Kittery Garrisons and Blockhouses

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Kittery Garrison Houses - It is documented that there were as many as 36 multi-family garrison houses in Kittery during the Indian wars. Each family and single person was assigned to a specific garrison house. A system of watches and alarms was established to alert the people to gather at their assigned garrison house when an attack was imminent. Some specific families were authorized to establish their own individual garrison houses but that was risky because some of the raiding parties had upwards of 150 French and hostile Indians. The French & Indian raiding parties sometimes took advantage of the garrison house system by forcing settlers to flee to the Garrison house while they burned down all the houses, crops and killed the livestock. They then concentrated on the garrison house and sometimes were successful in getting the whole garrison to surrender.

Eliot was the Upper Parish of Kittery until it was incorporated on 6 Mar 1810. On 30 Apr 1690, there were listed 8 garrisons in Upper Kittery and 10 garrisons in lower Kittery. There were no soldiers stationed in any of the Lower Kittery garrison houses but there were six soldiers allotted to the upper Kittery garrison houses in 1690.

Note: The Indian wars in Maine spanned a time period lasting over a hundred years and some five generations. There were times when almost all the settlers were driven out of the contested areas and their communities were destroyed.

Indian Wars in Maine (edit list)
Start End Name Against Notes
1636 1637 Pequot War Pequot Indians
1675 1678 King Philip's War Confederation of Tribes
1689 1697 King William's War The first of the French and Indian Wars
1702 1713 Queen Anne's War The second of the French and Indian Wars
1722 1725 Dummer's War Wabanaki Confederacy
1744 1748 King George's War The third of the French and Indian Wars
1749 1755 Father Le Loutre's War Mi'kmaq Indians, Acadians and French
1754 1763 French & Indian War French & Indian Allies

Frost's Garrison (1)

This garrison house was established at the outset of King Philip's War in 1675 at the request of then Captain Charles Frost, later Major, (born 16 Jul 1631, killed 4 Jul 1697). This garrison was listed on the 1690 list of garrisons at the beginning of King William's War (1689-1697). Major Frost rose to command the Maine Militia. He was killed by hostile Indians on 4 Jul 1697 at the end of the war at ambush rock near the garrison house. This garrison house continued to be listed under Major Charles until 1720 and continued until 1722 and Dummer's War (1722-1725) as Charles Frost Esq. Probably operated by Major Frost's son, Charles Jr. (1678-1724) who resided on his father's property, was the commander of a militia regiment and was also commissioned a Major on 13 Jan 1715.

Assigned Location ID ME00.

GPS Location:

Frost's Garrison (2)

On 8 Sep 1730, Colonel John Frost II (1709-1768) purchased Stony Brook Farm in Kittery (now Eliot) from his father for £1000 and resided there. He married Sarah Gerrish in 1734. He built a home in 1732, a small garrison in 1734, and a large public garrison in 1738 all in a small area on Frost Hill. He fought in the French and Indian Wars and died in 1768.

The three structure Frost compound still exists today with the original buildings except that the old 1732 Frost family house was destroyed in 1760 and rebuilt in 1778. The 40'x 28' two and a half story wooden 1778 frame home is the one that remains on the site today.

The small 1734 garrison was intended as a family defense and was built the year that John Frost married Sarah Gerrish. This small garrison was only 15' by 15' and was connected to the main house by a tunnel that no longer exists. With the construction of the larger garrison, the smaller one began to be used as a powder house but still retained its defensive features.

The small garrison/powder house is made of hand-hewn timbers of pine and oak, dovetailed at the ends. There are special timbers which lock the structure together. It has a loft beneath its low gable roof and loopholes are provided for defenders could fire on their attackers. The original plugs for these loopholes are extant and in place as of 1971.

The small garrison/powder house was removed from the original site before 1940 and reconstructed at Kittery Point. By 1971 the structure had been returned and rebuilt on the original foundation.

The large garrison was intended as a community defense against French and Indian raiding parties during the French & Indian War.

The larger 1738 garrison building had one and a half stories with the upper story overhanging the lower. The upper story floor has forty-foot floorboards two inches thick with trap doors which served as openings to shoot through. The garrison walls are made from huge hand-hewn pine logs and the supporting knees from giant roots. Most of the timbers measure 12" to 18" in width and are generally 8" in thickness.

