John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 503

6.  Inasmuch as we have been for several years at a great expense to discover the land above mentioned, and will have still more expense to establish ourselves, we hope that Your Majesty will have the kindness to grant our society the benefits which the constitution of the country defines.

7.  Inasmuch as it is impossible at the beginning of an enterprise, to think of all the things that may happen, the said society hopes the Council will grant a favorable hearing to the propositions that may be made later on.

The above is only to make a beginning so as to secure advantage and gain time for action which will be asked of Your Lordships. The humble and obedient servants,

De Graffenried
Michel

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The following has been preserved in records,

At the Court at Windsor the 22nd of August 1709
Present
The Queen's most Excellent Majesty in Councill

Her Majesty taking the (Report from the Lords Commissioner of Trade and Plantations to the Earl of Sunderland) into Consideration was Graciously pleased to Approve thereof, And to Order that the Governor of Virginia doe upon the said Petitioners Arrival there, forthwith Allot unto them certain Lands on the Southwest Branch of Potomac [the Shenandoah], in such manner and Form as is mentioned in the said Report, and the Right Honorable the Earl of Sunderland Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, is to prepare what is necessary for the signification of Her Majesty's Royal Pleasure herein, According to the Purport of the same.

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Thus the multi-year effort of the "Society for the Swiss Colony of Virginia" was successfully concluded.  Probably at this point, Graffenried and Michel hired Johann Justus Albrecht to recruit miners from around Siegen and thus set into motion the effort which led to the Germanna Colonies.