(continuing from the previous note)
[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 . . .] and to direct her Governor upon their arrival to allot them Land on the Southwest Branch of the Potomac (which is a place not yet Seated by any of Her Majesty's subjects in such Manner & Form and under the like Condition & Covenants and Reservations of Quit Rents as are by the Charter and Laws of That Colony allowed and directed to be made; due care being taken in all such events of an equal distribution of the profitable and unprofitable acres; And particularly that every Patentee be obliged in the best and most effectual Manner to Cultivate and improve three Acres part of every fifty Acres granted to them within the Term of three years after the passing such Grant; And in Case of failure thereof, such Grant or Grants to be void and of none Effect according to Her Majesty's Additional Instruction to Collonel Hunter dated the Nineteenth of February 1708/9. Provided always that in all things they always conform themselves to the Several Acts and Laws of Trade and Navigation heretofore made or which hereafter shall be made relating to her Majesty's Foreign Plantations. We are
My Lord
Whitehall, July 25th 1709 Your Lordships most Humble Servants
- Dartmouth
- Ph. Meadows
- Cha. Turner
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This document was prepared by the Board of Trade, and it is a report back to Lord Sunderland, as he had requested, for the opinion of the Board on the request of Graffenried and Michel being made to Queen Anne. Lord Sunderland used this report to go before Queen Anne with his recommendations. The Board, to form its opinion, had several people who were interested in Virginia come in and testify as to what they thought.
The Board did not invite the public to testify. Testimony was limited to a few people who, without any formal position, formed the corridors of power. There was a tremendous amount of, "What do you think of this proposal?"
I like to have my history in the raw, based on the documents of the time, written by the participants themselves, though the participants are often biased, distorting the facts in a self-serving way. We always have to watch for that.
(17 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.