GERMANNA_COLONIES-L Archives

From: John Blankenbaker <>
Subject: (7)Germanna Colonies, History of
Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 16:52:01 -0500

Seventh in a series of short notes on the Germanna Colonies

Graffenried wrote that the Germans left London in January of 1714 (new
style). He had already left for Switzerland, again by sneaking out of the
country. Before Graffenried left London, he wrote an apologetic letter to
Spotswood in which he suggested that the Germans could be put to work on the
silver mine that they had together. Of course, Graffenried was now out of
the picture as a manager but he perhaps had hopes that the mine would prove
profitable and his one-sixteenth ownership would be significant.

Col. Blakiston also wrote to Spotswood and outlined the deal that had been
made in Spotwood's name. Spotswood received this letter before the Germans
arrived. He had a mixture of emotions. First, he interpreted Blakiston's
actions as meaning that Blakiston was near to a solution on the precious
metal question. For this reason, he was happy. But he was also very
nervous because the status of foreigners was not clearly defined and he
could be charged with importing foreigners. In his answers, he was emphatic
that they were Protestants. He also mentioned that they were the Germans
who had been recruited by Graffenried for his mining enterprise which had
been approved by the Queen. After putting out these disclaimers of any
wrong doing on his part, he told Blakiston they would have to make the best
of the situation. He called the Fort and the location Germanna after Queen
Anne and the Germans. This might be interpreted as another play on his part
to protect himself.

When the Germans arrived in April, Spotswood was ready with a plan, namely
the plan that he proposed two years earlier. He would use the Germans to
buffer the English from the Indians. Since this could be considered a civic
duty to the state, Virginia should help pay for locating and maintaining the
Germans. The Council approved the plan and the expense. The site, by
today's features, is where Germanna Community College is located along Route
3 at the Rapidan River in northeast Orange County. At the time, Spotswood
described the location as twenty miles beyond the usual course of the
Rangers. A simple fort was built for them and it was nestled in the
horseshoe bend of the Rapidan River in that area.

Spotswood described all of this is his letters to the Lord Commissioners,
but he omitted one little detail. He did not tell them that the silver-mine
patent in which he was part owner was only a few miles away from the Fort
and he hoped to have the Germans work on this.

Spotswood was very adept at mixing public policy with his private purposes.
Since the Germans could be considered his indenture servants, he would have
to pay their tithes to the Church of England. So he had Virginia set up a
special church district or parish for the Germans in which there were no
tithes. Also he could be expected to provide support to the Germans.
Again, he had Virginia designate the area around Germanna as off limits for
hunting to everyone except the Germans. Thus they should be able to support
themselves with their hunting.

to be continued
(if you have questions, send them along)

John Blankenbaker
Beyond Germanna
PO Box 120
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
http://www.wp.com/germanna/

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