Landmarks in Ancient Dover, New Hampshire by Mary P. Thompson, 
Durham, N.H. ©1892, Printed by the Republican Press Association, 
Concord, N.H. 


LANDMARKS: Frank's Fort 

NAMES:  GREN, John; SMITH, George; DOWNING, Dennis; HAWTHORNE, William; 
	EMERY, James; ROBINSON, Stephen; ROGERS, Richard; GREEN, Richard, 
	Sr.; CLARK, Maj. Thomas; HALL, John, Sr.; JOSELYN, JOSSELYN, Henry; 
	LEIGHTON, William; LEIGHTON, Capt. John;

	"Frank's Fort.  This is an island in the Long Reach of the Pascataqua
river, just above Eliot Neck.  It was once a steep gravelly height, flat on 
the top, with the aspect of a fortification, but has been greatly worn by 
the elements, and partly carried away by vessels for ballast.  Frank's Fort
is mentioned Feb 14, 1648, in a grant to John Gren.  (York Records.)  In a
deed from George Smith of Dover to Dennis Downing of Kittery, Dec. 18, 
1650, ffrankes fort and watts fort are mentioned.  Land on the east side of
the Pascataqua river, "betwixt Frank's fort and Darby's fort," was granted,
July 14, 1659, by the General Court of Mass. Bay to Wm. Hawthorne of Salem.
Frank's fort is also spoken of Dec. 4, 1663, when James Emery of 
Kittery conveyed to Stephen Robinson of Oyster river a tract of land 
between Richard Rogers and Richard Green, Sr.;¹ and again, May 16, 1695, in
a grant of land to Maj. Thomas Clark, "between ffrankes fort and Wat's 
fort."²  The name of Frank's fort has been perpetuated to his day, but its 
origin is not known.  Boatmen on the river invariably call it by this name.  
"Frankfort" is a corruption that should be ignored.  A Newington tradition 
says the powder from Fort William and Mary was first stored on this island,
whence it was conveyed farther up the river for greater security.        
                                                                                                                          
¹  Ap. 28, 1697, "John Hall, Sen., drowned coming up the River in a little
 float, near Green Point."  Rev. John Pike's Journal.                                                                                                   

² Watt's fort, otherwise Joslin's fort, was about a mile farther up the 
river, on a point of land where Henry Joselyn or Josselyn is said to 
have lived for a time before going to Scarborough.  Wm. Leighton, mariner, 
bought land at or near Watt's fort June 20, 1656, and his son Capt. John 
Leighton, the Sheriff, built a garrison there in 1690, generally called 
Leighton's fort. This point is in Eliot, and still owned by the Leighton 
family.									

PG 75-76





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