Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/83

 COLONIAL LRLSIUEXTS AND CO\ LRXORS

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ftiund them ready to negotiate a treaty of peace. Against the French and Inchans he established) two forts on the frontiers to guard the northern and southern passes. At the first of these he planted the German settlement and at the other he gathered the Sapony Indians. His idea was to extend the Ime of Virginia settlements so as to check the further e.xten- sion of l-'rench influence on this continent. With this in view he explored the back coun- try, and in 1716 crossed the Blue Ridge moun- tains and visited the Shenandoah river and the beautiful valley through which it runs. He urged ujjon the mother country the policy of establishing a chain of posts back of the mountains, fnnn the great lakes to the Miss- issippi river. lUit Spotswood had his weak points like Nicholson, another capable man before him. He was overbearing and had great ideas of the royal prerogative. .\nd so, though he encouraged the rights of the sub- ject by bringing over with him a confirmation of the writ of habeas corpus, he did not like Xott attempt to conciliate the people. The result was that he got at cross purposes with the assembly, with the council, and with Dr. James Pdair, the president of the college, which resulted in his removal September 2^, 1722. He continued to reside in Virginia and led an active life. During his governorship he had established a postal system in \'ir- ginia, and in 1730- 1739 was deputy postmaster- general for the American colonies, in which capacity he arranged the transfer of mails with great energ}-. It was he who made Benjamin Franklin postmaster for Pennsylvania. He had also called the legislature's attention to the iron ores of Virginia, though without effect; and now in a private capacity he established a furnace in Spotsylvania county, where he had patented 40.000 acres of land. In 1740

Spotswood was made general of an exj)edition against Carthagena. He visited Williamsburg, and then repaired to Annapolis with the in- tention of embarking with the troops, but he died June 7. just before the embarkation, and Colonel William ( iooch was appointed chief in his place. 1 Ic left his books and mathematical instruments to the college. Colonel Spotswood married, in 1724, Ann Butler Brain, daughter of Mr. Richard I'.rain, of London, and they had two sons. John and Robert Spotswood, and two daughters. .Ann Catherine, who mar- ried Bernard Moore, and Dorothea, who mar- ried Captain Nathaniel West Dandridge. Robert, his younger son. was slain by the In- dians in tlie I'>ench and Indian war. John, the elder son. married, in 1745. Marv. daughter of William Dandridge, and had issue two sons, ( General Alex-and'er Spotswood and Captain John Spotswood, both of the army of the revo- lution, and two daughters, Mary and Ann. The descendants of Governor Spotswood are now represented in numerous families of distinc- tion.

Drysdale, Hugh, lieutenant-governor of \'irginia ( 1722-1726), succeeded Governor Spotswood in the administration of the colony, September ij, 1722, and remained in office till his death. July 22. 1726. \"ery little is known of his antecedents, but during his administra- tion in \"irginia he was very popular. There were two sessions of the assembly during this period, one beginning May 9, 1723. and the other beginning May 12. 172(3. At the first, on the recommendation of Governor Drysdale, laws were passed to regulate the militia and for the more eftectual prevention of negro insur- rections. It appears that not long before a conspiracy had been planned by negroes. This conspiracy furnished additional reasons for