Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

IN SUMMARY

Lot 255 was a part of the property owned by Benjamin Harrison Jr. or his heirs from 1705 to sometime after 1753 when Dr. William Pasteur, local apothecary, became owner. By 1773 Archibald Diddep, tailor, had bought this lot from Dr. Pasteur and here he, apparently, plied his trade until 1785. During his ownership Diddep had repairs made such as repairing cellar steps, building wall to support and laying hearths and plastering, etc. Diddep's estate held the property to 1788 when they sold to John Carter Byrd who had bought the other three lots towards the east (257, 258, 600). From Byrd's ownership or acquisition on to 1928 this lot appears in all change of ownerships to the four lots. For full study, see the house history to follow, and a history of the Semple House (Lot 257).

PHOTOSTAT COPY OF THE
WILLIAMSBURG PLAT IN "WILLIAMSBURG,
THE OLD COLONIAL CAPITOL" BY LYON G. TYLER

LOCATION:

The lot known as colonial lot 255 lies on the south side of Francis Street in Williamsburg west of the present Semple house and near the Capitol. It is marked "Semple" and "255" on the College Map. See: opposite page

HISTORY:

In 1705 it appears from a proviso in Hening's Statutes, III, p. 430 that Benjamin Harrison, Jr. had been allotted (ca. 1699) four lots or half acres in the Francis Street section of Williamsburg:

[October 1705]

…
XXX. And be it also enacted, That the four lots, or half acres, which at the first laying out of the land for the said city, were laid out and appropriated for the buildings then erected on the same, by Benjamin Harrison, jr. esq. shall remain and continue to the use of the said Benjamin Harrison, his heirs and assigns, and shall not lapse for want of other buildings thereon; any thing 2 in this act to the contrary, notwithstanding…¹

Though the proviso does not locate Harrison's lots, there are subsequent references which give this clearly. In 1753 two lots of Philip Johnson were described as "…two lots on Frances Street between the lots of Benjamin Harrison and Benjamin Waller."² In 1769 an Act in Herring's Statutes indicated that Dr. William Pasteur had come into Harrison's property: "...two lots on Francis Street between William Pasteur and Benjamin Waller…" were held by Philip Johnson.³ Also, a Virginia Gazette notice of October, 1771 advertising the house of Colonel Philip Johnson stated 3 that Johnson's "two lots on Francis Street, between the lots of M^r Waller and Doctor Pasteur" were for sale.¹

As Johnson's two lots represent the Francis Street entrance to the present Bassett Hall property, Harrison's four lots would begin (according to the nineteenth century plats of the city) with lot 600 to be followed by 258, 257 and 255 all west of Johnson's two lots.

In May 1773 Archibald Diddep, tailor, notified his customers that he had taken a "House contiguous to Doctor Pasteur's":

[May 13, 1773]

ARCHIBALD DIDDEP, TAILOR, Williamsburg TAKES this Method of informing the Publick that he has removed from his former Habitation to a House contiguous to Doctor Pasteur's, where he carries on his Business in all its different Branches. He returns his most grateful Acknowledgments to all those who have hitherto been pleased to favour him with their Custom, and hopes for a Continuance of it, as they may rely upon their Work being executed with the greatest Care and Punctuality, and on the most reasonable Terms. 4 Also he makes Ladies RIDING HABITS in the neatest and most genteel Manner.¹

Just three months prior to the above quoted notice, Dr. Pasteur had advertised that a part of his property was for sale:

[January 21, 1773]

THE HOUSES and LOT adjoining me wherein I formerly lived; for which twelve Months credit will be allowed the Purchaser, on giving approved Security, to
WILLIAM PASTEUR.²

From these two notices in the local newspaper, it appears that Diddep had moved to a house which Dr. Pasteur had used before he removed to another house adjacent.³

Diddep continued at this location. In 1776 a notice signed from "FRANCIS STREET" he thanked his customers for past services and announced that he remained "the publick's most obedient humble servant."⁴ Other 5 notices in 1776-1777 advertised for journeyman tailors and for an apprentice who had absconded.¹

In 1779 and 1780 Humphrey Harwood, local brick mason and carpenter, made repairs to a house belonging to Diddep. Such items as repairing cellar steps, building a wall in cellar to support trimmer and hearth, laying a hearth and repairing the chimney, plastering, lime etc., are listed in Harwood's account book.² As we find record of Diddep's owning only one house in the city, it looks as though the house on lot 255 must have been the building which Harwood repaired.

Williamsburg Land Tax records which begin in 1782 throw some light on Diddep's ownership of property in Williamsburg. From 1782-1785 Diddep owned 1 lot evaluated at £2. In 1785-1786 Diddep's estate is charged with 1 lot valued at £5. And, in 1788 John Byrd is charged with 4 lots valued at £32 "of Wm. Finnie & Arch^d Diddup."³

The Frenchman's Map of Williamsburg (1782) shows a small house flush to the street at the eastern boundary of what appears to be lot 255.¹

In 1787 Diddep's estate--through the sheriff--was offered for sale:

April 19, 1787

To be Sold,
Pursuant to a decree of the court of James City county, at public AUCTION, On Friday the fourth of May, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
THE HOUSES & LOTTS,
In the City of Williamsburg, belonging to the estate of
ARCHIBALD DIDDIP, deceased.
The sale will be on the premises, where the said Diddip lived.²

The tax records for 1788 indicated that John Carter Byrd had come into 4 lots "of Wm. Finnie & Arch^d Diddup." Thus, Diddep's 1 lot was absorbed by Byrd. He or his estate held the 4 lots until 1798 when Richard Randolph of Curles became the owner. Randolph died in 1799. His estate held the property--which had absorbed Diddep's lot--until 1801.¹ At this date, there were 6 lots.

Randolph's will dated February 19, 1799 explains how he held 6 lots instead of 4 lots:

…
I give to my beloved wife Maria all my Houses and lots in the City of Williamsburg where I now live which I purchased of John C. Byrd and Benjamin Bucktrout² together with all my house hold and Kitchen furniture during her natural life. and that my said wife be furnished with a neat serviceable carriage and a pair of horses in the discretion of my executors and also the Houses 8 and Lots in Williamsburg in which I have given her a life estate be put in neat and good repair...
Richard Randolph SS¹

From the will and Land Tax records we note how Randolph acquired the property: he had 4 lots via Finnie and Diddep (tax records) and 2 lots via Bucktrout. Plats of Williamsburg of the 19th century indicate "Bucktrout" on two lots designated as "253 & 254" which said lots adjoined those marked "Semple" to the east.

By 1801 James Semple, attorney, was owner of 4 lots valued at $70.²

Late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century plats of Williamsburg such as the College Map (1796?), Bucktrout Map (1807) and Galt Map show "Semple" on Lot 255.

As records for James City County part of Williamsburg were destroyed in 1865 it is practically impossible to get clear title to the properties on Francis Street or definite bounds.

It looks as though Lot 255 remained in the custody of the Semple family until it was owned by John B. Christian 1851-1856, then George P. Scarborough and in 1859 James W. Custis via right of wife. Custis or his heirs held it until 1910 when Mrs. Margaret Custis Hansford, widow, conveyed to William F. Reeve.¹

Illustration #1

FROM FRENCHMAN'S MAP 1782?
FOUNDATIONS UNCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EXCAVATION, JULY 1931.

Illustration #2

Illustration #3

HUMPHREY HARWOOD ACCOUNT BOOK

(insolvent)