East New Market

Property Reports

110 Main Street

Varnes House

Key date analysis:

The southernmost 2/3 of the Methodist Protestant Parsonage lot was described as a vacant lot when the northernmost 1/3 was sold in early 1883.  James & Maggie Dean purchased the lot in 1883, who in turn sold the lot to Andrew F. Dukes in 1884.  Dukes split his 2/3 part of the lot and sold northernmost half of it to William J. Varnes in 1885.  William J. Varnes built the Varnes House on this lot in 1884.  Dukes sold the southernmost half of his 2/3 part of the lot to Joseph Henry in 1886.  Henry sold it to Joseph F. Harris in 1890.  Harris sold it again in 1890 to Howard H. Willoughby, who built the Howard Willoughby House around 1890.

A tax record from 1896 describes the lot with dwelling and in improvements.  Since tax records for 1876 to 1896 are missing, it is presumed that Varnes built the house shortly after he purchased the property in 1885.  William J. Varnes is listed as a machinist in East New Market in the 1887 Commercial Directory.  The Willoughby family demolished the Varnes house around 1973.  The Howard Willoughby House and the site of the Varnes House are now part of a larger Zeller property, which includes the Zeller Funeral Home business and associated buildings.  

Who built it:

William J. Varnes likely built the house shortly after he purchased the property in 1885.

Longest Residents:

The Varnes family owned the property and lived there for 80 years.

More Research:

Would like to have a scan of a photo of this property.

Historic Records:

231 MLB 621 - 31 July 1984 - Leonard D. Zeller and Leonard W. Zeller to Leonard D. Zeller & Christine M. Zeller, his wife, for $0:  Lots - one lot on the west side of Main Street in the town of East New Market described in accordance with a plat entitled "Survey of the Lands of Ruth S. Willoughby, Town of East New Market", dated March 7, 1977, prepared by Andrews, Miller, & Assoc., Inc. Engineers-Surveyors, in 19 PLC 41.  Beginning on the west side of Main Street at the extreme northeast corner of the land herein intended to be conveyed and at the extreme southeast corner of the land of Reginald A. Mills (138 PLC 667), thence leaving Main Street and running with the line of division between the land herein intended to be conveyed and the land of Reginald A. Mills, N75/32W .31f to a monument, thence N75/32W 257.05f to an iron pipe and to the land of Dorothy W. Groten (Liber 72, folio 94), thence S18/07W 37.27f to an iron pipe, thence with the land of Fred B. Willoughby (Liber 111, folio 106), S74/28E 83.3f, thence with the land of Lawrence Blake Adshead (Liber 164, folio 231), S75/04E 87.19f, thence S15/45W 78.15f to a concrete monument, thence S74/15E 91.99f to the west side of Main Street, thence running with the west side of Main Street N15/45E 214.26f to the place of beginning.  The land is the identical property which was conveyed unto the said Leonard D. Zeller and Leonard W. Zeller, by deed dated 16 March 1977 in 199 PLC 169.

199 PLC 169 -16 March 1977 - Ruth S. Willoughby to Leonard D. Zeller and Leonard W. Zeller for $5:  [described in 231 PLC 621].  The land is the identical land which was conveyed unto the said Ruth S. Willoughby by two deeds; viz:  (A) Deed dated 27 August 1973 from William O. Corkran et al, personal representative to Ruth S. Willoughby in 181 PLC 149. and (B) Deed dated 30 March 1973, from Howard H. Willoughby to Ruth S. Willoughby in 179 PLC 192.

179 PLC 192 - 30 March 1973 - Howard H. Willoughby to Ruth S. Willoughby for $5:  Lot No. 11 Assessed to Mary G. Varnes Estate.  Lot 60x250f and buildings thereon, located on north side, East New Market, adjoining lands of J.A. Baker, H.H. Willoughby, T.J. Taylor heirs, and others.  Being the same property which was conveyed unto the said Ruth S. Willoughby & Howard H. Willoughby, her husband, by Fred W. Lucas, Treasurer and Collector for Dorchester County, by deed dated 15 February 1966 in 145 PLC 690.

