at c.1720 to late nineteenth century.

Ceramics:

• 1.Delft, fragment late cylindrical drug pot with thick everted rim, white chamber pot sherd, pieces of plain bowl with foot 11. ring and everted rim in close stool style height 3-¼", c. 1730-60.
• 2.Fragment Delft bowl with cockled edge, stylized leaf pattern in blue on interior, double blue lines at junction of rim and wall, with festoons of blue along rim. Alternate (?) festoons overglazed in green with quadruple bars of red between each. Overglase green on some leaves on body. Lambeth? c.1720.
• 3.Slipware; Fragment of bulbous posset cup, Staffordshire combed ware. c.1730, base of red ware bowl, yellow inside (glaze over white slip) rich brown ext., - similar to examples from the Public Gaol, base diameter 2-7/8", late 18th century, e. 19th century? Base of small cup of buff ware, white slip coating with stripes of red over it, glaze turning red deep brown and white grey. Burnt after firing? Base diameter: 1-5/8".
• 4.Blue and Green edged wares; bias towards green, fragments 9 plates, dishes, and serving plates to 2 blue-edged plates. All good quality sherds green.
• 5.Scratch-blue; rim fragment of chamber pot in Westerwald style; body sherd from small tankard- 3rd ¼ 18th century. Pl. IV. No.
• 6.Creamware, plates in decadent "Queen's" shape, i.e. petal edge without moulded divisions extending from rim., tankards and mugs 4" diameter to approximately 2-7/8"; also cups, and bowls with angular footrings and with plain and rolled rims. A teapot spout with acanthus leaf decoration at base Pl. IV. No. 2; and a tureen lid handle, concave, constricted below a bead ornamented rim. Other sherds came from plain pitchers both large and small. The "Queen's" style plates, though varying in quality, may have formed part of a set. Diameters range approximately 8" to 9-¼". The majority of this creamware is late in its period. Plate IV. Examples of Creamware, Chinese Porcelain, Saltglaze, Delft and Slipware.
• 12.
• 7.Late creamware bowl with flattened rim and angular foot, height 4-1/8" foot, diameter: 5-1/16", mouth diameter 10-¾", c.1780-90.
• 8.Two underglaze transfer-printed creamware fragments from a single pitcher bearing the legend AGRICU[LTURE] C[OMMERCE AND] FRE[EDOM] of the SEAS, the medallion surrounded by scenes depicting the topics mentioned. Leeds or Liverpool c.1790-1810, Pl. IV. No. 1.
• 9.Coarse wares; probably all nineteenth century. Fragments red ware small bowls and chamber pot, black glazed, possibly western Virginia, e. nineteenth century. Part of red ware bowl, rich brown glaze flecked with manganese, rim folded and slightly everted, e. 19th century.
• 10.Red ware pipkin, brown glazed, foot roughly pressed out, probably to create three standing points, rim folded and drawn out into lip. 3-½" handle luted to and springing from rim opposite lip. Diameter approximately 5-½". The type appears in England in the latter part of the 15th century and continues without interruption into the 1st ½ 19th century. Pl. IX. No. 3.
• 11.Porcelain; largely 19th century, fragments of plate with blue floral pattern in center and on rim, hatched band at edge, base raised but no footring, pale brown on base and rim edges. Diameter: 9-¼". 2nd ½ 18th century, Pl. IV- No. 3. Small bowl with floral motif in red and blue, base diameter: 1-5/8". 3rd ¼ 18th century? Bowl with angular footring, individual floral- sprigs on exterior wall, no edge decoration on exterior, but line on interior below rim, barley type 13. festoons below terminating in occasional floral groups. Base diameter: 2-¾". Late 18th century, Pl. IV. No. 5. Straightwalled saucer, base raised, pale brown on basal edge, red overglaze festooning and dot decoration below single red line under interior rim. Occasional floral sprigs in base. Base diameter: approximately 3". c-1780, Pl. iv. No. 4. The porcelain displays a predominance of willow pattern which could not have been manufactured prior to 1792. (See Far Eastern Ceramic Bulletin, Vol. VIII. No. 1, March 1956. p.2.) This area also yielded a number of sherds of hand painted Staffordshire ware, both monochrome blue and polychrome, much of it of good quality. In this group may be included fragments of a Staffordshire white earthenware bowl in "spatter" style, decorated with vertical panels of sponged manganese divided by stripes of copper green. Most of this material may be dated c.1800-1825.

Glass:

• 12.A small quantity of beverage bottle fragments ranging from c.1740 to mid 19th century. The number of pieces from this area in the collection are so few that it seems strange that they should have been mentioned in the archaeological report (See p. 9). Many excavations elsewhere in the city revealed huge quantities of such glass, but it failed to draw comment. It may perhaps be that for some reason unknown the glass from this area failed to reach the collection or was discarded or misnumbered.
• 13.Small decanter stopper, lead glass, ball knop at top with five large tears surrounding five small bubbles. Large pontil mark at base. 1st ½ 18th century.