Each outside wall has two small 3" x 3" loopholes to allow the garrison defenders to fire on attackers. Five of the original porthole plugs were still in place in 1971. The area around the portholes is riddled with holes made by arrows and bullets from attacks on the garrison.

Assigned Location ID ME00.

GPS Locations:

Frost's Garrison (3)

Nicholas Frost (1585-1663) built a garrison house at the foot of Frost's Hill circa 1650. On 4 Jul 1650, Nicholas Frost's wife, Bertha, and their daughter, Anna, were captured by Indians and taken to a camp at the mouth of Sturgeon Creek. At this time, Bertha was 40 years of age, Nicholas was 65, and Anna was 15. Nicholas and his son, Charles were at York at the time and on their return, attempted to rescue them, but were unsuccessful. Charles, however, killed a chief and a brave. The next day, Charles, his father, and some neighbors went back to the camp but were too late. The camp was deserted, only the bodies of Bertha and Anna were found there. They were buried near the old Garrison in Eliot, Maine, Nicholas Frost's home.

In 1651 the town granted to Nicholas Frost three hundred acres and other grants increased his estate to one of the largest estates in Kittery. He built his house on the southern slope of Frost's hill probably about 1651. It was a garrison house built of large hewn square logs.

Assigned Location ID ME00.

GPS Location:

Shorey's Fort

A garrison house Near the highway to South Berwick, just south of Shorey's Brook

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Neal's Garrison

By John Neal about a half-mile south of Shorey's Fort

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Heard's Garrison

By John Heard about two miles from Neal's Garrison near Sturgeon Creek. circa 1650

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Hammond's Garrison

Major Joseph Hammond's Garrison - Just north of the site of Hotel Green Acre. Surrounded by a stockade. Assigned Location ID ME00.

Spencer's Garrison

William Spencer's Garrison was assaulted in March 1689 but the attackers were repelled.

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Spencer's Garrison

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Emery's Garrison (1)

Daniel Emery Garrison - Deacon Daniel Emery Assigned Location ID ME00.

Emery's Garrison (2)

Stephen Emery Garrison Assigned Location ID ME00.

Hodgdon's Garrison

Benoni Hodgdon

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Nason's Garrison (1)

Jonathan Nason

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Nason's Garrison (2)

Richard Nason

Assigned Location ID '.

Stone's Garrison

Daniel Stone

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Abbot's Garrison

First shown on the 1690 list as Ensign Thomas Abbot's Garrison in Upper Kittery later as Captain Thomas Abbot Garrison in Kittery.

Assigned Location ID ME00.

Homes' Garrison

Thomas Homes's small Garrison at Quamphegon located near his sawmill was attacked in March 1689 and the attackers burned down his house. James Plaister who was captured when the fort at Salmon Falls was taken and sent by Hope Hood (Commander of the Indians) under a flag of truce to the Homes Garrison to persuade Thomas Homes to surrender the Garrison. Homes declined and Plaister stayed with the garrison. Plaister recounted seeing some one hundred and fifty enemies about half of which were French.

Assigned Location ID ME00.


Watts' Fort

Not really a fort but an island in the Piscataqua River in York County Maine. One mile upriver from Frankfort Island.

Assigned Location ID ME00.

GPS Location:

Darby's Fort

Assigned Location ID ME00.

GPS Location:

  • Darby's Fort

Leighton's Fort

Assigned Location ID ME00.

GPS Location:

  • Leighton's Fort

Libby's Garrisons

On Libby's Hill

Assigned Location ID '.

GPS Location:

  • Libby's Garrisons

Sources:

  • Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X.
  • Bourne, Edward E., Garrison Houses, York County, in Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Vol. VII (1876):112-113
  • Old Eliot: A Monthly Magazine of the History and Biography of the Upper Parish of Kittery, Now Eliot, Volumes 1-3, 1901, page 145-146, Google Books

Links:



