In governing Virginia, even simple questions could lead to involved answers. Lt. Gov. Spotswood lived in a rented house. The question went to the Board of Trade about the payment for this. They sent it on to the Lord High Treasurer. They also had to answer Mr. Harley's letter on this subject. The Earl of Orkney wrote a memorial on the subject. The minutes do not define the question exactly, but I am guessing it is a matter of who pays for the house, Spotswood or the Colony?
In the spring of 1712, there was concern about the military preparations in Virginia. The Indian troubles were much on their mind. Requests from Virginia indicated a need for muskets, powder, and tents. This was not a simple question, and it occupied the Board's attention on several occasions.
Virginia and Maryland were told that Mr. Roos, Her Majesty's Seal Cutter, was making seals for use in the colonies, and they were to use them.
All colonies in America were warned that, if people were sent to England for alleged crimes, they must be accompanied by full proof of guilt. [You figure that one out.]
To show the detail that the Board could get involved in, Mr. M. Perry and Mr. R. Perry prayed for the confirmation of a Private Act of the Virginia Assembly, which was passed on 7 November 1711 [it was now 26 Aug 1712], which would allow John Custis to dispose of some land left entailed upon his wife Frances by the late Daniel Parks, so that debts and legacies could be paid. The Board ordered the Memorial and the Act to be sent to the Attorney General for his legal opinion. A month later, the Attorney General sent his opinion that there was no legal objection to the Private Act for the benefit of the estate of Daniel Parks. The Commissioners proposed that her Majesty confirm the Private Act.
On 11 Dec 1712, Indian trade was discussed. This was a question that involved North Carolina (who was interfering with Virginian traders), and of the structure of Indian trading in Virginia. Indian trading was set up as a monopoly in Virginia [and Spotswood was an investor in the "approved" Indian trading company]. The Queen's desire was that there be no interference in Indian trading. [The Board was reading a letter dated 8 Feb 1712 (NS) from Spotswood; note the delay.] Graffenried was proposing to move his Palatines to Virginia, as a way to solve his difficulties in North Carolina.
27 Jan 1713 (NS). Mr. M. Perry, a merchant in England, reported the anxiety in Virginia at the possibility of an Indian War. The citizens were having a hard time procuring weapons. The Commissioners wrote to the Earl of Dartmouth.
[A surprising thing to most people is how much England was involved in the governing of Virginia. Appointed officials were heavily involved, including the Queen, and everyday citizens also intervened. Notice that the Perrys pushed for a confirmation of the Private Act, where the estate of Daniel Parks was probably a debtor to them. Any law passed in Virginia was often in limbo for a few years until it was approved in England.]
(17 Aug 00)
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.