The travels and expenses of Alexander Spotswood continue,
"The Law directing the Indian Company should take Fort Christanna into their keeping from the first of December 1716, the Gov'r in order to deliver the same up into their hands, undertook (November 27, 1716) a Journey to Christanna, where he happened to be confined for ten days by a dangerous Illness & deep Snow (200 miles).Upon Notice given of Wichmetanche (a man in the greatest Repute among the Western Indians) & several Chiefs of the Sutarees, Sugahs, Pedees, Quiawaes, Chacees, Saxapahaes, Enoes, & Sawraes, being arrived at Christanna to comply with the Terms of such a Treaty as this Government had in several Councils insisted upon, & that accordingly they had brought in their children to be delivered up as Hostages, but refused to advance within the inhabitants, declaring that if the governor would not meet them there upon the Frontiers, they would return with their Children. Wherefore the Governor undertook (April 8, 1717) a Journey to Christanna, where the next morning after his arrival a Body of the Mohocks, w'th other Northern Indians fell upon & Murdered Several of the Southern Indians, while were lying just w'thout the Gate of the Fort unarmed, having according to the Discipline observed there of giving up their Guns into the Custody of the English (200 miles).
Upon the Return of Capt'n Chr. Smith from Albany, whither he had been sent by the Governm't to Expostulate w'th the five Nations upon their late Behavior in those parts, & to learn whether those Indians design'd to be at peace or War with us, the Report of his Negotiations occasioned some Deliberations in Council how to prevent future Mischief from that Quarter, and it being then alleged by some of the Council that all the Measures they were concerting would prove fruitless, unless the Gov'r went himself to the Norward to convince and & persuade the other Gov'rs to concurr in them, he therefore undertook (September 11, 1717) two Months Travells Setting out with the Expectation of a Congress in Philadelphia, but the Govern'r of New York being hindred from meeting there by reason of the Assembly then Sitting, the Gov'r of Virginia was necessitated to continue on to New York, or must have Returned without answering the Main Design of his Journal (1000 miles). Total 5026."
[Of the eleven episodes that have been named, ten are concerned with Indian relations. They consumed a major portion of Spotswood's time and efforts. For anyone who lived on the frontier, as our German ancestors did, the Indian question would have been a lively topic.]
[On Spotswood's first trip to Germanna, he put the mileage at 322, whereas John Fontaine put it at 292, a thirty-mile difference. Some observers have thought that Spotswood went on to the Blue Ridge Mountains on this trip, but the mileage figures would not support them. One concludes the objective of the trip was definitely Germanna, which at that time was nothing but woods. One might observe that Germanna was only a few miles from the projected silver mine in which Spotswood held a 25% interest. He failed to mention this in his expense report. Spotswood's attitude toward the pass in the Blue Ridge ("Great Western") Mountains was casual. He resolved, not to fortify, defend or extend the range of Virginia, but to see the place for himself.]
(03 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.