John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 1940

I will continue with the historical errors in Willis Kemper's " Genealogy of the Kemper Family ".  Kemper claimed that Johann Justus Albrecht did not come to America.  Albrecht is, in fact, the signer of a document in the Essex Courthouse in Will Book 16, page 180, which reads:

The Honable Alex Spotswood His Majesty's Leut. Governour & Commander in Chief of Virginia did put under my command Eleven Labouring men to work in Mines or Quarries at or near Germanna, and we began to work March One Thousand Seven Hundred and15/16 [i.e., by the new style calendar it was 1716] and so continued til Dec. One Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighteen.
John Justice Albright
What is subscribed above by the Hofman is true, for I kept the accounts for him & was one of the men.
Hs. Jacob Holtsclare

At a Court held for Essex County on Tuesday the 17th day of May 1720 -

Then sworn to by the above named John Justice Albright and Hans Jacob Holsclare & ordered to be recorded.
Capt W. Beverley, Clerk

[The words Dec, Hofman, and Hs. seem to be the best readings consistent with the adjacent words.  (See Beyond Germanna , page 809.)]

The stockholder's book, which Albrecht had composed in London, is in the Spotsylvania Courthouse.  (A translation of this was made by Elke Hall in Beyond Germanna , page 241f.)

Another claim of Kemper is that,

"Spotswood was making a great effort to have the royalty on iron reduced."

There is no statement by Spotswood, or any agent acting for him, which talks about the royalty on iron.  Kemper misinterprets the actions of Spotswood to get the Crown's share of silver and gold mines defined.

This error of Kemper originates because Kemper falsely convinced himself that the Germans were recruited because of their knowledge of iron.  They were, in fact, recruited, on behalf of the George Ritter and Company, for their knowledge of mining.  Iron was not significant.  If you are seeking silver miners, which is a rare occupation, you would do better to seek miners in general.  I repeat also, the recruitment was not on behalf of Spotswood, but for the purposes of the George Ritter and Company.

As to whether the interest is in silver or iron, one might read the petition to Queen Anne to have the Crown's share out of silver mines fixed.  This was presented to the Queen on 30 Nov 1713.  (See Beyond Germanna , page 710.)  When one petitions the Queen, and one says "silver", then one better mean silver.  People who lie to the Queen are apt not to be people any longer.
(06 Aug 04)