Title

Ann Wright Sells 20 Clarence St. to the Town

Description

Ann Wright to Corporation of STG, for £160, commandeered by the Act for the Promotion of the Towns of St. George's and Hamilton. The lot’s dimensions were still N:91’, E:81’ (front), S: 93’, W: 80. The west side bordered the existing churchyard. The lots to the south now belonged to Ben H. Hayword [likely a misprint, referring to Ben Sawyer Hayword] and John Zuill. According to BoD6: 270, Wright’s lot was purchased “By act of Promotion [best guess] of town of St. Geo. + Hamilton.” Only £160 in remuneration may not seem much compared to the fancier houses sold in St. George’s, but Widow Wright actually got the best deal possible. See below.

BAH: STG, 29: “The eastern portion of [St. Peter’s] churchyard [replacing the house at 20 Clarence] was added in 1808 when the burial ground for whites became too crowded. It was not acquired without a fight. A house on the land was occupied by widow Ann Wright. When the church vestry tried to buy the lot from Wright in 1803, she refused to sell it because she had promised the property to her grandchildren. The Mayor, intent on getting the land, made her an offer: she would accept double the assessed value of the lot or he would get the government to commandeer the land by act of the House of Assembly. Widow Wright accepted the offer.”

Based on Michael Jarvis’s notes, the lot’s assessed value was therefore £80 in 1808.

Source

Sale information: ANG/SG/PV8: 135 – note sheet in Jarvis, St. Peter’s Church Research File; BoD6: 270 – note sheet in Jarvis, St. Peter’s Church Research File; also noted on cover of file.

Book quote: BAH: STG, 29.

Date

14 Dec. 1808

Event Code

D

Year

1808

Day and Month

14 Dec.

Property Code

50018

Is Referenced By

20 Clarence St.-50018