Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

Eastern Section of Lot 52

Source material reveals nothing further about Margaret Hunter in Williamsburg until February 5, 1780, when goods were for sale under her name: "at my store opposite Mr. Ambrose Davenport's Tavern."¹ (Virginia Gazette, 6 Dixon & Nicolson, eds.)

In 1782 the Williamsburg Land Tax Records show that Margaret Hunter held 1/4 lot valued at 2 pounds. (See Illustration #2, tax records.)

The Frenchman's Map (1782) shows several houses on what appears to be lot 52. On the western part of the lot is a large house facing upon Main Street, with a smaller house towards the east and contiguous. Two smaller dependencies lie to the rear of these houses.

In 1783 Margaret Hunter was proprietor of a lot in Williamsburg (William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. XI, p. 114); and paid tax on six slaves (Ibid., Vol. XXIII, p. 136).

Certain repairs of a minor nature were made in August 1784 to property of Margaret Hunter in Williamsburg. Such repair work is noted in the ledger of Humphrey Harwood, a carpenter and brick mason in the city: "To 1 bushel of lime 1/ & repairing Steps 3/. & labr^s work a 6^d...£ - .4.6." (Ledger B, p. 69, copy in Department of Research.)

On October 11, 1787, the announcement of the sale of the property of "the late Mrs. Hunter"¹ appeared:

THE BRICK HOUSE the property of the late Mrs. Hunter, situated in the most public part of the city, well calculated for a store or dwelling house, in very good repair, it has a flush cellar, laid with flag stones, and a very convenient kitchen; also two very likely NEGRO WOMEN, both exceeding good house servants, one is also an excellent washer, ironer, and clear starcher, and a good pastry cook; one of the women has four fine children who will be sold with their mother, the other has two very likely girls, they will be sold either with their mother or separately; likewise the household and kitchen furniture among which are a handsome chest of drawers, and a desk and book case, both mahogany, with several very useful articles for a kitchen, particularly a very good jack, with everything compleat, 7 Six months will be allowed for one half the purchase money, and twelve months for the remainder, on giving bond with approved security to
EDWARD CHARLTON, Admr." (Virginia Gazette & Weekly Advertiser, Thomas Nicolson, ed.)

At the death of Edward Charlton, administrator of Margaret Hunter's estate, his wife, Jane Charlton (sister of Margaret Hunter), became executrix. In 1792, records of the Hustings Court for Williamsburg note that Jane Charlton was executrix of Margaret Hunter, decd. (Execution Book of Philip Moody, ms. copy in Department of Research.)

Jane Charlton's further association with lot 52 is seen in the document below:

July 14, 1795.

Farrow, Elizabeth
of London (widow)
to Hornsby, William

Power of attorney to sell to her sister Jane Charlton her half interest in a certain brick dwelling house and premises situate and being in the Main Street of the city of Williamsburg, formerly the property of her late sister Margaret Hunter, spinster, deceased, Jane Charlton and Elizabeth Farrow being joint heirs of Margaret Hunter.
(York County Records, Deeds, Book VII, p. 171)

Beginning in 1796, insurance policies of the Mutual Assurance Society give significant material concerning the two sections of lot 52. Policy #127, dated April 19, 1796, in the name of Jane Charlton, lists property which fits the description and location of the property once belonging to Margaret Hunter: "...My Brick Buildings on the main street at Williamsburg now occupied by myself situated between the house of David Millers¹ and that of William Russel..." A diagram attached to the policy of buildings insured includes a brick house marked "A" valued at $800; a wood kitchen marked "B" valued at $170. The brick house was a one story structure, 24 8 feet by 36 feet; the wood kitchen was two story, 16 feet by 16 feet. (See Illustration #3 for copy of policy.)

The Hunter store had been sold by April 18, 1804. To quote from a letter of William Prentis to Joseph Prentis at Williamsburg:

...With respect to the Store and Lot, it really appears to me that if Mrs. Hunter's store with but little more ground than what it stands on, sold for 400 dollars, that that of Warburton's must be worth 600 dollars... (Letters of William Prentis to Joseph Prentis, p. 23, copy in Department of Research)

The Williamsburg Land Tax Records do not indicate the purchaser of Margaret Hunter's store. Undoubtedly, Jane Charlton, sister of Margaret Hunter, was the purchaser as (1) Jane Charlton, joint heir to the property with another sister, Mrs. Farrow, secured it in 1795 and had permission from her sister in London to purchase her half interest; (2) in 1796, the Mutual Assurance Society issued a policy, #127, to Jane Charlton on property corresponding in description and location to the former Hunter property.

