When the Germans who came in 1717(OS) were settled, their work consisted of clearing land, growing food, developing naval stores, and growing grapes. The last function was particularly encouraged by Robert Beverley who was trying to develop a wine industry in Virginia. These Germans had nothing to do with any iron mines because there were no iron mines when they came.
The Germans described this period as very hard. At the end of their seven years of service, they moved to the foot of the mountains. They said the reason that they had to move so far was that the land in between was taken up by others and the Germans were very anxious to have a German community. One of the disadvantages, they noted, was that the markets for their products were so far away. Principally, they grew tobacco for money and food to eat.
As they were preparing to leave Spotswood's land, he brought lawsuits against most of the people in which he claimed that he was owed money having paid their passage. Many of these lawsuits were for sizeable amounts yet some of them were dismissed by the two parties. Other judgements by the jury awarded Spotswood only a small fraction of what he claimed.
In the Robinson River Valley, the Germans held church services by having one of their people read lessons and scripture. They could not hold communion services though. They were so desperate for a pastor that they sent two men, Fleshman and Motz, in 1727, to London to try and secure a pastor, through the German Lutheran pastors in the German churches there. They were not successful.
In 1733, they convinced Johann Caspar Stoever to become their pastor, and they sent him to Pennsylvania to be ordained. Because all free inhabitants in Virginia had to support the State Church (the Anglican Church), the Germans felt that they could not also support their own church. It was decided to send Stoever, with two members of the congregation, Smith and Holt, to Europe to raise money. This trip was extremely successful and a goodly sum of money was raised. Equally important, Stoever convinced a newly ordained pastor, George Samuel Klug, to become the assistant minister. It is thought his original duties would be as a schoolteacher and as a missionary to the Indians. The decision of Klug to come was fortunate because Stoever died on the trip home. Klug became the pastor then.
With the money raised in Europe, the Germans built a church in 1740, which still stands. They also bought a farm and slaves to work the land. The money earned from this farm was to support the minister.
(22 Nov 04)
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.