Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

COKE GARRETT HOUSE - NO. 57
Block 27

^{Needs to be re-worked MEM
1940}

Since this house stands on lots in York County, it is not difficult in most cases to trace the steps by which the property passed from person to person.

From the record quoted below it seems that William Sharman was the first owner of lots #279 and #280 and that he had built houses upon them.

The order reads:

June 19, 1708

Know all men by these presents that I, William Sharman of the city of Williamsburgh ... have ordained and appointed Benjamin Weldon my true and lawful attorney and whenever so requested by Mr. Joseph Chermoson, his heirs or assigns, then there to acknowledge to the said Joseph Chermoson, his heirs as my voluntary act and deed indentures of sale by way of Lease and Release for my two lotts or one acres of land lying and being situate in the City of Williamsburgh, with all houses ... sold unto the said Chermoson by me the said William by indenture bearing date with the present ... [York County Records, Book 13 - Deeds, Orders, Wills. p. 148]

The deed referred to was recorded in court, August 24, 1708:

W^m Sharman of City of W^msburgh Baker
to
Joseph Chermoson of Co of James City

On June 18 for -- sold to J. Chermoson his 2 lots of land 279 & 280 Lying & being Scituate near Queen Anne's Royall Capitol in the City of Williamsburgh with all Kitchens Barnes & Stables with all manner of Buildings & Erections of what Kind belonging unto the said Joseph Chermoson for 50 pounds ster^g of Lawfull Money of England by Chermoson to Sharman and to the Severall Persons by his appointed ...

At a Court held Aug. 24, 1708

[Abstract from York County Records, Book 2 - Deeds. pp. 296-298]

It is difficult to explain why the feoffees granted these two lots to Chermoson, and why a building clause was included.

Feoffees January 24, 1709
to
Chermoson, Joseph
Consideration: 1 Pound - 10 shillings.

Two certain lots of ground in the city of Williamsburg designed in the plot of the said city by the figures 279, 280.
Shall build according to Act of Assembly October 23, 1705. [York County Records, Book 2 - Deeds, Bonds. p. 348]

2

In Chermoson's will of April 30, 1712, one clause read:

I do empower my executors to sell my house and two lots of land which I have in the city of Williamsburgh by way of outcry towards payment of my debts as soon as convenient after my decease. . . [York County Records, Book 14 - Orders, Wills. p. 173]

His wife and Claude Roviare were appointed executors. This will shows that as early as 1712 there was a house on the lot. Interesting items in Chermoson's inventory show that his "maid servant Eliza Skeim" (perhaps a white indentured servant) had three years nine months to serve and that he had "cattle and goods at ye ordinary." [York County Records, Book 14, Orders, Wills. p. 202] The location of the ordinary is not known.

His executors sold the two lots with dwelling house and outhouses to David Cunningham, barber, a month later, on May 8, 1712. [York County Records, Book 2 - Deeds, Bonds. p. 418]

Cunningham, in his will made January. 13, 17l9, ordered that his "house and lots lying and being in the city of Williamsburg be sold by auction or otherwise by ... executors hereafter named for the satisfaction of ... just debts and funeral charges .." [York County Records, Book 15 - Orders, Wills, p. 562]

Two of the executors in December, 1720, sold lot 280 to George Newton, and 279 to Nathaniel Newton. The deeds read:

December 16, 1720

Robertson, William ) Executors
Cobbs, Samuel ( David Cuningham
to
Newton, George
Consideration: 75 pounds

All that lot of land lying and being in the City of Williamsburg near the Capitol in the County of York, designed in the plot of the said city by the figures 280, and all houses, buildings, gardens, orchards, & fences ..
[York County Records, Book 3 - Deeds, Bonds, p. 348]

3

December 17, 1720

Robertson, William ) Executors
Cobbs, Samuel ( David Cuningham
to
Newton, Nathaniel
Consideration: 75 pounds

All that lot of land lying and being in the city of Williamsburg near the capitol, denoted in the plot of the said city by the figures 279 formerly belonging to David Cuningham, deceased. [York County Records, Book 3 - Deeds, Bonds, p. 350]

In 1742, George Newton, gentleman of Norfolk, sold lot 280 with "all appurtenances thereunto belonging and all papers deeds and muniments belonging to the sane" to John Mundell, jailer. [York County Records, Book 5 - Deeds, p. 43] In his will, Mundell made the following provision:

