Get the Fauquier over here !!!

Finally. A new "governing governor." In our continuing look at 1758 in this year of 2022, we want to tell you who is behind that name of Fauquier County of Virginia.

The new Lt Governor Francis Fauquier arrived 5 June 1758 in Williamsburg.

That's a long time in between lieutenant governors.

The previous Lt Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, departed 12 January 1757.

So what's this about "Lieutenant Governors" ?

They were the working class Governors. Lieutenant Governors did the work. The one who was titled Governor usually was an absentee, being rewarded the pay without requiring any work.

There were some Governors who were not absentee and who did do the work as Governor.

While Lt Gov Dinwiddie was doing the work of governing, Keppel (whose son was Commander in Chief of the North American Station heading the transporting of Braddock's troops over the Atlantic) was the absentee Governor until 1754. Then Lord Loudoun was the absentee Governor.

Lord Loudoun remained absentee Governor into 1759 and then Amherst became the next absentee Governor while Lt Gov Francis Fauqiuer did the actual governing work.

This is why you will often see the lieutenant governors of Virginia referred to in short hand as Governor.

To fill the gap when the Lt Gov was absent, the next high up, was the President. This was the leader of the Council. The Council was a sort of combination upper legislative house, an advisory to the Lt Gov, and an acting Supreme Court before anything was appealed to London.

John Blair, President of Council, filled this gap between Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie and Lt Gov Francis Fauquier.

Here is the list of Governors and Lt Governors and Presidents of colonial Virginia.

There were several types of governments,

such as when it was the Lost Colony of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Back then a huge portion of America was being called Virginia, named after Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.

Even the Pilgrims aimed towards Hudson Bay, originally considered part of Virginia.

After the Lost Colony became truly lost, another effort was made to colonize.

A quasi privately chartered corporation ran it. The Virginia Company of London. Their Governors (1607–1624) ran the colony.

Then the King got rid of the Charter running Virginia.

Now the King was going to appoint the Governor.

The Royal Crown Governors (1624–1652), lasted until the Cromwell years of the English Civil War which was known as the years of the Commonwealth and Protectorate (1652–1660).

Then the King came back and took it all back through the years again of the Crown Governors (1660–1775).

We got to stick in another big

"Oh, By The Way !!!"

There was a mini civil war in 1675 in Virginia when Nathaniel Bacon briefly challenged Governor Berkeley's rule. That was a time when Nathaniel Bacon thought the Governor was too soft on the Indians. George Washington's Great Grandfather John Washington was accused but not convicted of a slaughter of 5 or 6 Susquehannock chiefs then and might be where Conotocaurius, The Destroyer of towns, became George Washington's nickname in 1755 .

So, back to the matter at hand.

Let's get the Fauquier back in here.

Meet Lt Gov Francis Fauquier.

His Dad was big. He was rich. His Dad had ended up on the Court of Directors of the Bank of England. His Dad had worked at the Mint under Sir Isaac Newton. The son, now our Lt Gov Francis Fauquier, was a teacher and friend of a young Thomas Jefferson. He's elected to the Royal Society of London and sat with Ben Franklin. Here's a simple timeline to show some major events in his life:

https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/fauquier-francis-bap-1703-1768/#timeline

The Essay before becoming Lt Gov:

Lt Gov Francis Fauquier wrote, Essay on Ways and Means for Raising Money for the Support of the Present War, without Increasing the Public Debts in 1756, a sort of audition for succeeding Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie.

Fauquier addressed that essay to Lord Anson, Admiral of all of the British Navy during this French and Indian War, Lord Anson became a "billionaire" so to speak, from the plunder of Nuestra Señora de Covadonga 20 June 1743, a Spanish Galleon that was travelling from Acapulco to Manilla, Philippines . This was the annual voyage a Spanish Galleon who would carry goods from China to Manilla then to Acapulco Mexico and bring Mexican gold back. There's a painting of this capture and here. Sit back and read a story of that plunder.

That essay spawned a lot of public debate. Fauquier proposed "the government could not pay for it with increased taxes on manufacturers or the laboring classes, as had been proposed. Fauquier suggested that the tax burden be shifted to houses. After receiving considerable criticism of his proposals, he published a second edition that argued for a capitation tax on estates and consumption." These proposals were not adopted. This debate later led to taxing the colonies. This in turn led to the war of rebellion against London control..

This approach of writing an essay on proposing a policy is similar to Edmond Atkin writing in 1755 as an audition to becoming a Superintendent of Indian Affairs. But nobody liked this theorist in how he applied his theory, particularly Colonel George Washington. Wilbur Jacobs is perhaps the best defender of Edmond Atkin.

Appointed Lt Governor:

Fauquier was appointed 26 January 1758 but did not arrive in Williamsburg to take the reigns until 5 June 1758.

This portrait doesn't seem of high quality, nor is its provenance proven. That seems odd for such a highly accomplished man. But it's all we got. And it's all over the internet echo chamber.

Colonel Washington wanted to see this new governor and was in Williamsburg area but had to leave the day Fauquier arrived. So much was going on he needed to move fast.