14.

Small Finds:

• 1.Brass head of cane or umbrella, repousse decoration in the form of oriental style foliage, flaring at top, but with plain cap. Ht.: 1-¾", Top diameter: 1-9/16". Late 18th century? Pl. II. No. 2.
• 2.Copper lid with hole in center for missing knob handle, short cylindrical collar, top diameter: 4-½", collar diameter: 4". Possibly lid from late drug jar. 2nd ½ 18th century. Pl. II. No. 1.
• 3.Brass Jew's harp with remains of iron tongue. Length 2-1/8". 18th century. Pl.II. No. 4.
• 4.Brass drop handle, central disc knop, balusters at either side and simple scroll ornament below hangers, the back plain and angular. Width of handle: 3". 2nd ½ 18th century, Pl. II. No. 6.
• 5.Part of brass drop handle bulbous at center. Width approximately 2-¾". Late 18th century Pl. II. No. 3.
• 6.Brass curtain ring, exterior diameter: 1-¼" Colonial?
• 7.Flat brass button with short iron shank. Late 18th century; two other small bone buttons.
• 8.Small, brass, heart-shaped padlock with iron mechanism, the face decorated with an incised foliate scroll pattern. Height: 1", width: 1". Late Colonial. A miniaturelock of similar construction was found in a context of 1760-70 at Rosewell. Pl. II. No. 5.
• 9.Brass harness buckle, rectangular with "V"-shaped groove on fore edge to take tang, and single, straight groove on sides of upper surface on line with cross-bar; remains of iron tang. Width: 1-7/16" Colonial. Illustrated Pl. II. No. 11
• 15.
• 10.Oval brass buckle round sectioned, length: 1-11/16ti , 18th century? Pl. II. No. 10.
• 11.A collection of cutlery items comprising the remains of two bone handled table knives, one with a solid bone handle, the other with rivetted plates Pl. V. No. 3, length of handles: 3-3/8" and 3" respectively; two double pronged forks with pistol grips, the most complete measuring 6-½" overall Pl. V, No. 5; two small straight bone handled forks, one solid, the other plated, length: 2-¾" and 2-½" handle lengths; two other forks without handles, longest 6-¾" Pl. V. No. 4; three further bone handles with no metal attached Pl. V. No. 6, the handle of one pewter spoon with spinal ridge towards top, surviving length 4-¾", Pl. V. No. 7 (top). All the foregoing are considered to date from the second half of the 18th century. Also two pewter teaspoons, one extremely fragmentary, surviving length: 3-5/8" Pl. VII. No. 8; the other intact, with "heart" decoration at end of handle, marked on the back with an "X" under a stylized crown Pl. V. No. 9. Other cutlery items include the bowl of a much worn brass spoon, Pl. V. No. 7; and the handle of a light weight tinned copper spoon of simple form, length to bowl: 5", which is thought to be of nineteenth century date. It may be noted that there is more cutlery from this area than from anywhere else on the site.
• 12.Rectangular bone Plate, length: 5-11/16") tapering from 15/16" to 7/16", polished on one side, rough on the other and grooved at the smaller end to take the tang of some attachment, holes for pins on either side of groove. Presumably part of the handle of a fan. Uncertain date, Pl. V. No. 10. Plate V. Objects of Iron, Copper, Pewter and Bone.
• 16.
• 13.Pieces of two pairs of iron scissors, one of them from a pair of sewing scissors with centrally attached loops, overall length: 4-5/8", late 18th century? the other heavier and spectacle looped, 19th century? Also one pair of iron scissors, spectacle looped and of 19th century date. Pl. V. No. 2.
• 14.Fragments of cut-throat razor, bone plated handle, the plates decorated with three horizontal double grooves. Late 18th century?
• 15.Two incomplete iron keys, the larger 6-¾" length, probably 18th century.
• 16.Part of iron fire tongs, interlocking arms, ball terminal. 18th century. Pl. V. No. 1.
• 17.Two iron hoes, width approximately: 6-¼" and 11", triangular spine on upper surface of both. Probably colonial. Pl. V Nos. 11 and 12.
• 18.Part of heavy iron bridle, width 5-3/811. 19th century? Pl. V. No. 13
• 19.Part of heavy stone mortar with one of a pair of lug handles. Height: 8-7/8", flat bottom. Mortars of this type were in use from the 14th century to the 19th century with little to distinguish between them. Pl. VI.
• 20.Small iron padlock, greatest width 2-9/16", thought to be 19th century.
• 21.Five horse shoes, all thought to be 19th century.

