In August 1716, Alexander Spotswood traveled by chaise from Williamsburg, to the home of Robert Beverly, in Middlesex County. With Beverly as a companion, he traveled to Germanna where the party amassed on August 26th. The party included twelve gentlemen, four Meherrin Indians, two small companies of rangers, and an accompaniment of servants, for a total of approximately fifty men. Although each gentlemen was not listed by name, the list supplemented Spotswood, John Fontaine, Robert Beverly, Colonel Robertson, Dr. Robertson, Austin Smith, Robert Brooke, Captain Clouder, Captain Smith, Messrs. Todd and Mason.

They left from Germanna on August 29, 1716, in search of the edge of civilization.

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