Germanna Foundation Library

Background History

Forty-two German men, women, and children set out for the British American Colonies from the Siegerland of Germany in 1714 and became the First Germanna Colony in Virginia. They had been recruited as miners by the Georg Ritter Company's agent Johann Justus Albrecht. Even though most were not miners by trade, they had connections and experience with the mining industry as there were many small mines in the Siegerland where most men worked occasionally. Christoph de Graffenried, one of the investors in the Georg Ritter Company, experienced setbacks in the Carolinas and was returning to Switzerland. He was surprised to find Albrecht and the Germans in London upon his arrival. He recommended they return to their homes as the Georg Ritter Company was bankrupt but, as some had left without permission, they were unable to do so. De Graffenried arranged for the Germans to be sponsored by Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood as indentured servants, hoping to have them mine silver. Spotswood settled them in Virginia at a fort on the Rapidan River named Fort Germanna. This group settled at Germantown in present Fauquier County, Virginia after the completion of their indenture.

They were followed by over twenty German families from Baden-Württemberg and the Palatinate, numbering about eighty persons, in 1717 who became the Second Germanna Colony. These Germans set out for Pennsylvania but were delayed in London as their ship's captain was imprisoned for debt. Once released, the captain took them to Virginia and sold them to Alexander Spotswood as indentured servants. They served out their indenture on the opposite side of the Rapidan River from Fort Germanna in a loose settlement in modern Culpeper County, Virginia. At the end of the indenture period, some of the men of the Second Germanna Colony were sued by Spotswood. Once free, the Germans moved further west in Culpeper County near Mount Pony or to present Madison County, Virginia where the men took out land grants.

Other families joined later. In 1734, the Little Fork Colony consisting of relatives and friends of the First Germanna Colony settled in the northern portion of modern Culpeper County. A number of other German families joined the Second Germanna Colonists in modern Madison County, attracted by the presence of their fellow countrymen and the church they built, now known as Hebron Lutheran Church.

Historic Germanna

Today the Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc. dba Historic Germanna owns land in the original area, complete with a visitor's center, an archaeology lab, an historic mansion, and an excellent genealogical library. Their mission is to tell America’s story through the experience of her settlers and descendants using archaeological, historical, and genealogical research and interpretation. They are the site of an archaeological field school for Virginia Commonwealth University, offer educational programs about the colony's history, interpret their historical sites through periodic open houses, and provide genealogical assistance for the many descendants.

Genealogical Resources

In addition to a database of Germanna Colonists, their ancestors, and their descendants available to members, Historic Germanna publishes a series called the Germanna Record. There are also a DNA projects with Family Tree DNA and Gedmatch to help identify relatives through genetics.

Conference & Reunion

Historic Germanna hosts an annual Conference & Reunion the weekend of the third Sunday in July. Typically this gathering features an opportunity to visit the Fort Germanna Visitor Center and the Fort Germanna / Enchanted Castle archaeological site, historic bus tours, historical & genealogical conference, an outdoor dinner at the c1757 Salubria mansion, an indoor dinner with entertainment, and a chance to worship at either Hebron Lutheran Church in Madison, VA or Little Fork Episcopal Church in Rixeyville, VA. The Germanna Conference & Reunion is a marvelous chance to learn more about the Germanna Colonists in the very place where they lived and struggled togther.

Membership Information

Membership is open to all, whether descendants of the early colonists, or someone who wishes to support the archaeological and historic preservation efforts.

Visiting Historic Germanna

Check Historic Germanna's website for regular hours and events. The site is closed on major holidays.

Historic Germanna
P.O. Box 279
Locust Grove, VA 22508-0279
Phone: 540-423-1700 (Tue-Sat, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm)
Website: www.germanna.org