Builders' Hardware

• 22.10" iron HL hinge, square ended, five screw holes, arm of L missing.
• 23.9-7/8" iron HL hinge, foliate terminals, arm of L. missing. 18th century. Plate VI. Lug-handled Stone Mortar.
• 17.
• 24.Part of iron strap hinge constricted at end below spatula terminal. Surviving length: 1-¾". 18th century. Also another iron strap hinge, terminal missing, approximate length: 13". Another plain strap hinge, length: 14-½".
• 25.Three rim locks of uncertain date, but probably 19th century. If there is any inference to be drawn from this assemblage (and it is certainly dangerous to do so) it may be suggested that the 18th century cutlery could be indicative of domestic occupancy in the 2lA3 area in the 18th century. The broken ceramics are common to any domestic refuse pit or dump, but the presence of cutlery is, perhaps, less easy to explain.
• 26.A group of white pipe clay wig-curlers, comprising 14 examples, 4 incomplete. Pl. VII. No. 9, is stamped on either end with the initials IB under a crown. Mid 18th century. No. 10 is unusual, being of an orange and cream colored variegated clay. A similar example, Pl. VII. No. 15 comes from 21A4.
• 27.Two small toy marbles. Pl. VII. Nos. 21-22. Probably 18th century.
• 28.Counterfeit English halfpenny of George III, copper, date illegible. c.1770-1775. Pl. VII. No. 23.

NOTE: The archaeological drawing of this area provides the following significant information:

"This excavation contained mostly old bricks., bats and shell shell mortar. Several coins dated 1773 and a number of small 18th century objects were found."

The dated coins, If stratified, would have provided important dating evidence for the group. However, no reference to these coins occurs in the archaeological report and no coins from feature 2lA3 are included in the Wythe House collection.

Plate VII. Wig-Curlers, Toy Marbles and a Counterfeit Halfpenny of George III.

18.

AREA 2lA4

This stage of the excavation may, perhaps, have cut through a reasonably tightly dated deposit, for there are fewer late intrusions than from any other area on the site. Furthermore, the archaeological record (1939) describes only one feature.

"A pit was opened up which was roughly similar in character and dimensions to that in Area A-3, except that there were no steps, nor any indication of foundations. The two pits are equidistant from the north property line, and separated from each other by about 35 feet."

Were it not for the presence of English white earthenware of the first quarter of the 19th century, the group of artifacts might have represented a valuable association.

Ceramics:

• 1.Delft, section through wide bowl in Chinese style, ornamented with floral scrolls in manganese. c.1740-60. Base diameter: 3-¼", Height: 3-3/16". This is the only piece of Delft from the area. Pl. IV. No. 7.
• 2.Slipwares: sherd of large Staffordshire combed ware dish, rouletted edge, c.1760. Base of large dish, yellow concentric rings on interior, 2nd ½ 18th century. Rim sherd of dish with rouletted edge, white slip combed away leaving orange body exposed, copper applied in patches over white. Western Virginia, e. 19th century or Staffordshire 2nd ½ 18th century Pl. IV. No. 10. Rim fragment of hemispherical bowl, orange body, white slip on interior splashed with copper and manganese Pl. IV. No. 9. The similarities in ware and coloring between these last two pieces suggests that they may be of the same date and origin. Further evidence is needed. Plate VIII. Examples of Polychrome and Monochrome Decorated Chinese Porcelain.
• 19.
• 3.German stonewares; fragments of two tankards, one with incised foliate decoration, also one chamber-pot sherd, all Westerwald and seemingly 2nd ¼ 18th century.
• 4.Brown stoneware; handle of jug or bottle, rich brown "Nottingham" color glaze. 2nd ½ 18th century. Probably from a vessel some 12" in height.
• 5.Porcelain; Fragments of two bowls, one polychrome, panels of garden motifs in blue and green., with red, gold, black overglaze red ju-i pattern on interior below brown-edged rim. Blue pomegranate design inside with red overglaze, angular footring, brown-edged. Base diameter: 3-¾" Pl. VIII. No. 1. A second bowl of approximately the same size, garden decoration on exterior in blue, elaborate floral motifs internally, hatched pattern on interior of rim Pl. VIII. No. 2. A basal fragment of a third bowl) of poor quality, blue floral decoration within,, and two sherds of plates were also recovered. Suggested dating for all c.1760-1800.
• 6.Green-edged ware; one sherd from plate, last ¼ 18th century.
• 7.Saltglaze; section through a small cup in Chinese style, footring and no handle, thin walled, no decorated base, diameter: 1-½", height: 1-5/811, Pi. IV. No. 8.; basal sherd from large tankard, slightly incurving at base of wall, bands of decorative grooves and ridges above, lead glazed externally; rim sherd of bowl, hatched scratch-blue decoration, no shape determined. Overall range c.1730-60.
• 8.Hand-painted white earthenware, "Staffordshire"; sherds of saucer, cup and bowl, all with poor quality Chinese decoration and dating from the 1st ¼ 19th century, thus barring the 20. area 2lA4 from being classed as a strictly colonial feature.
• 9.Coarse wares; rim, handle and body sherd from "bread bin," the rim rolled, a wide but shallow groove 3/8" below it, large horizontal handle, thumbed at either end (one of a pair), base missing, surviving height 7-½", pale brown glaze inside and out. Such vessels changed little throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Pl. IX. No. 1.

