COLONIAL Cole Digges House Historic Structures Report

Thomas Pate and Lot 42

Thomas Pate, who likely was of the Pate family that settled early in Gloucester County, [1] evidently crossed the York to locate in the area of Yorktown where he was for many years a ferryman and where eventually he built the home in which he died in 1703. One of his court authorizations (or licenses) to maintain a ferry was issued on January 24, 1699, and he was, as he had been doing, to keep a ferry near Yorktown at the usual place commonly called by the name of the well "where the ships usually watered." As was often done, he sometimes kept an ordinary for travelers. [2] Such was true in 1694 when on March 25 he, as the ferryman, was granted license to keep an ordinary "att ye place called ye Well att Yorke Ferry." [3]

Thomas Pate became the first person to develop Lot 42 in Yorktown, though it was initially granted to a carpenter, John Seabourn, in 1691. Seemingly Seabourn failed to build upon it. [4] The lot went back to the trustees and became available to another choice. It "was purchased by Tho. Pate of ye Trustees for ye Portland in York county by deed bearing date of 11th day of August 1699." [5]

Evidently Pate was growing older and on April 4, 1703, he disposed of this property by "Deed of Guift" which was duly signed with "his Mark":

I Thomas Pate of York County & Parrish thereof doth of my free will and voluntary accord & for ye Restitution & Satisfaccon of Seven Years Service & also for her diligent care and trouble in Looking after me in this my Sickness & also for divers other weighty causes & Consideracons thereunto me Moving hath given & granted & do by these prsents give and grant wholly & Solely unto Joane Lawson wife of John Lawson of ye above named Parrish & County [York] my House & Lott in York Town ye said Lott being comonly known by this number (42). [6]

Pate's wife had abandoned her husband through desertion. This is clear from a court notice of May 24, 1703, in which Pate found it necessary to issue warning:

These are to give notice to all Christian People Whome it may Concerne that I Thomas Pate of York County do by these psents advise and forwarne all Persons whatsoever not to give Creditt to Elizabeth my Wife upon any Manner of Accounts wherein I may be Damnified [sic] she having absented her selfe from my house and Habitation... if any person or persons do give her Credit by Trucking or Trading or any other manner of Dealing it shall be to their owne Loss and Detriment. [7]

Thomas died before the end of the year and Joane Lawson as well as Elizabeth Pate appeared in court on December 24 to make Joane's "Deed of Guift" a matter of record. Elizabeth accepted the situation and made over her "Right of Dower Title & Interest" to Joane "for & in Consideration of ye Sume of Two pounds Sterl in hand payd." [8]

But Joane Lawson would not long remain in ownership of Lot 42, "together wt ye housing thereon and appurtenances." She sold it on September 17, 1705, to "John martin, me:chant" of York County for some "twenty pounds Sterling." [9]