[Continuing Spotswood's explanation of his "business trips", from the “ The William & Mary Quarterly ”.]
The Law directing the Indian [Trading] Company should take Fort Christanna into their keeping from the first of December 1716, the Governor in order to deliver the same up into their hands, undertook [November 27, 1716] a Journey to Christanna, where he happened to be confined for ten days by a dangerous Illness & deep Snow [200 miles].
Upon Notice given of Wichmetanche (a man in the greatest Repute among the Western Indians) & several Chiefs of the Sutarees, Sugahs, Pedees, Quiawaes, Chacces, Saxapahaes, Enoes, & Sawraes, being arrived at Christanna to comply with the Terms of such a Treaty as this Government had in several Councils insisted upon, & that accordingly they had brought in their children to be delivered up as Hostages, but refused to advance further within the inhabitants, declaring that if the governor would not meet them there upon the Frontiers, they would return with their Children. Wherefore the Governor undertook [April 8, 1717] a Journey to Christanna, where the next morning after his arrival a Body of the Mohocks, with other Northern Indians fell upon & Murdered Several of the Southern Indians, while they were lying just without the Gate of Fort unarmed, having according to the Discipline observed there given up their Guns into the Custody of the English [200 miles].
Upon the Return of Captain Chr. Smith From Albany [NY], whither he had been sent by the Government to Expostulate with the five Nations upon their late Behavior in those parts, & to learn whether those Indians designed to be at peace or War with us, the Report of his Negotiations occasioned some Deliberations in Council how to prevent future Mischief from that Quarter, and it being then alleged by some of Council that all the Measures they were concerting would prove fruitless, unless the Governor went himself to the Norward to convince and & persuade the other Governments to concurr in them, he therefore undertook [September 11, 1717] two Months Travells Setting out with the Expectation of a Congress in Philadelphia, but the Governor of New York being hindred from meeting there by reason of the Assembly then Sitting, the Governor of Virginia was necessitated to continue on to New York, or must have Returned without answering the Main Design of his Journey [1000 miles].
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.