4 Feb 1713 (NS), in the Minute Book of the Board of Trade (and Plantations). The commissioners decided to examine all relevant documents concerning the ownership of the lands in the fork of the Potomac River. This question had been raised by Spotswood in his letter, dated 8 May 1712. [The question had arisen because Graffenried had come up from North Carolina with the intention of finding a place in Virginia for his people now in North Carolina. He was also motivated to find the alleged silver mines in the fork of the Potomac River. Several of the proprietors said that he would be on their land. The question was, "Whose land was it The Queen’s, the Northern Neck Proprietor, the Maryland Proprietor, or the Pennsylvania Proprietor?" No one was too sure. Spotswood was very willingly helping Graffenried, because, whether Graffenried pursued silver, colonization, or both, Spotswood could profit.]
On the next day, the Commissioners followed up on this question and instructed Col. Nicholson to procure a copy of Lord Culpeper’s 1688 patent for land in that area. [These actions show that in England and in America there was much confusion about the geography of America. The French were even thought to be just over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Or, when standing on the Blue Ridge, it was reported that one could see Lake Erie.]
[One of the questions, on which there was a difference of opinion, pertained to who had jurisdiction over the coastal waters of Virginia. If a Virginia ship captured a pirate, who had the authority to try the pirates? Was it Virginia or was it the Admiralty?]
26 Feb 1713 (NS). The Commissioners noted that Spotswood’s letter of 26 July 1712 told of the discovery of a silver mine in Virginia. [This was an indirect outcome of the visit by Graffenried.] On the next day, the Commissioners wrote to the Earl of Dartmouth, with a copy of Spotswood’s letter, relating to silver mines "at the back of Virginia."
[Several of the actions of the Commissioners were related to the chaotic state of the government in North Carolina, and the troublesome relations with its northern and southern neighbors. Other actions were more routine, such as requests for income and expenses for the past year.]
28 Apr 1713. Mr. M. Perry (a merchant in England) and Col. Blakiston informed the Commissioners of the death of Col. Harrison, a member of the Council of (and in) Virginia. They recommended that Mr. Cocke, Secretary of Virginia, be appointed to fill the vacancy. The Commissioners agreed to add Cocke’s name to the list of candidates. [Notice that the merchants seemed to be better informed than the Commissioners, and that Perry joined in recommending a replacement. We see repeatedly that the merchants were a powerful factor in the government of the colonies.]
(18 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.