John Houstoun, a piece of history

As Houston County celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2021, it is a great opportunity to look back to the history that made our county possible and to the prominent person for whom Houston County is named.  John Houstoun was born in St. George’s Parish, near present day Waynesboro, Georgia, in 1744 to Sir Patrick and Priscilla Houstoun. After studying law in Charleston, he established his law practice in Savannah in 1771. Houstoun later entered politics, joining Archibald Bulloch, George Walton, and Noble W. Jones at Tondee’s Tavern in Savannah to discuss the “the arbitrary and alarming” acts by the British government on the American colonies.

In 1775, he attended the Georgia Provincial Congress as a representative from Savannah. Houstoun was elected by the group to represent Georgia at the First Continental Congress; however, none of Georgia’s delegates attended. He was also elected to, and attended, the Second Continental Congress. When fellow Georgia Representative John J. Zubly, left the congress due to his opposition to American independence, Houstoun returned to Georgia to oppose Zubly’s efforts to convince Georgians to remain loyal to Great Britain. While back in Georgia, Houstoun served on Georgia’s Council of Safety, which issued the arrest warrant for Royal Governor James Wright in January 1776. Two years later, he was elected to his first term as governor, becoming the first Georgia-born governor of the state. As governor, Houstoun worked to improve the positioning of Georgia’s military.

In the spring and summer of 1778, Loyalists from Georgia and South Carolina were flocking to the British fort in St. Augustine, Florida. With the support of the Continental army, Houstoun led forces from Georgia and South Carolina in a successful attempt to drive the British across the St. Mary’s River out of Georgia. Fearing that the British might return, Houstoun planned to attack the British fort in St. Augustine. The attack, which was not supported by troops from the Continental Army, ultimately failed. In December of 1778, the British reentered Georgia and captured the seat of Georgia’s government, the City of Savannah, and Houstoun moved the seat of the patriot government from Savannah to Augusta. He later fled to Charleston when the British also captured Augusta, only returning after the British abandoned the city.

Following the Revolution, Houstoun was elected governor for a second time in 1784. His second administration focused on land grants, conflicts between settlers and the Native Americans along the Georgia frontier, and a border dispute with South Carolina.  After his second term as governor, Houstoun served as Savannah’s first mayor in 1790, and hosted George Washington’s Savannah visit in 1791.

Houstoun died at his home, White Bluff, near Savannah in 1796. Although still pronounced House-ton, the spelling of his namesake county (created in 1821) evolved to Houston. Houston County is one of 36 Georgia counties that are named after Revolutionary era patriots.

To learn more about this Revolutionary time period and about your direct ancestors who may have participated in the Revolutionary War, go to Georgia Society, Sons of the American Revolution at gasocietysar.org or to Daughters of the American Revolution at georgiastatedar.org.

Thanks to the Georgia Historical Society for their assistance with this story. 

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