Fort Algernon facts for kids

Fort Algernon (also spelled Fort Algernourne) was an early fort built by English settlers in the fall of 1609. It was located at Point Comfort in the Virginia Colony, right where the Hampton Roads waterway meets the Chesapeake Bay. This spot was very important for protecting ships sailing in and out of the bay. Much later, in the 1830s, a bigger fort called Fort Monroe was built in the same area. Today, this historic place is part of Hampton, Virginia, an independent city.

Building Fort Algernon

After Captain John Smith left his role as President of the Council at Jamestown in September 1609 and went back to England, Captain James Davis took charge of the new Fort Algernon. Captain Davis had arrived with one of the ships from the "Third Supply," which brought more people and goods to the colony.

It's thought that Captain Davis's small ship, a type of boat called a pinnace named Virginia, was anchored nearby. This ship was special because it was the first one built by English colonists in North America. It was made at the failed Popham Colony in what is now Maine.

Early Conflicts

Fort Algernon was built very close to a village of the Kecoughtan people. This closeness led to problems between the English settlers and the Native Americans. On July 9, 1610, the English attacked and took over the Kecoughtan village. This event was one of the first steps that led to the First Anglo-Powhatan War. After capturing the village, the English built another fort there, which they named Fort Charles.

Fire and Rebuilding

In the middle of 1611, an accidental fire badly damaged Fort Algernon. Almost the entire fort was destroyed, except for Captain Davis's own house and the storage building. However, Captain Davis quickly rebuilt the fort just as it was before the fire.