Andrew Sprowle was a Scottish-born merchant, naval agent, landowner, shipyard owner, slaveholder and slave trader in Portsmouth, Virginia.
17 Facts About Andrew Sprowle
1.
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Today Andrew Sprowle is best remembered for establishing the Gosport Ship Yard, now known as Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
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Andrew Sprowle was born in 1710 in Milton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, the third son of John Sprowle, Laird of Milton.
4.
Yet another publication Scots on the Chesapeake 1607 - 1830 has Andrew Sprowle arriving in Virginia in 1735.
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Andrew Sprowle was well respected in the mercantile community, serving for 36 years as President of the Court of Virginia Merchants.
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Except for their monetary value Andrew Sprowle, showed little regard for his large enslaved workforce.
7.
One of Andrew Sprowle's warehouses was used as a slave market.
8.
Andrew Sprowle's ship was said to have intercepted and captured a Spanish vessel, taken the vessel, her cargo and held her crew and captain prisoner.
9.
Andrew Sprowle has a very fine wharf, before his door, where the Kings ships generally heave down.
10.
Andrew Sprowle founded the Gosport Ship Yard in 1767 under the British flag.
11.
The new shipyard was undoubtedly modeled on similar installations Andrew Sprowle saw as a young man on the banks of the River Clyde.
12.
Andrew Sprowle demonstrated a flair for marketing by christening his new ship yard "Gosport", short for "Gods Port", after a similar one in England.
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One reason was the rioters who attacked the merchants were never held to account and the Scottish merchants including Andrew Sprowle became identified in the public mind, with allowing their slaves to spread contagion.
14.
Andrew Sprowle as the elected leader of the merchants association was a prominent signatory to the agreement.
15.
Katherine and Andrew Sprowle would retain ties to their mother country to the end of their lives.
16.
Andrew Sprowle was "petrified about being labeled a Loyalist"and acknowledged his main interest was "self preservation".
17.
Andrew Sprowle says her master Andrew Sproule [Sprowle]gave her freedom before he died which was seven years ago.