Small Finds:

• 1.4 wig curlers, medium size, three white pipe clay but one, Pl. VII. No. 15, of orange and cream colored variegated clay, with small holes at either end. 18th century. See Pl. VII. No. 9. Nos. 16 and 18 are stamped W.B beneath a crown, at either end, a well known English mark of the 18th century.

Plate IX. Examples of Coarse Wares and Brown Stoneware.

21.

AREA 2lA5

This area includes but one unit and yielded a large number of artifacts, many of which must have been in use contemporaneously. The archaeological field report reads as follows:

"A pit 6 feet deep and roughly 4 x 13 feet in plan was dug out near the southwest corner of the property, about 20 feet from the church wall. There was no archaeological evidence as to the purpose of this pit, but its 18th century date was attested by the character of the fragments recovered (china, iron items, etc.)"

However, no mention is made of the base of a large ironstone china basin bearing the mark STONE CHINA H.BURGESS.BURSLEM, a firm which war, not established in Burslem until 1851 which is in the collection from this feature.

When evaluating the significance of deposit 21A5 notice should be taken of the large number of equestrian items found therein.

Ceramics:

• 1.Fragments of 3 Delft drug jars, monochrome decorated, 2 banded (one section height: 3-5/8"), the 3rd with banded zones, dash pattern at top and bottom and chain motif around girth, Pl. X. No. 4. Overall dating c.1720-60.
• 2.Basal sherd of cylindrical cosmetic (?) Jar with monochrome floral decoration on wall. c.1750. Pl. X. No. 6.
• 3.Fragments 2 plain Delft drug pots. 18th century. Plate X. Examples of German Stonewares and English Delft.
• 22.
• 4.Fragments. White Delft bowl with everted rim, mid 18th century; bases of two smaller bowls, base diameter: 2-3/8" and 2-7/16". These may have been decorated on the walls, but the absence of any pattern on the interior bases suggests that they were more likely to have been plain. Two further bases are decorated on the interior with floral motifs, One having a blue stiple on the exterior, base diameter: approximately 3-½", and the other marked with a cobalt V within the footring, an area of heavy blue on the wall suggests that the side was adorned with a pictorial motif rather than a simple floral pattern, base diameter: 2-5/8". The overall dating may be set c.1720-50.
• 5.Rim fragments. Two Delft bowls of small size, the 1st of good quality, thin-walled, and decorated with individual flowers, mid 18th century, and the 2nd of inferior quality, thick-walled and decorated with a flowing floral design, 2nd ¼ 18th century.
• 6.Wall fragment of Delft bowl decorated with floral medallions in cobalt and surrounded by an overall manganese stiple. 2nd ¼ 18th century. Pl. X. No. 7.
• 7.Fragment Delft bowl with everted rim, decorated on rim interior with blue pendants linked by festoons in red and green overglaze, the red rough-surfaced. Bristol c-1720-30. Pl. X. No. 9.
• 8.Section through Delft plate, leaf and floral pattern on rim and center, leaves in characteristic angular brush strokes and flowers formed by dots within touching arcs. An almost identical plate comes from the site of the Virginia Gazette printing office (18H). See Garner's English Delftware Pl. 36b. Lambeth c.1700-1720. Pl. X. No. 8.
• 9.Fragments two Delft plates., both with stylized floral motifs, one possibly Dutch. 1st ½ 18th century.
• 10Fragments 5 small Westerwald tankards, two with foliate scroll decorated Pl. X. Nos. 1 and 2. and two with checker pattern Pl. X. No. 3, one of the latter 3-5/6" in height and one of the Former 3-½" in height. 2nd-3rd ¼ 18th century.
• 11.Rim sherd of Westerwald chamber-pot. 2nd ¼ century.
• 12.Fragment of Westerwald storage jar with thickened and slightly everted rim, two horizontal looped handles, 2 bands of cobalt below rim and groups of cobalt circles running together around at junction of handles to body. Probable diameter: 6-1/8". 2nd ¼ 18th century. Pl. X. No. 5.
• 13.Rim and body fragment of horizontal loop-handled jar, brown stoneware, rim everted, upper 4-¼" slipped and fired mottled brown, pink interior, double groove around exterior on line of handles, exterior diameter approximately: 6-¼", approximate height: 7". c. 1740-70. Pl. IX. No. 2.
• 14.Base of large, brown stoneware jar with pulling marks on the bottom, base diameter: 5-7/8"; also two body fragments from another jar. 18th century.
• 15.Rim fragments 3 white saltglaze plates, one with foliate scroll ornament, basket and open-weave panels, the latter with the addition of stars or dots in alternating panels. c.1750-60, Pl. XI. No. 5, the others smoother surfaced., retaining the open-weave panels, but the basketweave replaced by blank cartouches enclosed by fern scrolls. c.1760-70 Pl. XI. No. 4.
• 16.Small saltglaze cup, cylindrical type body on square cut footring. c.1750. Height: 1-9/16".
