Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Arms of Colleton: Or, three stag's heads couped proper

Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet (1608–1666) was an important figure in English history. He was a strong supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War. After the war, he lost his land. But when the king's son, Charles II, became king, Sir John was rewarded. He received land in a new place called Carolina.

Sir John Colleton: A Key Figure in Early Carolina

Sir John Colleton was born in 1608. He came from a family in Exeter, Devon, England. His father, Peter Colleton, was a local official. His mother was Ursula Hull. John was the second son in his family.

Supporting the King: The Civil War

Sir John Colleton was a loyal supporter of the king. He was known as a Royalist. When the English Civil War began, he quickly joined the king's army. He became a Captain of foot-soldiers. Later, he was promoted to Colonel. He even used his own money to help the king's cause.

He spent a lot of his own money to raise a regiment of soldiers. This was a group of about 1,100 men. He did not ask the king for money or supplies. Because of his support for the king, he lost much of his wealth. His lands were taken by the other side, the Parliament forces. To stay safe, he had to leave England. He went to the island of Barbados in the Caribbean.

After the war, King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660. This event is called the Restoration. Sir John's friends spoke to the king about his loyalty. They explained how much he had sacrificed.

Becoming a Baronet

To thank Sir John for his loyalty, King Charles II gave him a special honor. In 1661, he was made a "Baronet of London." This was a new title. It showed that the king valued his service.

A New Start: Grants in Carolina

King Charles II also rewarded Sir John in another big way. In 1663, the king gave a large area of land in America to eight people. These people were called the Lords Proprietors. Sir John Colleton was one of them. This land was named Carolina, after King Charles I. It was a huge area, including what is now South Carolina and North Carolina. The Lords Proprietors also received the Bahama Islands.

Sir John helped bring settlers from Barbados to Carolina. These settlers brought enslaved people from Africa with them. This introduced slavery to the Carolina colony. The settlers also brought new farming methods. They started growing rice, which became a very important crop.

Today, Colleton County, South Carolina, is named after him. So is Colington, North Carolina.

Family and Legacy

In 1634, Sir John Colleton married Katherine Amey. They had several children. His eldest son, Peter Colleton, inherited his father's title. Peter also received a special title in Carolina, called "Landgrave." This was a noble title given in the early Carolina colony.

Another son, Thomas Colleton, also moved to Barbados. He became a "Landgrave" too. His family continued to be important. Thomas's granddaughter, Elizabeth Colleton, married Colonel Thomas Garth. Their son, John Garth, became a Member of Parliament in England.

Sir John's son, James Colleton, also lived in Barbados. He became a governor of the Carolina colony from 1686 to 1690. His son, James Edward Colleton, also became a Member of Parliament.

Sir John Colleton died in 1666. He is remembered for his loyalty to the king. He also played a key role in the early settlement and development of the Carolina colony.