Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

LOCATION:

The "Lewis" lot is located on part of lot 16 which faces upon Francis Street. A narrow street, designated as "Federal Lane" on the College Map (ca. 1791) and "Colonial Street" on more recent maps, bounds the lot on the west. Archaeological reports on the lot bear out the facts, as given in deeds of the eighteenth century, that at one time a colonial house stood on the Francis Street side of the lot.

HISTORY:

Orlando Jones,¹ son of Reverend Rowland Jones, at one time Rector of Bruton Parish, was the first known owner of lots 16 and 17.² In his will, Orlando Jones ordered that his two lots and house in Williamsburg be sold in order to pay his debts and leave his wife some security:

June 4th, 1719.

"…first I will & desire Order & Appoint my house and two lotts in Williamsburgh be sold by my Exec^rs hereafter named towards payment of my debts legacies funeral Charges & out of the produce thereof I give to my loving wife Mary Jones one hundred pounds sterl^g. I will & desire that when my house & lots shall be sold that if it should not produce as much as will pay the hundred pounds Sterl^g & my debts that then my Tob^o shiped & now to be shipped...May be appropriated for that Use…"

(York County Records, Deeds, Orders, Wills, XV, 517.)

A few months after the death of her husband, Mary Jones³ conveyed the property to John James Flournoy, watchmaker: 2

" January 16, 1719[/20]

Jones, Mary, widow of Orlando Jones
to
Flournoy, John James - Watchmaker, City of Williamsburg
Consideration: 100 Pounds current money and one hundred pounds Sterling

Two lots of ground lying and being in the City of Williamsburg denoted in the plan of the said city by the figures 16, 17…With all houses and buildings."

(Abstract from York County Records, Deeds, Bonds III, 326)

Jones, in his will (quoted on page 1), ordered his house and lots in Williamsburg to be sold, but he did not state on which lot the house was built. However, evidence seems to have located the Jones house on lot 16 portion of Duke of Gloucester Street. Excavation has uncovered colonial foundations of a house 16 x 22 feet. (See Orlando Jones Archaeological Report, Department of Research.) When Flournoy sold the property, in September 1729, to Joanna Archer,¹ widow of Michael Archer, the deed failed to state on which lot the house was situated:

" September 13, 1729.

Flournoy, John James - Watchmaker
to
Archer, Joanna - widow
Consideration: 160 Pounds.

All that messuage or dwelling house wherein the said John James Flournoy now dwelleth situate on the South side of the Street called Duke of Gloucester Street, also 2 lots of land on one of which the said messuage now stands, which lots are described in the plan of the said city by the figures 16, and 17."

(York County Records, Deeds, Bonds, III, 528.)

After the death of Joanna Archer, the property was rented to 3 Dr. Kenneth McKenzie. While Dr. McKenzie was the occupant, the lots were offered for sale:

" May 16, 1745

The Dwelling-house, Kitchen, Meat-house, Stable, and other convenient Out-houses; also a Garden, with 2 Lots they are upon, being Part of the Estate of Mrs. Joanna Archer, deceas'd, and where Doctor KennethMacKenzie now lives, in DukeofGlocesterStreet, Williamsburg, are to be expos'd to Sale to the highest Bidder, for ready Money, on the second Tuesday in June next, being the first Day of the Courts of Oyer and Terminer."(Virginia Gazette, Parks, editor.)

By 1803, lot 16 had been subdivided. The Bucktrout Map (ca. 1803) gives the name "Lewis" on the part of lot 16 facing Francis Street and "Charlton" on the larger section towards the north. On the Frenchman's Map of (ca. 1782) no house appears on the southern part of lot 16.¹ (See Illustration #1 of the Appendix.) The College Map (ca. 1791)² gives no name on the southern end of lot 16. Hence it seems reasonable to state that the first division of the lot came about 1803.

In 1782 the tax records (transfers) for Williamsburg record as follows:

"George Reid to Charles Lewis½lot---£10.10 [valuation]"

From this record it seems that Lewis may have acquired a part of lot 16 in Williamsburg. As we do not have any record of George Reid owning part of lot 16 in 1782, we do not know whether this information is pertinent.

