GERMANNA_COLONIES-L Archives

From: John Blankenbaker <>
Subject: (14)Germanna Colonies, History of
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 19:05:42 -0500

Fourteenth in a series of short notes on the Germanna Colonies

Lt. Gov. Spotswood continued to push for a resolution of the precious metals
question. Col. Blakiston in London must have dreaded opening letters from
Spotswood which harped on the theme of getting approval for the gold and
silver mines. Queen Anne died and was succeeded by King George I, a German
himself. Spotswood urged Blakiston to try the argument with King George
that he would be helping his fellow countryman if the question were
resolved. In the meanwhile, Spotswood complained about the expense of the
Germans (he mentioned partners) and said there was no chance to recover
these expenses until the Germans could be put to work.

Actually, this was not true. Spotswood did recover his expenses from the
efforts of the Germans. On 31 Oct 1716, William Robinson patented 3,229
acres above the falls of the Rappahannock in the parish of St. George in
Essex Co. This was the land where Fort Germanna was built. The true owner
of the land was soon divulged; no one was surprised when the land was
transferred by Robinson to Spotswood. Spotswood explained that a third
party was used because it did not look good for him to sign a land patent as
governor to the benefit of himself as a private individual. While it is true
that Robinson paid the required fees for this (and no doubt was reimbursed
by Spotswood), it was also a requirement that the land be proven up by
building houses, clearing and planting crops and setting an orchard. This
the Germans did by their farming activity. So Spotswood could consider that
he clear title to the land thanks to the Germans.

There is, of course, a minor question about who was the sponsor of the
Germans. Spotswood had suggested, and it was approved by the Council, that
the Colony ought to contribute to their expense since they were guarding the
frontier. The Fort, for example, would probably be considered as property
of the Colony, not of Spotswood. Nevertheless, he patented the land on
which the fort sat, giving his approval as Govenor to his actions as a
private individual.

Spotswood visited Germanna on only a few occasions before he eventually
decided to move there. By and large, he left the Germans on their own, with
little direct supervision. For a while, he put a relative on the site as
overseer. This was Frances Home who was an interesting tale in himself.
Francis Home had revolted against the Crown and was sentenced to hanging but
was able to get the sentence changed to "transportation" meaning he was to
be banished to the colonies and sold as a servant. A kinsman purchased his
freedom and he went to work for Spotswood as overseer at Germanna.
Unfortunately for him, he died not long after this (in 1718) and was buried
on the shores of the Rapidan River at Germanna. Francis had a brother,
George Home, who was also transported to the colonies. George, took up the
trade of surveying and became very well known among the later Germanna
people. It merely shows that some of the best people in Virginia did not
come voluntarily. Some of George Home's descendants married Germanna
people, so Spotswood could have claimed (had he lived long enough) that he
was related to some of the Germanna people.

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

This thread:

• (14)Germanna Colonies, History of by John Blankenbaker <>