(Continuing with the questions, see last note.)
6. "What was the 1717 Germanna Colonists port of entry in Virginia?"
Most likely the port was Jamestown, the port for Williamsburg. Capt. Tarbett, of the ship Scott , was anxious to make contact with Gov. Spotswood, because Spotswood had expressed interest in obtaining a large number of Germans as servants. The best place to find Spotswood was in Williamsburg.
7. "Also is it known what day and month they arrived in 1717?"
The year is not even certain. Most likely, by the modern calendar, the year was 1718. The people left their homes so late in the year (1717) that arrival before January 1 was improbable. The Germans also complained of a delay in London while the captain was in prison. All of these things, plus the typical times for the different legs, means it is most probable that they arrived after January 1 when the modern year would be 1718 though had it been before March 25 they would have said 1717 (old style).
8. "Approximately how much money did they have upon arrival (individuals, or families, like the Broyles, Waylands, etc.)?"
They may have had enough money to pay their transportation, though most immigrants arrived with only their shirts on their backs. People who were well off in Germany generally did not leave there.
9. "Were they limited as to the amount of poundage they could take per individual?"
Probably, but perhaps it was expressed as one chest per family. For a surcharge, you could bring as much as you wished. Remember the ship owners were in the business of transporting goods (and people whom they regarded as freight).
10. "In that they were sold to Governor Spotswood as indentured servants, for seven years, were they respected as people or treated like slaves? Were some released before the seven years were up? Did they receive pay for their work in the iron mines?"
Gov. Spotswood wrote that they were free people, not servants, but no one believes him, for good reasons. His attitude toward them was that they were a good buffer between the English and the Indians, to take the brunt of any Indian attack. Apparently all of them served seven years. None of the Second Colony members worked in the iron mines. Their purpose, from Spotswood's viewpoint, was to serve as settlers on land that he was claiming in the west, which was his major economic endeavor of that time. He tried to establish them in naval stores projects, while his partner Beverley, the historian, tried to get them involved in vineyards.
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.