Fort Mary (Maine) facts for kids

Fort Mary was an important British fort built way back in 1688. It was located in a place called Saco, Maine, looking over Winter Harbor and Biddeford Pool. This fort was very active during a big conflict known as Queen Anne's War.

Fort Mary actually took the place of an older fort called Fort Saco. Fort Saco was built in 1708 at Saco Falls during another war, King William's War. During King William's War, the person in charge of Fort Saco was Captain John Hill.

What Was Fort Mary?

Fort Mary was a military building made by the British. It was designed to protect the area around Saco, Maine. This fort played a key role in the conflicts of its time.

Why Was Fort Mary Built?

Fort Mary was built to defend British settlers. It helped protect them from attacks during wars. Its location was perfect for watching over the harbor.

Fort Mary's Role in Early Conflicts

Fort Mary saw a lot of action during the early 1700s. It was involved in several battles and raids. These events were part of larger wars between European powers.

Attacks on Fort Mary

In 1703, during a conflict called the Northeast Coast Campaign, Fort Mary was attacked. Native American groups attacked the fort. They killed 11 English settlers and took 24 others as prisoners.

The area around Saco was attacked again in 1704 and 1705. During one of these raids, the attackers managed to defeat the soldiers inside the fort at Winter Harbor. This area is now part of Biddeford, near Biddeford Pool. The soldiers inside the fort had to surrender.

Winter Harbor faced two more attacks after that. These happened in 1707 and again in 1710.