Fort William Henry (Maine) facts for kids
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Fort William Henry
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Replica of Fort William Henry in 1909
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | New Harbor, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1692 |
| Part of | Pemaquid Archeological Site (ID69000022) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000021 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 1, 1969 |
| Designated NHLDCP | April 12, 1993 |
Fort William Henry is a historic fort located in New Harbor, Maine. It was once the largest fort in all of New England. The original fort was built in 1692. However, it was destroyed just four years later by French forces and their Native American allies. A new version of the fort was built in 1908.
Today, Fort William Henry is a museum. It teaches visitors about the fort's long history. The fort is part of the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site. This site also has old village buildings from the 1600s and 1700s. A museum there displays items found by archaeologists, like old coins and pottery.
Contents
Early Forts at Pemaquid
The land where Fort William Henry stands has been home to several forts over time. Each fort played a role in protecting the area.
Abraham Shurte's Fort (1630–1633)
The very first fort here was built in 1630. It was called Abraham Shurte's Fort. This fort was a trading post, surrounded by tall wooden fences called palisades. It was burned down by pirates led by a man named Dixie Bull.
Fort Pemaquid (1633–1676)
After the first fort was destroyed, a new one was built in 1633. It was named Fort Pemaquid. This fort was later destroyed in 1676 during a conflict known as King Philip's War.
Fort Charles (1677–1689)
A third fort was built in 1677 and named Fort Charles. In 1689, during King William's War, this fort was attacked and captured. Native American warriors attacked the fort and took people captive. They then set the fort on fire. An English captive named John Gyles later wrote about seeing the fort burn. He said it was a "melancholy sight."
After Fort Charles was destroyed, the English decided to build an even stronger fort. This new fort would be called Fort William Henry.
Building Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was built in 1692 during King William's War. The English wanted a strong defense against the French and their allies, the Wabanaki Confederacy. This fort was meant to protect the northern border of the English colonies in New England.
The governor of Massachusetts, Sir William Phips, ordered the fort to be built. It was a very expensive project. A colonial military leader named Benjamin Church helped with its construction.
The fort had very tall walls, reaching up to 22 feet high. It also had a stone tower that was 29 feet tall. Fort William Henry was well-armed with 20 cannons. About 60 soldiers were stationed there to defend it.
The Siege of Pemaquid (1696)
In 1696, a combined force of French soldiers and Native American warriors attacked Fort William Henry. This attack was called the Siege of Pemaquid (1696). A siege is when an army surrounds a fort and tries to capture it. The English soldiers inside the fort were eventually forced to give up. The fort was destroyed, and the English left the Pemaquid area.
Later, Benjamin Church led a raid against the French in Acadia. This was to get revenge for the destruction of Fort William Henry.
Fort Frederick and Later Years
After many years, the fort was rebuilt again in 1729. It was renamed Fort Frederick. This happened after a conflict known as Father Rale's War. Colonel David Dunbar oversaw the rebuilding.
Attacks on Fort Frederick
During King George's War, Fort Frederick was attacked in 1745. Native American groups, including the Penobscot, attacked the fort. The fort was able to defend itself against two more attacks in 1747.
End of the Fort
In 1759, during the French and Indian War, Fort Frederick was no longer needed. A new fort with the same name was built in a different location.
In 1775, at the start of the Revolutionary War, the town decided to take the fort apart. They did this to make sure the British army could not use it as a base.
During the War of 1812, British ships were active near Pemaquid Point. The fort area was occupied by the British twice during this war.
Modern History of the Fort
The state of Maine bought the fort site in 1902. In 1908, the tower of Fort William Henry was rebuilt. Many of the original stones were used.
In 1969, Fort William Henry was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. In 1993, the entire area, including the fort and other old village remains, was recognized as a "National Historic Landmark."
See also