• 17.Fragments of three small saltglaze tankards, one with slightly spreading foot, the base raised within, diameter 2-5/8", surviving height: 3-5/16" Pl. XI. No. 2; the second a rim sherd with small handle grooved down the spine, brown slipped at the lip Pl. XI. No. 3. Both these fragments have a yellowish cast to the surface and a coarse pale brown body. 1st ¼ 18th century. The third fragment a body sherd from a small tankard of similar size to the others, the body thin and of good quality. c.1720-40. Plate XI. Examples of English Saltglaze, Scratch-Blue and Creamware.
• 24.
• 18.Two basal fragments of a large white saltglaze vessel of uncertain shape and purpose, the body slightly incurving towards base, bottom raised within square cut ring and sagging in the center. Interior matt and without salting. Mid 18th century?
• 19.Fragments of "scratch-blue" bowl with flaring rim and small beaded foot, the base raised and flat within, the body thin and of good quality, decoration on exterior wall frond groups ups alternately erect and everted. Height: 2-7/8", diameter: 7", base diameter: approximately 2-¾", c.1740, Pl. XI. No. 6. A fragment of another bowl of similar size and date, but with a decoration of scratch blue swags and pendant radiating lines, was also recovered from 21A5.
• 20.Three "scratch blue" tankard fragments but with blue permitted to flow over field, lead glaze partial over surface; the largest a rim fragment of good ware, thin, a tooled cordon 1-1/8" below rim, slightly constricted above cordon and widening proportionately at lip, edge of Georgian medallion surviving on sherd. c.1740-60, Pl. XI. No. 1.
• 21.Two "scratch-blue" chamber-pot sherds, the color flowing onto field, a deep blackish blue. c.1740-60.
• 22.Base of "scratch blue," saucer, star decoration on interior, groups of small lines radiating from two compass drawn arcs, small footring, diameter: approximately 2-½". Mid eighteenth century.
• 23.Small creamware mug or tankard, plain handle surviving, glaze much crazed, base raised within angular foot, base diameter: 25. 3", height: 4-¾". 1770-1800, Pl. XI. No. 8.
• 24.Soup plate, creamware, petal edge of Queen's ware, but without moulded lines extending across rim, base slightly rising, height: 1-3/8", base diameter: approximately 6-¼", c. 1780, Pl. XI. No. 9.
• 25.Fragment of creamware plate and of chamber-pot, both of indeterminate form.
• 26.Two fragments of transfer-printed creamware, one a small cup with fine quality footing, diameter: 1-½", decorated in overglaze with a garden scene, pre revolutionary; the other part of a pitcher decorated with an underglaze medallion to left of spout showing a woman spinning. c.178o-1800, Pl. XI. No. 7
• 27.Two coarse ware sherds; base of black glazed bowl, red body, base diameter: 2-¼", western Virginia, e. 19th century? and rim sherd of large dish or cream pan, brown glaze, rim grooved internally and rolled outwards - identical to another example from 28F4 which may be dated c.1770-90.
• 28.Saucer base, hand painted white earthen ware, Staffordshire, pictorial scene on interior in Chinese style, small angular footring, incised circle in center of underside of base, the glaze collecting as a blue line within it, and also on the interior junction of footring and body. c.1800-1820.
• 29.Base of large basin, ironstone, bearing the mark " STONE CHINA H. BURGESS. BURSLEM." The firm of Burgess and Leigh, as mentioned earlier, was established in Burslem in 1851, and is still in operation today. The piece may be loosely attributed to the last 3rd of the 19th century.

26.

Glass:

• 30.Eleven bottle bases and two necks of forms ranging from c.1740 to c.1790.
• 31.Beverage bottle, olive green metal, with short cylindrical body, domed kick, heavy string-rim extending to lip, tooled downwards and square cut beneath, height: 8", base diameter: 4-½", c.1750, PL. XII Center. See Beverage Bottles in Colonial Virginia, Figure 3, Nos. 19-22. This bottle had a hole in its side before being thrown away, but it was also unfortunately shattered in excavation. Traces of yellow sandy clay still attached to the bottom of the bottle are the same as those clinging to the pewter spoon (Small Finds No. 1.) indicating that both objects came from the same layer. Two more bottles were recovered from this deposit, both of the same date as the foregoing and both broken at the shoulder before being thrown away. Pl. XII. left and right.
• 32.Base of large bottle with shallow domed kick, the wall curving outwards above the base, suggesting a ball-shaped body of unusual form, metal olive green, base diameter: 5" wall extending to greatest surviving width of approximately 8". Other examples have been found on the site of the Levingston House (29A2) which was occupied by Dr. Gilmer after 1735. This bottle form should not be confused with the large sized squat bottles of the period 1710-25, for on these the wall does not protrude beyond the width of the base.
• 33.Disc terminal from poor quality decanter stopper, the edges chamfered, diameter 1", late 18th-19th century?

