Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Jose Collantes and I am a sophomore studying Political Science and English Literature with aspirations of going to law school. Under the guidance of Dr. Gunter and Idy Codington, I was able to find the intersection of these two fields of studies which focus on how various emotional traits are used by people to navigate through difficult family politics. John Moultrie Jr.'s sympathetic actions towards his politically unlike brothers has connected to my own experience with accepting my family's political differences as I learn to balance my own family values with political ones. Through my research, I have developed a newfound appreciation for history because of its surprisingly relevant past which even applies to difficult political matters in families of the present-day.

A Lover, A Loyalist, A Longing Brother: Letters from John Moultrie Jr. 1761-1780

Abstract

Oftentimes, we cannot choose our family, but we can choose the person we want to be. In 1780, British East Florida's Lieutenant Governor John Moultrie Jr. was faced with a difficult dilemma in mourning the death of his younger brother. He could not recognize the sacrifice his younger brother, Thomas Moultrie, made to defend the newly formed United States of America at the Siege of Charleston. John Moultrie Jr. had been part of British East Florida's government since 1763 and Interim Governor of the Colony from 1771-1774, performing his duties with fairness and honor. Conceding to America's political aims was unthinkable, yet John still after 5 years of silence mustered up the voice to reconnect with his brothers on the other side of the aisle. My goal was to highlight the aspects of John's character that contributed to his need to write his other Patriot brother, Alexander Moultrie, to mourn over a shared love. Through inspecting primary letters that described his actions as Interim Governor and secondary sources that transcribed letters about John's love in the Cherokee War, aspects of John's character were found and could explain why he was willing to write his 1780 condolence letter despite his political disagreements. John constitutes a familiar contemporary account about the contradictory feelings that arise within a politically divided family and how personal values can address and begin those difficult conversations with family.

Keywords: East Florida, Loyalist, Family, Political Divide