Large iron key recovered from a Revolutionary War site in Williamsburg, VA

This is an interesting early iron key being offered, measuring 6” x 2 1/4”, circa 1760 – 1790. It was probably used for doors, buildings, military storage, or even for a jail. It was recovered at a Revolutionary War site in Williamsburg, Virginia.  

Williamsburg was the capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 until 1779. Plotted on land first used by Virginia Indians, it was settled by the English during and just after the Second Anglo-Powhatan War (1622–1632) and called Middle Plantation, for its location equidistant between the York and James rivers. In subsequent years, wealth and political prestige gradually shifted upriver from the first seat of English government, at Jamestown, and talk of moving the capital gained momentum during Bacon’s Rebellion (1676–1677), when rebels burned the statehouse.

During the American Revolution (1775–1783), Virginia’s royal governor dissolved the General Assembly and fled the city. After British troops invaded Virginia in 1779, Governor Thomas Jefferson moved the capital to Richmond.

There are examples of these types of keys in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann and Kravic (see pictures). This old hand-forged iron key is in nice condition with no chipping or flaking. A great piece of early American history.