145 PLC 690 - 15 February 1966 - Fred W. Lucas, Treasurer and Collector of Dorchester County, to Ruth S. Willoughby & Howard H. Willoughby, her husband for $454.97:  Whereas, in the year 1955 the County Commissioners for Dorchester County levied certain state and county taxes on the real estate of Mary G. Varnes, and the said taxes having not been paid by the taxpayer of by anyone for and on behalf of said taxpayer, the said Fred W. Lucas, Treasurer and Collector of Dorchester County, as will appear by reference to No. 9674 Chancery in the Circuit Court of Dorchester County, conduced a tax sale and on 14 November 1962 sold property at public auction to the highest bidder.  Lot No. 11 assessed to Mary G. Varnes Estate.  Lot 60x250f and buildings thereon, located on north side, East New Market, adjoining lands of J.A. Baker, H.H. Willoughby, T.J. Taylor heirs, and others.

1940 Census
Dwelling #4, household of Mary G. Varnes

1930 Census
Dwelling #13, household of Mary Varnes,

1920 Census
Dwelling #37, household of Mary Varnes

1910 Census
Dwelling #96, household of Mary G. Varnes, seamstress at shirt factory

1900 Census
Dwelling #283, household of Mary Varnes, widow, worker at shirt factory

1 CL 711 - 9 March 1899 - Mortgage -Mary G. Varnes & William J. Varnes, her husband, owing to Edward Hopkins for $300:  Lot in the town of East New Market on the northwest side of the county road leading to Cabin Creek containing 1 rood and 16 square rods.  Being the same land fully described in a deed from Andrew F. Dukes & wife to the said Mary G. Varnes bearing date 8 August 1885 in 7 CL 640.  Assigned to Anna May Hopkins, executor of Edward G. Hopkins on 1 September 1906.  Released 23 August 1923.

1896-1910 Tax Record
Mrs. Wm J. Varnes
1896 - 1 lot in ENM on west side of road leading to Cabin Creek 1/4 acre $100
Dwelling & Improvements $500

1896 Tax Record
Mrs. Wm J. Varnes
1 lot situated in the town of East New Market on the west side of the road leading to Cabin Creek containing 1/4 acre $100
Dwelling & improvements $500

14 CL 622 - 13 December 1890 - Mortgage - William J. Varnes & Mary G. Varnes, his wife, owing to Ellen G. Richards for $300:  Lot in the town of East New Market on the northwest side of the county road leading to Cabin Creek containing 1 rood and 16 square rods.  Being the same land fully described in a deed from Andrew F. Dukes & wife to the said Mary G. Varnes bearing date 8 August 1885 in 7 CL 640.  Mortgage released 7 March 1893.

1887 Commercial Directory - East New Market
W. J. Varnes, machinist

7 CL 640 - 8 August 1885 - A.F. Dukes & Mary E. Dukes, his wife, to Mary G. Varnes for $150:  Lot in the town of East New Market on the northwest side of the county road leading to Cabin Creek.  Beginning at the northeast course of the lot and the southeast corner of the St. Stephens Parsonage lot running thence with the county road S19.75W 60 feet, thence N72W 257 feet to S.L. Webster's land, thence with said land N21E 60 feet to the Parsonage lot thence in a straight line to the place of beginning.  Containing 1 rood and 16 square rods.
[Dukes retained the southernmost half of his lot until 1886.  See the historic record report for the Howard Willoughby House for more information.]

6 CL 503 - 25 September 1884 - James A. Dean & Maggie L. Dean, his wife, to Andrew F. Dukes for $300:  Lot in the town of East New Market beginning at the northeast corner of Mrs. H. Helsby's lot on the county road leading from said town to Cabin Creek, and running N77W 10? perches & 23 links to Samuel L. Webster's land, N21.5E 8 perches and 21 links, thence S72E 15.5p to said county road, thence with said road in a straight line to place of beginning.  Containing 3 rods and 11.5 square rods of land.

