Background
Alexander was born in 1676 to Robert and Catherine (Mercer) Elliott Spotswood in Tangier, Morocco where his father was physician to the English garrison.
(Excerpt from The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood,...)
Excerpt from The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1710-1722, Vol. 1: Now First Printed From the Manuscript in the Collections of the Virginia Historical Society The Publishing Committee herewith presents to the Society the first volume of the Oflicial Letters Of Alexander Spotswood, written during his administration (1710-1712) as Lieutenant Govemor Of the Colony Of Virginia, and printed from the Manu script in its Cabinet. The text Of the volume includes the period from June 20, 1710, to July 26, 1712. Another volume to be printed, which will complete the publication Of the manu script, will be accompanied by a full and carefully prepared analytical index Of the entire work. The manuscript was used by Mr. Bancroft in the preparation Of his History Of the United States, and its value is distinctly affirmed by him. A little later, it was loaned by its owner, John R. Spotswood, Esq., Of Orange county, Va., to George W. F eatherstonehaugh, author and geologist, who carried it with him to England. With the lapse Of years no information regard ing it being obtainable, it became the Object Of repeatedly ex pressed solicitude on the part Of American writers, who at last, in the futility Of their inquiries, had begun to fear that it was no longer in existence. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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(Excerpt from The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood,...)
Excerpt from The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Virginia, 1710-1722, Vol. 2: Now First Printed From the Manuscript in the Collections of the Virginia Historical Society The Militia of this Colony is perfectly useless without Arms or amunition, and by an unaccountable infatuation, no arguments Ihave used can prevail on these people to make their Militia more Serviceable. Or to fall into any other measures for the Defence of their Country. The fear of Enemys by Sea, (except that of pyrates,) are now happily removed by the peace, (which if on no other acc't than that alone,) ought to be received here as the greatest and most valuable blessing; but the'insurrec tions of our own Negroes, or the Invasions of the Indians, are no less to be dreaded, while the people are so stupidly averse to the only means they have left to protect themselves Against either of these Events. I shall, for my own part, take all the care I am capable of (under these disadvantages) for the safety of her Ma'tie's Subjects, and still endeav'r to testify to yo'r Lord'ps, that I am, with due respect. February I I, 1712 17 To t/ze Lords Proprietors of Carolina. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ The Official Letters Of Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant-Governor Of The Colony Of Virginia, 1710-1722: Now First Printed From The Manuscript In The Collections Of The Virginia Historical Society, Volume 1; The Official Letters Of Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant-Governor Of The Colony Of Virginia, 1710-1722: Now First Printed From The Manuscript In The Collections Of The Virginia Historical Society; Virginia. Lieutenant-Governor, 1710-1722 (Alexander Spotswood); Volumes 1-2 Of Collections Of The Virginia Historical Society Virginia. Lieutenant-Governor, 1710-1722 (Alexander Spotswood), Alexander Spotswood null The Society, 1885 Virginia
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(This book, "The official letters of Alexander Spotswood, ...)
This book, "The official letters of Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant-governor of the colony of Virginia, 1710-1722, now first printed from the manuscript in the collections of the Virginia historical society. 1-2", by Virginia. Lieutenant-Governor (1710-1722 : Spotswood),Spotswood, Alexander, 1676-1740,Brock, R. A. (Robert Alonzo), 1839-1914, is a replication of a book originally published before 1882. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible. This book was created using print-on-demand technology. Thank you for supporting classic literature.
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(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 Excerpt: ...this advice, I ordered the Militia of our fFrontier Countys to draw together, intending to carry a Detachment of them into Carolina. And because Mr. Cary's chief strength consisted in his Brigantine and other Vessells w ch he had filled with armed men, I endeavoured to obtain some help of Marines and Boats from her Majesty's Ship of War here, but the Comodore of the homeward bound Fleet judging it the least part of his duty to do any Service to this Country, refused to afford me any such assistance. In the meantime Collo. Cary endeavoured to Land a party of his men to seize upon Mr. Hyde and his Council while he 75John Clayton, a burgess from James City county in 1723; Attorney General of the Colony in 1724; Judge of the Court of Admiralty; died November 18, 1737, in his 72nd year. A MSS. Volume of his opinions has been preserved, and is in the possession of a descendant, Mr. Jasper Clayton, of Chesterfield Co. His son, Thomas Clayton, M. D., "a learned and ingenious gentleman," died in Gloucester County, Virginia, in October, 1739. attacked them with his Canoh from his Brigantine; but finding they were like to meet with resistance from the few men Mr. Hyde had drawn together, that Rabble which are more spirited by the hopes of plunder than principles of honour, gave over their attempt, and Mr. Cary having quitted his Brigantine, is retired to a remote part of that Country whither it is impracticable to march the militia from hence over so many Rivers without the Conveniency of Water carriage. I hear he is gathering together a greater force, and threatens to bring down the Tuscaruro Indians to his assistance. I have sent what Marines could be spared from our Guardships, in hopes that that will fright the people from joining with him when they see ...
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Alexander was born in 1676 to Robert and Catherine (Mercer) Elliott Spotswood in Tangier, Morocco where his father was physician to the English garrison.