In January 1798, "Mrs. Charlton, merchant," was debtor to James Anderson, blacksmith, according to the following bookkeeping entry: "To mending a brass door lock... 1 shilling 6 pence." (James Anderson Account Books, p. 49 - photostat in Department of Research.)

In 1806 an insurance policy (#665) in the name of Philip Moody described a brick dwelling house on the Main street. The policy was a revaluation of #127 (Jane Charlton, 1796): "...two Buildings on the North side of the Main Street now occupied by Peter Powell and situated between the Lott of W^m Russell on the East¹ and the Lott of David Miller Estate on the west in 9 the county of York. The buildings insured are a "Brick Dwelling House cov'd with wood, 1 story high, 40 by 27 feet"; and a "Wooden Kitchen, 2 Story high, 20 by 20 feet." The dwelling faced upon the main street and was "Distanced on the W 60 feet from 3 wooden houses." (The Prentis house was west.) The policy also includes the general statement: "These Buildings [dwelling and kitchen] are contiguous and within 30 feet of 13 wooden houses & 3 brick covered with wood." Also, the dwelling is "distanced on the East 1 foot from a wooden House & 40 feet from a Brick House covered with wood." (See Illustration #3 for copy of policy #665.)

There is a difference in size in this house and the house described in the policy of Jane Charlton's. It is possible that the difference came about through carelessness on the part of the insurance agent or through some changes in the building itself. As the policy above (1806) is a revaluation of the policy of Charlton's (1796), this interpretation seems reasonable. Carelessness of the agent in judging the property seems more plausible because several policies on the house later (1817, 1830 and 1839) indicate the original dimensions (36 feet by 24 feet).

Recently (January 1948) architects of Colonial Williamsburg measured the brick shop now standing on the east side of lot 52. They found measurements which coincide with dimensions of the brick house insured in Jane Charlton's policy of 1796: 24 feet by 36 feet.

There seems to have been some relationship between William Russell's wife, who was Betsy Farrow, and Mrs. Elizabeth Farrow, widow, of London, who was a sister of Jane Charlton. William Russell married Betsy Farrow of Williamsburg in January 1775. (Virginia Gazette, Pinckney, ed., Jan. 5, 1775.) Two Russell children had names connected with the family: "William Farrow Russell" born 1785 and "Jane Russell" born 1780 (Record of Bruton Parish Church, p. 153). Research has not revealed anything further about the 10 Farrows in Williamsburg or their possible relationship to the Hunter and Russell families. However, it does seem significant that Russell, who married a Farrow, and Mrs. Elizabeth Farrow, who held half interest in property in Williamsburg, should be owner or part owners of adjoining property.

Western Section of Lot 52

Previously noted in this report, a deed of November 15, 1774, indicates that William Russell had come into the "greater part" of a lot (recognized as lot 52) via Dr. George Gilmer. Williamsburg Land Tax Records furnish vague evidence and insurance policies of the late eighteenth century give proof to indicate that William Russell was owner of some part of lot 52. Such records follow:

1786 - William Russell	1 lot	£12. 0.0
1791 - William Russell	1 lot	£ 6.10.0
1797 - William Russell	1 lot	£ 8.10.0
1801 - William Russell	1 lot	$70

Russell undoubtedly was owner of a part of lot 52 in 1796. Basis for this statement is found in insurance policy #127, issued to Jane Charlton on April 19, 1796, in which her "brick buildings on the main street in Williamsburg are situated between the house of David Millers¹ and that of William Russell." In policy #123 of April 1796, Matt Anderson² declares that the Anderson property was "occupied by self between the lot of William Russell and the back street." (Copy of policy in insurance records, Department of Research.)

On the Frenchman's Map (1782) the lot is noted and houses are apparently situated on the lot as sketched in the following plat: 11

The College Map (reputed to be ca. 1791, very probably some years later) designates "Russell" on lot 52 with "M. Anderson" on lot 51. (See Illustration #1 for Tyler's adaptation of College Map.)

The Bucktrout-Lively Map (1803 & 1867) indicates "Russell" on lot 52.

