Person:Hans Richter (5)

Hans Jacob Richter was one of the Early Settlers of Germanna Colony

Immigration to Germanna Colony

Hans Jacob Richter and his family are listed among the first group of settlers to Germanna Colony in Virginia in April 1714:

• Hans Jacob Richter (Rector), 40, b. 1674, his wife, Elizabeth, b. 1685, (the daughter of Philip Fishback above) and their son, John, b. 1711.

Information on Hans Jacob Richter

HANS JACOB RICHTER was born on October 10, 1674 in Trupbach, Nassau-Siegen, Germany. He was christened on the nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, 1674. His godfather was Hans Jacob Zimmerman.

Hans Jacob was married to ANNA ELS FISCHBACK, the daughter of PHILIPP FISCHBACK and ELIZABETH HEIMBACH on January 17, 1710/1711 in Trupbach, Nassau-Siegen, Germany.

Hans Jacob was admitted to the Guild of Steelsmiths and Toolmakers at Freundenberg District as a toolmaker on January 7, 1712.

Since schooling was compulsory in Germany at the time of his birth there, it is assumed John Jacob Rector was an educated person.

John Jacob Rector was an elder in the German Reformed Church, the great German branch of the Presbyterian family of churches.

"Hans Jacob Fischback" sold his house at Trupback in 1713 to his brother, Johannes Richter of Weidenau.

During the governorship of Alexander Spotswood from 1710 to 1722 iron ore deposits were discovered in what is now Northeast Orange County, Virginia. Prior to this time there had been no iron ore mining and production of iron products in the Colonies. All much needed items made of this metal were imported from England at great expense. The Governor fully realized that if this newly found and valuable resource could be mined and processed into farm implements, tools, household items, guns, etc. It would be of great benefit to the Colony.

Swiss promoter/developer Baron Von Graffenreid was engaged by Governor Spotswood to recruit immigrants from the old Principality of Nassau-Siegen area, now a part of Westphalia, Germany to mine and process this newly found iron ore. This area of Germany, about forty-five miles East of Bonn, was selected because iron ore had been mined, processed andiron products manufactured there for centuries.

Twelve families, consisting of forty-two individuals, with a knowledge of iron ore mining, processing and iron products manufacturing from the Nassau-Siegen area were persuaded to immigrate to the New World. John Jacob Rector, his wife Elizabeth Fischback and their son John were one of these families.

In the summer of 1713 the twelve families departed their German homeland for the New World. Their first stop was Maidstone, England. On arrival they found their promoter was without money or provisions for the voyage to America. During the Winter of 1713/1714 they worked to pay their own way and on April 1714 landed not far from Williamsburg, Virginia; the seat of government.

The settlers named their new home "Germanna" in remembrance of their homeland and to honor Queen Anna of England. They cleared the forest and built their homes and a church. For the first time in the New World they engaged in iron ore mining and processing and production of iron products. The Government cut a road thru the forest into the area, built a fort and furnished two cannon and ammunition for protection against the Indians.

About 1720 the twelve Germanna families moved northward about nineteen miles into what is now Fauquier County, Virginia and settled on a tract of 1805 acres. The exact location is on Licking Run between Warrenton and Midland. Each family was granted 150 acres. They named their new community "Germantown."

John Jacob Rector, three of his four children and some of his grandchildren spent the remainder of their lives at, or near, Germantown.

John died on August 7, 1729 in Germantown, Fauquier County, Virginia.

1. ↑ Germanna Record No. 4: John Jacob Rector, 1714 Germanna Colonist and His Descendants
   Pages 3 - 10.
2. ↑ Germanna Record No. 5: Ancestry & Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714 - 1750
   Pages 435 - 446.