Fort Constitution Papers, 1840s-1860s

MC 200

2 oversize boxes (1 cu.ft.)

About Fort Constitution

Fort Constitution, originally known as Fort William and Mary (or Castle William and Mary), was built in 1632 on the island of New Castle, New Hampshire, at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, to protect and defend Portsmouth Harbor. Through several centuries, from the colonial era to the mid-twentieth century, the post served as a trading port, a target of warfare, and a training ground for the military.

Initially established to regulate commerce in the colonial era, Fort Constitution became a center of rebellion several months before the battles of Lexington and Concord ushered in the American Revolution. On December 14, 1774, the day after Paul Revere brought news from Boston, Massachusetts to Portsmouth, New Hampshire of British forces heading toward the harbor, crowds swarmed the streets in a popular uprising. Some four hundred men headed to the fort where the commander, Captain Cochran, blocked the entrance and ordered fire. Nevertheless, the rebels seized the captain, captured the king’s flag, and took the gunpowder. The subsequent day, the men joined by several militia units, retook the fort, and secured cannons, muskets, and other arms.

After the United States government acquired the land from the state of New Hampshire in 1791, Fort Constitution continued to be used as a military stronghold. In the early 1800s, following the establishment of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the federal government oversaw the construction of several brick buildings, and renovations that doubled the height of the fort walls. The government also renamed the post Fort Constitution and equipped it with a garrison and artillery. In the War of 1812, the government maintained forces and erected Walbach Tower on the site. During the American Civil War, while troops were stationed at the fort to train and safeguard the site from invasion, construction ensued. Due to military advancements, however, plans to build an extensive, three-tiered granite edifice were curtailed.

Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, Fort Constitution remained in operation and under further renovations. In the late 1800s, and early 1900s, fortifications were built outside of the original section. During the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II, mines were installed to safeguard the harbor. Finally, in 1961, the state of New Hampshire regained custody of the site, and in 1973, Fort Constitution earned a position on the National Register of Historic Places.

About the Fort Constitution Collection

The bulk of the collection consists of records generally between the 1840s and 1860s, around the time when Ordnance Sergeant James Davidson served at the fort. He left behind correspondence (including circulars and invitations); personnel records (such as muster rolls, orders, court proceedings, and reports); inventories and requisitions (for fuel, food, clothing, ordnance, and other provisions); and financial records (such as payrolls, expenditures, and invoices).

References and Suggested Readings:
John Derhak, “The Portsmouth Uprising of 1774 and the Crowd Actions at Castle William and Mary: A Case Study of a Popular Uprising in Colonial British America,” Master’s thesis, University of New Hampshire, 1991.

For further information on the 1774 uprising, see The Capture of Fort William & Mary.

Search in the online catalog using the term “Fort Constitution Historic Site (N.H.)” for historic structure reports.