Fort on Yeocomico River; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 9, No. 4, 1901

Transcribed by Barb Hill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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Fort on Yeocomico River

William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol.9, No.4. (Apr., 1901), pp.237-239


Page 237 

                 Fort on Yeocomico River
                (Abstract from the Records)

     At a committee held at the house of Nich:  Owen for ye association
of Northumberland, West'd & Stafford county's ye 1st or 9ber 1667.
     P'sent:  Col. Pett.Asthton, Col. Nich Spencer, Lt.Col. Hen: Meese,
Maj. Isaac Allerton, Maj. Geo: Mason, Capt. Jno Lee.
     According to act of Assembley 23rd Sept. last a fort was to be
erected by the last of April next in Yeocomico River, for the defense
of ships; the aforesaid chosen commissioners, after serious
debate & consultation (having sounded the waters & strictly surveyed
what places might best suit for a fort) find but three places
convenient: Barnard (?) Point, Ferrymans Point & Levy Point; & 
of these Levy Point is selected.


Page 238          William and Mary Quarterly.

     Ordered that a house be built near the place for the fort for
the workmen, 40 foot long, 9 foot pitch & 20 foot wide, a partition,
and inside chimney & a chimney in the middle of the other
room, & to be built by Jno Garner & other assistants whom he
shall selecgt.
     Ordered that Capt. Jno Lee provide nails, that Mr. Nicholas
Owen, Mr Charles Ashton & Mr.Jno Webber, appoint the ground
for the house & view the work.  Ordered to press at the two mills
of Little Wicocomico & upper Matchoatock 40 bbls corn, so that
it may be made into bread at the fort; that 4000 lbs pork be
provided & a hhd. of salt.  Ordered that the overseers, aforsaid,
recieve the great guns (when brought down to the place commonly
called Braddock's hole) at high-water mark, there to 
remain untill further order.  Ordered that 2500 foot of 2 inch
plank be provided for which Capt. John Lee has promised to provide
& is to be allowed (including transportation) 2 1/2 lbs. tob.
& cask per foot.  Mr. Jno Webber is ordered (Ingineer) to draw
the lines of the Fort & take observations of all things to be done
relating to the work & as Ingineer to manage the building.  Ordered
that 8 pr. of wheels after the manner of dield carriages for
great guns be made, very strong, 4 foot diameter, which Col.
Pett. Ashton & Major Allerton have promised to provide.  Ordered
that Col. Pett Ashton & Lt. Col. John Washington, collectors
for this association, collect the fort duties according to law.
Ordered that warrants issued to levy 25 men out of Cople parish
to be at the fort by the 9 of next month, there to continue at
work untill 23d of same & the like levy of 25 men out of Fairfield
psh be at the fort on 23rd & continue untill 4 of Apl. & to be
succeeded in turn by like levies out of Washington parish &
Lee parish.  Ordered that the area of the fort be 2500 feet, unliess
Mr. Webber should see fit to alter it.  Ordered that 20 plank, 4 
inches thick at least & 10 foot long & as wide as Mr. Webber
selects be provided by Mr Thos. _____ as Mr. Chas. Ashton, one
of the overseers is very weak, Mr jollon is chosen to supply his
place.  Ordered that Thos. Mathew cause his smith to make 8
shovell plates, 4 mattock, 12 grubbing hoes, 16 plates for the
guns, 16 staples with bolts, 10 ax rungs, & Mr. Webber give 
directions about the same.
     May 8, 1668, constables ordered to impress men for building 
the fort.  Mr. Jno Webber made sole overseer.  Money be put in


Page 239

hands of Lt. Col. Henry Meese to purchase 80 demy culverin
round shot, of 4 inches diameter, 20 large & 20 cross bar shot; 20
saker shot of 3 inches diameter, 5 large & 5 cross bar shot; 40
minion round shot of 2 1/2 inches diameter; 10 large & 10 cross bar
shot; 2 demy culverin ladles, 1 saker ladle, 1 monor ladle, 1
Flag, 1 drum & 20 firelock muskets.  Ordered that 30 lbs of canvas
be provided to make sacking for lodging the workman & 10
yards of woolen cloth for covering.