Fort Augusta
Encyclopedia
Fort Augusta was a stronghold in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
, in the upper Susquehanna Valley from the time of the French and Indian War
to the close of the American Revolution
. The fort was erected by Col. William Clapham in 1756 at a site now within the limits of the city of Sunbury
, in an area the Indians called "Shamokin
." It was first constructed as part of the British defense against the raids of the French and Indians from the upper Allegheny region. Later, it served as an American fortress to aid in protecting settlers of the upper Susquehanna from Britain's Indian allies to the north. Named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the mother of King George III, Fort Augusta was the largest of the Provincial forts. It was dismantled in 1794.
Today, on the site of the old Fort, the Northumberland County Historical Society has its headquarters in the Hunter House, which it operates as a museum. The museum contains historical and archaeological artifacts dealing with Fort Augusta and items of local history. There is also a genealogical library of material on early families in Northumberland County and surrounding counties. The museum is located at 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury, Pennsylvania
.
The fort's underground powder magazine still exists.
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
There were 38,835 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.40% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.50% had...
, in the upper Susquehanna Valley from the time of the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
to the close of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. The fort was erected by Col. William Clapham in 1756 at a site now within the limits of the city of Sunbury
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
, in an area the Indians called "Shamokin
Shamokin (village)
Shamokin was a multi-ethnic Native American trading village on the Susquehanna River, located near the site of the modern Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Early in the eighteenth century, the village consisted of Iroquois migrants from the north, as well as Shawnee and Lenape settlers moving away from the...
." It was first constructed as part of the British defense against the raids of the French and Indians from the upper Allegheny region. Later, it served as an American fortress to aid in protecting settlers of the upper Susquehanna from Britain's Indian allies to the north. Named for Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the mother of King George III, Fort Augusta was the largest of the Provincial forts. It was dismantled in 1794.
Today, on the site of the old Fort, the Northumberland County Historical Society has its headquarters in the Hunter House, which it operates as a museum. The museum contains historical and archaeological artifacts dealing with Fort Augusta and items of local history. There is also a genealogical library of material on early families in Northumberland County and surrounding counties. The museum is located at 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
.
The fort's underground powder magazine still exists.
External links
- 3rd Battalion, Pennsylvania Regiment of Foot, The Augusta Regiment, Burd's Company (Historical Reenactment Group)
- Fort Augusta - Stronghold in the Wilderness: 1756-1794
- National Park Service - Colonials and Patriots: Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings
- Northumberland County Historical Society
- Sunbury: A History - Map of Fort Augusta