The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-23
Ten Thousand Tickets at Five
Pounds Each.
PRIZES OLA HUNDRED ACRES
Ten Thousand Acres Belonging to Byrd Hsfs
Divided Into Que Hundred Parcels aad
Put on the Market by 4 Lottery.
The Scheme Was Ten Years h
Execution and Resulted h
sals Of All the Tickets.

It Is fact but little known at this dag
and date that real estate titles to all
property in and about Richmond to the
east of shookoe Creek, and to practically
All the property in and about SIanches-
ter, rest for their validity and legality
Upon one of tho most remarkable and
Unique lottery schemes ever proposed
ana successfully carried through.
In these latter days the lottery has
not only passed from its one-time placs
as a recognized and reputable adjunct
and ally in the furtherance OF schemes
CT promotion. but has received ths of
fetal seal Of national disapproval as
method Of quick money-getting.
But the Richmond and Virginia OF 1851
regarded the promotion of real estate In
terests with more adventurous spirit than
the Richmond Of a hundred and thirty
five years later. In the Virginia Gazette
OF July g, 1867, published at Williams
burg. there appears large advertise
ment of a lottery. by means OF which,
William Byrd, the third of that name.
purposed and succeeded in placing on
the market 10000 acres of land, situated
on both sides of the James River. and
covering for the most part the present
sites of Richmond and Manchester. On
the north OF the river and of Richmond
this tract. which was subdivided into
leo sections of 100 acres each, extended as
far north as point on the Brook Road
some 800 yards beyond Union Theological
Seminary and the residence of Mr.. Joseph
Bryan. The tract was bounded on the
east and west by Shockoe and Westham
Creeks. To the south OF the river tbs
territory included within the lottery was
almost equally as extensively and covered
the entire site of Manchester. or rocky
Ridge" as it was known at that day.
THE LOTTERY SCHEME.
The scheme of the lottery and the glow
Ing prospects Of the city to be located at
the falls of the James are set forth In the
advertisement 1t ran in the Virginia
Gazette until November 1I6S, when tho
drawing took place.
Tickets were sold, 10000 OF them. at
Williamsburg and several other Virginia
points, Fredericksburg and Alexandria.
among others, at s5 each. There were
9161 blanks and $50 prizes. The latter
were the 100 sections of 100 acres each
and a number of town lots OF an acre
or a half an acre. laid off near the towns
of Richmond, then for the most part east
of Shockoe Creek, and its southsids
reighbor. Rocky Ridge. Some of the lots
were more vaiuabls than the larger
tracts.
It is believed from statements concern
Ing the lottery in early law papers. thai
ALL or nearly all. of the tickets were sold.
manner of property in and abort Rich
mond- More than one title examiner has
traced the title of the ground upon which
churches, schools and all manner CT pub
lie buildings now stand back to the lot
terry ticket drawn in the Byrd lottery OK
-IGT. \ recent instance was the recent
thorough examination of the title TO the
T'ord's Hotel property. which was traced
lack to a lottery ticket Of 1867.
The General Assembly III 1881 paSsed
san act to secure to persons who desire
titles under tho lottery OF the late VIII
liam Byrd, ESD, fee simple estate
therein"
IN TIE TRUSTEES HANDS.
Before the completion OF the lottery
scheme, which first and last was eight or
ten years in operation before all tho prop
erty was transferred. William Byrd died.
and the completion of tho enterprise was
left to MS trustees. who are named IN tho
advertisement, who carried the enter
rrlss through for the benefit Of Byrd's
creditors.
Probably tho only 1oc-acre tract, as laid
out by Byrd for his lottery scheme. which
IS still intact and rot 5Gbdivfded. Is the
property on the north side OF North Ave-
nue. on which the Lakesids line runs. be-
yond Barton Heights, on which an old
fortification now stands. This was the
cid DR.. McClurg property and later
passed to the Wickham family. It's lines
to-day are thoss OF the Byrd survey OF
1867.
Up to few years ago a stone with a
double on it. stood on the Brook Turn
pike little beyond the Union Theoiogt-
cal Seminary. marking the northern Ems
OF the Byrd land.