It has been my purpose for years to write out a brief sketch of my family history so far as I can, and also include a sketch of my own life, so as to give my children, as far as I am able some idea of their ancestry. I think it would be well for every family to have such a history as a stimulus to those who come after them, not only to preserve without blemish the family name, but to add to it the history of upright and well spent lives. Pride of family and ancestry often restrains men from doing things, that they would otherwise do, thus being a safe guard against mean conduct.

My ancestors both paternal and maternal were Scotch. My mother was a Bothwell from Bothwells Bridge, a spot noted in Scotch history.

In 1745 my ancestors on both sides became involved in the rebellion of Charles Edwards the Pretender and after the disastrous battle of Culloden had to flee the Country, successfully making their way across the channel and locating in what is now known as County Down in the North of Ireland. My great grandfather Sprott lying concealed in a cave in the side of a ditch for six months. I will state here that it is quite probable that the name was originally spelled "Sprat" or "Spratt" and in giving the broad Scotch pronunciation to the letter "a" as in "are" the name was pronounced as if spelled "Spraut" from which (page-2) "Sprott" was easily derived. This. however, is only surmise for the name "Sprott" appears In Field's Book of Heraldry together with the Coat of Arms to which the family was entitled.

The Rebellion as it was called, caused by the landing of Charles Edward in Scotland, and his subsequent defeat at Culloden, involved nearly every family in Scotland of whatever religion or politics, and brought down upon them the wrath of the House of Brunswick , which was little less than that visited upon the English people by James III, after the defeat of Monmouth.

The result was that many of the people In order to escape punishment a their own Country and settled In the North of Ireland, from whom has sprung what is now distinctively know Scotch-Irish race, furnishing many of the most noted men in all the departments of life, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; men who have fought the battles of liberty the world over. This episode in the history of Scotland is one of the most remarkable in history. The Scotch had early thrown off the yoke of the Roman Catholic Church, and under the influence of John Knox, who bad imbibed Calvins views, Scotland soon became the stronghold of Presbyterianism, abhorring all forms of episcopacy. During the struggle between Charles I and his people, not withstanding the fact that Charles was a Stuart and a Scotchman, and they are said to be very clannish, yet they never raised a bond to help him, but on the contrary evidently sympathized with the parliamentary army and when Charles Placed himself in their power, not only as a Scotchman but as their lawful sovereign, (page-3) they surrendered him to his enemies, and it is said for a monied consideration.

Yet to the standard of the great grandson of this very man, they wished as one man, knowing at the time that Charles Edward was a Roman Catholic, and that if be recovered the throne of his fathers, if he could, he would restore the religion they still abhorred and detested. This conduct so unaccountable is one of those strange and mysterious occurrences happening to a nation or people as sometimes to individuals, where the record of a whole life seems to be reversed. Of my great grand parents I know but little except as before stated that after "Cullodens fatal field" they fled to the North of Ireland.

My grandfather James Sprott married Margaret Hamilton, to whom were born five sons, John, Henry, Samuel, James, and Robert, and two daughters, Margaret and Jane. My grandfather was born about 1754, and lived to be ninty-two yews old; my grandmother living to be eighty-two, both dying the same day and within a few hours of each other. My grandfather was a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church for over fifty years. My father, Robert Sprott, was born August 1808, the exact date not known; he was the youngest of the family. On the maternal side my grandfather Arthur Bothwell, married May Adams to whom were born two sons, James and Alexander, and four daughters, Elizabeth, May, Ellen, and another whose name is forgotten, but think it was Sarah. My grandfather Bothwell died comparatively young, only being fifty-four or five. My grandmother Bothwell lived to be seventy-five (page-4) or seventy-six years old.

My father, Robert Sprott, was married to my mother, Mary Bothwell, in 1831 or 1832. They were both born the same year, there being very little difference in their ages. To them were born seven children, four boys and three girls - the eldest, Mary, dying in infancy; the sons were James, born August 2, 1834; John, born July 17, 1837, Samuel Henry born June 24. 1840, and Alexander Loughridge, born In 1842 and died in 1844. The daughters born after this were Margaret Jane born May 20 1848, and Louisa Elizabeth, born May 11 1853.

