Colonial beginnings Wilmington, North Carolina

mitchell-anderson house (built 1738)

the area along river had been inhabited various successive cultures of indigenous peoples thousands of years. @ time of european encounter, historic native americans members of tribes belonging algonquian languages family.

the ethnic european , african history of wilmington spans more 2 , half centuries. in 16th century, explorer giovanni da verrazano reportedly first european see area, including city s present site. first permanent european settlement in area started in 1720s english colonists. in september 1732, community founded on land owned john watson on cape fear river, @ confluence of northwest , northeast branches. settlement, founded first royal governor, george burrington, called new carthage, , new liverpool; gradually took on name new town or newton . governor gabriel johnston after established government there north carolina colony. in 1739 or 1740, town incorporated new name, wilmington, in honor of spencer compton, earl of wilmington.

some settlers of wilmington came albemarle , pamlico regions, colonies of virginia , south carolina, new settlers migrated northern british colonies, west indies, , british isles. many of settlers indentured servants, recruited british isles , northern europe. indentured servants gained freedom , fewer persuaded leave england because of improving conditions there, colonists imported increasing number of african slaves satisfy labor demand. 1767, slaves accounted more 62% of population of lower cape fear region. many worked in port laborers, , in ship-related trades.

naval stores , lumber fueled region s economy, both before , after american revolution. during revolutionary war, british maintained garrison @ fort johnston near wilmington.