Burgwin-Wright House facts for kids
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| Established | 1951 as a museum |
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| Location | 223 Market Street Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Type | Historic house museum |
| Owner | National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina |
The Burgwin-Wright House is a special historic home in Wilmington, North Carolina. It was built way back in 1770. This house is the only building from the colonial times in Wilmington that you can visit today!
It was built for a busy man named John Burgwin, who was a merchant and government official. Inside, you'll find rooms filled with furniture and items from the 1700s and 1800s. What's really cool is that the house was built on top of the old city jail walls from 1744! You can still see parts of the old jail, like outdoor cells and a kitchen building with a huge fireplace. The house also has beautiful colonial-style gardens that cover two acres, with seven different areas including an orchard and a rose garden.
Contents
Who Was John Burgwin?
John Burgwin was born in England in 1730. He was the second son in his family, so he had to make his own way in the world. He studied at Cambridge University before moving to America.
John arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, around 1750. He quickly found work with a company called Hooper, Alexander & Co. His job soon brought him to Wilmington, where he met Margaret Haynes. She was the daughter of a rich planter and merchant.
John and Margaret got married in 1753. A few years later, Margaret's mother gave them a large plantation called The Hermitage. They lived there until Margaret passed away in 1770. They did not have any children together.
John Burgwin's Important Jobs
John Burgwin held many important jobs in the government. He was a quartermaster for the local army group in 1754. He also worked as a clerk for different courts and even became a lawyer.
From 1760 to 1772, he was the clerk for the governor's council. He also worked as a private secretary for the Royal Governor Arthur Dobbs. Later, he became the Treasurer of North Carolina, handling the province's money. He held this job under Governors Tryon and Martin.
John Burgwin was also a town commissioner for Wilmington and a member of the General Assembly. He was even a Justice of the Peace for two different counties! He was a very busy and important person in colonial North Carolina.
John's Second Marriage and Family
In 1782, John Burgwin married Elizabeth Bush, who was called Eliza. She was from England. John was 47 and Eliza was 25, but he was very much in love with her.
In 1784, the Burgwins came back to America. Their son, John Fanning Burgwin, stayed in England with his grandmother. When they arrived in Charleston, their daughter Caroline Elizabeth was born that very night!
Their son George William Bush Burgwin was born in 1787 at The Hermitage plantation. Sadly, Eliza became very sick after his birth. She passed away in October 1787.
The Story of the House
The Burgwin-Wright House is the only one of John Burgwin's homes that is still standing today. It's believed that John bought the land for the house in 1769. This spot used to be the main city jail, called the "gaol," since 1744.
By 1769, the old jail was no longer used, and a new one was built elsewhere. This left the land mostly empty, except for the strong stone walls of the old jail. John Burgwin likely wanted this important spot in town to build a house where he could do business. Historians think he was living in the house by 1771.
When John bought the property, he got the remains of three buildings that were part of the old jail. One of these was the building he used to build his house. Another was a brick building with two archways that were used as cells for people who owed money. You can still see parts of the original iron bars! The third building might have been where the jailer lived.
The Burgwin-Wright House was built as a "town house." This meant it was a place for John to do business and entertain important guests when he was in town. It was designed to impress people. Back then, people didn't talk about how rich they were, but they showed it through their fancy homes and furniture.
Wealthy families, business partners, and new merchants would visit the house. It also allowed the family to enjoy town activities like dances and see new goods in stores. In the summer, it was a way to escape diseases that were common on plantations. In winter, usually only the head of the family and older sons came to town for business.
How the House Was Designed
John Burgwin built his house in the Georgian style. This style is known for being very balanced and beautiful. For example, the front of the house originally looked exactly like the back. It had a large front door with two windows on each side, and the back had the same design. The columns on the front were also matched on the back.
A special part of the house's outside is the "piazza." This is like a large porch. In North Carolina, these piazzas often stuck out into the street. This meant that visitors could be seen by everyone in the community, making them part of town life.
The house's design also helped with the hot weather in coastal North Carolina. Many people in Carolina had connections to the Caribbean, and this influenced the architecture. The house has wide hallways and tall ceilings to let breezes flow through. It also has a raised attic to help hot air escape from the living areas.