As William Russell, apparently, was owner of only one lot in the city before 1795,¹ any repairs made on his property by Humphrey Harwood, local carpenter and brick mason, would doubtless have been made on his houses on lot 52. In the period 1778 through 1793, Harwood made repairs on Russell's property. Such work covered plastering, whitewashing, laying a hearth, repairing a well, work on dairy, etc. (Detailed account In Illustration #4.)

In 1801, incomplete tax records indicate that William Russell owned one lot valued at $70. In 1806, Russell is noted as the owner of two lots, with the same valuation: 12

1806 - William Russell	2 lots	$ 70
1810 - William Russell	2 lots	$ 80
1812 - William Russell Est	2 lots	$100

(Williamsburg Land Tax Records, photostat copy in Department of Research)

History of the Whole Lot Continued from this Point

Williamsburg Land Tax transfers for 1806 indicate that Phillip Moody acquired "¼ lot via Charlton." This transfer would seem to indicate that Moody gained the small lot (eastern part) which Jane Charlton came to possess via her sister, Margaret Hunter, in 1796. (See p. 7 of this report.) Moody may have gained possession of the "greater part" of lot 52 also, though evidence has not been found that he had.

In 1815, Moody insured his property, declaring it a revaluation of policy #665, giving the Anderson property as the west boundary instead of the Russell house:

Mutual Assurance Policy #1518 Revaluation of Buildings declared for Assurance by Philip Moody as per Declaration #665
May 31, 1815:
...That the said Buildings are at present owned by William Crump¹ and Maria his wife residing at Powhatan County That they are situated on the main street in Williamsburg between Rachel Anderson and Ann Millers lots in the County of York... The Dwelling and Shop marked A [valued] at $500... The Kitchen marked B at $200 [Diagram of buildings insured designates:] Dwelling and Shop Brick, covered with wood one story high 40 by 27 feet Kitchen of wood covered with wood two stories high 20 by 20 feet 13 A is within thirty feet of two wooden buildings and
B is within thirty feet of one Brick building covered with wood and two buildings of wood entire
(Copy of policy in Illustration #3)

Unfortunately, the land tax records are incomplete to the extent that apparently there is no transfer of property from Russell to Moody.

In 1817, policy #2439 of the Mutual Assurance Society (dated October 22nd) indicates that John Goodall apparently was the owner of the east section of lot 52:

John Goodall residing at Williamsburg in the county of York... declare my buildings on my own lot situated between the lots of Ann Miller on the East, a street on the North— Rachel Anderson on the North and on the West, and the Main street of Williamsburg on the South... The Dwelling & Store marked A [valued] at $750 The Kitchen marked B at $250
[Diagram of buildings insured designates:]
Dwelling and Store Brick covered with wood one story high 24 by 36 feet Kitchen of wood and covered with wood two stories high 16 by 16 feet The Building marked A is contiguous to five wood buildings, and two Brick buildings covered with wood that marked B to four wood buildings, and three brick buildings covered with wood
(Copy of policy in Illustration #3)

A tax transfer in 1817 confirms John Goodall's ownership of the lot via Crump and Moody: "John Goodall- Transfer 1 lot via William Crump; a house and lot in Williamsburg formerly the property of Philip Moody and 14 charged to him at $1.80 tax bounded by the lots of Rachel Anderson¹ & Millers lots." Again there is no reference to the Russell House to the west. (Williamsburg Land Tax transfers - copy in Department of Research.) From the tax transfer, it seems that Goodall had become owner of the entire lot, though no other records or insurance policies have been found to prove this.

In 1823, policy #5010 issued to Rachel Anderson (a revaluation of declaration #1510) describes her property as "situated between the lot of John Goodall on the East and streets otherwise." (Copy of policy in Department of Research.)

In 1823, Goodall insured his buildings under policy #5028, a revaluation of policy #2439. The dwelling and store is of brick, covered with wood, and is contiguous to six wooden buildings and two of brick. (See Illustration #3 for full drawings.)

Between 1823 and 1825 the lot evidently had come into the possession of Nicholas Ennis. A land tax record for 1825 notes Ennis as owner of one lot, which with buildings was assessed at a value of $550, the value of buildings being $500.² In 1830, Nicholas Vest & Co. is listed as owner of one lot. Value of lot and buildings was placed at $550, the value of buildings being $500, "via Leonard Henley³ & Harriet his wife: Henley purchased of Nicholas Ennis's executors." (See Illustration #2 for tax records.)

