John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 925

The earliest record of Spotswood's iron furnace, written contemporaneously with the furnace, comes from Hugh Jones.  The Rev. Jones lived in Virginia from 1717 to 1722, when he returned to England.  In 1724 he published a book in London, which is believed to describe conditions in Virginia in 1722.  He wrote, speaking of the furnace:

"This iron has been proved to be good, and it is thought, will come at as cheap a rate as any imported from other places; so that 'tis to be hoped Colonel Spotswood's works will in a small time prove very advantageous to Great Britain . . "

Thus the furnace was reported to be in production in 1722, though the observer seems to imply the work is in an early state, with some uncertainties in the process.  One uses the word "hope" when the wrinkles are not all ironed out.

Another contemporary, Lt. Gov. Drysdale, Spotswood's successor as governor, wrote to the Board of Trade in 1723:

"I judge it part of my duty to inform your Ldspps. of an affair, that is at present the common Theme of peoples Discourses, and employs their thought.  Coll Spotswood's Iron workes: he had brought itt to that perfection that he now sells by public auction at Wm:burgh, backs and frames for Chymnies, Potts, doggs, frying, stewing and baking panns."

It appears the "iron workes" was a novelty, but a production system.  Spotswood shipped 20 tons of pig iron to England that year.  This would have been only a sample; his later objective was to ship 1,200 tons of iron to England each year.

To recapitulate the dates and events:

1717 - iron ore is discovered near Germanna (probably by the Germans);
1718 - the ore is developed and proven by December of this year;
1720 - the iron mine tract is patented and the construction of the furnace begins;
1721 - trial runs occur at the furnace;
1722 - production commences;
1723 - the furnace is in regular and consistent operation.

This time table required examining the contemporary records (and rejecting the later secondary records, which were false, and for which there was no evidence to support them).  With this schedule (giving or taking a few months here and there), all of the events connected with the entry of Spotswood into the business of producing iron fall into place.  The records are now meaningful, and people mean what they say and write.

The first major economic enterprise of Spotswood was land.  The iron came later.  The First Germanna Colony probably found the iron, but they did not build the furnace, and they did not run the furnace.  I would welcome anyone to a debate on this question, if they will use rational thought, not the output of fiction writers.
(12 Jul 00)