Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

THE TIMSON HOUSE-NO. 43
Block 30 - Lot323

William Timson is the earliest owner on record of this house. In 1715 he was deeded lots 323, 46, and 47 by the Trustees of the City of Williamsburg, with the stipulation that he "build within space of 24 months one or more good dwellings an each lot according to directions of An Act of Assembly 1705." [York County Records, Book III, Deeds and Bonds, March 16, 1715, pp. 109-110.] In 1717 he sold to James Shield three lots "denoted in the plan of the city by the figures 46, 47, 323," which "were granted unto William Timson by the Trustees of the City of Williamsburg, together with the houses thereon." [Ibid., May 31,1717.]

James Sheilds [note variation in spelling] held the land for several years and bequeathed it to his son Matthew. [Ibid., Book 16, Orders, Wills, July 13, 1727.] Matthew Sheilds deeded "all that lot or half acre of land and messuage and tenements thereon erected" to William Pegram on January 28, 1744 [Ibid., Book V, Deeds], and on May 16, 1745, William Pegram deeded it to James Wray. [Ibid., Book V, Deeds]. After James Wray's death his son, James, sold the property "and all houses, buildings," to John Connelly on August 19, 1772. [Ibid., Book 8, Deeds]

From then on there is a lapse in the records, although the map of the unknown draftsman shows this lot in the possession of "Ferguson" and that of Bucktrout "Furgoson." Tracing this name, we find a John Ferguson mentioned:

• 1."Heads of families in Williamsburg -1783 - John Ferguson."
• 2."List of Tithables in that part of Williamsburg lying in York County for the year 1792. John Ferguson - 2."
• 3."A List of the Land Tax in the District of Thomas B: Dawson Commissioner in the City of Williamsburg for the year 1791:
• 2

• Owners of Lots	Noof Lots	Annual Value	Amt of Taxes
  Jno Ferguson	2	£4--	£-4-

• 4.Williamsburg Land Tax Books for 1797:

  Owners of Lotts	No of Lots	Annual Value	Amt of Taxes
  		£ S P	£ S P
  John Ferguson's Estate	2	4 - -	- 4 -

There is also mention of a "Joseph Ferguson" as early as 1792 in the "List of Tithables in that part of Williamsburg lying in York County" and the figure "1" following his name. Further references are found in the Williamsburg Land Tax Books:

Since none of these lots are named or numbered in these records, we can only speculate as to whether John Ferguson or Joseph Ferguson or either owned these lots. Two lots located on Nicholson Street between Queen Street and Greenhow Street are shown on the unknown draftsman's map to be owned by "Ferguson," and Bucktrout "Furgoson." The lot under study, 323, is a single lot, however, situated on Prince George and Nassau Streets.

Mr. Charles says of the house: 3

The house at N. W. corner of Prince George and Nassau Streets is without a doubt a very old building and according to tradition was used by French Soldiers either during or just after the Revolution. This old house is still standing and in good shape of preservation and repair. It is a story and a half frame building with dormer windows and a basement and has a single story annex on West. It is learned that many, many years ago an old lady lived in this house and kept cows which in those days grazed over the ditch banks, open lots, and greens of this then verdant City. She along with many others, in order to get "chinquapin money," and perhaps money to buy other things more substantial, sold, for a long time, butter and buttermilk and the hill on which this house is located came to be known as "Buttermilk Hill." As no milk has been sold on that hill for many generations, it took the name of "Minor Terrace," from the fact that Prof. Lucian B. Minor, who was professor of Law at the College of William and Mary and who for many years lived on this hill, immediately opposite to the old house described above, and died there just preceding the Civil War....[Recollections, pp. 10-11.]

The Timson House is generally credited with being one of the oldest houses in Williamsburg, but we cannot positively say the house then built was the same one as that at present.

James Wray was called a "Carpenter & Joyner" [York County Records, Book 20, Wills, Inventories, June 6, 1750], but there is no indication that he was a "Master Builder." Both he and Richard Taliaferro were placed is charge of the repairing and enlarging of the Governor's Palace by an act of September 4, 1749. [Governor's Palace, Source Book, p.137.] Wray did not complete it, however, for we read in the diary of John Blair, under date of August 30, 1751: "Do Finished ye Contract with Taliaferro for ye Govrs. house." [Ibid., p. 143: William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 7 (1) p. 145.]