Background
James was born on June 9, 1846 in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, the son of Alexander and Jane (Dalziel) Sprunt. The family emigrated to Duplin County, North Carolina, in 1852, and two years later removed to Wilmington.
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Chronicles of The Cape Fear River: 1660 - 1916
(James Sprunt served on a blockade runner during the Civil...)
James Sprunt served on a blockade runner during the Civil War, and later became one of the wealthiest residents of Wilmington, N.C. Noted for his philanthropy, Sprunt loved the Cape Fear region of the Tar Heel State with a fervor that shone through in everything he did. Sprunt was also a much respected historian of the Cape Fear region, and his Chronicles of The Cape Fear River: 1660-1916 is widely recognized as the bible for those interested in the history of southeastern North Carolina. From the native Indians and first white settlers to the American Revolution, Civil War, Reconstruction and the beginning of a new century, Sprunt has written the definitive history of the region. It is undoubtedly the cornerstone of any bookshelf devoted to the Cape Fear. This trade paperback reprint of the book's second addition will be a prized possession for locals, students, newcomers, teachers or anyone else with an interest in the rich past of the lower Cape Fear
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Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear: 1661-1896 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear:...)
Excerpt from Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear: 1661-1896 Colonial Governor Tryon's Palace - Scene of the First Outbreak of the Revolutionary War Ruins of Brunswick Ruins of St. Philip's Church Colonial Ferry and Inn Confederate Fortifications Fort Anderson A Colonial Fort Fort Fisher Description of Situation Land Face of Fort Fisher. Sea Face of Fort Fisher The Fort Fisher Fight' Craig's Landing The Heroine of Confederate Point Butler's Powder Ship The Rocks - Closure of the Inlet Battery Lamb - Confederate Salt Works Snow Marsh - Dredging Steamer Cape Fear Price's Creek Lighthouse Confederate States Signal Station Wilmington and Charleston Mail Boats Cape Fear Quarantine Station Southport - Governor Smith - Cape Fear Pilots Bald Head Pirates Fort Caswell. Evacuation and Explosion of Fort Caswell War Department records-forts Johnston and Caswell Fort Johnston, North Carolina. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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Derelicts; an Account of Ships Lost at sea in General Commercial Traffic and a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861-1865
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Derelicts-Commercial-Blockade-Stranded-1861-1865/dp/1378008235?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1378008235
A James Sprunt Reader
(James Sprunt)
James Sprunt
https://www.amazon.com/James-Sprunt-Reader/dp/0981460364?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0981460364
Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic and a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861 1865 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea i...)
Excerpt from Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic and a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861 1865 The Northern Navy doubtless contributed more than any other arm of the Federal forces to the final defeat of the Southern Confederacy, and this was because the South at the beginning of hostilities did not possess a single ship Of war. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
https://www.amazon.com/Derelicts-Commercial-Blockade-Stranded-Carolina/dp/1332325734?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1332325734
Chronicles of the Cape Fear River: Being Some Account of Historic Events on the Cape Fear River (Classic Reprint)
(Preface There are what are called labors of love when men...)
Preface There are what are called labors of love when men turn from their work in the business world and at great pains seek to accomplish something for the benefit and advantage of others. The present publication is the fruit of Mr. James Sprunt sdesire to collate information of general interest concerning the Cape Fear Eiver, because he has an abiding affection for the noble stream with which he is so familiar and is animated by a purpose to preserve in convenient form some account of local incidents that are worthy of being remembered. In the years just before the war, when I first began to know the active men of Wilmington, none stood higher in public esteem than Mr. Alexander Sprunt. He was a thorough man of business, whose intelligence and sterling worth commanded admiration, while his brother. Rev. James M. Sprunt, who was teaching the Grove Academy in Duplin, added to the credit of the name. These two brothers had come to the Cape Fear some ten or fifteen years earlier and had won what is most to be valued in life the good opinion of those who knew them. The passage of time has yearly added to the reputation of the name, until now it stands unexcelled in the business world. The father of these brothers, Laurence Sprunt, a farmer near the famous town of Perth, in 1812 married Christiana Mc Donald, daughter of a Highland family, whose brother, John Mc Donald, was a prosperous planter in Jamaica, and whose cousins, the Menzies, in Scotland, were prominent and wealthy. After his marriage Laurence Sprunt occupied a small farm known as Viewfield, near Perth, and there were bom his children, A lexander, James Menzies, and I sabella, all of whom were educated in Edinburgh. After graduating, Alexander became a partner in the firm of Reed, Irving Co. (Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.) About the Publisher Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writing
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Information and Statistics Respecting Wilmington, North Carolina, Being a Report
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Information-Statistics-Respecting-Wilmington-Carolina/dp/1378014677?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1378014677
In Memoriam: Mrs. James Sprunt (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from In Memoriam: Mrs. James Sprunt Death may hi...)
