USA > Virginia > City of Fredericksburg > City of Fredericksburg > The history of the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia > Part 2
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"In our returns we visited all our friends, that rejoiced much at our victory against the Mannahocks, who many times had wars also with them, but now they were friends; and desired we should be friends with the Rapahanocks. Our Captain told them, they had twice assaulted him that came only in love to do them good, and, therefore, now he would burn all their houses, destroy their corn, and forever hold them his enemies till they made him satisfaction. They desired to know what that should be. He told them they should present him the King's bow and arrows, and not offer to come armed where he was; that they should be friends with the Moraughtacunds, his friends, and give him their King's son in pledge to perform it; and then all King James and his men should be their friends. Upon this they presently sent to the Rapa- hanocks to meet him at the place where they first fought where 2
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
would be the Kings of Nantantacund and Pissassac : which accord- ing to their promise were there so soon as we; where Rapahanock presented his bow and arrows, and confirmed all we desired, except his son, having no more but him he could not live without him, but instead of his son he would give him the three women Moraugh- tacund had stolen. This was accepted : and so in three or four canoes so many as could went with us to Moraughtacund, where Mosco made them such relations, and gave to his friends so many bows and arrows, that they no less loved him than admired us. The three women were brought our Captain, to each he gave a chain of beads : and then causing Moraughtacund, Mosco and Rapahanock stand before him, bid Rapahanock take her he loved best, and Moraughtacund choose next, and to Mosco he gave the third. Upon this away went their canoes over the water, to fetch their venison, and all the provision they could; and they that wanted boats swam over the river. The dark [darkness] commanded us then to rest.
"The next day there was of men, women and children, as we con- jectured, six or seven hundred, dancing and singing; and not a bow nor arrow seen amongst them. Mosco changed his name to Uttasantasough, which we interpret stranger, for so they call us. All promising ever to be our friends and to plant corn purposely for us; and we to provide hatchets, beads and copper for them, we departed ; giving them a volley of shot, and they us as loud shouts and cries as their strenghs could utter."
This account of Capt. Smith's exploration of the Rappahannock river, and the country bordering on the stream is highly interesting for three reasons. It shows beyond dispute, we think, that Capt. Smith and his little band were the first white men to tread the soil where is now located the city of Fredericksburg. It gives us a complete history of the voyage, so that we may become his travell- ing companions as he ascends the river, encounters the Indians, prospects for gold and other rich deposits in the earth about the falls ; also as he descends the river and calls the Indian kings to- gether, makes friends of them, settles differences between them and their tribes and sails out of the river loaded with provisions,
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
carrying with him their promise that they will raise more for him in the future. It gives us the names of many of the tribes of Indians, on the Rappahannock, their kings, towns and other places, so that we may look at his map of Virginia and locate many of them. It informs us that Richard Fetherstone, who accompanied Smith, was taken sick and died while he was here and was buried in the vicinity of Fredericksburg, he being the first white man to find sepulture in this part of Virginia.
The locations of the following places, found on Smith's map of Virginia, and mentioned in this work, will be of interest to many, and especially to those who are familiar with the country. They seem to be located as follows: Secobeck was just west of the city's almshouse; Massauteck was located just back of Chatham ; Fether- stone's bay is in Stafford, opposite the upper end of Hunter's Island; Accoqueck was near R. Innis Taylor's residence; Sockbeck was in the neighborhood of J. Bowie Gray's; Anasheroans were about Moss Neck; King Nandtaughtacund lived near Port Royal ; King Cultatawoman was located in Stafford, just below Snowdon; King Pissassack was located in Westmoreland county, near Leeds- town; King Tapahanock lived in the upper part of Lancaster county ; Mahakahod was about the line of Stafford and Culpeper counties ; Hassininga was about Indian Town in Orange county ; Stegara was in the upper part of Orange, on the Rapid Ann river ; and Tauxuntania was located near the foot of the Blue Ridge moun- tains.
The several towns at and near the falls of the river made it a general rendezvous of all tribes for this part of Virginia. It was a favorite place at which to meet for hunting, fishing and other sports, as was the case when Smith reached here. It is more than probable that the beautiful and fascinating Pocahontas, who saved the life of John Smith and who captivated the bold and fearless Rolfe, spent some time at this point, in her journeyings, resting here and feasting her youthful eyes upon the magnificent scenery of the Rappahannock falls, and engaging in the sports and pastimes of her distinguished father's subjects.