Kittery Garrisons & Blockhouses (edit list)
Loc ID Rank First Name Garrison Name Location List Fam/Mil/People Notes
ME00 Shorey's Fort 1650s
ME00 John Neal's Garrison 1650s
ME00 John Heard's Garrison 1650s
ME00 Nicholas Frost's Garrison 1650s
ME00 Major Joseph Hammond's Garrison 1650s
ME00 Spencer's Garrison 1650s
ME00 Deacon Daniel Emery's Garrison 1650s
ME00 Steven Emery's Garrison 1650s
ME00 John Morrell's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 John Shapleigh's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 Joseph Hammond's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 John Alcock's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 Joseph Wilson's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 William Pepperrell's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 Widow Champernowne's Garrison Lower Kittery 1690
ME00 Major Charles Frost's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Benoni Hodsdon's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Jonathan Nason's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Daniel Stone's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Ensign Thomas Abbot's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Richard Nason's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 William Spencer's Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Thomas Holmes' Garrison Upper Kittery 1690
ME00 Maj. Plaisted's Garrison 1711 Fam=14 Mil=4 Peo=74
ME00 Mr. Key's Garrison 1711 Fam=6 Mil=2 Peo=25
ME00 Quamphegan Garrison 1711 Fam=6 Mil=0 Peo=20
ME00 Mr. Chadbourne's Garrison 1711 Fam=5 Mil=1 Peo=30
ME00 Capt. Hill's Garrison 1711 Fam=8 Mil=3 Peo=21
ME00 Mr. Spencer's Garrison 1711 Fam=10 Mil=4 Peo=100
ME00 Mr. Walker's Garrison 1711 Fam=9 Mil=2 Peo=60
ME00 Mr. Emery's Garrison 1711 Fam=7 Mil=0 Peo=14
ME00 Mr. Hubbard's Garrison 1711 Fam=6 Mil=3 Peo=19
ME00 Mr. Lord's Garrison 1711 Fam=5 Mil=0 Peo=25
ME00 Mr. Neal's Garrison 1711 Fam=10 Peo=70
ME00 Mr. Nason's Garrison 1711 Fam=3 Peo=12
ME00 Mr. Whittum's Garrison 1711 Fam=5 Peo=20
ME00 Capt. Heard's Garrison 1711 Fam=2 Mil=2 Peo=10
ME00 Lt. Frost's Garrison 1711 Fam=2 Mil=2 Peo=10
ME00 Hodson's Garrison 1711
ME00 Andrew Neal's Garrison 1720
ME00 John Gowen's Garrison 1720
ME00 Jonathan Nason's Garrison 1720
ME00 Samuel Jr. Snall's Garrison 1720
ME00 Capt. John Heard's Garrison 1720
ME00 Maj. Charles Frost's Garrison 1720
ME00 John Sr. Morrell's Garrison 1720
ME00 Capt. Nicholas Shapleigh's Garrison 1720
ME00 Capt. John Leighton Garrison 1720
ME00 David Jr Libby's Garrison 1720
ME00 Joseph Hill's Garrison 1720
ME00 John Staple's Garrison 1720
ME00 Maj. Joseph Hammond's Garrison 1720
ME00 Widow Spinney's Garrison 1720
ME00 John Dennet's Garrison 1720
ME00 Richard Sr. King's Garrison 1720
ME00 Joseph Curtis' Garrison 1720
ME00 Richard Rogers' Garrison 1720
ME00 John Adams' Garrison 1720
ME00 Robert Cutt's Garrison 1720
ME00 Lt. Elihu Gunnison's Garrison 1720
ME00 Nathaniel Leach's Garrison 1720
ME00 Nathaniel Keen's Garrison 1720
ME00 Rev. John Newmarch's Garrison 1720
ME00 Samuel Hutchins' Garrison 1720
ME00 Nicholas Weeks' Garrison 1720
ME00 Andrew Lewis's Garrison 1720
ME00 Col. William Pepperrell's Garrison 1720
ME00 Widow Wilson's Garrison 1720
ME00 Ebenezer More's Garrison 1720
ME00 Richard Cutt's Garrison 1720
ME00 Clement Deering's Garrison 1720
ME00 Robert Eliot's Garrison 1722
ME00 Daniel Furbush's Garrison 1722 With Forguson & Shorey families
ME00 Andrew Neal's Garrison 1722 With Emery, Goold & Heard families
ME00 John Gowen's Garrison 1722 With Nicholas Gowen & Weed families
