Historic Williamsburg

23. Shield's Tavern

Williamsburg, VA

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Shields Tavern was one of about seven licensed taverns in Williamsburg during the mid-eighteenth century. The Raleigh and Wetherburn Taverns catered toward the Williamsburg elite, while the Shields and Edinburgh Taverns served the upper middle class. Around 1705, John Marot opened a tavern in an unknown location. Members of the upper ranks of society such as William Byrd frequented Marot's establishment during this time period, but a change occurred after 1718 when Marot passed away. His widow Anne and her new husband Timothy Sullivant continued running the business, but their clientele shifted toward lower-ranking gentry and well-to-do middle-class customers. Anne inherited a third of Marot's estate, and she split it between her three daughters when she died in 1742. Anne's son in law James Shields, a wealthy plantation owner, took over Marot's tavern business and operated it until his death in 1750. Daniel Fisher leased the property in 1751. He divided it up into tenements and sublet the rooms to boarders, so after this time period the building was no longer used as a tavern. Dr. John de Sequeyra, Williamsburg's only Jewish resident, lived at the residence from 1772 to 1795. The original building burned down in 1858. Guests to the reconstructed tavern can enjoy events such as pig roasts, or feast on house specials like ale-potted beef, potato-leek pye or Anne Shields's Gloucester Gumbo.