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[[File:Outlook-ek4vkaaz (004).png|alt=|SL-germanna-jubilee-2.jpg]]<br><br>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. | [[File:Outlook-ek4vkaaz (004).png|alt=|SL-germanna-jubilee-2.jpg]]<br><br>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 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 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 or to present Madison County, Virginia where the men took out land grants. | They were followed by over twenty German families from Baden-Württemberg and the Palatinate 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. | 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. | ||
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Check [http://www.germanna.org/ Historic Germanna's website] for regular hours and events. The site is closed on major holidays. | Check [http://www.germanna.org/ Historic Germanna's website] for regular hours and events. The site is closed on major holidays. | ||
Historic Germanna<br> P.O. Box 279 <br> Locust Grove, VA 22508-0279<br> Phone: 540-423-1700 (Tue-Sat, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm)<br> Website: www.germanna.org | Historic Germanna<br> P.O. Box 279 <br> Locust Grove, VA 22508-0279<br> Phone: 540-423-1700 (Tue-Sat, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm)<br> Website: www.germanna.org | ||