Christopher Ayscough and his wife Anne (both died c.1772) opened a tavern on Francis Street about 100 yards south of the Capitol in Williamsburg, Virginia. Before Governor Fauquier died in March, Christopher had been a gardener at the palace, and Anne had cooked for the governor, performing her duties so well that she was rewarded with a bequest of £250 from Fauquier’s estate. That sum was probably used to buy and stock the tavern, the chief attractions of which were Mrs. Ayscough’s cooking skills and a supply of fine liquors.