The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-19

ment were his brothers, Nathaniel
and Roger. the latter being King"
Roger who built Orion on the Cape
Fear two miles above Brunswick.
Within five years, Brunswick had
built a great trade, and boosted
Of a number of merchants and rich
planters. II 1871, AZ vessels carry
ing valuable cargoes sailed from
this port. The original book OF N
tries and clearances at the custom
house at Brunswick shows that
from 1773-1776 over 300 cargo yes
sells entered and cleared the port.
Incoming ships brought a wide as
sortment of necessities for colonial
life, while outgoing vessels were
usually loaded with lumber, slaves,
tar, indigo. rice, corn, wheat and
tobacco. North Carolina Scotch
Highlanders remember that among
this colorful procession of brigaH-
tines moving UP the Cape Fear
were Scotch vessels bringing many
Scotch settlers 10 the Cape Fear,
among them being the famous
Flora Macdonald.
III its early history Brunswick
gave every promise of becoming
one of the colony's leading COM
mercial centers. 1t was located
near the mouth of the largest navi-
gable river in the province, and
was the only town in that section.
Early hopes of growing prosperity
are born out by the record of com
merce at the port. Activities at
Brunswick were not only by the
| actual residents of the town but
! by the, owners Of the great river
plantations who spent much of
their time there.
On November 2, 1884, Governor
Johnston took the oath Of office at
Brunswick. During his administra-
ton, many settlers arrived, bring
ing slaves and retainers. Upon the
! valuable land which they acquired
they prospered. Cape Fear society
dispensed culture and hospitality,
with the family of Moores heading
the social register. 1t was partially
at least this dominance of the
Moores, who were known as 1.-The
Family" that led to the decline Of
Brunswick in favor of Wilmington
as the seat of government and
chief commercial port. In Deem
Der 1889, the county court laid a
poll tax Of five shillings to build a
court house and Jail at Brunswick,
but in line with the determination
of Governor Johnston, who had hac
Wilmington made a township ir
1885, the tax money was used te
erect a court house and Jail al
Wilmington instead. Johnston was
determined to destroy Brunswick
and the dominating influence of the
Moores. Tense commercial rivalry
between Brunswick and Whining
ton resulted in the gradual decline
of Brunswick.
Of the dominating influence Of
the Moore family, Johnston's pred
ecessor, Governor burlington, hac
something to say also. In a dis
patch to the Colonial office in 1881.
burlington wrote: about 20 mel
are settled on the Cape Fear from
South Carolina-among them are
three brothers of a noted family
whose name is Moore. These peo'
pie were always troublesome where
they came from and will doubtless
be here burlington also recon.
mended the establishment of a new
town on the Cape Fear which
would supplant Brunswick. The
doom of Brunswick was sealed in
1740 when at a meeting of the gov
ernor's council, the bill of 1876
making Newton a township to be
called Wilmington after the Earl of
Wilmington was assailed on the
grounds TIT in 1929 Brunswick had
Eeen made a township and empow-
efed to Guild a court house. Jail
ana church. Brunswick had already
developed into a sizeable town.
tney commended. Good houses were
Ouilt there even before Wilmington
was established, and further, If the