John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 49

The Rev. Hugh Jones had a few comments about our German ancestors.  Quoting him:

"Beyond Colonel Spotswood's furnace above the falls of Rappahannock River, within view of the vast mountains, he has founded a town called Germanna, from some Germans sent over thither by Queen Anne, who are now removed up farther; here he has servants and workmen of most handycraft trades; and he is building a church, court-house, and dwelling-house for himself; and with his servants and Negroes he has cleared plantations about it, proposing great encouragement for people to come and settle in that uninhabited part of the world, lately divided into a county."

Jones errs slightly in some of the facts.  The Germans who settled at Germanna had been invited over by Baron de Graffenried to come to Virginia to a colony which he was planning to form, but which failed (see earlier notes).  Queen Anne had authorized the governor to furnish the Baron's company, or enterprise, with land upon their arrival, but it can hardly be said that she sent them over.  The passage of the Germans was paid in part by the Germans and in part by Spotswood, in return for which they agreed to work four years for him.

Jones wrote this in 1724, but he left Virginia in 1722, and most commentators believe he is describing Virginia as he understood it in 1722.  This is consistent with the building activity he describes at Germanna.  Jones continues with a new paragraph,

"Beyond this are seated the colony of Germans or Palatines, with allowance of good quantities of rich land, at easy or no rates, who thrive very well, and live happily, and entertain generously."

In this last paragraph, Jones is describing the Second Germanna Colony, who were at New Germantown on the north bank of the Rapidan River, about two miles west of Germanna.  At this time, Spotswood was still hopeful that the Germans would remain on his land and lease it from him.  Jones makes it clear that this 'colony of Germans or Palatines' was involved in wine making and the naval stores programs which Spotswood himself had described as the activities of the Second Colony.  (See Note 22 for additional comments.)

A little bit about the government of Virginia follows.  Each county elected two burgesses (by the freeholders), plus another for James Town and for the College.  These proceeded, as a General Assembly, in many ways similar to the House of Commons in England.  The equivalent of the House of Lords was the Council (of 12), appointed by the King, who advised the Governor and approved legislation.  While Virginia was self-governing, the King did not forfeit his right to veto legislation.