James, the oldest son, married Miss Ester Boone in 1859 and to them were born three children - one girl and two boys - the eldest, Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs. Rogers, resides in Memphis Tennessee, and has two children - a girl and a boy - her husband died a few years since. The next, William Leonidas, also resides in Memphis, Tennessee. He married a Miss Wilson, formerly of Mobile, Ala., and has three children, all girls. The youngest son was born after his father's death to June 1864. My brother James entered the Confederate service in the spring of 1862, joining Company D. 42 Alabama regiment in all of its marches and battles except the battle of Corinth; he was in Vicksburg during the seige of that place and was captured there. After being exchanged he went with his regiment to Chattanooga, participating in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resacca, and New Hope Church, where he was mortally woulded June 2nd, 1864, dying one week later. He was a brave and gallant soldier and (page-5) met death bravely, saying when told that be could not live, that be had tried to do his duty and the only regret he had was in leaving his wife and little children. I never saw him after be was sent back to the hospital at Atlanta, where be now lies buried.

My next brother, John, also entered the army and belonged to the same Company and Regiment that my brother James belonged to until the latter part of 1864, when I had him transferred to Company A, 40th Alabama Regiment of Infantry of which I was in Command, where he remained until discharged on account of bad health. In January 1874, he married Miss Mary Evans who died about ten months afterwards, leaving no children. In the fall of 1874, my brother, John, died of a yellow chill after an illness of only a few days.

My two brothers, James and John, and sister Mary who died in infancy were all born in County Down, Ireland, all the others being born in this country. In 1828 my Uncle Samuel Sprott came, to the United States, landing at Charleston, South Carolina, In 1838 my father concluded that be would try his fortune in the new world, and he came to the United States, landing at Philadelphia, where he remained for eighteen months, when he concluded to join his brother Samuel who had moved to Alabama, several years before.

My father commenced farming in which he continued until his death. He was not very successful as a farmer. Up to the time of his marriage he bad never done any work, his father being (page-6) supposed to be in good circumstances but owing to same defect in the title to his land he lost nearly all be had and my father found that he had to make his own way in the world, which he was ill prepared to do, thus showing the importance of every one learning to do something, it matters not what their future prospects to may be.

My father settled in Sumter County about three or four miles north of Gaston, in January 1840, and continued to reside on the same place until August 1862, when he died. I left him only two days before be died, to rejoin my regiment, having been at home for several weeks on sick leave. The last words he ever said to me were: "Go my son and do your duty". My mother died in 1882, having led an active, useful life, cared for and comforted in the later years of her life, by her children, especially her daughters with whom she lived. My parents were both members of the Presbyterian Church, having united with that church when young. All of their children who lived to arrive at years of discretion also became members of that church, the writer being a Ruling Elder, since January, 5, 1873, in the Livingston Presbyterian Church, and was a delegate from the Presbyterian of Tuscaloosa, in 1877 to the General Assemby which met at New Orleans.

My sister, Margaret J. was married in the fall of 1871 to William T. McKnight, who resided for a number of years in Livingston, Alabama, where he merchandised, until a few years since when he moved to Memphis, Tennessee. They have had four children one daughter, Mary Anna, now married to W. A. Curry residing in (page-7) Houston, Texas, and three sons - Thomas H. a bookkeeper in Memphis, Samuel Sprott, who died when about four years old and Robert who is now about thirteen years old and resides with his parents in Memphis.

My sister Louisa E. now resides and has resided, since the death of my brother John, with her sister never having married.

