July 23, 1709 To the Right Honorable Earl of Sunderland:My Lord, In obedience to Her Majesty's Command signified to us by your Lordship's Letter of 28th of June last, we have considered the Petition of several Inhabitants of the Canton of Bern, praying that they may be permitted to make a Settlement on the Frontiers of Virginia, and we have been attended by Mr. Christopher de Graffenried and Mr. Louis Mitchell, who have been sent from the said Canton to prosecute that affair here.
And Whereas by the above said Petition, Several Concessions were defined which would be chargeable to Her Majesty, and which are not granted to her Majesty's subjects who take up Lands to Settle and Plant there, the aforesaid Graffenried and Mitchell who are authorized from the Canton of Bern have withdrawn the said Petition and given Us another Proposal, a Copy whereof is hereunto Annexed by which they propose to Settle a Colony in Virginia of about five or six hundred persons at their own charge. But at first they intend to carry over about sixty to prepare and begin a Settlement place there. And they pray
That Her Majesty would be Graciously pleased to grant them Lands for such a Settlement upon the South West Branch of Potomac River.
That they may enjoy the same Advantages, Liberties and Privileges which her Majesties natural born Subjects do enjoy in their Parts.
That they may have a Minister from their own Country who, speaking their own Language, will be the better able to teach and instruct them in their Religious concerns. They are willing to be subject to the Laws and Government of Virginia. And in all Matters Ecclesiastical, Civil, and Military they will be conformable to the Constitution of that Colony.
Whereupon having consulted with some of the Principal Persons concerned in Virginia, who have testifyed to us their ready concurrence therewith. We pray your Lordships represent to her Majesty our humble opinion That the Settlement of such a Colony in the Place desired will be a public benefit and advantage; By Strengthening the Frontiers of Virginia against the French of Canada and Missisipi; And by the Increase of Trade and Navigation and therefore we see no objection why Her Majesty may not be Graciously pleased to grant their desire . . .
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(from the Public Record Office, C.O. 5/1362)
(to be continued)
(16 Aug 01)
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.