Figure of the Week

John Mountjoy (1741-1825) was the son of William Mountjoy (1711-1777) of Stafford County, Virginia.  He and his father were signers of the Leedstown Resolutions.  In September 1776 the Continental Army was formed to provide a common defense against a British invasion.  Virginia was authorized to create fifteen district battalions, later designated as regiments.  Each district battalion was ordered to raise companies commanded by local patriots.

Stafford organized a company of about eighty men under the command of Capt. John Mountjoy.  Initially known as the Caroline District Minute Battalion, it was later renamed the 10th Virginia of Foot, 9th Company.  This company included men from Caroline, Spotsylvania, and King George Counties as well as from Stafford.  Mountjoy’s troops fought at the Second New Jersey Campaign (January to June 1777), Brandywine (Sept. 11, 1777), and Monmouth (June 28, 1778).  On June 15, 1818 John applied for a pension in Pendleton County, Kentucky.

In 1772 John married Mary Ann Garrard (1753-1823), the daughter of Col. William Garrard (c.1715-1787) and Mary Naughty (c.1721-c.1762).  Mary Ann was the sister of James Garrard (1749-1822) who became governor of Kentucky  From his father John Mountjoy inherited the large stone grist mill on Accokeek Run.  This was later known as Brooke’s Mill and stood across Brooke Road (Route 608) from the new Virginia Railway Express station at Brooke.  Around 1794 John Mountjoy removed to Kentucky and served as a justice of the peace in Campbell County.