In 1830, Nicholas Vest & Co. was insured in policy #7596 (revaluation of policy #5028) on property described by the assured as follows:

Our buildings on the main street in Williamsburg now occupied by ourselves situated between Ann Millers lot 15 on the East, Robert Andersons lots on the North and West, and the main street South in the county of York... The Store marked A [valued] at $1250 The Store House marked B at $300
[Diagram of buildings insured designates:]
Store of Brick covered with wood two stories 36 by 24 feet
Store House of wood entire two stories 16 by 16 feet
The buildings A & B are contiguous to each other and to two Brick buildings covered with wood, and to five other buildings of wood entire
(Copy of policy in Illustration #3)

Mr. John S. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" during 1861 states that "a fire some years before had destroyed the big building on the southwest corner of the square bounded by Duke of Gloucester, Nicholson, Botetourt and 'Blair' streets." (Location described was the Prentis house, lot 51.)

In 1830, Goodall's property, formerly insured under policy #5028, was declared for insurance by Nicholas Vest & Company in policy #7596. The store of brick, covered with wood, was 36 by 24 feet, two stories high, contiguous to two brick buildings covered with wood and to five wood buildings. The storehouse was of wood, two stories high, 16 by 16 feet. (See Illustration #3 for full drawings.)

In 1839, Robert McCandlish, under policy #11,009 insured his buildings, formerly insured per declaration #7596. The brick store was one and a half stories high, 36 by 24 feet, contiguous to a wood storehouse, 16 by 16 feet, and to two brick buildings and eight other wooden buildings. (See Illustration #3 for full drawings.)

It appears from the land tax books of 1843 for Williamsburg that 16 Robert McCandlish was the next owner of the lot, which with buildings was valued at $1200, value of buildings being $1000. The property was acquired "via John J. Jones trustee [son-in-law of McCandlish]- heretofore charged to Nicholas Vest & Co." (See Illus. #2.) McCandlish held the lot until his death in 1860.

In 1843 McCandlish insured his property under policy #11258, a revaluation of #11009. The storehouse of brick, covered with wood, is described as one and a half stories high, 50 by 21 feet, with wood lumber house in rear, Ann Miller's wood dwelling to the east, the building being contiguous to two brick buildings covered with wood and to eight wood buildings (see Illus. #3).

In summing up the evidence as given in the insurance policies (eight in number), the following facts are noted:

Pol. No.
127 - (1)	the property insured first under the name of Jane Charlton in 1796 was a brick house, 24 by 36, with wood kitchen, 16 by 16, situated between David Miller and William Russell.
665R- (2)	the property in 1806, apparently, had increased in size to 40 by 27, was of brick with wood kitchen, 20 by 20. On the west, the brick house was distanced 60 feet from 3 wooden houses; on the east one foot from a wooden house and 40 feet from a brick house; and contiguous within 30 feet of 13 wooden houses and 3 brick houses. Miller and Russell are boundaries.
1518R- (3)	the property in 1815 appears in size as above (40 by 27 for the dwelling and shop of brick, with kitchen 20 by 20). Brick building is within 35 feet of two wooden buildings. Rachel Anderson and Ann Miller are boundaries.
2439 - (4)	the property in 1817 insured in Goodall's name was of brick (dwelling and store) 24 by 36, with wood kitchen 16 by 16. Brick building is contiguous to 5 wood buildings and 2 brick buildings. Rachel Anderson on the west and Ann Miller on the east.
5028R- (5)	the property insured in 1823 was designated "A"-Dwelling and store of brick and "B"-Kitchen of wood; no dimensions to either given. Brick and wood houses are contiguous to 6 wooden buildings and 2 brick buildings. Rachel Anderson on the west and Ann Miller on the east.
7596R- (6)	the property in 1830 in the name of Nicholas Vest & Co. was a store of brick, 36 by 24, with store house of wood, 16 by 16; both contiguous to 2 brick buildings and 5 wooden buildings. Ann Miller on the east and Robert Anderson's lot on the west.
11009R- (7)	the property in 1839 in the name of Robert McCandlish is noted as a brick store, 36 by 24, with store house of wood, 16 by 16; both contiguous to 2 brick buildings and 8 wooden buildings. Ann Miller on the east and Robert Anderson on the west.
11258R- (8)	the property in 1843 in McCandlish's name is described as a storehouse of brick, 50 by 21, with wood lumber house in rear. Ann Miller's property on the east and W. W. Vest & Company's brick store further east; with the brick storehouse contiguous to 2 brick buildings and 8 wood buildings. Robert Anderson's lot on the west.

