When Alexander Spotswood commenced his service in Virginia as Lt. Governor, he reported quite frequently to his supervisors, the Board of Trade and Plantations. He sent them letters on almost a monthly basis. After three or four years though, he tapered off and then did a minimal amount of writing. Much of his writing in this later period was an attempt to answer his critics.
When Hugh Drysdale became Lt. Governor, he wrote a minimum of reports from the very beginning. The difference can be seen in the records of the Board of Trade where his letters do not appear as often as the early Spotswood did.
Whether Drysdale had been sent with any instructions on the subject is not clear, but he was not sympathetic to Spotswood. Once, when Spotswood felt he had been insulted by Larkin Chew, he made the long trip to Williamsburg to file a protest with Drysdale. Spotswood was counting that the bonds of aristocracy and office would win him the governor's support, including the removal of the "common carpenter" as a threat. He failed to get a favorable response from Drysdale.
We know that when the Second Colony members who had been sued by Spotswood appealed to the House of Burgesses, the House turned the case over to the Council, the more intimate advisers to the Governor. Together, they appointed the Kings' Deputy attorney for Spotsylvania County to represent the Germans.
Drysdale had come to Virginia in 1722. Larkin Chew had been elected one of the two Burgesses from the newly formed Spotsylvania County. In his position as a Burgess, Larkin Chew was very critical of Spotswood. And he intended that Drysdale hear the criticism. Drysdale at this very time was struggling with the ambiguous provisions of the law for granting land in the new Colonies. And it seemed to him that Spotswood had violated the terms of the law both in fact and in spirit.
Paula Felder, in her book, " Forgotten Companions ", which treats Virginia history at this time period, has only two references to Drysdale in the index.
Prior to Drysdale's appointment, the factions in Virginia had been besieging London with their beefs. It had become a bit tiresome and London was eager to have a quieter time in Virginia.
The one letter of Drysdale's (to the Board of Trade in 1723) that I remember, read:
"It is part of my duty to inform your Lordships of an affair, that is at present the common Theme of peoples Discourses, and employs their thought. Coll Spotswood's Iron workes: he had brought itt to that perfection that he now sells by public auction at Wm:burgh, backs and frames for Chymnies, Potts, doggs, frying, stewing and baking panns. . . "
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.