Houstoun House

Rev. John Wesley was once a passenger aboard Patrick Houstoun's vessel.

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At Frederica, most houses once stood close to the street, another English village tradition. In the backyard cooking and laundry chores could be carried out in cool comfort among the herb gardens and chicken coops.

Not all Frederica citizens were working class. At this end of Broad Street, more spacious foundations can be found, with liberal use of brick. West of Cross Street was the fashionable side of town. Certainly, houses here caught the first breeze from the river. The Houstoun house had an air of nobility. The home of Priscilla and Patrick Houstoun [pronounced “HOW-ston”], these Frederica residents were founders of a colonial dynasty. Pivotal to shipping goods between Frederica and Savannah, Houstoun also served as Quartermaster of the Regiment. He eventually inherited the title of an English baronet and was later appointed to the Royal Council of Georgia.

One of Priscilla and Patrick Houstoun's six children, John, in his adult life served as delegate to the Continental Congress and was later elected Governor of Georgia after the American Revolution.

At Frederica, the Houstouns were more noted for their love of the grape. Archeologists found hundreds of wine bottles behind the house.