Custom House

British customs collectors in Hampton, Virginia during the Colonial Period

CSF recreates British Custom House

The Town of Hampton was designated as the Port of Entry for the Lower James Customs District of the Virginia Colony in 1691. As such, the port was the official site for merchant ship captains entering or leaving this part of the Colony to clear their vessels by declaring their cargo and paying duties as required to the Crown for the privilege of doing business in the British Empire.

Typical cargo entering at Hampton from England included manufactured goods like tools, crockery, furniture, woolens, and new settlers. Entering from New England would be salted fish, rum, and iron products. From the West Indies would come molasses, rum, muscovado sugar, and occasionally, slaves.

Typical cargo exported through Hampton to England would be tobacco, barrel staves, furs, and ship building materials such as pitch, tar, and lumber. Outbound to New England would be barrel staves, grain, tar and pitch. Typical cargo to the West Indies would be grain, livestock, salted pork and beef, candles, and barrel staves.

As early as 1731, the merchants and ship owners in Norfolk began lobbying to have the Custom House moved to Norfolk, a deeper and more capable Port. Although the actual date of the move is not clear, the Virginia Gazette, a colonial newspaper printed in Williamsburg, reported vessels clearing at Hampton well into the 1740s.

The Customs Collector at Hampton was paid 100 British pounds per year, which also had to cover the cost of a boat and two boatmen. Also, the collector's own home was often used as the Custom House during the Colonial period, since no funds we allotted for a government building.

A variety of interesting characters served as Customs Collectors for the Lower James District when it was seated at Hampton, beginning with Colonel John Lear in 1692. Notable among them were Peter Heyman, who accompanied Virginia Governor Nicholson aboard HMS Shoram in 1700 to attack the French Pirate Louis Guitar in Lynhaven Bay. Although the pirates were defeated, Heyman was killed and is buried in Hampton's St John's Church cemetery. Most infamous was George Luke, who served from 1700 to 1714. According to the official record, Luke left a scandalous legacy. He married an infamous woman who had previously been on trial for her life and narrowly escaped hanging. Together, they led such a life that Luke made himself the scorn and contempt of the meanest in this country. Another interesting character was Richard Fitz Williams, who served during 1718 and 1719. Williams was accused together with Tobias Knight of North Carolina, by Captain Brand of HMS Lyme, of taking part with pirates, contriving vexatious suits and prosecutions against His Majesty's Ships.

The Foundation is working to make the story of our past Colonial Seaports come alive through living history. It is hoped that with a replica Custom House and first person living history interpretation, the Public will be able to better understand the importance of the colonial ports to the growth of the colonial economy, and the eventual desire for American independence.

Our Projects

As an educational organization, the Colonial Seaport Foundation is involved in a wide variety of projects and events. Events are short-term presentations, seminars or gatherings. We present information of our events on the News and Events page here.

Projects are more involved and long-termed than events. For instance, a major multi-year project we have undertaken is the rebuilding of the ketch Luna. We are in the process of transforming her into a working representation of an 18th century merchant vessel. Once finished, she will will be a portable classroom; a hands-on demonstration of our colonial maritime heritage. Click on the links below to visit our projects.

Rebuilding the Luna

So what is the Luna Project?

We Find the Luna

Luna Comes to Virginia

Work on Luna Begins

Progress Being Made

Luna is starting to take shape

Luna's portside sheerline is cut

Addressing Luna's framing

Custom House

CSF recreates British Custom House

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