July 3, 1745

Mundell, John - Will
Williamsburgh

Item. I give and devise all my houses and lots of land in the city of Williamsburgh and my negro wench and her little girl, to my good friend John Blair ... to be sold by him and money arising from such sale to be applied to the payment of my bond due him first, and then towards the payment of a debt due to the widow Woodings estate.
Returned July 15, 1745 [York County Records, Book 20 - Wills, Inventories, p. 34]

Just how John Mundell got lot #279 is not clear. The relationship of George and Nathaniel Newton, who were brothers [Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 29, p. 517] may be the explanation. At any rate, the next owner, Andrew Anderson, got both lots from Mundell's executor:

August 11, 1748

Blair, John - Hon. - exor. John Mundell
Cocke, Joseph - Joiner
Anne, his wife
to
Anderson, Andrew - Barber
Consideration: 60 Pounds, to John Blair & 5 shillings to Joseph Cocke

All those two lots or half acres of land lying and being on the North side of Nicholson Street adjoining to the East on the lots of John Coke and on the West to the lots whereon the public Goal is erected and to the North by the extreme bounds of the said city, and denoted in the plan of the said city, and denoted in the plan of the said city by the numbers 279, 280, lately belonging to John Mundell, dec'd.
And all houses, outhouses. [York County Records, Book 5 - Deeds, p. 254]

4

The payment of five shillings to Cocke and the signature of Joseph and Anne Cocke show that they had some claim on one or both lots. Anderson's advertisement in 1752 of his property shows that John Coke, one of the famous owners of this property later on, was already in possession of adjoining lots.

N. B. He also has two Lots of Land adjoining to Mr. John Coke's in Williamsburg to be sold to the highest bidder Six months Credit will be allow'd, the Purchaser giving Bond as usual, to Andrew Anderson. [Virginia Gazette, William Hunter, Editor, September 15, 1752]

As executor of Anderson's estate, John Webb in 1754 sold the two lots to Christopher Ford, Jr., carpenter. He described the lots as

bounded on the East by the lots of John Coke, on the West by the lots whereon the Public Gaol is erected and to the North by the extreme bounds of said city. [York County Records, Book 6 - Deeds, p. 13]

By the purchase of lots # 279 and 280 in 1755^{oldest part on 279}, Coke rounded out his property, which from 1740 on consisted in this vicinity of lots 361, 282 and 281. [William Broadnax to John Mundell, Ibid., Book 4, pp. 168-169; John Mundell to John Coke, Ibid., p. 610. 1740]

John Coke is listed as a goldsmith in deeds of the York County Records. [Book 4, September 11, 1740, p. 610; Book 5, January 21, 1743, p. 98.] In 1755 he was mentioned as "John Coke, Tavern Keeper." [Ibid., Deeds, Book 6, p. 15] He provided "Punch and wine at the funeral" of Thomas Penman:

August 18, 1759
The estate of Mr. Thomas Penman to Anthony Hay's Estate

To a coffin covered with super fine black cloth and furniture	8/12/0
To cash paid for funeral charges	1/5/0
To 42-½ lbs. beef for Mrs. Penman	0/7/6
To paid charges in proving will	0/16/4
To paid John Coke for Punch and wine at the funeral	0/17/3
To paid the Rev. John Camm	0/11/1

[York County Records, Wills, Inventories, Book 22, p. 36]

5

After Coke's death, his widow advertised:

Sarah Coke, Begs leave to inform those Gentlemen who were so kind as to favour her deceased husband with their custom that they may depend on receiving the same entertainment as formerly. [Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, Editors, October 15, 1767]

The gardens of this house seem to have been a landmark, for York County Deeds often describe lots as "adjoining the lots and gardens of Mr. John Coke. [York County Records, Deeds>, Book 6, pp. 78, 345; Book 7, p. 60.]

In John Coke's will, probated November 16, 1769, one clause dealt entirely with the five lots, on one or more of which the present house stood:

I give and bequeath to my son Robey Coke all the houses and 5 lots or half acres of ground whereon I now live in the city of Williamsburg facing the Capitol and joining the Public Goal and on the other side to the Main Road which leads to the Capitol Landing, to him and his heirs forever. [Ibid., Wills, Inventories, Book 21, p. 366]

Sarah Coke and her son Samuel, in advertising most of Coke's property for sale at "his late dwelling house," offered the houses for rent "at the same time, on reasonable terms" [Ibid., January 12, 1769]. It appears from the following notice that Richard Hunt Singleton was the renter.