Tax records for 1785 list Charles Lewis3 as owner of ¼ lot in Williamsburg. In 1791, Charles Lewis was owner of a½size lot in the city; 4 in 1797, the same; and in 1801, Lewis paid tax on a lot valued at $20. Other records at this period give evidence that Charles Lewis was living in Williamsburg:

"Charles Lewis, To Cash
paid Littleton Tazewell y^r order on July 20 1798---9-
paid William Carter y^r do Do Sept 18 1798---" .9"(Robert Anderson Account Books: Cash Book #1, p. 4, Virginia Historical Society.)

In the account of James Wright to Anderson of January 31, 1801, Lewis appears again:

"Charles Lewis for so much you assum^d to pay for him---20-"(Ibid.)

One cannot be altogether certain that Charles Lewis was the Lewis who was in possession of the smaller part of lot 16 facing upon Francis Street. There were other Lewis men in Williamsburg during this period (John Lewis and William Lewis).¹ However, Charles Lewis was the only Lewis who had a¼lot or½lot. The fact that John Orrill secured, in 1806, "½ lot Via Lewis---Value $20," strengthens the belief that the½lot was a part of lot 16. (See Tax Transfers, Illustration #2, of the Appendix.)

Certain transactions between John Orrill and Robert Anderson, covering the years 1806-1810, take into account the two lots of Orrill: one lot² was situated on the south side of Francis Street between Carter and Pearson (diagonally across from the Lewis lot); and the other was the½lot, the Lewis lot, subject of this study. There is every indication to point to the belief that John Orrill possessed two lots on Francis Street. He bought the 5 Lewis lot in 1806 and the other lot across the street in 1810. (The Orrell house history of 1944 in the Department of Research does not make this distinction.)

On November 24, 1812, James Wright and Eve, his wife, of Williamsburg, conveyed to Dr. Philip Barraud¹ of the city, the following lot: "…on north side of the South street…bounded on the West by lot of Mr. Charles Lewis, on the South by said Street, on the East by Lots of M^r James Anderson Dec, on the North by lot of Miss Polly Stith…"²(Tucker-Coleman Letters, Department of Research) . The above indenture places Charles Lewis on lot 16 and James Wright on lot 17 with the Stith lot towards the north and James Anderson's lot to the East.³

On January 17, 1814, Orrill's lot is mentioned as a boundary for lot 15:

"January 17, 1814.

Cheeks, Wilson
Sally, his wife
to
Anderson, Robert
Consideration: $1000.

That well known house and lot in Williamsburg, County of York, lately in the occupation of James and Eva Wright, and bounded as follows, to-wit: On the North by the Main Street, on the East by a street which divides the same from Orrill's and Charlton's lots, on the South by Frances Street, and on the West by Lightfoots lot and the Masons Hall, together with all houses and improvements thereon."

(York County Records, Deeds VIII, 250.)

Certain transactions between John Orrill and Robert Anderson in 1814 and 1815 concern, undoubtedly, the smaller lot--Lewis lot. On June 22, 1814, 6 is this record:

"John Orrill dr [to Robert Anderson] Sundries

	Bills Receivable	Murdough & Jeffries note assum	9.50
	Merchandise	Interest on the above note	1.80
		interest on lot rents	$1.75 & .75-2.50 4.30
	Post and rails at estimate to repair lots		2. "

(Robert Anderson Account Books: Day Book #5, p. 39, Virginia Historical Society.)

In the above account of Orrill to Anderson, mention is made of rents on two lots. As Orrill possessed two lots (the Orrill lot on the south side of Francis Street and the Lewis lot on the north side of Francis Street), it is obvious that the 75 cent rent charge was on the Lewis lot then owned by Orrill.

Anderson may have had a deed of trust on the lot. On June 23, 1814, is this record:

"Bill Receivable dr To John Orrill
for his deed of Trust to me as Trustee to secure my own and other debts due July 1, 1814-------------------53-39"(Robert Anderson Account Books:Day Book #5, p. 39, Virginia Historical Society.)

