Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

TUCKER HOUSE - NO. 94
Block 29, 1940 Map

^obsolete

For the history of lot 163, 164 and 169 refer to the report of May 25, 1940 on the First Theatre. These three lots were conveyed to Henry Tazewell from John Tazewell and Sarah, his wife by deed on September 1, 1779:

...Grants - All those three lots of land aforesaid situate lying and being on Palace Street in the said City, denoted in the Plan thereof by the number or figures 163, 164, 169 and bounded by Palace Street on the West by the lot of Thomas Everard on the North by the lots of John Blair, Esq., on the East, and by the Market Square on the South.

And all houses, buildings, etc.

(York County Records - Deeds - Book VI, p. 227)

The lots and houses were offered for sale by Tazewell in 1782:

September 14, 1782

TO BE SOLD,
To the highest bidder for ready money, on the premises, the 25th of this instant (September).

THE LOT and HOUSES in the city of Williamsburg, whereon Joseph Thompson now lives, adjoining the lots of the Honourable John Blair. On this lot is a good dwelling-house with four rooms on the lower and three on the upper floor, a good smoke-house, dairy, kitchen and other convenient out houses, and a good garden well paled in. The situation is pleasant and healthy, and an indisputable title will be made to the purchaser.
HENRY TAZEWELL (Virginia Gazette and Weekly Advertiser, Nicholson & Prentis)

It is impossible to determine how William Rowsay acquired this property, but he offered it for sale in 1785:

December 17, 1785

FOR SALE,
THE HOUSES and LOTS in Palace Street, formerly the property of the Hon. Henry Tazewell. The buildings are in pretty good repair, and sufficient to accommodate a 2 large family...
WILLIAM ROWSAY (Virginia Gazette or American Advertiser, James Hayes)

In his will dated July 7, 1786, Rowsay left his property as follows:

...I give and bequeath to my Executors herein after named or the survivors of them all my estate both real and personal to be sold either at public or private sale in their best judgement for the purpose of paying my Debts, except the Lott and Houses which I purchased of Samuel Beall adjoining store whereon I now live which I give and bequeath unto my affectionate wife Frances Rowsay for and during the term of her natural life... (Mss. in Tucker Collection, Department of Research and Record)

Edmund Randolph purchased lots 163, 164, 169 from the executors of William Rowsay and sold them in 1788 to St. George Tucker for £100:

[July 3, 1788]

This Indenture made this third day of July One thousand seven hundred and eighty eight between Edmund Randolph esquire, of the One part and Saint George Tucker Esqr. of the other part Witnesseth, that for and in consideration of the sum of One hundred pounds in hand paid to the said Edmund Randolph Esqr. by the said Saint George Tucker Esqr. he the said Edmund hath bargained, sold, aliened, released, enfeofed and confirmed and by these presents doth bargain, sell, alien, release, enfeoff and confirm unto him the said Saint George certain lots of land in the City of Williamsburg whereon William Rowsay lately lived, & bounded as in the plan of the said city; which lots were lately purchased by the said Edmund of the executors of the said Rowsay.

To have and to hold the said lots by him the said St. George and his heirs and assigns forever with all the buildings and other appurtenances of what nature or kind soever thereunto belonging to the only proper use...

(Mss. in Tucker Collection, Department of Research and Record)

It seems reasonable to assume from Tazewell's advertisement in 1762 that it was this house to which St. George Tucker made additions recorded by William Harwood. In a letter from Harwood to St. George Tucker 3 on June 21, 1789, he says the following:

Having been unfortunately obliged to throw down the Chimney, last built to your House, in consequence of a Defect in the Foundation, I am extremely desirous of knowing your sentiments respecting the a- construction of it:- whether you would still wish to have it on the same plan- viz: with the eight feet fire-place -- or whether the same size with other now standing?- (Mss. in Tucker Collection, Department of Research and Record)

In 1791, William Harwood writes to Tucker about the addition he wishes made to his house:

20^th January 1791
W. Harwood will find lime & lay the Bricks of the addition which S. G. Tucker wishes to have made to his House -- build a Kitchen chimney & oven at the rate of twenty shillings per thousand for the number of Bricks laid. -- He will also find lime & undertake the filling in, lathing & plaistering of the walls & cielings at the same rate that he did the same for the House already finished... (Ibid.)

It appears from these two letters and the account of St. George Tucker in Humphrey Harwood's Ledger from 1789-1794 that he was having repairs done to his house.

In the Insurance Book, page 60, St. George Tucker is listed as insuring the following buildings on his property in 1796:

dwelling house	A	$1600
east wing	B	--
west wing	C	--
Shed	D	--
Entrey	E	--
Kitchen	F	--

4

In 1815, the following insurance was taken out:

Dwelling house & Kitchen connected by a covered way twelve feet long.	A	$5500
		$5500

(Insurance Book, p. 59)

The following tax accounts for these three lots are found in the James City County Tax Records: 5

Date			No. Lots	Total Value	Value House	Rent	Taxes
1785	Wm. Rowsay's Est.		5			45£
1789	Edmund Randolph to St. George Tucker		3 lots		(Williamsburg Land Transfers)
1791	St. George Tucker		3			15£
1797	" " "		3			15£
1801	" " "		3			$50	$ .78
1806	" " "		3			70	1.10
1810	" " "		3			100	1.56
1812	" " "		3			100	1.56
1815	" " "		3			100	3.(folded in)
1817	" " "		3			150	4.50
1818	" " "		3			150	4.50
1819	" " "		3			150	4.50
1820	" " "	Williamsburg	1	$1625	$1500	150	4.50
1825	" " "	Norfolk	1	1625	1500	150	3.05
1828	Lelia Tucker	Williamsburg	1	1625	1500	150	3.05

Via last will and testament of St. George Tucker Decd.

The property was listed in Lelia Tucker's name from 1828-1835. It was listed in the name of her estate from 1838-1850; she having died in 1837. (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XVII (1), p. 268) From 1854-1861, the property was listed under "Beverly Tucker's Est."

Tucker succeeded Wythe as professor of law at William and Mary in 1790 at a salary of£120 per annum. (Paper in Tucker material printed in the William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XVIII (1), p. 220) He continued to hold that position at the College until his resignation in 1804, according to a letter from William T. Barry, a student under Tucker at William and Mary, to his brother:

February 6th, 1804
In consequence of some new regulations made by the Visitors of William and Mary College, Mr. Tucker has resigned (few days ago) his professorship as he did not like to conform to the regulations. Judge Nelson is appointed to succeed him. However, this does not affect the law students; they attend Mr. Tucker as usual, and he pays as much attention as while he was Professor, and will continue so to do for as long a time as if he had continued Professor. (Ibid., Vol. XIII (1), p. 113)

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St. George Tucker must have acquired his title of "the American Blackstone" from the publication of the Blackstone's Commentaries. As early as 1798, M. L. Weems writes "S G^o Tucker agrees to let Mr Weems have the publication of his Edition of Blackstones Commentaries... (Mss. in Tucker Collection, Department of Research and Record, Folder 156 C) Tucker wrote poetry as well as other types of literature.

The descendants of St. George Tucker are now living in the restored house.

.28
^{Summer - 1940}