Christmas Moultrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christmas Moultrie
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Moultrie, pictured in the early 20th century
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| Born | December 25, 1857 |
| Died | April 23, 1956 (aged 98) Port Wentworth, Georgia, U.S.
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| Resting place | Cherokee Hill Baptist Churchyard, Port Wentworth, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | game hunter, merchant |
Christmas Moultrie (born December 25, 1857 – died April 23, 1956) was an American man who was born into slavery. After slavery ended, he became a skilled duck hunter and a successful merchant. He is well-known because he was a main character in a book called Ward Allen: Savannah River Market Hunter. This book was later made into a movie called Savannah in 2013.
Contents
Early Life and Freedom
Christmas Moultrie was born on Christmas Day in 1857. He was born at the Mulberry Grove Plantation in Savannah, Georgia. He was the very last child born into slavery on that plantation. Sadly, his mother passed away soon after he was born. His family's last name, Moultrie, came from a family in Charleston, South Carolina.
In December 1864, his family moved a few miles away to Monteith, Georgia. This happened after General Sherman's army burned the plantation during his famous March to the Sea. But Christmas Moultrie stayed at the plantation. He was now a free man and lived in a small cabin near the plantation gate.
Becoming a Hunter and Merchant
Christmas Moultrie started a business hunting ducks in the Savannah marshlands. He worked with a man named Ward Allen. They would catch ducks and sell them to local restaurants. They also sold ducks to families in Savannah. Besides hunting, Moultrie also sold fresh vegetables at the City Market.
Family Life
Christmas Moultrie had a son named Hardee, who was born in 1895. Hardee passed away in 1935. Moultrie also had several granddaughters. One of them, Martha F. McCullough, born in 1927, became a teacher in Savannah. He also had granddaughters named Mary F. Johnson, Georgia Benton, and Della Stell.
Hunting Rules Change
In 1927, new rules were made at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. These rules limited how many ducks hunters could catch on one trip. They also set specific hunting seasons. These changes made it harder for Moultrie and Allen to make a living from hunting.
Ward Allen was worried about the future of Savannah's marshes. More and more factories were being built in the city. He often wrote articles in local newspapers about his concerns. He even went to the Georgia State Legislature to try and make changes, but he wasn't successful.
Ward Allen died on August 23, 1931. He was 75 years old. His body was found in the Savannah River.
Later Life and Recognition
Christmas Moultrie passed away on April 23, 1956, in Port Wentworth, Georgia. He was 98 years old. He was buried in the Cherokee Hill Baptist Churchyard in Port Wentworth.
Christmas Moultrie became even more famous after the 2013 movie Savannah was released. The movie was based on the 1958 book Ward Allen: Savannah River Market Hunter. In the movie, the actor Chiwetel Ejiofor played Christmas Moultrie.
In 2008, a special road interchange was named after him. It is called the Moultrie Interchange and is located where Georgia State Route 21 meets Interstate 95.