Richard H. Singleton Begs leave to acquaint the publick that he intends immediately to open a Tavern in the house lately occupied by Mrs. Sarah Coke, opposite the North side of the Capitol in Williamsburg; where those Gentlemen who formerly resorted that house, and others who please to favour him with their custom, may depend on having genteel lodgings, and good entertainment, he being determined to do everything in his power to give satisfaction, and ensure their future favours. . . [Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, Editors, February 9, 1769]

He continued to occupy the house until 1771, when Robey Coke offered the property for sale through Richard Brown of Norfolk. The latter advertised the property:

To be SOLD at publick Auction, on Tuesday the 19th of next Month, pursuant to a Deed of Trust from Robey Coke, to the Subscriber, 6 ALL the HOUSES, and five LOTS OF LAND, whereon the late Jon Coke, deceased, lived in the City of Williamsburg, at present occupied by Mr. Richard Hunt Singleton. The terms will be agreed on at the Sale, which will be on the Premises.
RICHARD BROWN.
Norfolk, January 26. [Virginia Gazette, Purdie and Dixon, Editors, January 31, 1771]

It is impossible to state that the advertisement brought a purchaser. Singleton's card inserted in the Virginia Gazette [Purdie and Dixon, March 7, 1771] announced to the "Gentlemen who favoured him with their custom" that he was "now removed to Colonel Johnson's house, behind that of Mr. Waller."

During the Revolution, Sarah Coke was paid £2 by the Virginia Convention for the "army." [Calendar of Virginia State Papers, Vol. 8, p. 237] This amount was probably paid for lodging or food. Her son, Robey Coke, mounted cannon, made rammers, and helved axes for the militia in Williamsburg. For this, he was paid by the Virginia government. [Ibid., Vol. 8, p. 237; Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 7, p. 152.] In the Census of 1790, Robey Coke was the head of a family of eight whites, and owned ten blacks.

The Frenchman's map of 1786 [?] shows one long narrow house with four or five outhouses located about where later maps, that of the unknown draftsman and Bucktrout, show five lots, all belonging to a Coke.

The ownership of the lots and the house over a long period of time seems uncertain of establishing with the available records. In 1805 Francis Pierce got 5 lots "via Coke" [Williamsburg Land Transfers, Virginia State Library], but his name does not appear on the James City County Tax Records ^{for Williamsburg} before or after that date. The Garrett name begins to appear on these records in 1817 and continues through 1861. The table below gives facts regarding that family and its property: 7

Name	Year	Lots	Value of Buildings
Garrett, Richard	1817, 18, 19	10
	1820	7	$1,000
		1	150
	1825	1	1,000
Garrett Richard's Est	1828-38	1	1,000
Garrett, Robert M.	1828	1	2,200	"Heretofore charged to the est. of Richard Garrett decd"
	1840	1	do
	1843	1	do
	1847	1	do
	1850	1 1	2,200 ) 700 )	} 2 lots
	1854	1 1	2,400 ) 1,000 )	) 2 lots
	1859, 61	1 1 1 1 1	2.700 ) 600 ) -- ) 1,000 ) -- )	5 lots

Williamsburg citizens who knew the appearance of the town at the outbreak of the Civil War make the following comments on the house that stands on these lots:

The Garrett House, a long, frame, house, with the exception of the front porch, which has been slightly changed since its restoration, looks very much today as it did then. The Garretts owned and lived in this house. Beautiful gardens surrounded this estate, as they do now. [Mrs. Victoria Lee, Williamsburg in 1861, p. 10]

The "Garrett" house appears now much as it did when the writer was a boy and went to school in the small one-room brick [Mr. Charles, Recollections of Williamsburg, p. 51]

8

It seems that the Ragland Map of Williamsburg has the wrong lots numbered 279 etc. The two prison lots since they were public property as was the Capitol lots etc. probably should not have been numbered. A is the present numbering. B seems the correct numbering.

A	281	282
B	279	280	281	282	361