[In August 1718, things were black for Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood at the Board of Trade. Even his boss, the Earl of Orkney, was considering replacing him. Things were not entirely set in place for Spotswood, as far as his personal plans were concerned. His land acquisition plan had gone into high gear though, with the arrival of the shipload of Germans earlier in the year, who were now settled on the lands in the Great Fork of the Rappahannock (i.e., on the north side of the Rapidan River). He did not file a patent on this land until a few years later, but it was clear, from the location of the Germans (i.e., the Second Colony), what his plan was. The First Colony of Germans was searching for iron ore, though by this time it would probably be better to say they were developing the iron mines. They had already probably given notice that they were going to leave at the end of the year, so the 40,000 acre Spotsylvania tract, with its naval stores project, was exceedingly important to him. Though he had made enemies in Virginia, it was better to make friends so he could emphasize his plans, not the King's endeavors.]
On 7 Oct 1718, the Commissioners of the Board of Trade, passed on to the Secretary of State Spotswood's proposals relating to the settlements to be made at Lake Erie, and in the passes of the great mountains on the back of Virginia. [This was a smart move by Spotswood, as it was generally in line with the policy of the King (countering the French), and it justified Spotswood's future land acquisitions in the western regions.] Still, in October, the Commissioners sent a letter to the Secretary of State with information about the progress the French were making in establishing a line of communication from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi.
[Most of the Plantations had agents in London. The Board ordered all agents to show their credentials. Col. Nathaniel Blakiston showed his letter, dated 16Aug 1705, from the Council of Virginia, by which he was appointed agent for Virginia.]
10 Dec 1718. Mr. Byrd of Virginia appeared on behalf of certain members of the Council in Virginia. It was believed that they (the Council members) were about to be removed.
31 Dec 1718. Mr. Joshua Gee presented a memorial relating to the existing trade with the Baltic countries in iron and timber, and to the POSSIBILITY [emphasis added] of obtaining these materials from the American Plantations instead. [The date here is a coincidence, since this is the date that the First Germanna Colony ended their work for Col Spotswood in developing the iron mines. As of this date, there were no iron furnaces in Virginia, though it was known that there was iron. A century earlier, the iron had been proven to be good, but the policy of England had not come around to importing iron from the "Plantations". The merchants in England regarded the "colonials" as consumers, not manufacturers, and opposed all attempts to manufacture goods in America. For example, raw wool was to be shipped back to England, where it would be manufactured into clothing. The colonials were then to buy clothing from England. It was beginning to dawn on some people in England that buying iron and naval stores in the Baltic countries might not be the best policy.]
(05 Sep 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.