French Quarter in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Captain John Christie

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, February 13, 2010

1. Captain John Christie Marker

Inscription. Erected by
The Grand Lodge
Free and Accepted Masons
of Michigan
To the memory of
Captain John Christie
--- of the ---
60th OR Royal American Regiment
Founder and First
Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 1
at Detroit, Michigan.
Warranted April 27, 1764
Died in Antigua, W.I., June 1782
Buried from St. Philip's Church,
on Hampstead Hill, August 10, 1782.

Erected by The Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical date for this entry is April 27, 1764.

Location. 32° 46.635′ N, 79° 55.824′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in the French Quarter. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Meeting Street and Broad Street. The marker is located in Washington Park, a park at the intersection of Meeting Street and Broad Street located behind the City Hall and the Fireproof Building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charleston SC 29401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Robert Gibbes (here, next to this marker); Prayer Composed By Ellison Capers (a few steps from this marker); Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson

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(a few steps from this marker); P.G.T. Beauregard (a few steps from this marker); Washington Light Infantry Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Francis Salvador (within shouting distance of this marker); Bible Depository (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Timrod (within shouting distance of this marker); Fireproof Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

Regarding Captain John Christie. John Christie of the 60th joined the regiment as an Ensign in 1758. In 1763 Ensign Christie was placed in command of the garrison at Fort Presqu'ile, on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, consisting of over twenty men of his own regiment and about six of another. Fort Presqu'ile was taken by Indians during Pontiac's War in 1763. A lack of water, needed for drinking and extinguishing the fire-arrows shot by the Wyandots, as well as the offer of favorable surrender terms, led Christie to admit the "impossibility of holding

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, February 13, 2010

2. Captain John Christie Marker

out any longer," he agreed to yield up the fort on condition that the garrison should be allowed to march to the next post. But as his men filed out they were seized and bound, then cast into canoes and taken to Detroit. Their lives, however, were spared and Christie and his surviving force men were released.

It is unclear at this time precisely why a marker for Captain Christie was erected in Charleston from a Freemason Lodge in Detroit. There are at least two reasons why this marker may be here. First, the Freemason and Scottish Rite organizations are said to have originated in Charleston. Secondly, the connection may be that stated on the marker, he was buried from St. Philip's Church, which is a local historic church in the city with a National Landmark designation. However, Christie's relation to the area and St. Philip's Church is also a mystery.

Additional commentary.
1. Captain John Christie
While we cannot claim that Freemasonry came to the Great Lakes area on any specific date, we know that it was first brought to the area by the French at a time when it was Indian territory. The earliest documented Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains was warranted in Detroit on April 27, 1764, by George Harison, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York, with Lt. John

Photographed By Brian Scott, September 20, 2011

3. Captain John Christie Marker

Christie of the 2nd Battalion, 60th Royal American Foot Regiment (British) as Worshipful Master. By 1772, there were at least three Lodges functioning at Detroit: Lodge No. 1 and two Irish Military Lodges, Nos. 299 and 378, warranted to Masons of the 10th Regiment, then stationed at Detroit. The next three Lodges warranted for work in Michigan were also started by members of the visiting military. These were Harmony Lodge in Detroit, St. Johns Lodge No. 15 on the island of Mackinac and Zion Lodge No. 10 (now No. 1) warranted in 1794 for work in Detroit.

(Article from the website of the Grand Lodge of Michigan)

— Submitted February 14, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

2.
During the week of 23 April 1961, MWGM State of Michigan W.Wallace Kent journeyed to Charleston, SC for the purpose of dedicating the monument. The dedication took place on 24 April 1861 at 5 p.m. and was assisted by the MWGM State of South Carolina Hugh N. Layne. While the marker does not mark Christie's final resting place, it is almost in sight of old St. Philips Church. In the records of St. Philips Church there is a brief notation "August 10,1782, was buried John Christie".

— Submitted October 25, 2015, by
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, February 13, 2010

4. Washington Park
Star of the Lake No. 158 of South Haven, Michigan.

3. Brief description of movement
1758 entered service of British Army
27 April 1764 WM Lodge #1 in Detroit, Michigan
10 July 1765 Albany, New York
1767 Fort Michilimackinac, Michigan
Returned to New York and then sent to West Indies
June 1782 Died in Antigua

— Submitted October 25, 2015, by Star of the Lake No. 158 of South Haven, Michigan.

Washington Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, February 13, 2010

5. Washington Park

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, February 13, 2010

6. Washington Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,150 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 14, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 3. submitted on October 17, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 14, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.