John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 1265

[Still with Arthur Leslie Keith]

"The pamphlet published by Stöver in 1737 relates to the 1717 colony of twenty families, without any reference to a subsequent colony. . . .  If a third colony of forty families had been associated with the second colony, Stöver’s failure to mention it is certainly remarkable.  The petition of the German Lutheran Congregation of Orange County, dated 11 Feb 1734, to His Majesty’s Council, states that the congregation consists of 62 families and 274 persons; that they came to Virginia in 1717 and settled on lands belonging to Col. Spotswood, but in 1725 moved to their present abode. . . .  The 62 families of 1734 represent these families with their natural increase, plus the occasional arrivals of later years."

"On 23 April 1724, the Virginia Council received a petition from Ziriakus Fleischman and George Utz, representing themselves and 14 other high Germans being sued by Col. Spotswood on account of transportation charges to Virginia.  [Two more men were added after this date, making a total of 18 defendants.]  Three of these defendants in their importation papers state they came to this country in 1717.  I think that these 18 persons can safely be ascribed to the 1717 colony."

James Brown, researching and writing for Beyond Germanna, found one more name than Keith gives.  This was Jacob Crigler, who was the first person sued (for 34 pounds).  This case was dismissed 3 Mar 1724(NS), with Crigler paying the cost of the suit.  This is apparently why Crigler was not counted, since he had settled the lawsuit already when Fleshman and Utz petitioned the council.

The people named in the lawsuits, plus their families, constitute about 55 people.  Spotswood had paid the transportation of 48 people, which we know from his head right list.  His partners paid for the remaining people.  When Spotswood purchased the partnership interests of his partners, he seemed, in some cases, to have acquired the rights to some of their head rights.  The evidence points to George Moyer being, first, a servant of Robert Beverley, the historian.  So there were about 20 more people beyond those sued by Spotswood.

There were people on the head right list who were not sued.  This includes Joseph Weaver, with a family of five, and Henry Schlucter, who was a bachelor (but Cyriacus Fleshman was his stepfather).  Matthew Smith is recorded as leaving Germany, but he is not on Spotswood’s importation list, nor was he sued (he had a family of two).  These eight people bring us to about 63 people.
(25 Sep 01)