27.

Small Finds:

• 1.Pewter spoon with spinal ridge down upper surface of handle and vestigial rat-tail on back of bowl, length 8-1/2". A common colonial form in Williamsburg. (See p. 26 Glass, No. 32) Pl. XIII. No. 7.
• 2.Part of iron fork, two pronged, and with flat tang with iron rivets to hold bone or wooden handle plates, no collar below handle. Late 18th century.
• 3.Brass drawer escutcheon (incomplete) key-hole for key with slightly curving bit, sides winged, face incised with rough scroll and foliate ornament, edges bevelled. Total width approximately: 3-½". Colonial. Pl. II. No. 7.

Hardware:

• 4.Face of andiron, flat cast in pillar form with simple cap, surviving height: 8-7/16". Colonial.
• 5.Simple arm of fire tongs looped at top and with oval grip pad, surviving length approximately: 18-¾". Probably colonial.
• 6.Blade and spring haft of pair of shears, no ornament at blade top, blade length: 5-¾", total length: 12-5/8 Colonial? Pl.XIII. No. 1.
• 7.Incomplete curry comb with solid horizontal plates and with cruciform reinforcement on back. Greatest width: 6-5/8". Colonial type. Pl. XIII. No. 3.
• 8.Two bit sections of linking bar form, but not a pair. 18th or 19th century. Pl. XIII No. 4.
• 9.Cheek piece of bit, of, double coned bar type, iron brass rivet for ornamental boss surviving, but boss absent. A colonial form. Pl. XIII. No. 2. Plate XII. Glass Beverage Bottles of the Period c. 1740-60.
• 28.
• 10.Pony shoe, iron, upturned at the heels, but no toe cap, three holes per side. Width 4-¼ 18th century.
• 11.Stirrup, iron, rectangular leather loop, solid oval footplate. Height: 5-3/8". width: 5-¼ Colonial Pl. XIII. No. 5.
• 12.Stirrup, iron, oval, pivoting leather loop, gridle type footplate, two bars across open oval-, height: 7", width: 5-¼", round sectioned sides flattened 1-½" above footplate. Date uncertain. Pi. XIII. No. 6.
• 13.Wide socketed iron hoe, 2-3/8" interior diameter width of blade more than 6-½", broad rib on upper face., concave below. Sandy clay clinging to socket suggests an affinity with Glass No. 31 (p. 26). and Small Finds No. 1 (p. 27).
• 14.Two incomplete iron carriage (?) springs, length: 7-¼" and 11" respectively.
• 15.Arm of large iron strap hinge with disc terminal, length: 23-¾". Traces of sandy clay attached to rust. (See No. 13 above). Also a smaller arm, length 11-1/6 another 9-¾" in length, both of uncertain date.
• 16.Remains of wood encased iron lock with plate slightly flaring at rear end, length 7-¾". 18th or 19th century.
• 17.Heavy lock bolt, length 9", sandy clay on surface (See No. 13 above).
• 18.Iron door or gate hanger, rectangular sectioned spike, now twisted, and round sectioned pin, the latter slightly set back allowing the fore edge of the spike to protrude beyond it, total height: 3-¾ Sandy clay attached (see No. 13, above).
• 19.Iron handle of large skillet, hollow hafted for wooden handle, attached to bowl by copper rivets through heart-shaped flange, haft length: 10". Possibly 18th century.

Plate XIII. Iron Shears, Pewter Spoon and Iron Equestrian items.

AREA 2lA6

The above area covers the north end of colonial lot #241 and embraces a fragmentary brick foundation thought in 1938 to be the stable building recorded on the insurance plat of 1815. The archaeological field report (1939) mentions the discovery of "several large brass harness buckles."

The archaeological notes in the report read as follows:

"The west wall is 30-40 feet from the present west property line (wall and line not parallel). The north wall is 4-½ feet from the north line. The foundation is 20 feet 5 inches wide. No trace of the east wall could be found, but the length of the extant north wall showed that the building was more than 27 feet long. There was no trace of floor or other paving. Bricks: 8-¾ x 4 x 2-¾, color: Reddish buff. Bond: English. Mortar: Shell."