Excerpt from In Memoriam: Mrs. James Sprunt Death may hide, but it cannot divide; Thou art but on Christ's other side; Thou art with Christ and He With me, In Christ united still are we. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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James Sprunt
Edit ProfileBusinessman philanthropist author
Education
James Sprunt attended school in Glasgow, in Kenansville, North Carolina, and in Wilmington. He began preparation for college but the needs of the family compelled him to go to work at the age of fourteen, though he still attended a night school and studied navigation.
Career
In 1863 he went to Bermuda to become purser of the North Heath, a blockade runner; later, he became purser of the Lilian. After several trips through the Federal fleet, the ship was captured in 1864 and Sprunt was imprisoned at Fort Macon. Taken to Fortress Monroe for transfer to another prison, he escaped through cool daring and made his way by Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
While returning he was wrecked on Green Turtle Cay, but was rescued and became purser of the Susan Beirne, on which he served until the fall of Fort Fisher.
Setting out from Green Turtle Cay in a launch for Wilmington, he was wrecked off Cape Canaveral in Florida. He walked to Fernandina and, avoiding Federal troops, finally reached Wilmington. He had brought through the blockade as a personal venture ten barrels of sugar, the profits from which he invested in cotton.
Five bales survived the Federal occupation of the city, and with the proceeds from these the exporting firm of Alexander Sprunt & Son, dealing in naval stores and later in cotton, was established. Direct connections were established with British customers and presently Sprunt went to the Continent and formed connections in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and Italy. Untiring effort, keen business sagacity, and unquestioned integrity brought success and the firm became the largest exporter of cotton in the country, with more than fifty foreign agencies.
In 1884 Sprunt succeeded his father as British vice-consul, holding the post until his death in 1924 and twice receiving the formal thanks of the British government.
Achievements
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James Sprunt was well-known as the founder of a fund at the University of North Carolina for the publication of the "James Sprunt Historical Monographs, " known after 1910 as the "James Sprunt Historical Publications. " He built several churches, maintained two schools in China; established a loan fund at Davidson College; founded a lectureship at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia. He wrote many valuable biographical and historical sketches and several books, among them: Information and Statistics Respecting Wilmington, North Carolina (1883); Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear, 1661-1896 (1896). From 1907 to 1912 he was Imperial German Consul and upon his retirement was decorated with the Order of the Royal Crown.
Works
book
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Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic and a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861 1865 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea i...)
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Chronicles of the Cape Fear River: Being Some Account of Historic Events on the Cape Fear River (Classic Reprint)
(Preface There are what are called labors of love when men...)
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Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear: 1661-1896 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Tales and Traditions of the Lower Cape Fear:...)
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Derelicts; an Account of Ships Lost at sea in General Commercial Traffic and a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861-1865
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
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Information and Statistics Respecting Wilmington, North Carolina, Being a Report
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
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Chronicles of The Cape Fear River: 1660 - 1916
(James Sprunt served on a blockade runner during the Civil...)
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In Memoriam: Mrs. James Sprunt (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from In Memoriam: Mrs. James Sprunt Death may hi...)
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A James Sprunt Reader
(James Sprunt)
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Derelicts: An Account of Ships Lost at Sea in General Commercial Traffic and a Brief History of Blockade Runners Stranded Along the North Carolina Coast, 1861 1865 (Classic Reprint)
Religion
A devoted Presbyterian, he was untiring in church work.
Views
He viewed wealth as a trust and poured it out in wise philanthropy and charity. A devoted Presbyterian, he was untiring in church work. He also gave much financial assistance to hospital activities. Crippled by an accident in early manhood, he was ever eager to relieve suffering, and sent all deformed and crippled children in the mill sections of Wilmington to Baltimore for orthopedic treatment.
Membership
He was a member of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, of the North Carolina Folk Lore Society, of the Wilmington Produce Exchange, of the Seamen's Society, of the State Literary and Historical Association of North Carolina, and of the North Carolina Folk Lore Society.
He also used to be a member of the Alpha chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society of William and Mary College.
Personality
A wide reader, rich in personal experience, a gifted conversationalist, he was an ideal host.
Interests
Connections
In 1883 he married Luola, daughter of Kenneth McKenzie Murchison. Sprunt had a genius for friendship; he was the soul of hospitality, and his home in Wilmington and his beautiful colonial plantation "Orton, " on the Cape Fear, were known and loved by many.
References
- The Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures, Delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (Classic Reprint)
- The James Sprunt Historical Publications, Vol. 11: Published Under the Direction of the North Carolina Historical Society (Classic Reprint)
- The James Sprunt Historical Publications, Vol. 15: Published Under the Direction of the North Carolina Historical Society (Classic Reprint)
- The James Sprunt Historical Publications, Vol. 14 (Classic Reprint)
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Born
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Died
July 9, 1924 (aged 78) -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Presbyterian