John Moultrie (politician)

John Moultrie was Governor of East Florida . Moultrie again became a deputy under his successor, Patrick Tonyn, returning to England in 1784.

Summary

Moultrie was born on January 18, 1729 in Charlestown, South Carolina , to Dr John Moultrie of Culross Fifeshrire in Scotland . He was one for four brothers. He became a doctor after obtaining a medical degress from the University of Edinburgh in 1749. , son of Dr. John Moultrie of Culross , Fife .

John Moultrie

Born January 18, 1729 in Charles Town South Carolina. He was one of four brothers: James, William, Thomas, and half-brother Alexander.

James became the Chief Justice of Florida, William became the Patriot General William Moultrie of whom Fort Moultrie, South Carolina was named after.

Thomas was a Patriot Captain in the American Revolution in the 2nd South Carolina Regiment who was killed in the Battle of Charleston. Alexander became the first Attorney General in South Carolina and was held captive in St. Augustine while his half-brother John was Lieut. Governor.

John received his Medical Degree at the University of Edinburgh in 1749. His thesis was entitled �De Febre Maligna Biliosa Americae�

He was a Major under Col. James Grant in the Cherokee War.

First Marriage to Dorothy Morton (Dry) widow of John Morton on April 30, 1753. She was born in 1738.

Second Marriage to Eleanor Austin daughter of Captain George Austin and Ann Ball on January 5, 1762. She dies in 1826 in London.

In 1767 he moved to Florida. John Moultrie, Lieutenant Governor of East Florida under Governor Grant was a highly regarded planter from the Carolinas who brought many slaves to the new colony. Moultrie held a medical degree from Edinburgh University in Scotland and was known as a successful planter who produced the best indigo in Carolina.

He was president of the Royal Society of East Florida. Moultrie brought many experienced slaves to Florida to clear his new lands. They grew indigo and rice as well as corn, beans and potatoes.

Moultrie disliked land speculators who used land grants merely to gain quick profits. He was sorry “to see so good a part of the colony run out in large tracts for grantees at home who likely do not mean to cultivate them, and have not left room for other settlers, for many miles on the rivers.”

His Moultrie plantation was called Bella Vista. The house was built of stone. He also owned a large tract at what today would be Washington Oaks.

His plantation in the Tomoka Basin was named “Rosetta”. Maj. John Moultrie settled a plantation of 2,000 acres here in 1770. With 180 employees, he cultivated 1,784 of the acres. He lived in a two-story house with ten rooms, the first story being built of stone and the second of wood.

In St. Augustine his home was what is today Dr. Peck�s house.

Moultrie also placed his hopes on the raising of silkworms on mulberry trees for silk production in the colony. He raised grapes to make wine and experimented with the breeding of cochineal beetles, a leading source of red food dye in his day. Such horticultural experimentation was a natural extension of the Scientific Revolution.

His biggest contributions as acting Governor was the public works program in St. Augustine and the Kings Road that ran from the Mosquitoes plantations to the St. Marys River.

During the Revolutionary War he remained the Lieutenant Governor of Florida. On August 20th 1775 he was appointed the head of the local militia which was never properly mustered.

He retired to Ashton Hall (his wife’s estate from her brother). He died in 1798 and is buried in Shefnal Church, Shropshire, England.

He had the following children: Sarah (from first wife), John (January 22, 1764, died Dec 18, 1823), James, George, Thomas (killed at Albuera), Lucretia (married to Charles Roger Kelsall), Cecilia (married to George Waldgrave Bligh)

http://volusiahistory.com/pbrit.htm

Moultrie moved to Florida in 1767 and became Lieutenant Governor of East Florida under Governor Grant. He was also a planter in Florida. Following the Revolutionary War and the lost of Florida by the British, Moultrie left for England and died in 1798. He was buried at Shefnal Church in Shropshire, England, having lived at Aston Hall , Shropshire .

His brothers were also key players on both sides the Revolutionary War:

• General William Moultrie (1730-1805) was a patriot General of the Continental Army during the Revolution, who later served as a Senator in two separate terms.
• James Moultrie (died 1765) was Chief Justice of British East Florida
• Captain Thomas Moultrie was commanding officer of the 2nd South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army
• Colonel Alexander Moultrie was the first Attorney General of the State of South Carolina 1776-1792

References

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2007/02/28/slavery_moultrie_austin_feature.shtml
• Moutray of Seafield and Roscobie, now of Favour Royal, Co. Tyrone: an Historical and Genealogical memoir of the family in Scotland, England, Ireland and America. by Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de La Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvignés, 9th Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval (25 April 1868 - 6 October 1921), 9th Marquis of Ruvigny and Raineval, Melville Henry Massue

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