Few artifacts recovered from 2lA6 but their relationship to the building is not known.

Small Finds:

• 1.Three small brass harness buckles, breadth: 1-9/16", 1-¼", and 1-9/16" (Pl. II. 12, 14 and 13) the last being rectangular while the others are rounded on their fore edges. These are the only buckles from 2lA6 which appear to be located in the archaeological collections. The description of the buckles given in the quoted archaeological report hardly seems to fit these small objects and it is possible that the ones referred to have been lost. (It is noted that the collection now contains more horse furniture from 2lA5 than from 21A6. 18th-l9th century).

Hardware:

• 2.HL hinge, iron, incomplete, and with horizontal of the "L" missing, approximate height: 10-½", much decayed and date uncertain.
• 3.Fragment of cast iron, part of stove or ornamental grate (?) crescent form with scroll and foliate ornament in classic style.

Summary

As part of the research project to determine the original use of the Wythe House south outbuilding, it was suggested that the excavation of the associated well might reveal evidence of the building's purpose. The suggestion was approved and the excavation was carried out during the months of May and June, 1958.

The top of the well had previously been excavated during the full archaeological investigation of the site in 1938 and was reported on in the subsequent report (p. 8) as follows:

"A filled-in well 4 feet in diameter, between the South Outbuilding and the Dairy, was opened up to a depth of 9 feet. No evidences of a lining were discovered, nor any indication of the date of the well.^* Its location offers some support to the assumption that the nearby remains may be those of a kitchen and a dairy."

The results of the 1958 excavations throw some new light on the foregoing statements. It is now considered unlikely that the well and the south outbuilding were in use contemporaneously, no evidence that the well was dug prior to c.1800. However, it is likely that the well and dairy were of the same date, i.e. c.1800-1815.

31.

The salient factors supporting these premises are as follows:

Survey of Artifacts from the South Well

The difficulties encountered during the excavation of the above well made it impossible to determine the exact position of each artifact. However, the fact that the contents of the shaft could be divided into three distinct strata, each of them a unit unto itself, made it necessary to record only that the finds came from layers I, II, or III. These divisions were as follows:

• 8' 6" - 18', a fill of mixed clay, ashes and trash deposited after the upper courses of the well's lining had been robbed, some of it possibly brought from 18H,, the site of the Printing Office. (Originally extending to surface.)
• 18' - 28', a filling of domestic trash and organic materials thrown into the well after it had ceased to serve its intended purpose. Post 1853 and probably dating c.1866. This stratum rested on and around a group of fallen timbers wedged in the well which supported the whole over a water-filled void which extended downward to a depth of 38' (below modern grade.)
• 36' - 39'-10", representing 2' of refuse which collapsed from stratum II, and the primary filling which was proved to be of the same date as the above level (see P. 32). The layer terminated below the lining of well and rested on blue marl.

Artifacts recovered from the well were numbered by bags, each containing material recovered from a point lower than the last. It was found that the contents of each bag represented the finds from approximately 1' of fill. All artifacts from the well excavation bear the Excavation Register number 44. Material from the filling deposited after the well bricks had been robbed is labelled E.R.44A and E.R.44B (A = 8'6" -11"6" and B = 11'6" - 18'). Artifacts found below 18' are marked E.R. 44C1-14, the latter numbers indicating bag and level in progression down the shaft. Finds from the three strata of the well are accordingly identified as follows: 36.

Layer	Excavation Register Number
I	E.R. 44A and E.R. 44B
II	E.R. 44C1 to E.R. 44C9
III	E.R. 44C10 to E.R. 44C14

All the principal items from the well are illustrated in the following plates and described below. However, there were also innumerable fragments of glass and pottery which did not merit photography; these have been retained but have been omitted from this report. Significant among the omissions were the skulls of two oxen, one calf and a horn from a second young ox, all of which were found at the bottom of the well (E.R.44C14). From E.R.44C8 came a fragment from the plastron of a turtle (possibly a snapper). A facial fragment of a human skull comprising maxilla, two molars and part of the nasal cavity, was recovered from E.R.44C1. Also of note were five semicircular coping bricks from E.R.44C2-5, only one of which was retained. This measures 11-3/8" x 5-½" x 3" and is pale orange in color.

37.

The South Well

At 13' below the present grade the top of the brick lining was encountered, the upper courses having been removed for re-use, probably during the decade 1860-70. A fill of mixed clay, dirt and trash extended from 8'6" ^1. to 18' representing a deposit inserted after the upper well bricks had been robbed. The inclusion of two pieces of printers' type in this fill suggested that it had been brought from the site of the Printing Office (18H).

