To recap the schedule by which Alexander Spotswood became personally involved with iron, the Germans probably discovered iron ore in 1717. Whether they were directed to this search by Spotswood is unknown. After the frustrations with silver, and with a natural desire to do something useful, they probably roamed over the countryside looking for opportunities. I strongly suspect that they discovered the potential beds or lodes of iron and brought them to Spotswood attention. Spotswood may have given them the go-ahead for a low key exploration and development. He was well aware of the political dangers and the economic risks that were involved, and it is unlikely that he gave any order for an all out attack on the iron ore.
In 1718, we have Spotswood's specific statement naming February as the month in which he was requested by Sir Richard in England to explore for iron. Spotswood also tied this event, in time, to the arrival of the second group of Germans which generally confirms the February date. Having partners in England who were politically powerful and monied was very important. With allies like this, the search for and development of iron ore put a better cast on the possibilities. Still it was a low key affair as only "upwards of sixty pounds sterling" was expended on the search. By December of 1718, when the mining and quarrying ended, Spotswood was still not committed to any program of action in iron, especially since his English partners had dropped out of the venture. We can judge his priorities by where he built his house though it was still in the future. When he did build it, it was located not at the iron mine site, but thirteen miles to the west, at a point which was nearer to the center of mass of his land holdings. For several years after 1718, his economic priorities were given to land, not iron.
There was little action in 1719 on the iron front, except for preparation. Money and labor were needed. Much of the money came from new partners and the labor probably came from England. The first group of Germans had left early in the year for their new homes, and the second group of Germans were working on naval stores and vineyards to the west of Germanna. Probably some of the partners were located in England for political and economic reasons. Virginians were notoriously short on cash and their views were not especially respected in England.
It was not until 1720 that the iron mine tract was patented. This alone shows the fairly slow pace at which the iron work was proceeding. The character of Spotswood seems to be that he made no serious investments until the legalities were settled which protected his rights. During 1720, construction of the furnace probably began. A lot of other preparations had to be made also. Labor had to be procured. Wagons and oxen had to be purchased. Colliers (charcoal makers) had to be secured and set to work to make a supply of charcoal.
During 1721, the first runs at the furnace were probably made. With some initial success in the trial, more labor had to be obtained to maintain production. Some adjustments to the procedures were probably necessary.
During 1722, the furnace was probably close to a sustained output. With iron piling up at the furnace, Spotswood had to put the roads and wharves into place. It was during this year that he purchased the tract below the falls where he could build the wharves. So 1722 looks like the year in which production became really serious.
By 1723, production was regular and consistent. In later years, production was not regular and consistent as Spotswood was not the best manager, and at times he put the furnace in the hands of people who were even poorer managers.
The role of Germans in this activity, I believe, was limited to finding the ore and developing the mines. There is no evidence that Germans were involved in constructing or operating the furnace. Initially, the labor for this purpose was probably "English" and very soon was replaced by slave labor.
I am at a variance with several other people on the timing of these events but at a later time I will discuss and trace how historical errors have been propagated. As the story is usually told, it is loaded with errors. The story I have presented is consistent with contemporary accounts of the events.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.