On February 27, 1815, the Day Book of Robert Anderson records that Richard Coke was debtor to John Orrill for a house and lot:

"For purchase of house & lot, sold on 23^d July last for C. Orrill's[¹] est due 1 March 1816. . . . . . 181 for same sold this day (dower only remaining) .... 5" (Robert Anderson Account Books:Day Book #5, P. 48, Virginia Historical Society.)

On April 12, 1815, on the next page of the Day Book, Orrill's account with Anderson is given:

"John Orrill dr To Sundries.
. . .
Merchandise--drawing & record^g, of Deed of self & wife To me as Tr--7.45
7 record of deed to me as trustee for Ch^s Orrill---1.75 commissions on 186 ---the sales of the house 9.30, drawing deed to Richard Coke the purchaser---5-"

Again, on December 22, 1815, Richard Coke is debtor to John Orrill:

"for interest on 186 from feby last-----------9.15
Sundries dr To Richard Coke
Cash Account received balance for Orrills house-----72.28"(Robert Anderson Account Books:Day Book #5, 66.)

From the three accounts as quoted above from Anderson's Account Books, it seems that Anderson held a deed of trust on a lot owned by John Orrill, formerly the property of Charles Orrill, and that Richard Coke came into possession of the lot in 1815.

In 1816 Williamsburg Land Tax Transfers confirm the sale of the lot, formerly owned by John Orrill to Richard Coke:

"Richard Coke Jr.----1 lot formerly John Orrill's"(Above records deposited in Virginia State Library Archives.)

Robert Anderson acted as trustee in this sale. The lot was referred to as the "Lewis Lot" though Coke was the owner, for on August 4, 1816, a letter to the tax assessor stated that Robert Anderson owned "one House and lot on the main street, between a cross street and Lightfoot's lot and Lewis' Lot valued at $700 $467 $1.26." Anderson also made the statement that "On the 20th May 1816 I sold this property to Mary Ursule Gabriel Bocciardi [¹] of Wmsburg." (The lot sold was #15.) The description designates the "Lewis Lot" in relation to Lightfoot's property and the cross street. (Robert Anderson Account Books: Day Book #3.)

There were other lots owned by Richard Coke, Jr. on Francis Street. Williamsburg Land Tax Transfers for 1826 give Richard Coke as owner of "2 lots 8 via Anna Byrd of Lynchburg."¹ From 1828-1842 Richard Coke, Jr. was in possession of two lots valued at $1075. and $100. respectively.² Research has not found when the Lewis lot (the lot with $100 valuation) was sold. However, an account found in Day Book #17 of Robert Anderson's Account Books (dated January, 1853) shows that Peyton A. Southall was once the owner of what apparently was the Lewis lot, and that Southall bought the lot from Richard W. and Charles C. Hansford:³

" January 1853

… Richard W. & Charles C. Hansford paid them by P. A. Southall's[⁴] hands for the Cash first payment of House & Lot on Francis & Cross Streets in Williamsburg----------------------------------------$150.
Landed Estate dr To Richard W. and Charles C. Hansford A House & lot situated on Frances and a Cross street in Williamsburg. The above was bought by Peyton A. Southall, and by him to me at $150. cash and the balance of $450 in Annual instalments of $150. Each payable on 1 January 1854, 1855 and 1856 with interest on the sums from 1 January 1853 on bonds given by me with P. A. S. as security-"

(Robert Anderson Account Books: Day Book #17, P. 51.)

If this account referred to the Lewis lot, a house must have been built after 1847, as the valuation is so much higher. In June 1853, Anderson renders an account against "Johnson Sands dr To Rents of Real Estate rent of house & lot to 31 Dec 1853 which I bought of Hansford's in W^msburg - for $60."

9

From the abstract of title of the Shewmake lot (Lewis lot), prepared by B. D. Peachy for Williamsburg Restoration in 1930, the earliest reference to the property found in the City Land Book is for the year 1866. On page 1 of the City Land Book, it is recorded that Robert Anderson was charged with ten parcels of land. According to Mr. Peachy, "undoubtedly one of these ten parcels is the above described property, although it is impossible to identify this property from the entry in the Land Book." Apparently a suit had been brought some time prior to May 29, 1868, against the personal representative and heirs at law of Robert Anderson, deceased, by the president and directors of the Dismal Swamp Land Company and others. A note by Mr. Peachy states that "the source of title to many pieces of property in Williamsburg and York Counties emanates from this suit, and never has there been any irregularity in this suit claimed so far as the records in the Circuit Court of the City of Williamsburg will show."