At 18' the sealing deposit gave way to an accumulation of refuse thrown into the well during the last days of its existence. This wet, organic stratum descended to a depth of 28' below modern grade and contained a large quantity of refuse deposited no earlier than 1853. The presence in the layer of medicine bottles, flasks and items of chemical glassware indicated that the artifacts came from the Wythe House during the occupancy of Professor John Millington who rented it in 1835, bought it in 1841 and sold it in 1866. It should be added that Millington was, for a time, Professor of Chemistry and Natural Sciences at the College of William and Mary and that in 1848 he had gone to the University of Mississippi in a similar capacity. Evidence of this move is indicated by the presence in the well of a small lead glazed pot of non-European manufacture, probably a souvenir brought back from the Professor's southern travels. It seems probable that the refuse may have been thrown into the well in 1866 when Millington sold the Wythe House.

At 28' four large timbers were found wedged in the shaft and it was these which had prevented the upper filling from sinking to the bottom. -3- When these timbers were removed the remainder of the filling which they supported sank into ten feet of water. It has been deduced that the timbers -possibly part of a simple well-head - collapsed into the well and floated on the surface of the water. Subsequently, Millington's trash was thrown down, some of it sinking past the timbers, but the majority piling up on them until a platform or false-bottom was established. Evidence of this is derived from the discovery of fragments of the same ceramic vessels, both above the platform and at the bottom of the well.

After a long delay caused by an inability to pump out the water, work was resumed and the remains of the collapsed upper layer was extracted. Beneath this, at approximately 38', was found a quantity of refuse which had fallen past the timbers when first thrown in. The finds included ox skulls, chemical glasswares and pieces of mid 19th century ceramics. A small number of coarse sherds, possibly dating from the 18th century, were also recovered, but as they overlay 19th century material they cannot be used in evidence.

The bottom of the brickwork was reached at 39'7", under which was 1 found a well-preserved wooden form, 3" in thickness,1 resting on natural blue marl.

The absence of any primary deposit of 18th century artifacts at the bottom of the well could indicate firstly, that the well had remained completely clean until it was abandoned, secondly, that it had been totally cleaned out during the course of its life or thirdly, that the well was of 19th century date. The first theory may be dismissed as highly improbable, but the second demands careful consideration. However, the realization that the water still flows into the well too fast for it to be emptied without the aid of mechanical pumps and that it is too deep even for these to function -4- properly, indicates that it would have been virtually impossible for 18th century well cleaners to have extracted anything but large items which would have been reached by a grapple. Small artifacts and the natural accumulation of organic silt could not have been extracted by this means. Providing that this "fact" can be accepted, there remains only the third explanation.¹ The diameter of the well at the top surviving course was approximately 4' 7-½", but tapered to 3' 4" at the bottom. A number of well bricks were found in the fill above the timber platform, many of them with shell mortar attached. However, none of the bricks found in situ had been mortared, indicating that the upper courses only had been mortared and that in prying them loose, some had fallen into the well. One of the well bricks was retained and measures 8' x 4-3/8 x 3-¼" x 3", 37 of them making up the circumference of the well.

The South Dairy

The re-excavation of the S.W. corner of this foundation revealed a single course, 1 brick in thickness, unmortared. It was found that a lone well brick had been incorporated in this foundation, the brick, measuring 8" x 4-7/16" - 3-¼" x 3". The similarity of measurement and texture between this brick and the specimen from the well could indicate that they came from the same source. Furthermore, the absence of mortar on the well brick could suggest that it was left over after the digging of the well and that it was thereupon incorporated into the foundation of the dairy. If this were so, then it would automatically follow that the well must have been completed prior to 1815 when the dairy first appeared on an insurance plat. The dairy's absence from the plats of 1801 and 1806 indicates (though does not -5- prove) that it was not in existence prior to 1806 and 1815. The archaeological data recovered from the re-excavation of the dairy did not provide any conclusive dating, although some general pointers were provided.

• (1)It was found that the bed of marl previously recorded as being confined within the walls of the dairy actually extended beneath the foundation and beyond it both west and south. It might be suggested, therefore, that the foundation rested on the remains of an earlier marl path or yard. Artifacts found beneath the marl proved that it could not have been laid before the decade c.1770-80, and consequently, the dairy must date to the same time as the laying of the marl or, if the marl served some other purpose, to another date between c.1780 and 1815.
• (2)A hole was discovered, dug into dirty clay beneath the 1" marl stratum suggested that it had been cut to house the roots of a plant, thus pointing to the existence of a garden at this point prior to 1780. Finds from the fill of the hole indicated that it had been dug during the third quarter of the 18th century.
• (3)While no evidence for the destruction date of the dairy was found, a deposit of burnt clay and wood ash overlay the marl within the building. Such a deposit appears out of place in a building devoted to cooling rather than heating. It is, therefore, Just possible that this building (which does not appear in exactly the position shown on the insurance plat) may not have been the dairy, but a structure in which heat was used, built after 1815. If this were so, there would be no reason why the date of the well might not also be brought forward.