We are told* that in 1611 she was entrusted by her father, Pow-
* Howe's History of Virginia.
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
hatan, to Chief Japazaws, who carried her to his home on the Poto- mac river, where she lived some time in retirement-that is, away from the stirring scenes around Jamestown. It is not, therefore, unreasonable to suppose that much of the time she was with Japa- zaws was spent at this point, the favorite gathering place of all the tribes at the different seasons of the year.
Why Pocahontas left her home for the protection of Japazaws is not positively known. Howe thinks Powhatan was preparing for a great war with the new settlers and wanted to get his daughter away from danger and the exposure and discomfort that would result from such a conflict. Stith gives no reason, "except it was to withdraw herself from being a witness to the frequent butcheries of the English, whose folly and rashness, after Smith's departure, put it out of her power to save them."
In the year 1612 Capt. Argall took a trip up the Potomac in search of corn and other supplies for the English settlers, fell in with the old chief and purchased the young princess from him, the price agreed upon being a copper kettle, which was readily given. This prize Argall took to Jamestown, where he hoped to receive a considerable sum from Powhatan for her redemption, but the old King became very angry and refused to pay anything, but declared he preferred to fight for her. The young princess afterwards mar- ried Capt. John Rolfe.
At what time the first settlement was made at Fredericksburg is unknown, but it must have been at a very early date. It is more than likely that it was one of the many plantations that dotted the banks of our principal rivers in the early settlement of the country, for, in 1622, John Smith proposed to the London Company "to protect all their planters from the James to the Potomac"* which territory must have included one or more plantations on the Rappa- hannock river, because it lies immediately between the James and Potomac rivers and is the largest stream between those two rivers. And if there was a plantation on the Rappahannock it was, no doubt, in the neighborhood of Fredericksburg. John Smith had visited the place twelve years before and had found it "beautiful and invit-
* Howe's History.
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
ing" and an excellent place for a settlement, and possibly he recom- mended and procured the location of a plantation in this vicinity.
But, whether or not this supposition be true, we know that the Rappahannock falls some years afterwards became a point of con- siderable interest and steps were taken to fortify and defend it; and for that purpose a fort was ordered to be built here in 1676 to protect settlers from the incursions of the Indians, who con- tinued troublesome, which was garrisoned by quite a number of men. "At a grand assemblie held at James cittie, between the 20th of September, 1674, and the 17th of March, 1675," it was ordered that "One hundred and eleven men out of Gloucester be garrisoned at one ffort or place of defence, at or near the ffalls of Rappahannock River, of which ffort Major Lawrence Smith to be Captain or Chiefe Commander," and that the fort be furnished with "ffour hundred and eighty pounds of powder and ffourteen hundred and fforty three pounds of Shott."*
This fort, it seems, was not constructed that year, but in 1679, Major Lawrence Smith, upon his own suggestion, was authorized to settle or "seate down at or near said fort by the last day of March, 1681," which we are informed he did, and to have in readiness, on all occasions at the beating of a drum, fifty able men, well armed, with sufficient ammunition, and two hundred more within the space of a mile along the river, prepared always to march twenty miles in any direction from the fort; and it was stipulated that should they be obliged to go more than twenty miles distance, they were to be paid for their time thus employed at the rate paid to other "soulders." He was also empowered "to execute Martiall dis- cipline" among the fifty "souldiers so put in arms," both in times of war and peace, and with "two others of said privileged place," he was to hear and determine all cases, civil and criminal, that should arise in said limits, as a county court might do, and to make by-laws for the same. These military settlers were privileged from arrest for any debts except those due the King and those con- tracted among themselves, and were free from taxes and levies ex- cept from those laid within their own limits.
* Acts of House of Burgesses.
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
This fort was not named by the act authorizing its construction, and if any was given it after its completion, it does not appear in the histories or records at our disposal. It is quite likely it had some designation, if nothing more than the Rappahannock fort- Smith's fort on the Rapphannock-and it may have been known by one or the other until the place was laid out for a town and re- ceived its present name. Or it may have been known as "The Lease Land," the designation it had when it was incorporated forty-six years afterwards.
