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Kirby's Augusta: The Forgotten Patriot

I always try to take a moment on the Fourth of July to remember Georgia's John Houstoun. On a day when Patriots are widely celebrated, he is largely ignored. That's too bad, because if everything had gone the way it should have, John Houstoun would have made the most famous roll call in American history – the Declaration of Independence. 1.Houstoun actually achieved much in Georgia history although we don’t remember it. 2.He was twice governor of Georgia, He was the first mayor of the city of Savannah. He commanded the Georgia militia in the invasion of Florida during the American Revolution and represented Georgia in the Continental Congress. That’s why he in Philadelphia in the early days of the Continental Congress in 1776, and just as committed to the American cause as Georgia's other signers - George Walton, Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett. (Library of Congress images abound) But there was also a fifth Georgian in that group - a Savannah preacher named the Rev. John J. Zubly. You can blame Zubly for Houstoun's lack of fame. ACCORDING TO notes from the proceedings of the Continental Congress: “During the deliberation of congress a few members had privately discussed the propriety of a Declaration … Zubly … secretly dispatched a letter to the British governor containing a full disclosure of this important state secret, and advising him to adopt preventive measures in Georgia. Fortunately, however, a copy of this communication was obtained by one of the clerks, and Mr. Chase … openly accused Dr. Zubly of treachery. He stoutly denied the charge and challenged his accuser to produce the proofs. But that was apparently a stalling tactic. Zubly seems to have slipped out of Independence Hall and “finding, however that his perfidy would be clearly established, he immediately fled.” Zubly decided he would cast his lot with the British, quietly slipping out of Philadelphia and heading home to Savannah to share what he knew of the American plans for independence. The four Georgia patriots decided they had to catch the turncoat preacher. Houstoun was, ACCORDING TO THE Congressonal record, “directed to pursue him and to adopt every expedient measure to counteract any evils that might result the disclosure.” Why Houston? Althought not the youngest or quickest, he was a military man used to aggressive activities and … Maybe he had the fast horse. Anyway, the chase was on. This could make a great movie. Two guys racing almost 1,000 miles down the East Coast of Colonial America on what passed for roads. (We could show map that looks like Colonial America … with either a red arrow …. Followed by a blue arrows heading down the East Coast from Philadelphia to Savannah. Or some sort of stock footage from some old Western of two guys riding after each other.) It would have made a greater movie if Houstoun had caught Zubly, too, but he didn't. That was the bad news. The good news was that by the time Zubly got to Savannah, the royal governor JAMES WRIGHT had skipped town. Zubly was labeled a Loyalist. He lost his property and died within a few years. Houstoun decided not to return to Philadelphia to sign the Declaration. He continued to press the Continenal cause back home and was successful, holding offices as judge, mayor and twice was Georgia governor. And although his name never made it on the Declaration, it did make it on one of Augusta’s first named streets. And Georgia named a county south of Macon after Mr. Houston, too. e both spelled it wrong (“Houston”) but at least we were thinking of him. This July Fourth, let’s remember him again.