Gazette 24 October 2000 THE BLAIKLEY-DUREY HOUSE OF WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA (Unattributed*)
Williamsburg, Virginia has a long history dating back to 1632, 25 years after the founding of Jamestown. The seed of Colonial Government was removed to this town called Middle Plantation in 1699. The College of William and Mary was established in 1693 and it is the second oldest college in the United States. The new Capital was named Williamsburg in honour of King William III. It was a plain town with regular streets and lots and was incorporated as a City in 1722. The Capital grew and prospered and became the political, social and cultural centre of the entire colony. In the years before the American Revolution many of the most outstanding men in the colonies were Virginians who lived, worked or studied in Williamsburg. Catherine Blaikley, described in the "Virginia Gazette" as "an eminent midwife who in the course of her practice, brought upwards of 3,000 children into the world. She died in 1771 at the age of 73 years and upwards." William Blaikley owned this site as early as 1734 and would seem to have been living here when he died in 1736 leaving his "land, houses, negroes, goods and chattels" to his "loving wife Catherine". The inventory of his estate lists the items in each of the rooms in such a way as to suggest the interior plan of the house. Slaves belonging to Mrs. Blaikley were baptized in Bruton Parish Church in 1748. In
1773 Severinus Durfey, a tailor, announced his removal to the
house lately occupied by Mrs. Blaikley, and at
the same time "to plead with all who were indebted
to him for more than 12 months, to pay off their balances".
The building has been reconstructed and it can be seen in the
Colonial Williamsburg Complex. Find
out about Colonial Williamsburg on the official website: |
Website Built by Sylvia Blakeley