It has been suggested, and believed by some few to be true, that this fort was built at Germanna, about eighteen miles above the Rappahannock falls, but this claim cannot be maintained. It is known that all of these plantations and military stations were located on navigable rivers and were reached and communicated with mostly, if not exclusively, by sail vessels, and it is not reason- able to suppose that this fort was located eighteen miles above tide- water, where it could not be reached by such vessels. In addition to this objection, it may be added that the "gallant cavalier, Gov- ernor Spotswood, at the head of the chivalry of Virginia," never made his dash above the falls to the "blue ridge of mountains" until the year 1720* [1716 is the correct date], nearly fifty years after the construction of the fort at or near the falls.
Besides this, Governor Spotswood did not come to Virginia as Gov- ernor until the year 1710. After coming to this country he became possessed of lands on the Rappahannock, at the mouth of Massa- ponax run, and from there up the ridge, west of Fredericksburg, to the Rapidan river at Germanna. We do not know when he be- came possessed of these lands, but it is known that he built a wharf near the mouth of Massaponax run and opened the ridge road from there to Germanna, now called Mine Road, over which he hauled his iron ore for shipment. And so it was said, and it was true, that he could go from his wharf on the Rappahannock to Germanna on the Rapidan on his own lands without crossing a stream.
Germanna was settled in April, 1714, thirty-eight years after this fort was built and thirty-four years before Governor Spots-
* Howe's History of Virginia.
.
The Free Bridge over the Rappahannock River to Stafford Heights. (See page 171)
The City Court House and Clerk's Office. (See page 142)
15
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
wood came to Virginia. It was settled by twelve German families, who i id been induced by Governor Spotswood to come over from Germany to develop the iron and silver mines he desired opened on his land, recently acquired by him, several miles above the falls. These were the first iron mines opened and operated in this new country, and being the first worker in iron gave him the honorable appellation of the "Tubal Cain of America."
It has been a tradition held by some that the Germans, who set- tled Germanna, came to this country as paupers, and when they landed at Tappahannock, where their vessel anchored, they were unable to pay their passage and were virtually sold to Governor Spotswood for a term c_ years, he to pay the passage money and furnish the land upon which they were to settle. It is further said that he induced them to settle on the river, above Fredericksburg, where they built small huts, called the place Germanna and opened the mines which proved so remunerative to the Governor.
Much of this statement, however, is denied by the descendants of these pioneers, who resent the charge of pauperism and show that these first settlers were men of education, were skilled miners, and that they came to this country under contract with Governor Spots- wood, bringing with them letters of commendation from gentlemen of influence and official position.
From a paper prepared, and left to posterity, by Rev. James Kemper, a grandson of the emigrant, John Kemper,* we are able to cull some interesting facts connected with these people, who became neighbors and friends of the early settlers of Fredericksburg, and many of whose descendants are now among us.
These Germans "did not 'happen' to come to Virginia, but came upon the invitation of the Baron de Graffureid, who was a friend to Governor Spotswood, and for the express purpose of developing the iron ore deposits discovered by the latter upon his lands in the present county of Spotsylvania. These people came from the town of Müsen, which was then in the old province of Nassau Siegen, Westphalia, Germany. At Müsen there is an iron mine which has been worked since the early part of the fourteenth century, and is
* Furnished by Chas. E. Kemper, Esq.
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
operated to this day. They were skilled workers in iron and steel from the Müsen mines and built the old furnace in Spotsylvania county."
These pioneers remained at Germanna until about 1720, when, owing to some difference with Governor Spotswood, they removed to what is now Fauquier county, then Stafford, later Prince Wil- liam, and in 1759 the portion they settled became Fauquier. They settled about nine miles south of Warrenton on a small stream called Licking Run and named the place Germantown-thus keep- ing up the German identity,- which is one mile north of Madison station on the Southern railroad.
Rev. James Kemper, in the paper referred to, says the first year they were in Germantown they "packed all of their provisions from Fredericksburg on their heads and raised their first crop with their hoes, in both of which the women bore a part." This shows that the village, afterwards called Fredericksburg, was the trading place of the country above the falls at that period.
