Dr. John Moultrie, 1729-1798
The son of a Scottish immigrant, William Moultrie had four brothers, two of whom – Alexander and Thomas – served as officers in the Continental Army as he did. Their brother James, Chief Justice of British East Florida, died in 1765, before the American Revolution.
Their brother John, however, followed in their father’s footsteps, studying at Edinburgh to become a physician. He later served as lieutenant governor, and from 1771 to 1774 as acting governor, of East Florida, when his predecessor became too ill to carry out the responsibilities of his office.
Unlike his brothers, John was a Loyalist. Transcripts of the Moultrie family papers, which can be found at the S.C. Historical Society, reveal a fascinating – and heartbreaking – family dynamic among the brothers. Letters include their fears for one another’s safety, as well as efforts to understand and reconcile with one another, even as they served opposing forces. The story of the Moultrie brothers serves as a reminder of how America’s split from England sharply often divided both family and friends.