Robert Anderson by will (dated February 22, 1857; probated October 12, 1871) made the following bequest to his servant, Maria Griffin:

"…I now bequeath to her [Maria Griffiin] in money the sum of three hundred dollars and all the bedding and furniture in the room usually occupied by her, and I lend to her for her life to live in the House and Lot about ninety feet square on Frances and Cross Streets in Williamsburg bought mainly of Hansfords …. " (Will Book of the City of Williamsburg and County of James City, 1869, pp. 7-11.)

Here is given a description of the small lot, apparently the Lewis lot. According to Anderson's will, his property could not be sold until the year 1875. (Ibid.)

In 1884, On December 8th, a deed was given by the special commissioner of Robert Anderson's estate to John L. Mercer:

"A certain lot or parcel of land in the said City of Williamsburg, designated in the said decree as Lot #5 and as fronting on a back street ninety-three (93) feet 10 and running back northwardly one hundred eight (108) feet to Lot #1 (sold at said sale to Judge R. L. Henley), the said lot being further described and bounded: on the north by the lot recently conveyed to Judge R. L. Henley by the said Wm. W. Old, Special Commissioner; on the south by the back street aforesaid; on the east by the property of the said Mercer; and on the west by a street separating the property hereby conveyed from the lot of or formerly owned by John A. Deneufville, [¹] being the same purchased by the said John L. Mercer at the sale aforesaid." (Deed Book 2 of the City of Williamsburg, p. 125. See Chain of Title, Department of Research.)

The lot so described in the above deed is without doubt the same property referred to in Anderson's will as "about ninety feet square on Frances and Cross Streets."

On December 21, 1911, after Mercer's death, his heirs conveyed to Jean S. Mercer the following lot:

"First: All of that certain lot or parcel of land situate in the City of Williamsburg, Virginia, which John L. Mercer died, seized and possessed, and bounded and described as follows: on the south by Francis Street; on the west by Queene Street; on the north by the lot formerly owned by R. L. Henley, now the property of Beale; and on the east by the property of Jean S. Mercer. Said lot fronts on Francis Street ninety-three (93) feet, and runs back in a northerly direction one hundred eight (108) feet, and being the same lot that was conveyed to John L. Mercer by Wm. W. Old, Special Commissioner, the deed bearing date on the 8th day of December 1884, and recorded in the Clerk's Office of the City of Williamsburg, Virginia, in Deed Book 2, page 125."(See Chain of Title, Department of Research.)

On March 1, 1916, Jean S. Mercer, in consideration of $100. granted to H. W. Dana or his assigns the exclusive right and privilege to sell before June 1, 1916, at the price of $2000. that property on the north side of Francis Street, beginning at the woven wire fence west of the house in which Jean S. Mercer was living and running along Francis Street two hundred (200) feet more or less, and one-half of the block and to the rear, of the lot on 11 the west, including the small house and running back to the property facing Gloucester Street. On the same date Horace W. Dana assigned any right, title or interest to this agreement to John Sloan. (Deed Book 7 of the City of Williamsburg, P. 53.) Sloan took an option on the property with the idea of purchasing within three months at the price of $1025. (Ibid., 146.) On May 26, 1916, Jean S. Mercer (widow) conveyed to John Sloan, with covenants of general warranty, the following:

"All that certain lot or parcel of land situate in the City of Williamsburg, Virginia, bounded and described as follows: On the south by Francis Street; on the west by Colonial Street; on the north by the lot formerly owned by R. L. Henley, now owned by George E. Beale; and on the east by the property owned by the grantor and her children. Said lot fronts on Francis Street ninety-three (93) feet and runs back in a northerly direction between parallel lines one hundred eight (108) feet; being the same lot conveyed by Wm. W. Old, Special Commissioner, to John L. Mercer by deed dated the 8th day of December 1884, and recorded in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court of the City of Williamsburg and County of James City in Deed Book 2, page 125; and the same lot conveyed to the said Jean S. Mercer by the heirs of John L. Mercer by deed dated December 21, 1911, and recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 6, page 176."(Deed Book 7 of the City of Williamsburg, p. 346.)

