Andrew Sprowle

Andrew Sprowle
Born1710
Milton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Died29 May 1776 (age 65)
Mathews County, Virginia
Occupation(s)Merchant, slave trader, naval agent,shipyard owner
Known forfounding Gosport Ship Yard (now Norfolk Naval Shipyard)

Andrew Sprowle (1710 – 1776) was a Scottish-born merchant, naval agent, landowner, shipyard owner, slaveholder and slave trader in Portsmouth, Virginia. Today Andrew Sprowle is best remembered for establishing the Gosport Ship Yard, now known as Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Sprowle emigrated from Milton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland to what is currently the Commonwealth of Virginia in the mid-18th century, where he lived until his death on 29 May 1776.[1][2][3][4]

  1. ^ Sharp, John G.M., Andrew Sprowle, 1710 -1776, "Lord of Gosport" http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/shipyard/sharptoc/asprowle.html
  2. ^ UK American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835, AO 12–13, Katherine Sproule, aka Katherine Sprowle, AO13: American Loyalist Claims, Series, II, Piece ,033 B.T.W. and Miscellaneous Virginia,The National Archives of the United Kingdom, Kew, Surrey, England, p. 144, Katherine Sprowle in her claim dated 18 October 1783, specifically stated Andrew Sprowle's death occurred on 29 May 1776.
  3. ^ "Sprowle, Andrew,formerly of Milton but late of Gosport", will filed, 22/1/1779, Edinburgh Commissary Court,CC8/8/124. All pages, 1051-1062 of the will, are posted see Sharp, John G.M., Andrew Spowle 1710 -1776, Lord of Gosport, accessed 11 August 2021, http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/portsmouth/shipyard/sharptoc/asprowle.html
  4. ^ Donnan, Elizabeth. Documents illustrative of the history of the slave trade to America [by] Elizabeth Donnan ...(Volume 4). State Library of Pennsylvania. Carnegie Institution of Washington.