I now come to that part of my narrative, which will doubtless be of more interest to my immediate family, viz., a sketch of my own life. As hertofore stated I was born June 24, 1840. The house in which I was born was a double log house that being the character of building almost universally in use at that time in that section of the Country. Sometimes it becomes a question as to how early we begin to remember. I distinctly remember the death of my little brother Alexander, which occurred when I was four years old. I don't remember when I learned to read, but I could read when I commenced going to school when I was six years old. My first teacher was Mr. Boyd Wilson, a man of liberal education and a good teacher but unfortunately for me he quit teaching to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. I continued going to school though irregularly until I was eighteen or nineteen years old. My teachers were what we know as "old field" school teachers, and one of the necessary qualifications when I first began going to school, was that we should be able to make good goose quill pen, that being the only kind used. I never saw a steel pen until 1852 in 1853. The books used in school were Websters blue back spelling book, Mitchells Geography with atlas separate, Smiley's arithmetic, and whatever (page-8) we could get in the way of a reader, Teachers were changed every years and when a new one would come in he would start the children at the first of the book and thus year after year they were kept going over and over the same thing. Fortunately I was fond of reading and managed to get some books principally history and fiction and in this way informed myself to some extent. In 1858, I joined the Presbyterian Church, known as Elizabeth, being named for the mother of John Knox, one of the Ruling Elders when first organized. The Reverend S. J. Bingham, an old friend of the family was then pastor. At the same time I joined, William M. Alexander, William Beggs, and William MacDonald, all about my age and friends and playmates joined also. Of these I am the only survivor. William Beggs and William MeDonald were killed during the Civil War and William Alexander died soon after entering the Confederate Service. How strange and mysterious are the ways of providence. One would hardly have supposed that all three of the Williams would be taken and Samuel left.

During the period of my life from, six to eighteen, I worked on the farm plowing, hoeing, going to mill etc. While I used to chafe at this life of drudgery and toil I am look back to that as the happiest period of my life.

In the winter of 1859, 1 was employed by Mr, Manassa Bolten, Mr. William F. Turner, and Mr. Nathan Love to teach school in their neighborhood at a salary of $300.00 per ten months, which at that time was considered good wages for a young man.. I commenced (page-9) teaching in January 1860 and continued until the ten months expired, and then went to Mobile and entered Barton Academy. In January 1861, Alabama seceded from the Union and there was so excitment that I found it almost impossible to pursue my studies. Is addition to this I was in very poor health having contracted chills while teaching the year before, so I returned to my father and shortly afterwards commenced teaching school at Mount Hermon, three or four miles north of York where I continued until March 1862. I entered the Confederate Army. I was sworn in on the 17th day of March as third Seargent. I was young, timid, and inexperienced, but notwithstanding this I was urged to run for third Lieutenant which I did receiving a very complimentary vote but was defeated by D. C. Parker. I will state here that afterwards while commanding the Company as First Lieutenant, D. C. Parker, who had resigned as Third Lieutenant and gone home, was forced to come back to the army and served under me as a private. Our Company when organized became Company "A" in the 40th, Alabama Regiment of Infantry. After partially organizing at Demopolis we were ordered to Mobile where the organization was completed. The officers of our Company were E. S. Gulley, Capatin-Afterwards became Lieutenant Colonel- Robert L. Brown - First Lieutenant, James Cobbs - Second Lieutenant- and D. C. Parker, Third Lieutenant. We Were encamped at first at an old factory on Dog River several miles below Mobile where I had measles, was sent to Hospital in Mobile and from there sent home with my brother, John, who had been very sick and came near dying. After getting home I was taken with what was known as Comp Fever, was not able (page-10) to rejoin my Command until some time in August. After my return to the Regiment I was made Second Seargent of my Company. On the second of December, 1862, our Regiment was ordered to Columbus Miss., where we remained only a short while. From Columbus we went to Jackson, Miss., where we remained until the 30th of December, when we were ordered to Vicksburg, arriving there on the 31st. We were immediately ordered out to Chickasaw Bayon where the battle had been fought that day, and the next morning saw for the first time the dead lying on the battle field.

Our Regiment was next ordered to Deer Creek where we remained some time and in the spring of 1863, our Company with two others from our Regiment were ordered up Sunflower River, where we were when Grant invested Vicksburg, and being thus cut off we escaped the siege of that place. We made our way across the swamp of the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers and joined the army of Joseph E. Johnston being organized for the relief of Vicksburg near Yazoo City. After the fall of that place we fell back to Jackson Mississippi, having been placed in Ector's Texas Brigade of W. H. T. Walker Division, I was under fire for the first time at Jackson.

It is very difficult to describe ones feelings the first time he is in battle. There are so many and conflicting feelings and emotions that it is hard to say which predominates. The apprehension of death, natural in every human being, is felt, while at the same time in every man of pride there is fear that by cowardly conduct he may disgrace himself. (page-11)

However, there is but little time left for reflection the turmoil and excitement of the battle with flying balls and bursting shells - the cheers- the shrieks, the groans with clouds of dust and smoke and the movement of troops, leaves but little time for reflection and the individual is lost in the great writhing, fighting mass.

