The evidence as to where the Second Germanna Colony first lived in Virginia, when they arrived in 1717/18, points to the Great Fork between the Rapidan and the Rappahannock Rivers. In particular, the names of two small watercourses, German Run and Fleshman's Run, point to an area of special interest, for it is extremely likely that Cyriacus Fleshman of the Second Colony lived by or near Fleshman's Run.
We have further evidence that we should be looking in the Great Fork. In the Spotsylvania County records there is a lease from Alexander Spotswood to Thomas Byrn and Martha, his wife. Two adjoining plantations in the fork of the Rappa. River in St. Geo. Par. were leased by John Grame, attorney for Spotswood, who was absent in England at this time. The two plantations were a part of that land known as New German Town. Specifically, lots 18 and 19, with 200 acres of adjoining land, were being leased. The date on the lease is 4 Feb 1728/9.
This tells us that there was a community in the Great Fork named New German Town. Since the First Germanna Colony never lived in the Great Fork, the reference to "Germans", strongly implied by the name, could not pertain to them. Furthermore, they would not have needed lots numbered up to 18 and 19. But Spotswood did say in his letter to Harrison that the second group of Germans were settled in about twenty tenements. So the evidence of the lease is that there was a community of Germans, who appear to have left by 1729, consisting of at least 19 families. Of course, all of this fits the Second Germanna Colony very well.
Not long ago we looked at comments of Hugh Jones, who wrote a book based on his experiences in Virginia, which ended in 1722. Rev. Jones wrote,
"Beyond this (Germanna) are seated the Colony of Germans or Palatines, with allowance of good quantities of rich land, at easy or no rates, who thrive very well, and live happily, and entertain generously."These are encouraged to make wines, which by the experience (particularly) of the late Colonel Robert Beverley, who wrote the history of Virginia, was done easily and in large quantities in these parts; not only from the cultivation of the wild grapes, which grow plentifully and naturally in all the good lands thereabouts, and in other parts of the country; but also from the Spanish, French, Italian, and German vines, which have been found to thrive there to admiration.
"Besides this, these uplands seem very good for hemp and flax, if the manufacture thereof was but encouraged and promoted thereabouts; which might prove of wonderous advantage in our naval stores and linens
"Here may likewise be found as good clapboards, and pipe-staves, deals, masts, yards, planks, etc. for shipping . . ."
The comments from Jones with the references to Beverley and to naval stores shows that he was writing about the second group of Germans, and not about the Colony of 1714 as some writers have mistakenly assumed.
(08 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.