Alexander Spotswood had troubles with his expense accounts, in particular in getting reimbursed. We are looking at his explanation of his expenses, which furnishes us a clue as to the activities that he engaged in. Continuing with his words,
"Upon projecting to lessen the great charge of Rangers & to settle a more lasting Guard for the Frontiers, Measures were concerted in Sundry Councils, & the Gov'r in order to put the same in Execution did undertake (May 17, 1714) a Fortnights expedition to Reconnoitre the Norward Frontiers & to fortify a place for Settling a Body of Germans above the Falls of Rappahannock (322 miles); a six Weeks Expedition (August 30, 1714) to Reconnoitre all the Frontiers from South to North far without the inhabitants, in order to find out proper places for fixing Forts (500 miles); a Three Weeks Expedition (March 30, 1715) to carry on the Fortifications of Christanna, and to meet Blunt with other Chief Men of the Tuscaroudoes for settling the Limits of theirs and our Indian Hunting Ranges (210 miles)."Upon the general Revolt of the Southern Indians, and their attacking South Carolina, Measures were concerted in Council for putting a stop to their dangerous progress, & the Governor to effect the same undertook (June 25, 27, and 28, 1715) several Journeys to List Soldiers in Kent, Warwick, and Gloucester Countys (104 miles); two ditto (July 4 and 18, 1715) to Embark 150 Soldiers at York & Hampton ports (100 miles); (November 10, 1715) one ditto to give Directions about the Works of Christanna Forts (200 miles); (April 14, 1716) one ditto to give further Directions about the S'd Works (200 miles).
"Upon a Complaint made by the Tuscaroudoes to the Goverm't of Acts of Hostility & a Murder committed on their people by some of our Tributary Indians, the Gov'r to prevent a Rupture by Examining into the Affair & doing such Justice as might appease the Tuscaroudoes undertook (July 9, 1716) a Journey to Christanna (where Blunt the Chief Ruler of the Tuscaroudoes) with the Carolina interpreter had agreed to meet him, & in which Journey the Gov'r had his Two Serv'ts & his own riding Horse with all his Equipage drowned (200 miles).
"Upon Notice of a Passage being discovered through the great Western Mountains, the Governor advising with the Council, judg'd it might be for the Safety & benefit of this Colony if the Pass could be secured by a Fort, & a Trade opened that way with remote Indians, & therefore Resolving to view it himself, he undertook (August 20, 1716) a Monts Expedition with 63 Men and 74 Horses marching beyond the high Ridge of Mountains, until he arriv'd at a large River on the other side (445 miles)."
[It appears that Spotswood had a diary in which his travels were recorded. He had no trouble at all in remembering the exact date of all of these trips. This is in marked contrast to his account to Harrison (which we looked at), where he seems to get tangled up in his timing of the events. Most likely, in the letter to Harrison he was trying to obscure the timing of events. Here, in his expense justifications, he wants everything to sound exact. . . . It was on the trip over the Blue Ridge that the land west of Germanna was explored, and Spotswood decided to take up 40,000 acres that stretched westward beyond the present city of Culpeper. I believe that was the major reason for the trip, but he wanted to cast the trip as an officially sanctioned and so he gave the reasons that he did.]
(02 Oct 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.