The names of the twelve men who, with their families, settled Germanna, are John Kemper, John Huffman, Jacob Holtzclaw, Tillman Weaver, John Fishback, Harman Fishback, Harman Utter- back, John Joseph Martin, Peter Hitt, Jacob Coons, - Way- man and Hanback. The Rev. Henry Hagen was their minister.
These people were picked men for a special purpose, to do that which no one then in Virginia could do-manufacture iron. Their descendants are scattered all over this country and have filled high positions in the Army and Navy, as well as in State and Church. They did two things worthy of note: They laid the foundation of the German Reformed Church in the United States,* and also the iron and steel industry, which now requires billions of dollars to carry on successfully, and both of these were done at Germanna, in Spotsylvania county, Virginia.
It has also been contended that the fort, built near the falls of
* It is claimed by Rev. James Kemper that the German Reformed Church, organized at Germanna in 1714, was the first church of that denomination planted in this country.
-
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
the Rappahannock river, was constructed on the north side of the river and that the place where Falmouth now stands was the center of the military district .* This assertion is not substantiated by any record we have seen, and we are not prepared, in the absence of proof, to accept it.
There are two reasons which may be given which, we think, will show that the site of Falmouth would have been an improper and unsafe location for the fort, both of which would have suggested themselves to the constructors of the fort. One is, that the place is on the bend of the river and is surrounded by high hills, now known as Stafford Heights. From the crest of these hills the fort could have been attacked by the enemy and captured by any small force. And if it had not been captured the elevation would have given the Indians great advantage over the garrison, making their arrows very effective. To have placed the fort on either one of the high hills would have thrown the garrison too far from the river to protect their sail vessels, and in case they had been compelled to give up the fort they could not have reached their vessels in the river, which, in the past, had proved a safer refuge than the poorly constructed forts of that day.
The other reason is, that to have constructed the fort on the north side of the river would have placed the almost impassable Rappa- hannock between the garrison and their remote friends on the south side, from whom alone they could look for relief in case they had been besieged, or if they had been compelled to retreat.
For these reasons, if for no other, we are satisfied that the fort was not located on the north side of the river, but on the south side and in the vicinity of where Fredericksburg now stands.
But this author, in speaking of the fort, says "not one stone or brick of the fort is left on another, but the terraces on the long hill back of the riverside houses still bear traces of ancient work." But this does not prove the contention.
It should be remembered that forts were not constructed in those times of stones and bricks, nor even of earthen walls, as they have
* Mr. M. D. Conway, in Magazine of American History, Vol. 27, No. 3, page 186.
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
since been, but of wooden poles or logs, and very temporary at that. John Fontaine gives a minute description of the fort built by the Germans at Germanna in the year 1714, which will help us to understand what a fort was in those days.
"We walked about the town, which is palisaded with stakes stuck in the ground, and laid close the one to the other, and of substance to bear out a mussket-shot. There are but nine families, and they have nine houses, built all in a line; and before every house, about twenty feet distant from it, they have small sheds built for their hogs and hens, so that the hog-sties and houses make a street. The place that is poled in is a pentagon, very regularly laid out; and in the very center there is a block-house, made with five sides, which answer to the five sides of the great enclosure; there are loop holes through it, from which you may see all the inside of the enclosure. This was intended for a retreat for the people, in case they were not able to defend the palisadoes, if attacked by the Indians."* Col. Byrd, in 1732, called this a fort.
* Memoirs of a Huguenot Family, page 268.
CHAPTER II
THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSE SHOE.
Governor Spotswood and Others Start on an Expedition over the Blue Ridge Mountains-They Pass Through what is now Fred- ericksburg-They Join Others at Germanna, where they make Extensive Preparations-The Country Rough and the Woods Dense-Bears, Deer, Turkeys, Squirrels and Snakes Plenti- ful-The Summit of the Mountain Reached-The Sublime Scene-The Health of the King Drank and the Country Taken Possession of in His Name-The Shenandoah River, &c.
