Fort Pearsall

 (1754-1764) - A French & Indian War era fort established in 1754 near Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia. Named Fort Pearsall after Job Pearsall. Abandoned as a fortification in 1764. Also known as Job Pearsall's Fort.

History of Fort Pearsall
Established by Job Pearsall as a stockaded cabin in 1753 to protect settlers against hostile Shawnee and allied tribes along the Ohio.

In 1756, as the French & Indian War began, the fort became a Virginia colonial militia fort and the stockade was greatly enlarged to enclose several cabins that could garrison up to 100 troops.

The fort guarded a strategic route between George Washington's Headquarters at Winchester and Fort Cumberland in present day Maryland. The fort was situated at a crossing of the South Fork of the Potomac River. On 10 Jul 1756, Colonel George Washington wrote that, "it will be found necessary to maintain a Block-house at Pearsalls, to secure that difficult pass, and keep the communications open."

Fort Pearsall became a supply depot for the Virginia Regiment and other fortifications along the South Branch of the Potomac and, in January 1756, Colonel Washington noted "There are three thousand weight of Pork laid in at Job Pearsalls."

Some 35 to 47 soldiers of Captain Robert McKenzie’s Virginia Regiment Company garrisoned the fort in 1756-1757. Other units included Captain John Ashby’s ranger company and militiamen from surrounding counties.

In June 1758, 496 men of the 1st and 2nd Virginia Militia Regiments were encamped at Fort Pearsall for the campaign against Fort Duquesne. Fort Duquesne was subsequently abandoned by the French and destroyed on 25 Nov 1758, removing the French threat.

The fort then closed down but may have reopened during Pontiac's War in 1763-64 but appears to have been abandoned by the winter of 1764.

Current Status
Archeological remains only and one marker located in the southwest corner of the Old Indian Mound Cemetery. The cemetery is along U.S. 50 on the west side of Romney. The exact site of the fort is not identified and the probable sites are on private property. Several stones said to be once a part of the fort are no longer next to the marker.

See Also:
 * French & Indian War
 * Pontiac's War

Sources:
 * , page 346.

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Pearsall
 * Fort Edwards Foundation - Fort Pearsall
 * Encyclopedia of West Virginia