The Burgwin-Wright house is built high off the street. This helped keep it safe from floods, which were common in colonial Wilmington. Being raised also helped catch cool breezes from the water. Plus, it allowed more natural sunlight to enter the rooms, which was very important before electricity! Windows and doors were placed across from each other to create a good cross-breeze.
The Wright Family's Time in the House
Local stories say that John Burgwin rented his house to Charles Jewkes in 1775. Charles lived there with his wife, Ann Grainger Wright, and her three children from a previous marriage: Thomas, Mary, and Joshua. The Jewkes family supposedly stayed in the house throughout the American Revolution.
When John Burgwin decided to sell the house in 1799, Joshua Grainger Wright bought it for 3,500 "Spanish milled dollars." Joshua was one of Ann's children. He moved in with his wife, Susan Bradly, and their oldest son, Charles Jewkes Wright.
Joshua Wright became a lawyer and a famous speaker. He was a member of the Legislature and later became the Speaker of the House. He was also the first President of the Bank of Cape Fear. Joshua lived in the house until he passed away in 1811. His wife, Susan, continued to live there with her children and their families until she died in 1842.
Thomas Henry Wright, one of Joshua's children, inherited the house. He married Mary Allan in 1825 and lived in the house until he died in 1861. They had eleven children in the house, and eight of them lived past infancy.
Dr. Adam Empie Wright, Thomas and Mary's fourth child, became the next owner in 1861. He sold the house in 1869 to William Hamilton McRary. McRary lived there with his wife, Martha Wiggins, until he died in 1886. Martha continued to live in the house until her death in 1907. She left the house to her sister, Rowena, who lived there until 1930.
Saving the Burgwin-Wright House
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) is a group that works to save historic places. They were founded in 1891 and have over 15,000 members across the country.
The North Carolina part of the NSCDA started in Wilmington with Mrs. Florence Hill Kidder. She worked hard to raise money for North Carolina's display at the 1893 World's Fair. There, she met women who loved colonial history, many of whom were part of the new NSCDA. Mrs. Kidder came back determined to start a chapter in North Carolina. The North Carolina Society was officially formed in 1894.
Buying the Burgwin-Wright House
When Ms. Wiggins passed away in 1930, the Burgwin-Wright House was owned by a bank. The first plan was to tear down the house and build a gas station! A businessman from New York, Samuel Pryor, wanted to buy the house, take it apart, and move it to Connecticut.
When the NSCDA in North Carolina heard about this, they started a movement to save the historic house. They began collecting money to buy the property. When Mr. Pryor learned about their efforts, he changed his mind. He gave $250 to the NC Dames and spoke with the bank to help them.
In 1937, the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in North Carolina bought the Burgwin-Wright House for $21,000. Soon after, they began working to restore it.
Bringing the House Back to Life
Work on the outside of the house started in 1939 and finished by the end of 1941. The members were excited to restore the inside the next year. But just four days later, Pearl Harbor was bombed, and all efforts and money went towards the war.
In 1943, the City of Wilmington rented the house from the Society. It became a recreation center for army officers. A lounge called the "Lord Cornwallis Lounge" opened in 1944. The house continued to be an officers' club until it was returned to the Society in 1946.
In 1949, architect Erling H. Pedersen began restoring the inside of the house. This was after the Society raised enough money. During this time, plumbing and electricity were added throughout the house. The inside was completely restored with the original 1770 paint colors. By the end of 1949, the house was ready for furniture.
Experts were hired to plan the furnishings and buy furniture from England. On March 30, 1951, the Burgwin-Wright House opened its doors to the public as a museum!
In 2018, a big restoration project was finished inside the house. The floors were cleaned and shined to show the natural beauty of the original pine wood. The walls were checked and repainted to match the original colors John Burgwin chose in 1770.
In September 2018, Hurricane Florence caused a lot of damage to the North Carolina coast. The house's roof and chimneys were badly damaged. In late 2019 and early 2020, the roof was completely restored in the old 1700s cedar shake style.
Today, the Burgwin-Wright House is a house museum. Visitors can take guided tours Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The last tour starts at 3 PM. You can also rent the property for special events like weddings or parties. The gardens can be rented for bridal photos too! You can contact the museum for more information.