5 CL 436 - 29 September 1883 - William A. Henry to James A. Dean for $300:  Lot in the town of East New Market beginning at the northeast corner of Mrs. H. Helsby's lot on the county road leading from said town to Cabin Creek, and running thence N77W 13p 23links to Samuel L. Webster's land, then with said Webster's land N21.5E 8p 21links, thence S72E 15.5p to said county road, thence with said road in a straight line to the place of beginning.  Containing 3 roods and 11.5 square rods.
[Henry sold the northernmost third of this lot to Andrew F. Dukes earlier in 1883.  See the historic record report for the Methodist Episcopal Parsonage for more information.]

4 CL 588 - 18 December 1882 - S.S. Ewell, F.T. Turpin, William Layton, Noble H. Collins, James H. Kelly, Trustees of Dorchester Circuit Methodist Protestant Church to William A. Henry for $950:  all that property known as the Methodist Protestant Parsonage property of Dorchester Circuit consisting of house and lot situated in East New Market.  Being the same lot which was conveyed unto the Trustees of Dorchester Circuit of the Methodist Protestant Church by John W.M. Dean, Trustee, by deed dated 5 July 1876 in 11 FJH 291.

1876 Tax Record
Trustees of the M.P. Church Parsonage
M.P. Church Parsonage & lot in ENM - $1200

1870 Census
Dwelling #360, household of Samuel T. Graham, minister of Gospel

1867-1876 Tax Record
Louisa LeCompte Heirs, Algernon S. Percy, Admr.
1867 - House & Lot $1000

1866 Tax Record
Louisa LeCompte Heirs (Algernon Percy admin.)
House & Lot $1000, Total $1000

5 FJH 318 - 20 February 1863 - Mortgage - Louisa LeCompte owing to John Baker and William Holland for $264.09:  The first bond to Jamesanna LeCompte for the sum of $264.09.  One other note to Theresa L. LeCompte for the sum of $61.03 and one other note to Elba LeCompte for $85.89.  In consideration of the securityship, I Louisa LeCompte grant the house and lot in the town of East New Market purchased by me of Richard Moore & wife in 2 FJH 92.  Delivered 13 June 1863 to William Holland.

1860 Census
Dwelling #761, household of Louisa LeCompte

1852-1864 Tax Record
Louisa LeCompte, A. Percy admin.
1853 House & Lot in East New Market containing 12 acres $400
.....reduced
Algernon Piercy, admin of Louisa LeCompte
1864 Assets in hand as on register return $375

2 FJH 92 - 9 October 1852 - Richard Moore and Spicy, his wife, to Louisa LeCompte for $375: tract in town of East New Market. Beginning on the west side of the road that leads from New Market to Cabin Creek and at the intersection of the fence of lot and from thence with said lot N78 1/2W 15 1/4p, then N18E 10 1/2p then S80E 15 1/2p to the said road, then by said road to the place of beginning. Containing 1 acre.
[Richard & Spicy Moore were African Americans.]

1850 Census
Dwelling #1221, household of Richard Moore, blacksmith

Marriage - 22 January 1840 - Dorchester County
James LeCompte to Louisa Chapman

12 ER 553 - 31 March 1832 - Stephen LeCompte (of L) to Richard Moore for $225: lot in the village of New Market adjoining the lands of Nathaniel E. Greene and adjoining the lot of Samuel Corkran. Tryphena LeCompte, wife of Stephen LeCompte.

10 ER 613 - 14 January 1828 - Morris Roach to Stephen LeCompte (of L.) for $225: lot and premises in the village of New Market adjoining the lands of Nathaniel E. Green and adjoining the lot of Samuel Corkran.

Marriage - 18 April 1825 - Dorchester County
Stephen LeCompte to Tryphena Dixon

27 HD 475 - 12 March 1810 - Henry King to Morris Roach for $88: Beginning at a stone on the side of the road that leads from New Market to Cabin Creek and at the end of the 7th line of Lot number 1 noted on the plat by the letter B and from thence running with lot number 1 reversed north 73 degrees west 15 1/4 perches to a post at the end of the sixth line of lot number 1 then north 18 East 10 1/2 perches to a post then south 80 degrees East 15 1/2 perches to the said road then by said road to the place of beginning. Containing 1 acre 15 perches.

Marriage - 23 August 1804 - Dorchester County
Morris Roach to Margaret Williams