Fort Miller (Massachusetts)
Fort Miller/Fort Darby | |
---|---|
Naugus Head, Marblehead, Massachusetts | |
Fort Miller/Fort Darby Location in Massachusetts | |
Coordinates | 42°31′12″N 70°51′43″W / 42.52000°N 70.86194°W |
Type | Coastal Defense |
Site information | |
Owner | private |
Controlled by | Town of Marblehead |
Site history | |
Built | circa 1629-1632 |
In use | circa 1632-1900 |
Demolished | circa 1900? |
Battles/wars |
American Revolution War of 1812 American Civil War |
Fort Miller (originally Fort Darby or Darby's Fort) was a coastal defense fort in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in existence circa 1630-1900.[1]
History
The fort was Marblehead's first fort, originally built circa 1629-1632 by colonial forces under the direction of acting Governor of Massachusetts John Endecott. The location was on Naugus Head at the northwest corner of Marblehead's peninsula. It was initially named Fort Darby or Darby's Fort, allegedly after a similar head of land at Derby, Dorsetshire, England.[1] It was used in the American Revolution.[2] It was subsequently repaired for the War of 1812 as a lookout post and drill area for nearby Fort Sewall. It was rebuilt as a five-gun battery and renamed as Fort Miller for the Civil War, later serving through the Spanish–American War, after which the fort was probably demolished.[1][2]
See also
References
- Roberts, Robert B. (1988). Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-926880-X.