Some months previous to this I bad been appointed First Seargent of my Company; this is the most important office in the Company. After remaining at Jackson about a week constantly under fire, we retired to Morton. Miss., where we remained until the latter part of August 1863. Our Command, three companies of 40th, Alabama Regiment, was known as Steve's Battallion, commanded by Major T. 0. Stone for the 40th Alabama Regiment.

In the latter part of August, we were ordered to Chattanooga to reinforce General Bragg who had fallen back to that place. Not only our division, but nearly all the troops under General Johnston were ordered to reinforce Bragg. On the 19th and 20th of September 1863 occurred the great battle of Chickamaga, the magnitude of which can be understood when it is know that 3200 men were killed and wounded on both sides, the losses being about equally divided. Many of the incidents of this battle, would doubtless be interesting but would unnecessarily prolong this sketch. Our command went into the fight early Saturday morning, and were in the last charge Sunday evening, I had nothing to eat from Friday about twelve o'clock in the day until Sunday night except a few green peas boiled, and some parched corn. After the battle was over Sunday night we found in the Haversacks (page-12) of the dead federals an abundance of crackers, bacon, sugar, and coffee. We certainly had a feast, and it did not detract from our enjoyment, that all around us cold in death lay the unfortunates who had unconsciously contributed to our comfort. War is a horrible thing rendering am perfectly callous and indifferent to the suffering of others. This was a great victory, won by the valor of the Confederate Soldiers, but alas, like many others its fruits were frittered away and lost. A few days after the battle of Chickamauga our brigade was ordered back to Mississippi, where we remained until November, 1863, when our battallion was ordered to return to our regiment which was then at Lookout Mountain.

A few days after rejoining our Regiment, I was elected Lieutenant in our Company, Captain E. S. Gulley having been promoted to Major and Lieutenant James Cobbs becoming Captain. D. C. Parker who was at that time Second Lieutenant and William R. McGowen who was Third Lieutenant both declined promotion, consequently, I became first Lieutenant. When elections took place I had no opposition and was unanimously elected. The battle of Lookout Mountain took place November 24th, and that of Missionary Ridges November 25th, 1863, in both of which our army was driven books sustaining considerable loss, through the miserable management of our Commanding General. After the battle of Missionary Ridge we fell back to Dalton, Ga., where we spent the winter of 63-64. From this time on until the close of the war I was in Command almost continuously of the Company. The campaign of 1864 was a very hard one contending all the time against an army almost double that of ours in men and material. We were engaged in fighting almost (page-13) daily from the time the campaign opened in May, 1864, until we reached Atlanta. The fighting was severe at Dalton, Ressaca, New Hope Church Kenesaw Mountain, and in front of Atlanta, in which I lost many friends and among others my brother James who was mortally wounded at New Hope Church. In the latter part of July we were ordered to Mobile, and the change was certainly a pleasant one, from the trenches and ditches around Atlanta, where the air was full of shrieking, bursting shells and whizzing minnie balls, to the quiet, peaceful shores of Mobile Bay. Here we remained guarding the eastern shore until January, 1865 when we were ordered to rejoin the remanant of Hoods army and proceed to South Carolina which we did and from there proceeded to North Carolina, again under the command of that grand old hero Joseph E. Johnston. On the 19th of March 1865, we fought the battle of Bentonville, where or Regiment suffered severely in killed and wounded. I lost out of my Company every fifth man. I went through unscathed though men fell on my right and left. After the battle of Bentonville, we fell back to the Railroad so as to cover Raleigh. Here the army was reorganized, and I was appointed Captain of Company "H" of the new regiment, which was composed of the 19th and 40th, Alabama consolidated, and composed with the 20th and one or two other regiments, Pettus Brigade. On the 4th of May 1865, we surrendered at Saulsbury, N. C., and on the 24th of May I reach home. The outlook was dark and gloomy; there was scarcely a family in all the land that had not been bereaved. The friends and companions of my youth were nearly all gone. Property swept away and sadness and gloom over the whole land. But setting down and repining would do so good, (page-14) so I cast about for something to do and the only opening I could find was teaching school. So in July 1865, I began teaching at the same place I was teaching when I left to enter the army. I continued to teach until about Christmas.