From September 1926 to 1935 there have been deeds, deeds of trust, contracts, and agreements to the above described property. A detailed legal statement of the property during the various changes is given in the chain of title, as prepared by B. D. Peachy in 1930, for Williamsburg Restoration.

In 1938, Williamsburg Restoration, Inc. obtained a fee simple title to said property. In 1939, Williamsburg Restoration, Inc. conveyed to John D. Rockefeller, Jr. by deed of date, April 27, 1939, the above described lot. (See Folder #1282 B Deed No. 1, Item 30.) The same day Mr. Rockefeller conveyed to Colonial Williamsburg, Inc. the same property. (See Folder #1282 B Deed No. 2, Item 1.)

Mr. John S. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" during 12 the Civil War day wrote:

"The square bounded by Duke of Gloucester, Francis, and Colonial and Botetourt streets, had, at the time of the Civil War began, and for many years anterior thereto, only three dwellings on it ….
"On the southwest corner of the square there stood the same old one story house which has recently been renovated and repaired."

IN SUMMARY:

Orlando Jones, son of Rowland Jones, was the first known owner of lot 16. At the time Jones was in possession, the deed described two lots of Jones in Williamsburg. A subsequent deed to John Flournoy by the widow of Orlando Jones in January 1719/20, mentions the lot numbers as 16 and 17. Flournoy conveyed the lots in 1729 to Joanna Archer, widow of Michael Archer. Nothing is known about the property (lot 16) from 1745 to 1785. About 1790, lot 16 was subdivided. The section facing Duke of Gloucester Street apparently was owned by Charlton. No name appeared on the College Map on the section of lot 16 facing upon Francis Street. The Bucktrout Map gives the name "Lewis" on this part of lot 16. In 1806-1810 certain transactions between John Orrill and Robert Anderson show that Orrill came into possession in 1806 of the Lewis lot. In 1816, Orrill conveyed the lot to Richard Coke. Just when Coke or his heirs sold the lot is not known. In 1853, Richard and Charles Hansford were in possession. Robert Anderson came into possession sometime before 1857, when he bequeathed unto his servant, Maria Griffin, the use of the lot during her life. In 1884, John L. Mercer, through a special commissioner of Robert Anderson's estate, obtained full title. After Mercer's death in 1911 his heirs conveyed the property to Jean S. Mercer. Finally it was sold to John Sloan who had an option on the property at $1025. From 1911 the property has been under deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, etc. In 1935, by deed between Lela Bouldin Shewmake and Williamsburg Restoration, Inc., the lot was conveyed to the latter named. In 1939, Williamsburg Restoration, Inc. conveyed 13 the property to Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. By deed dated April 27, 1939, Mr. Rockefeller gave deed to the property to Colonial Williamsburg, Inc.

APPENDIX

Illustration #1	-- Maps and Archaeological Drawings
Illustration #2	-- Tax Records

NEW MATERIAL (not used in other house histories.)

• 1. Material from Robert Anderson Account Books (Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia).
• 2.Letter from Tucker-Coleman Collection (Department of Research).
• 3.Insurance policy of date April 9, 1823, to Richard Coke, Jr.

Illustration #1
Lewis Lot #16

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

FROM FRENCHMAN'S MAP 1782?

Illustration #2
Lewis Lot #16
Tax Records

Williamsburg Tax Records

1785	Charles Lewis	¼lot	9£
1791	Charles Lewis	½lot	6£
1797	Charles Lewis	½lot	6£
1801	Charles Lewis	1 lot	$20
1806	John Orrill	½lot Via Lewis	$20
1816	Richard Coke Jr.	1 lot formerly John Orrill's (Tax Transfers)
1830	Richard Coke Jr.	2 lots	$1075
			100
1835	Richard Coke Jr.	2 lots	$1075
			100
1838	Richard Coke Jr.	2 lots	$1075
			100
1840	Richard Coke Jr.	2 lots	$1075
			100
1843	Anna Field via Rich Coke Jr.	2 lots	$1075
			100