Franz Louis Michel,
Of Bern, Switzerland, (Lawson Refers To Him As Francis-Louis Mitchell)
Had Come To America In 1702, And Discovered Evidence Of Silver
In The Mountains.
He returned to Europe to start a company
to found a colony in America, and met Degraffenreid, who had
Similar plans,
and had already contracted with the city of Bern to remove some Anabaptists
to America - they formed a partnership, and intended to search for silver.
After the course of events which included John Lawson's death
and a massacre of these colonists, they had a falling out,
and that plan never came off.
According to De Graffenreid, some days before the New Bern massacre
John Lawson proposed that they go up the Neuse River,
where there were plenty of wild grapes. They were assured
"that no savages lived on that branch of the river. But to feel safer
we took two Indians to guide, which we knew well, with two negroes to row."
Two days out, near the village of Coram, they were overtaken
by a large number of Tuscaroras, and captured.
There was a trial of sorts, where their intentions were examined,
and Mr. Lawson was charged with being too severe, and for selling their land.
After a lengthy debate, it was decided that they should be released
the next day, but the following morning, one Cor Tom reproached Mr. Lawson,
and they quarrelled. "I made every effort to get Lawson to quit quarrelling.
I did not succeed. All at once three or four Indians fell upon us
in a furious manner.
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