In January 1866, I began the study of law with Thomas Cobbs, Eq. at Livingston, Alabama, and entered upon the practice in partnership with Major Cobbs, which continued until 1871. On December 23, 1868, occurred the most important event of my life, my marriage to Leonora A. Brockway only daughter of Dr. A. E. and Mrs. M. E. Brockway who had been reared at Gaston near where I had been born and reared. When we married I was in my twenty-ninth year and my wife was just a little over twenty. I had known my wife since she was a little girl, but I made so little impression upon her that she did not know until I was grown.

Our courtship had the usual ups and downs incident to such affairs the particulars of which I will leave her to record. For nearly twentynine years we have journeyed together, and all I can say is that I only hope my sons any be as fortunate as I was when they came to select a companion for life.

We have had six children, Mary Augusta, born October 16, 1869, Martha Brockway born October 1, 1872, Nonie Belle born September 14, 1875, Samuel Henry, born September 4, 1879, Margaret Bothwell born on January 15, 1882 and Robert born December 29, 1884.

On May 29, 1869, our daughter, Mary Augusta, was married to Thomas L. Long of Jaspers Walker County, Ala.; they have two children living, Henry Sprott, aged seven and Carolina Amanda, aged four, and (page-15) one dead, Benjamin M. who died when about fifteenteen months old.

On the ____ day of March, 1883, I was appointed by Governor O'Neil, Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Alabama, to succeed Judge William S. Mudd who had held the position for over twenty years. The Sixth Circuit at that time was composed of the following counties: Sumter, Green Pickens, Lamar, Fayette. Jefferson, Walker, and Shelby. My competitor for the appointment was Ex. Governor R. W. Cobb of Shelby. In 1885, Jefferson and Shelby counties were taken out of the Sixth Circuit and Winston County added.

In 1886 I was a candidate for the position I held and was nominated by a large majority, over James B. Head, Esquire, of Green. In 1892 I was nominated and elected without opposition. Prior to that time the Circuit had been again changed by taking Walker and Winston out, leaving Sumter, Green, Pickens, Lamar, Fayette, and Tuscaloosa in the Sixth Circuit.

September 1900

My second full term of office as Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit was to expire in November 1898, consequently it was necessary to elect at the August election. Until a few weeks before the convention was to meet I had no opposition. It was pretty well understood that I would have none, but some weeks before the County Conventions were to take place, one or two individuals thought that the time was favorable for defeating, and that by making a combination it could be done. So Henry B. Foster of Tuscaloosa, and some time after Daniel Collier of Fayette announced themselves but when the Convention met at Montgomery in May it was found that Foster did not have all of his own delegation from Tuscaloosa and Collier had only his own County of (page-16) Fayette, with five votes so when the Judicial Convention was called neither of them was put in nomination and I was unanimously renominated for Circuit Judge of the Sixth Circuit for the term ending November, 1904. Having no opposition I was elected in August took the oath of office and received my commission. On the 26th day of April, 1899, our second daughter, Mattie was married to Thomas H. Robertson, a merchant of Fayette, Alabama. On the lst day of September, 1900, our daughter, Augusta had a son not yet named. Since named Frederick Wooten Long.

On the day of September, 1900, Mattie had a son Thomas M. Robertson, Jr. and born an the 5th day of October and on the 23rd day of April, 1903, a daughter named Augusta. On the ___ day of June, 1903, our daughter Belle was married to J. 0. Long, brother to T. L. Long and also of Jasper, Alabama.

On the 21st day of April, 1904, Nonie Belle gave birth to a son not yet named, later J. 0. Jr., This being the year for reelection of Judges, I was again a candidate for election, and we again opposed by Daniel Collier, formerly of Fayette but now of Tuscaloosa. After a close house to house canvass on his part I defeated him by one hundred eighty majority carrying four out of the six counties, viz: Fayette, Green, Pickens, and Sumter. He carried Lamar and Tuscaloosa. If I fill out the term beginning next November, it will be nearly twenty-eight years continuous service an the beach.

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