John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 2025

To The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
The humble Memorial of the Rt. Honorable George Earl of Orkney your
Majestys Capt. Generale and Governor in Chief of Virginia

Humbly, Craves leave to Acquaint your Majesty that he has been greatly Importuned by your Majestys Lieut. God. of that Colony to Apprise your Majesty that within this 12 Months last past there has been some Discoveries made by Persons Versed in Mines, that they have met with some Ore that has Greatly the Semblance of Silver in it, And upon Tryall thereof have some Reason to hope if a due encouragement were given to soe[?] Chargeable an Enterprise they might make some Progress in it But the Inhabitants of that Colony being Sensible that all Gold and Silver Mines, are your Majesty's Intire Property, and is Reserved for your Majesty's Peculiar use; they have Desisted making any further attempt till they are Encouraged by your Royall Proclamation or by what other Methods you shall think fitt to proscribe, and what Share you will please to Retain to your Self. After which the Inhabitants there, are desirous to go in Quest of this Important Project at their own proper Charges, And if Attained may be a means that great Treasure may Accrue to your Majesty's Coffers. All which is most humbly Submitted to your Most Sacred Majesty.
A true Copy W" Blathwayt


At the Court at Windsor
the 30th November 1713
Present
The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council

Upon reading this day at the Board the humble Memorial of the Rt. Honorable George Earl of Orkney Her Majesty's Captain Generale & Governor in Chief of Virginia relating to some Discoveries lately made in that Colony of An Ore that has greatly the Semblance of Silver in it, and Setting forth that it may be very advantageous to Her Majesty if proper Encouragement be given to the Inhabitants of the said Colony for making further progress therein, Her Majesty in Council is pleased to Order, That the said Petition, Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, Be and it is hereby Referred to the Rt. Honorable the Lord High Treasurer to Consider thereof and to Report his Opinion thereupon to Her Majesty at this Board.
William Blathwayt

[Copies of the above two items were sent on 4 March 1714 (NS) by the Lord High Treasurer to the Board of Trade with a request for their opinion.  See Minutes of the Board of Trade 1713 - 1714/15 in Public Record Office Class C.O. 391/24. Reproduced from Beyond Germanna , page 710.]
(08 Dec 04)