Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Cole Digges House, circa 1730

Historic Yorktown

— Colonial National Historical Park —

Cole Digges House, circa 1730 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, October 23, 2016

1. Cole Digges House, circa 1730 Marker

Inscription.

Cole Digges House, circa 1730. Historic Yorktown. “I hope your Lord will think fit to move His Majesty to appoint another Councillor…I humbly recomend to your Lord for that Purpose Mr. Cole Digges a Gentleman who lives very convenient to the Seat of Government, of an ample Fortune, good Parts and a fair Character…” , Governor Alexander Spotswood to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, February 24, 1718, On September 15, 1720, Cole Digges of Yorktown was sworn in as a member of the royal governor’s council, a powerful and prestigious political position in the colonial government that he held for 24 years. Digges’ wealth, his position as a representative in the colonial legislature and his apparent support of the royal governor, Alexander Spotswood, combined to make him an attractive candidate for the council. Digges’ success came at a time when Yorktown was reaching its zenith, and the colony was still loyal to Great Britain. , Cole Digges was born in 1691, the same year Yorktown was established. His family’s wealth came primarily from producing a well known brand of “sweet scented” tobacco, called “E.Dees.,” named after his grandfather, Edward Digges. As Yorktown slowly grew into a prominent tobacco port, Cole Digges, only in his early 20s, became a merchant, purchasing a town lot in 1713. As the town prospered, so did Digges’ enterprises. At his death in 1744, he owned two plantations, this house, a warehouse, storehouse, wharf and other lots in Yorktown. , Cole Digges witnessed the expansion of Yorktown from its early beginnings to a thriving community. His son Dudley Digges, whose home is one block east on Main Street, saw the town decline. , Sidebar: , Thomas Pate , In 1699, ferryman Thomas Pate purchased this town lot and constructed his home here. The house was sold twice before Cole Digges acquired the property in 1713. Originally thought to be Pate’s house, research and the building’s architectural details indicate that the house was constructed around 1720, when Cole Digges owned the property. The interior of the house represents the colonial revival style of 1925. , Captions: , This broadside from a British merchant advertises some of York’s “sweet scented” tobacco. , Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Cole Digges’ signature , Courtesy of the British Public Records Office

“I hope your Lord will think fit to move His Majesty to appoint another Councillor…I humbly recomend to your Lord for that Purpose Mr. Cole Digges a Gentleman who lives very convenient to the Seat of Government, of an ample Fortune, good Parts & a fair Character…”
Governor Alexander Spotswood to the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, February 24, 1718

On September 15, 1720, Cole Digges of Yorktown was sworn in as a member of the royal governor’s council, a powerful and prestigious political position in the colonial government that he held for 24 years. Digges’ wealth, his position as a representative in the colonial legislature and his apparent support of the royal governor, Alexander Spotswood, combined to make him an attractive candidate for the council. Digges’ success came at a time when Yorktown was reaching its zenith, and the colony was still loyal to Great Britain.

Cole Digges was born in 1691, the same year Yorktown was established. His family’s wealth came primarily from producing a well known brand of “sweet scented” tobacco, called “E.Dees.,” named after his grandfather, Edward Digges. As Yorktown slowly grew into a prominent tobacco port, Cole Digges, only in his early 20s, became a merchant, purchasing a town lot in 1713. As the town prospered, so

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did Digges’ enterprises. At his death in 1744, he owned two plantations, this house, a warehouse, storehouse, wharf and other lots in Yorktown.

Cole Digges witnessed the expansion of Yorktown from its early beginnings to a thriving community. His son Dudley Digges, whose home is one block east on Main Street, saw the town decline.

Sidebar:
Thomas Pate
In 1699, ferryman Thomas Pate purchased this town lot and constructed his home here. The house was sold twice before Cole Digges acquired the property in 1713. Originally thought to be Pate’s house, research and the building’s architectural details indicate that the house was constructed around 1720, when Cole Digges owned the property. The interior of the house represents the colonial revival style of 1925.

Captions:
This broadside from a British merchant advertises some of York’s “sweet scented” tobacco.
Courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Cole Digges’ signature
Courtesy of the British Public Records Office

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. A significant historical date for this entry is February 24, 1718.

Location. 37° 14.101′ N, 76° 30.465′

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, October 23, 2016

2. Cole Digges House, circa 1730 Marker

The marker is just to the left of the house. Further to the left is the "Cole Digges House, circa 1925" marker.

W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Read Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cole Digges House, circa 1925 (here, next to this marker); Custom House, circa 1720 (a few steps from this marker); Early Colonial Custom House (a few steps from this marker); Comte de Grasse (a few steps from this marker); William Rogers' (the "poor potter") Pottery Ruins (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Cox House (within shouting distance of this marker); Somerwell House (within shouting distance of this marker); East Along Main Street (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yorktown.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 548 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.