In 1693 he became an ensign in the Earl of Bath's regiment of foot, and, during the War of the Spanish Succession, served as lieutenant-quartermaster-general under Lord Cadogan, rising to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was wounded at Blenheim, and apparently captured at Oudenarde, since a month later Marlborough was negotiating his exchange.
On June 23, 1710, he assumed office as lieutenant-governor of Virginia, under the nominal governor George Hamilton, Earl of Orkney.
He entered upon his new duties with a vigor rather disconcerting to a people inclined to reduce governmental activity to a minimum. He sought to regulate and stabilize the fur trade and at the same time to finance an enlightened Indian policy by the erection, in 1714, of the monopolistic Virginia Indian Company with headquarters at Fort Christanna.
In 1713 the governor obtained the passage of a measure requiring inspection of all tobacco designed for export or use as legal tender. Anathema to the producer and marketer of low-grade tobacco as well as to the debtor and taxpayer, who naturally favored "cheap money, " the Tobacco Act, coupled in the popular mind with the Indian Act, led to a violent quarrel between governor and burgesses in 1715, a quarrel that continued, even after the Crown had repealed both acts. His land policy was designed to encourage the actual settler as opposed to the mere speculator, to render the quit-rents as profitable as possible, and to bring completeness and order to the public records. Here he achieved fair success, much that he proposed being accepted by the colony with tolerably good grace.
However, his reforms embroiled him with two prominent members of his council, William Byrd the receiver-general, and Philip Ludwell the deputy auditor, who resented interference and had little taste for the additional labors the governor thrust upon them. Shortly thereafter, he found himself at odds with the majority of the council, which had thitherto supported him against the burgesses. The councillors claimed that as members of the General Court they alone had the right to compose the newly created courts of oyer and terminer. The quarrel had many side currents, and underlying the specific points at issue was a struggle for power between governor and council. Similarly, the question of the governor's right to induct ministers seems to have cloaked a contest with Commissary James Blair for the paramount voice in church affairs.
In 1718, with both council and burgesses hostile, the situation boded little good for the public life of the colony. Pressure was brought to bear from England, and two years later harmony was restored. From his first arrival in Virginia he was actively identified with the problems of the frontier. His name inevitably calls to mind the picture of the governor leading a company of colonial gentlemen, rangers, Indians, and servants over the Blue Ridge and down to the waters of the Shenandoah, which the Adventurers named the Euphrates. A peak of the Ridge was loyally named Mount George, and copious potations were drunk to the royal health. Romance and policy were nicely joined when Spotswood instituted the Order of the Golden Horseshoe with the evident object of cultivating among Virginians an interest in the West. The journey of 1716, however, was merely the most famous of Spotswood's excursions to and beyond the limits of settlement. He sought to protect the colony from Iroquois raids by establishing compact communities of friendly Indians, powerful enough to resist attack and convenient for the work of missionary and schoolmaster. When the repeal of the Indian Act left him unable to finance this scheme, he negotiated a treaty with the Iroquois at Albany whereby they were to keep north of the Potomac and west of the Blue Ridge.
He watched with apprehension the difficulties with the Tuscarora in North Carolina in 1712 and with the Yamasee in South Carolina in 1715. The success of either of these attacks would have placed Virginia in a serious position, and the measure of assistance that he in both instances afforded the Carolinians was not pure altruism. Behind the Indians were the Spanish and the French, and Spotswood urged upon the British authorities the advisability of seizing Florida, and of taking possession of the Appalachians before the French did so. Spotswood worked to make a Treaty with the Iroquois through their meeting in Albany, New York during 1721.
In 1722, removed from office, he retired to Germanna, where he had founded, as early as 1714, a colony of Germans as part of the scheme of frontier defense, and where he was now actively engaged in the mining and smelting of iron. In the hope of adjusting his land titles that had been challenged, he went to England in 1724.
Six years later he returned with his family to Virginia, having obtained appointment as deputy postmaster-general for the American colonies. He extended the regular postal service as far south as Williamsburg. When war with Spain broke out in 1739, he proposed the recruiting of a regiment in the colonies.
He was assigned the task of raising it, was made its colonel, and was appointed major-general and second in command of the expedition that Lord Cathcart was to lead against Cartagena. Entering upon such congenial duties with customary vigor, he was halted by death, the end coming at Annapolis.
The latter entered private life with 80, 000 acres (324 km²) in Spotsylvania and three iron furnaces.
He served as Deputy Postmaster General from 1730 to 1739, and died on 7 June 1740 at Annapolis, Maryland.
(This book, "The official letters of Alexander Spotswood, ...)
(Excerpt from The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood,...)
(Excerpt from The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood,...)
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
He frequently and publicly expressed his unbridled contempt for those members of the House of Burgesses and governor's Council who disagreed with his policies and practices. But by the end of his administration, Spotswood had shifted from seeking to impose imperial will on Virginians to becoming a Virginian himself.
He was handicapped by a lack of precise geographical knowledge, and some of his proposals were quite impracticable. More practical was the policy of fostering settlement in the frontier districts by exempting the inhabitants from taxes and quit-rents. During the closing years of his administration his attitude toward colonial self-assertion mellowed perceptibly.
Spotswood married Anne Butler Brayne, the daughter of Richard and Anne Brayne of St. Margarets, Westminster, by whom he had four children.