[With William Byrd at Mrs. Fleming's on September 23.]
"The clouds continued to drive from the northeast and to menace us with more rain. But as the lady resolved to venture through it I thought it a shame for me to venture to flinch. Therefore, after fortifying myself with two capacious dishes of coffee and making my compliments to the ladies, I mounted, and Mr. Randolph was so kind as to be my guide.
"At the distance of three miles, in a path as narrow as that which leads to Heaven but much more dirty, we reached the homely dwelling of the Reverend Mr. Marij. His land is much more barren than his wife and needs all Mr. Bradley's skill [author of works on agriculture] . . . to make it bring corn. Thence we proceeded five miles farther to a mill of Mr. Randolph's, that is apt to stand still when there falls but little rain and to be carried away when there falls a great deal. Then we pursued a very blind path four miles farther, which puzzled my guide, who I suspect led me out of the way. At length we came into a great road, where he took leave, after giving me some very confused directions, and so left me to blunder out the rest of the journey by myself. I lost myself more than once but soon recovered the right way again. About three miles after quitting my guide, I passed the south branch of Pamunkey river, near fifty yards over and full of stones.
"After this I had eight miles to Mr. Chiswell's, where I arrived about two o’clock and saved my dinner. I was very handsomely entertained, finding everything very clean and very good. I had not seen Mrs. Chiswell in twenty-four years, which, alas had made great havoc with her pretty face and plowed very deep furrows in her fair skin. It was impossible to know her again, so much the flower was faded. However, though she was grown an old woman, yet she was one of those absolute rarities, a very good old woman.
"I found Mr. Chiswell a sensible, well-bred man and very frank in communicating his knowledge in the mystery of making iron, wherein he has had long experience. I told him I was come to spy the land and inform myself of the expense of carrying on an ironwork with effect; that I sought my instruction from him, who understood the whole mystery, having gained full experience so dear. He answered that he would with sincerity let me into the little knowledge he had, and so we immediately entered upon the business."
[This last paragraph tells us the reason for his trip, which Byrd made no attempt to disguise. He wanted to learn what was necessary to become a producer of iron.]
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.