ME00 Johathon Nason's Garrison 1722 With Goold, Waymouth, Snow & Stacy families
ME00 Jr. Samuel Small's Garrison 1722 Families from mouth of Sturgeon Creek to Frosts, Johnson & Smith
ME00 Capt. John Heard's Garrison 1722 With James Heard to David Sawyer families Inclusively.
ME00 Nicho Morrell's Garrison At Ferry 1722 Wm Fry to John Morrell Jr families inclusively
ME00 Samuel Hill's Garrison 1722 Samuel Hill Jr, James Davis, Ebenezer Dennet, Nathl Chapman familys
ME00 Capt. Nicho Shapleigh's Garrison 1722 With Michael Kennards to his own house inclusively
ME00 Capt. John Leighton' Garrison 1722 With Renja March, Joseph Pilsbury, John Richardson familys
ME00 Mr. John Rogers' Garrison 1722 From his own home to Daniel Fogg and Daniel Fogg Jr. Inclusively
ME00 David Libby's Garrison 1722 From Jas Staples to Thomas Hanscoms Inclusively
ME00 Major Joseph Hammond's Garrison 1722 From Stephen Tobey, Samll Tobey, Samll Green, Daniel Green, John Rogers, Abram Cross familys
ME00 John Lydston's Garrison 1722 From Peter Staples to Danll Pauls families inclusively
ME00 Mr. Richard King's Garrison 1722 From John Pauls to lower end of Spinneys point
ME00 Mr. John Staple's Garrison 1722 From Wm. Brooks to Jacob Remick Jr. families inclusively
ME00 Mr. John Fernald Garraison 1722 From Richard Gowell Jr. to Thomas Coles inclusively.
ME00 Mr. John Adams' Garrison 1722 From Nathl Fernald, Wm Worster families
ME00 Mr. John Newmarch's Garrison 1722 From James Spinneys to Widow Tripes with Walter Denne ford
ME00 Mr. Robert Cutt's Garrison 1722 From Benja Fernald to Francis Winkleys
ME00 Mr. Elihu Gunison's Garrison 1722 From John Pearses whole Neck downward familys
ME00 Nathl Kene's Garrison 1722 From Nathl Leaches to Kenes house, Except John Shepard posted at Rogerses
ME00 Richard Rogers. Garrison 1722 John Shepard,Jerem Spinney, Moses Stevens, Paul Williams, John Manson, Francis Pettegrew, Wm Rogers, Wm Stanley, & Richd Pope families
ME00 Mr. Joseph Curtis' Garrison 1722 From James Stariot, James Stariot Jr., Peter Stariot, Nathll Fernald, James Brideen, Jr., Wm Wilson, John Crocker, Samll Johnson, Jr., families
ME00 Dodavah Curtis' Garrison 1722 From Samll Johnson, Withers Berry, Benja Hammons, Nicholas Weekes families
ME00 Joseph Wilson's Garrison 1722 From John Benson, Thomas Hutchins, Enoch Hutchins & John Dealing families
ME00 Andrew Lewis's Garrison 1722 From Andw Haley, Peter Lewis, John Hutchins, George Fenix, Thos Morgrage & Moses Downer Families
ME00 Danl Hutchins' Garrison 1722 From Jonathan Hutchins, John Chapman families
ME00 Widow Wilson's Garrison 1722 From Joseph Weekes, Saml Skillin, Gowen Wilson, John Wilson & Wm Haley familys
ME00 Ebenezer More's Garrison 1722 From John Ingersol to Wm Tucker Inclusively
ME00 Joseph Crockett's Garrison 1722 From Francis Smart, Nathl Hix, Jno Norton, Alexandr Macquinery, with young men on duty there, and families
ME00 Henry Barter's Garrison 1722 Thomas Ball, James Grendal, Ebenr Emory, Zacheus Beal, Wm Roberts & Widdow Crockett, and families
ME00 Col Wm Pepperrell's Garrison 1722 From Thomas Dearings to Kittery Point Meeting house inclusively
ME00 Roger Mitchell's Garrison 1722 From Wm Racklifts to Clement Dearings Inclusively
ME00 Saml Ford's Garrison 1722 From his own house to Foyes Inclusively
ME00 Joseph Mitchell's Garrison 1722 From Joseph Billings to John Whitney inclusively
ME00 Esq Chas Frost's Garrison 1722 Own house
ME00 Esq Robert Eliot's Garrison 1722 Own house
ME00 Mr. Richf Cutt's Garrison 1722 Own house
ME00 James Chadbourne's garrison 1722 Own house
ME00 Richd Mitchell's Garrison 1722 Own house
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