Two years after the settlement of Germanna Governor Spotswood visited the place, in company with gentlemen and others who were to accompany him in his famous expedition over the Blue Ridge mountains, which has been the theme of the writers of song and story, and upon which has recently been founded a secret benevolent order. So much has been written about this expedition, in this country and in Europe, into which so much romance has been woven, and yet so little is known about it by the general public, at the expense of length and tediousness to the reader of the narrative, we propose to give John Fontaine's* diary, written daily as they progressed on the journey, from the time he left Williamsburg with the Governor, until he returned to that city, that we may be thor- oughly informed of all the particulars. The expedition was made in August and September, 1716, and the following is John Fon- taine's diary :
Williamsburg, 20th August, 1716 .- In the morning got my horses ready, and what baggage was necessary, and I waited on the
* John Fontaine was the son of Rev. James Fontaine, of France, a Huguenot who fled to England to avoid religious persecution, and thence settled in Scot- land, where he ended his days. The name originally was De la Fontaine, but John's grandfather, "from motives of humility, cut off the De la, the indication of the nobility of the family." John came to this country in 1716, with his brother Peter, and at once became a friend and companion of Governor Spots- wood's, while Peter became a minister of ability and was very popular. From these two brothers sprang the Fontaines of this country.
[ 27 ]
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Governor who was in readiness for an expedition over the Appala- chian mountains. We breakfasted and about ten got on horseback, and, at four came to the Brickhouse, upon York River, where we crossed the ferry and at six came to Mr. Austin Moore's house* on Mattapony River, in King William County ; here we lay all night and were well entertained.
21st .- Fair weather. At ten we set out from Mr. Moore's, and crossed the river of Mattapony, and continued on the road, and were on horseback till nine of the clock at night, before we came to Mr. Robert Beverley's house where we were well entertained, and remained this night.
22nd .- At nine in the morning we set out from Mr. Beverley's. The Governor left his chaise here, and mounted his horse. The weather fair, we continued on our journey until we came to Mr. Woodford's where we lay, and were well entertained. This house lies on Rappahannock River ten miles below the falls.
23rd .- Here we remained all this day, and diverted ourselves and rested our horses.
24th .- In the morning, at seven, we mounted our horses and came to Austin Smith's houset about ten, where we dined, and re- mained till about one of the clock, when we set out, and about nine of the clock we came to the German-town, where we rested that night-bad beds and indifferent entertainment.
German-town, 25th .- After dinner we went to see the mines, but I could not observe that there was any good mine. The Germans pretend that it is a silver mine; we took some of the ore and en- deavored to run it, but could get nothing out of it, and I am of opinion it will not come to anything, no, not as much as lead. Many of the gentlemen of the county are concerned in this work. We returned and to our hard beds.
26th .- At seven we got up, and several gentlemen of the country,
* Austain Moore lived at Chelsea, on the Mattaponi river. He was the Governor's son-in-law .- Maury's History of Virginia.
Austin Smith lived in the village or settlement afterwards named Fred- ericksburg. He is supposed to have been a descendant of Lawrence Smith, who commanded the fort here in 1681. He no doubt has descendants here now bearing the name of Smith, while some are known by other names.
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History of Fredericksburg, Virginia
that were to meet the Governor at this place for the expedition, arrived here, as also two companies of Rangers, consisting each of six men, and an officer. Four Meherrin Indians also came .* In the morning I diverted myself with other gentlemen shooting at a mark. At twelve we dined, and after dinner we mounted our horses and crossed the Rappahannociver that runs by this place, and went to find out some convenient place for our horses to feed in, and to view the land hereabouts. Our guide left us, and we went so far in the woods that we did not know the way back again; and so we hallowed and fired our guns. Half an hour after sunset the guide came to us. and we went to cross the river by a ford higher up. The descent to the river being steep, and the night dark, we were obliged to dismount and lead our horses down to the river side, which was very troublesome. The bank being very steep, the greatest part of our company went into the water to mount their horses, where they were up to the crotch in the water. After we had forded the river and came to the other side, where the bank was steep also, in going up, the horse of one of our company slipped and fell back into the river on the top of his rider, but he received no other damage than being heartily wet, which made sport for the rest. A hornet stung one of the gentlemen in the face which swelled prodigiously. About ten we came to the town, where we supped, and to bed.
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