The James Semple House is a historic house on Francis Street in

Colonial Williamsburg Colonial Williamsburg is a living-history museum and private foundation presenting a part of the historic district in the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has 7300 employees at this location and ...

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula ...

. Built about 1770, it is a prominent early example of Classical Revival residential architecture, whose design has been attributed to

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

. It was declared a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

in 1970. and

Description and history

The James Semple House stands in historic Colonial Williamsburg, a short way south of the Capitol on the south side of East Francis Street. It is a wood-frame structure, with a central two-story section flanked by single-story wings set at a recess. The central block is covered by a front-facing gabled roof with full pediment, while the wings have side-facing gables. The central block is three bays wide, with a center entrance topped by a transom window and sheltered by a gabled portico. The portico is supported by Doric columns, and has a dentillated pediment and eaves. The exact date of construction of this house is uncertain, but was probably around 1770. Early owners of the house were the Harrison family, and Benjamin Harrison V sold it sometime before 1769 to Dr. William Pasteur. Surviving documentation suggests that a house may have been standing on the lot when Pasteur acquired it, but it is also possible that Pasteur had the house built after purchasing the land. Its designer is also uncertain, and has been ascribed by some authorities to

on the basis of its similarity to other known Jefferson designs. The house was acquired in 1801 by Dr. James Semple. Future U.S. president John Tyler, a relative of the Semples, resided here while attending school. After passing through several other owners, it was purchased by Colonial Williamsburg in 1928. At the time of its landmark designation in 1970, it was used by Colonial Williamsburg as executive housing.

References

External links

James Semple House, Williamsburg, Virginia, one photo at Virginia DHR
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Semple, James, House Historic American Buildings Survey in Virginia National Historic Landmarks in Virginia Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Houses in Williamsburg, Virginia Houses completed in 1770 Colonial Williamsburg National Register of Historic Places in Williamsburg, Virginia 1770 establishments in Virginia Individually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in Virginia Company housing National Historic Landmark District contributing properties

Description and history

See also

References

External links