Department 56 Williamsburg Village: Bruton Parish Church, Tarpley's Store, and Taliaferro-Cole Shop and House

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Tarpley's Store Shoppers,"
#4020960

Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg:  President Franklin Roosevelt called the Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg the "most historic avenue in all America."  It runs from the College of William and Mary on the west to the Capitol on the east.  But it wasn't always that way.  I wonder if its 1699 namesake, his Highness William Duke of Gloucester, would have been gratified if he knew the "street" named for him was nothing more than a narrow horse path that meandered along a ridge separating the James and York Rivers, then rolled through swampy ravines, and obstructed by occasional houses.  High honor, indeed. (1)  Williamsburg Village from Department 56 Tarpley?s Store Shoppers

Dept. 56, Williamsburg,
"Charlton's Morning Shipment,"
#4023621

The street remained so for centuries, hilly, irregular, a dust cloud in the dry months, a muddy slough in wet.  Despite this, the town fathers, from the very beginning, set up building codes to create a formal commercial area.  In front of shops and inns passed men and women in wagons, oxcarts, stages, and on horseback, dodging sheep, chickens, children, merchants, and wide-eyed visitors from the country, all coming to do business in Virginia's wealthy colonial capital.

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Bruton Parish Church,"
#4018968

Bruton Parish Church by Department 56 One of the anchor buildings on Duke of Gloucester  St. was Bruton Parish Church, built in 1715 and frequented by great men of American history: Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Patrick Henry, and George Mason.  No Williamsburg Christmas miniature village is complete without Bruton Parish.  Like the city it served, Bruton Parish supported the patriots' cause.  In 1765 the passage of the Stamp Act was motivation for a special service at the church, where the Burgesses expressed their outrage. Department 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Lit House, Bruton Parish Church

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Going to Church,"
#4018971

Another Virginia protest was elicited when England closed the port of Boston after the Boston Tea Party.  This time, the Burgesses marched in solemn procession to the church for a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer. Bruton Parish's Rev. Gwatkin was asked to give a sermon for the occasion, but the good rector was tutor to British Lord Dunmore's eldest son, and his sympathy lay with the mother country.  Citing a "disorder in his Breast," Rev. Gwatkin declined to deliver the sermon.  George Washington, a member of the House of Burgesses, wrote in his diary of this occasion, "Went to Church & fasted all day." (2) The patriotic fervor was so high that the tradition prayer for the King, printed in the lectern prayer book in Bruton Church, was crossed out, and a prayer for the President of the United States substituted! (3)Department 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Figurine, Going to ChurchDepartment 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Figurine

Bruton Parish Church,
Williamsburg, Va.
Contemporary view, from
www.history.org

Of course, Bruton Church has its share of lamentable history, which provides a window on 18th century American culture and economics.  For example, in the early 18th century, the Virginia General Assembly approved renovation of the church, and noted it should be financed from taxes on liquor and slaves.  The social order was further explained in a vestry book entry in 1716, which stated, "Ordered that the Men sitt on the north side of the church, and the women on the left."  Always good to keep in mind how far we've come....(4)

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Caroling in Williamsburg,"
#4018972
Another light note from Bruton Parish Church

On a lighter note, one of the church organists was Peter Pelham, the Gaolkeeper, or jailer, for Williamsburg.  When Mr. Pelham played the organ for services, he brought with him one of the prisoners from the Gaol, to pump air for the instrument!  By the way, James Tarpley, of Tarpley's Store, discussed below, donated a church bell, which resides there still. (5)Department 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Figurine, Caroling in Williamsburg

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Tarpley's Store,
#4021334

Tarpley's Store by Department 56:  Tarpley's Store, well-situated right on the Duke of Gloucester Street, was described in 18th century city records as "commodius and well-situated"  Over time Tarpley's store became a watch and clock-maker's store, then a printing shop for the Virginia Gazette, which also sold books and stationary. Williamsburg Village from Department 56 Tarpley?s Store

Tarpley's Store, Williamsburg, Va.
Contemporary View.  Image by
Will Lyster for Google Earth.

Records confirm that the store was built on a brick foundation, had dormer windows, and was used as both a store and residence.  Products imported from England would have included earthenware, glass, skillets, silverware, soap, coffee, tools, and fabrics. (6)

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Taliaferro-Cole Shop,"
4018970

Taliaferro Shop and Taliaferro House by Department 56 : It is hard to image a complete Williamsburg Christmas Village display without the Taliaferro Shop and House.  Taliaferro was a well-known name in the 18th century Virginia Tidewater.  In Williamsburg, Charles Taliaferro was first a chairmaker who advertised thus in the Virginia Gazette, "...where those Gentlemen who please to favour me with their custom may depend on having their work done on the most reasonable terms, expeditiously, and warranted to be good." (7) Department 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Lit House, Taliaferro-Cole Shop

Dept. 56, Williamsburg,
"Carter Coach," #4018973

Later, Mr. Taliaferro became a well-known carriage maker.  One ads claims he will sell, for cash only, "...a variety of materials proper for coach and chair makers...also oil, paint, and gold leaf, fit for lining or drawing...By next spring he expects to have finished a few light POST CHARIOTS, which he will sell cheaper than any can be imported from Britain."  Taliaferro appeared to be a true entrepreneur.  He also ran a brewery, a warehouse, and a boat making business.  Apparently successful, he owned up to 14 lots at a time in Williamsburg, and about 160 acres in the country.Department 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Figurine, Carter Coach

Dept. 56, Williamsburg Village,
"Taliaferro-Cole House,"
#4018969

In 1804 the Taliaferro shop and house came into the possession of Jesse Cole, who also sold chairs, coaches, harnesses, and boats.  Cole followed in the footsteps of his entrepreneurial predecessor, Charles Taliaferro. He not only was a merchant, but an apothecary, doctor, post master, and owned a boardinghouse for college students.  Here is how his shop was described in 1827:  

"It is a Book Seller's store in which you will find hams and French brandy; it is an apothecary's shop in which you can provide yourself with black silk stockings and shell of oysters; it is a post office in which you may have glisters, chewing tobacco & in a word it is a museum of natural history in which we meet every afternoon to dispute about the Presidential election, and about the quality of the Irish potatoes..." By the way, I looked up the definition of "glister"......uhm, in colonial America that was an enema.....I hope this is still rated  PG! (8)Department 56 Colonial Williamsburg Village Lit House, Taliaferro-Cole House

References:
(1) http://www.history.org/almanack/places/hb/hbduke.cfm
(2) http://research.history.org/pf/declaring/dayOfFasting.cfm
(3) http://books.google.com/books?id=iSoTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=bruton+church+prayer+for+President&source=bl&ots=HEjHxpZssf&sig=iffr8BNfbf6inV7LOYlrc6BmmrY&hl=en&ei=fu0VTo7aJqeEsgKmzo0x&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=bruton%20church%20prayer%20for%20President&f=false
(4) http://www.history.org/almanack/places/hb/hbduke.cfm
(5) http://www.history.org/almanack/places/hb/hbduke.cfm
(6) http://books.google.com/books?id=iSoTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=bruton+church+prayer+for+President&source=bl&ots=HEjHxpZssf&sig=iffr8BNfbf6inV7LOYlrc6BmmrY&hl=en&ei=fu0VTo7aJqeEsgKmzo0x&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=bruton%20church%20prayer%20for%20President&f=fals
(7) http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/View/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports%5CRR1283.xml
(8) http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/View/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports%5CRR1283.xml