Rebecca Brewton Motte
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Brewton Motte was a plantation owner in South Carolina
, patriot in the American Revolution
, namesake of Fort Motte
and mother-in-law of Major-General Thomas Pinckney
.
. She married Jacob Motte (1729–1780) in 1758. Jacob was a plantation owner and involved in politics. The Mottes had seven children two of whom died young and two daughters who married Thomas Pinckney in 1779 and 1797.
The Mottes were living at Fairfield Plantation (Charleston County, South Carolina)
on the South Santee River
outside of Charleston by 1758 and also in town until Jacob died of illness in 1780 leaving Rebecca to inherit the plantation and 244 slaves.
South Carolina's largest slave dealer as well as one of the wealthiest families in the province. He had numerous plantations (growing rice and indigo) including Mt. Joseph (later known as Fort Motte
).
In 1765 Miles had begun building a lavish home in King Street in Charleston that still stands today beautifully preserved and known as the Miles Brewton House
. Upon the deaths of her husband and brother, Rebecca was one of (if not the) wealthiest people in South Carolina in the Revolutionary War Era.
The family were supporters of the American Revolution and supplied soldiers with rice, beef, pork, corn, and fodder from 1778-1783. During the war, she and her children were living in her brother's former town house when it was commandeered as British headquarters. She soon left for the comparative safety of Mt. Joseph plantation on the Congaree River
outside of town.
In June 1780 the British occupied Belleville Plantation near Mt. Joseph even though the latter held a more commanding view of the river, possibly because of a smallpox scare. By December 1780 Rebecca and her daughters, one being Elizabeth with her infant who was the wife of Thomas Pinckney, and others were at Mt. Joseph. Thomas was there too, recuperating, having been wounded in August fighting at the Battle of Camden
with General Gates. In January 1781 the Pinckney family left for Charleston then Philadelphia with other captured American officers awaiting possible exchange. Shortly thereafter, the British left Belleville and encamped at Mt. Joseph and began to fortify the house and surrounds. Rebecca's entourage then moved to the overseer's house.
Brigadier General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion
and Lt. Col. Henry Lee III of Virginia were sent by General Nathanael Greene
to capture Fort Motte
in what became known as the Siege of Fort Motte
. They arrived in May 1781 with about 400 men and an artillery piece. After five days of attack, Marion and Lee decided to burn the house which had a dry wood shingle roof. Mrs. Motte didn't hesitate to "burn her home" and even provided the arrows which would be lit and shot onto the roof of her house.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, patriot in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, namesake of Fort Motte
Fort Motte
Fort Motte was a plantation commandeered by the British as a temporary military outpost in what is now South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War...
and mother-in-law of Major-General Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney
Thomas Pinckney was an early American statesman, diplomat and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.-Early life in the military:...
.
Early Life and Marriage
Rebecca was the daughter of Robert Brewton a wealthy resident of Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. She married Jacob Motte (1729–1780) in 1758. Jacob was a plantation owner and involved in politics. The Mottes had seven children two of whom died young and two daughters who married Thomas Pinckney in 1779 and 1797.
The Mottes were living at Fairfield Plantation (Charleston County, South Carolina)
Fairfield Plantation (Charleston County, South Carolina)
Fairfield Plantation, also known as the Lynch House is a plantation about east of McClellanville in Charleston County, South Carolina. It is adjacent to the Wedge Plantation and just north of Harrietta Plantation. The plantation house was built around 1730. It is located just off US Highway 17...
on the South Santee River
Santee River
The Santee River is a river in South Carolina in the United States, long. The Santee and its tributaries provide the principal drainage and navigation for the central coastal plain of South Carolina, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean approximately from its farthest headwater on the Catawba River...
outside of Charleston by 1758 and also in town until Jacob died of illness in 1780 leaving Rebecca to inherit the plantation and 244 slaves.
Revolutionary War Era
Rebecca's brother Miles Brewton (1731–1775) also died during the Revolution; he and his family were lost at sea on their way to Philadelphia - he having been elected to the second Provincial Congress. Miles had owned up to eight ships and was soonSouth Carolina's largest slave dealer as well as one of the wealthiest families in the province. He had numerous plantations (growing rice and indigo) including Mt. Joseph (later known as Fort Motte
Fort Motte
Fort Motte was a plantation commandeered by the British as a temporary military outpost in what is now South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War...
).
In 1765 Miles had begun building a lavish home in King Street in Charleston that still stands today beautifully preserved and known as the Miles Brewton House
Miles Brewton House
The Miles Brewton House is located at 27 King St., Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the finest examples of a double house in Charleston. Its extensive collection of dependencies makes it one of the most complete Georgian townhouse complexes in America. The house was built ca. 1769...
. Upon the deaths of her husband and brother, Rebecca was one of (if not the) wealthiest people in South Carolina in the Revolutionary War Era.
The family were supporters of the American Revolution and supplied soldiers with rice, beef, pork, corn, and fodder from 1778-1783. During the war, she and her children were living in her brother's former town house when it was commandeered as British headquarters. She soon left for the comparative safety of Mt. Joseph plantation on the Congaree River
Congaree River
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina in the United States; It flows for only 47 miles . The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River just north of Lake Marion to...
outside of town.
In June 1780 the British occupied Belleville Plantation near Mt. Joseph even though the latter held a more commanding view of the river, possibly because of a smallpox scare. By December 1780 Rebecca and her daughters, one being Elizabeth with her infant who was the wife of Thomas Pinckney, and others were at Mt. Joseph. Thomas was there too, recuperating, having been wounded in August fighting at the Battle of Camden
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War...
with General Gates. In January 1781 the Pinckney family left for Charleston then Philadelphia with other captured American officers awaiting possible exchange. Shortly thereafter, the British left Belleville and encamped at Mt. Joseph and began to fortify the house and surrounds. Rebecca's entourage then moved to the overseer's house.
Brigadier General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion
Francis Marion
Francis Marion was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven...
and Lt. Col. Henry Lee III of Virginia were sent by General Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was a major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War. When the war began, Greene was a militia private, the lowest rank possible; he emerged from the war with a reputation as George Washington's most gifted and dependable officer. Many places in the United...
to capture Fort Motte
Fort Motte
Fort Motte was a plantation commandeered by the British as a temporary military outpost in what is now South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War...
in what became known as the Siege of Fort Motte
Siege of Fort Motte
The Siege of Fort Motte was a military operation during the American Revolutionary War. A force of Patriots led by General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion and Lt. Colonel "Light Horse" Harry Lee set out to capture the British post at Fort Motte, strategically located at the confluence of the Congaree...
. They arrived in May 1781 with about 400 men and an artillery piece. After five days of attack, Marion and Lee decided to burn the house which had a dry wood shingle roof. Mrs. Motte didn't hesitate to "burn her home" and even provided the arrows which would be lit and shot onto the roof of her house.