If all eight policies, as noted above, describe the brick house situated on the easternmost part of lot 52, the fact remains that there are inconsistencies in the size of the house and kitchen (in policies for 1806 and for 1815).

Evidence as to the Russell house being of brick seems to lie in the references to contiguous houses of brick noted in the policies on the brick shop on the easternmost part of lot 52, and to references to brick houses contiguous to the brick house on lot 53 built by Carter.

Such references will be pointed out below.

• (1)The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following definitions of contiguous:

  "1. Touching, in actual contact, next in space; meeting at a common boundary, bordering, adjoining.
  "...
  "5. Loosely: neighboring, situated in close proximity (though not in contact)."

• (2)

  The brick house situated on the easternmost part of lot 53 - though not "touching" the brick house on the easternmost part of lot 52 - was "neighboring" or "situated in close proximity." In 1801, James Davis was owner of the brick house on lot 53. Policy #487 in the name of Davis describes his dwelling on the main street. The agent draws a picture of the divided house of brick and states that the property is "Situated in a Row of three Brick houses and 12 Wooden houses."

  Main Street on the S: upwards of 20 feet wide

  "Situated in a Row of three Brick houses and 12 Wooden houses L: Rivaling July 22, 1801"

  Note: Could the "Row of three Brick houses" be the brick house on lot 53, the brick shop on the eastern part of lot 52, and the Russell house on the western part of lot 52?

• (3)

  Policies for 1817, 1823, 1830, 1839 and 1843 on the brick shop on the easternmost part of lot 52 indicate that 2 other brick houses were contiguous to it.

  In view of the above definitions of the word "contiguous," and of information on the brick house on lot 53, it is possible that the other brick house contiguous may have been the Russell house (situated supposedly on the western section of lot 52).

An excerpt of the chain of title to the lot after the death of McCandlish follows. A deed of October 15, 1873, cites that Col. Robert McCandlish died seized and possessed of a certain lot with buildings thereon "situate in the said City of Williamsburg containing about half an acre, more or less, and bounded in the following manner- South by Duke of Gloucester Street- north by Nicholson Street, east by the lot of W. H. Lee, & west by the lot belonging to the estate of Ro. Anderson Dec^d... The same lot was sold by the Commissioner, Thomas P. McCandlish to Gustave Teiser by contract in writing bearing date the 20th of April 1873." (The McCandlish property had been in litigation from December 1866, McCandlish vs. McCandlish: chancery suits papers, Williamsburg and James City County Court House.) On October 15, 1873, the deed between Thomas McCandlish, commissioner, and Gustave Teiser was recorded. The consideration was $500. (Williamsburg and James City County, Deeds, Book II, pp. 351-52.)

Teiser held the property until December 30, 1889, when he gave a deed of trust to Henry Morris on "that certain lot or parcel of land with all the improvements & holdings thereon, of which Col. Ro. McCandlish died seized and possessed & which was conveyed to the said Teiser by deed bearing date October 15, 1873... Said trust, to secure the payment of a note drawn and signed by the said G. Teiser dated December 30, 1889 and payable to D. Lichtenstein..." (Ibid., pp. 316-17.) Said deed of trust was recorded on January 11, 1890. The same year Lichtenstein came into full ownership of the property. (Ibid., pp. 368-69.)

In describing what was apparently lot 52, Mr. J. S. Charles in his "Recollections of Williamsburg" said: "The next building east was the brick house now used as an auto shop. This is a very old building, the first floor of which was much higher than at present, reached by stone steps leading up from both sides in front; it was used for a store and residence." (p. 145.)

Mrs. Victoria M. Lee, in referring to Williamsburg of 1861, described (on p. 74 of her reminiscences) what appeared to be lot 52 as follows: "Beyond the Lee House was a two story brick store kept by Mr. Tieser. This building has now been restored and is called the Kinnamon store. To the west of Tieser's store there were two very small, dilapidated cottages, one of which was occupied by the Bodkins. I cannot recall who lived in the other, however, both of these cottages were shortly torn down."

A picture taken in the Bland-Wetherburn Tavern yard about 1900 shows the little Lee house, mentioned in the above quotation. The picture is of a group of young ladies and college students. (Photograph in Department of Research.)

Further title to this property can be found in the Accounting Department, Colonial Williamsburg.

WILLIAMSBURG LAND TAX RECORDS