The Frenchman’s Map

When you think about treasure maps, what comes to mind? Treasure Island? A cipher on the back of the Declaration of Independence? William & Mary is home to the original Frenchman’s Map, which remains part of Colonial Williamsburg lore. What is the Frenchman’s Map and why is it important? 

The Frenchman’s Map details the location of buildings in Williamsburg around 1782. The French aided the colonists' pursuit for independence. The military officer, or officers, who drew the map for the likely purpose of lodging French soldiers, remains anonymous. Although the map itself was lost after the American Revolution, it was found more than a century later. According to legend, a New York map collector named John D. Crimmins discovered it between the pages of a book. The map was donated to William & Mary in 1909. There it remained until Reverend Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin employed it as a guide for the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg. The restoration, funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr., was conceptualized in 1926. The following year, it is said Goodwin’s team staked down surveyor’s tape with the blade of a sword as they traced foundations depicted by the map. 

Today, the “Bible of the Restoration'' remains at William & Mary’s Swem Library in the Special Collections Research Center. Special Collections is accessible to students, faculty, and researchers. However, one can more easily admire a version of the map, while enjoying a refreshing beer and soft pretzel, at Brass Cannon Brewing in Williamsburg, VA. The map, recreated with handpainted tiles, is beautifully displayed on the ceiling of the Cannon Tap Room. 

Although the Frenchman’s Map may not mark the spot of buried riches or reveal a clue toward uncovering a precious secret, it deserves to be celebrated for the integral role it played in restoring a valuable piece of American history. 

Sources:

Simpson, Alan. The Mysteries of the “Frenchman’s Map” of Williamsburg, Virginia. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1984. 

Lombardi, Michael J. “In Search of the Frenchman’s Map.” The Colonial Williamsburg Journal, Autumn 2007.

Lengel, Edward G. Colonial Williamsburg: The Story: From the Colonial Era to the Restoration. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 2020.