So what hit Fauquier as soon after he arrived?

Colonel George Washington needed a commission filled immediately.

When I was down, the President was pleasd ⟨to forward⟩4 5 blank Commissions to compleat my Regiment with Officers; by mistake I got one less, and must therefore beg the favour of your Honour to send me one now; or, that you woud be pleasd to take the trouble yourself, of appointing Mr Jno. Lawson (who is the oldest Ensign, in my Regiment) to be Lieutenant in Lieutt Colo. Stephen’s Company, where there is a Vacancy.5 This woud have been done before, had not the above mistake happen’d.

And he needed the Rangers paid.

I enclose your Honour the Pay Rolls of Captn Rutherfords Company of Rangers, and beg the favour of you to send the money to Mr Thos Rutherford of this place, and he will pay them of in behalf of his Brother, who, being in an ill state of health, got leave to visit Doctr Brown of Maryland, to consult him in the case, and is not yet returnd.

And clothes and equipment.

When I was in Williamsburg last, I endeavourd to make Mr President Blair and the Council, sensible of the great want of Cloaths for the first Regiment; and how necessary it is to send to England for a Supply. they declind doing any thing in the case at that time, because the Funds granted by the late act of Assembly were almost exhausted7—But I hope it will not escape your Honrs notice if an Assembly shoud be calld. Field equipage of all kinds will also be wanting, and will come better & much cheaper from ⟨there⟩: Colo. Byrd is ⟨erasure⟩8 wanting Cloaths for his Men, if we shoud be late taking the Field; but his redress must be immediate or else useless, as that Regiment by Law will be discharged the first Day of December next . . .

These requests were made on 17 June 1758, twelve days after GW left Williamsburg on the same day Fauquier arrived. On that same day GW had left visiting Martha Custis. In 9 days GW is back at Fort Loudoun on 14 June 1758. The day before on 13 June 1758 GW is in the Conococheague area for supplies such as 200 hatchets, power horns, bayonets, blankets meeting for a few hours with Col Bouquet, 2nd in charge below General Forbes and Sir John St Clair, quartermaster, and the Governor of Maryland Horatio Sharpe.

What else?

Troop Movements were happening.

The House of Burgesses under President John Blair had already passed legislation creating and funding the 2nd VA regiment.

And on 13 June 1758 they are on the move to different forts in the area, such as Fort Loudoun, Fort Edwards, Fort Pearsalls, Fort Cumberland in preparation to join the Forbes Expedition to reduce Fort Duquesne.

Also Captain Waggener's men from all the forts on the South Branch of the Potomac are to head towards Fort Cumberland.

Each company on the move was allotted 2 horses to carry supplies.

What else was happening as soon as Fauquier arrived?

The militia is heading out.

One hundred Militia then, were Orderd from Prince William County (but what time I cant exactly say) by Mr President Blair.4 instead of that number they sent 73 and not one of them was provided with either Arms or ammunition, as the Law directs, by which means they were useless, but became instead a ⟨illegible⟩ burthen to the Country, as they receivd their Allowance of Provisions & had their Pay running on.

A disgusted Colonel George Washington writes the above on 19 June 1758 to the Lt Gov Francis Fauquier.

There's more complaints if you want to read it.

Washington had to find Smiths to find and repair muskets left in non-working condition. The Militia "have been a dead expence to the Publick, and no Service to the Inhabitants . . . the negligence, I suppose, of the County Lieutenants."

The theory is that once they arrive,

the Virginia Regiment will be freed up to join the Forbes Expedition.

And the Rangers are free to assist and not have to guard the forts.

The Militia is 3rd rung. Below the Virginia Regiment. Below the Rangers.

They're lower in pay, supplies and in esteem.

And apparently they're weapon-less.

Anything else?

That's enough for you, reader, if you hung in here this far. :)

That's it.

That's the story.

Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 6/14/2022

There's always more.

Skip around.

Read bits and pieces.

The Military Hierarchy:

County Lieutenants

were required to raise militia. Each county had a County Lieutenant. "In 1634 . . . lieutenants were added to the monthly court structure especially “to take care of the warr against Indians.”"

The Militia

were the lowest in the military hierarchy. No uniforms. No pay. No Supplies.

The Virginia Regiment

was uniformed, paid, and supplied by the House of Burgesses.

The Rangers

were not uniformed nor supplied unless in real need, but they did get paid by the House of Burgesses.

Colonel George Washington who was designated commander of all these military forces, not just the Virginia Regiment. And all had short enlistment times, except for the officers of the Virginia Regiment.

The Gentlemen's Association.

One more quasi militia group developed. They called themselves the Gentleman's Association. Founders Online notes : "Apparently the Association of Gentlemen chose not to traverse Virginia’s frontier to select the sites for forts as Dinwiddie had indicated they would. See Dinwiddie to GW, 3 May, n.6, 8 May, and GW to Adam Stephen, 18 May 1756. See also GW to Dinwiddie, 25 June 1756. -- Source: Footnote 3 in this link: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0200