The site of the fort has been occupied since 1689 as an important military defensive position. The area at one time was called “Battery Pasture” and was acquired by William Pepperrell, a merchant and landowner. The first structures were probably no more than simple earthworks and a small block house known as Pepperrell’s Garrison or Fort Pepperrell.
Photo Album of our visit to Fort McClary in Kittery, Maine.
The Colony of Massachusetts Bay voted in 1715 to erect a permanent breastwork of six guns for defense of the river although the fort may not have been built until around 1720. The position of a naval officer was also established for collecting a duty from ships coming into the harbor. This fort was named Fort William
In 1775 local citizens confiscated the property and the fort from the Pepperrell family as they were still loyal to the British Crown. The fort was manned by the New Hampshire militia until 1779, then abandoned.
In 1808 the “Second System” was built and was named Fort McClary after Major Andrew McClary, a New Hampshire native. The Major was the highest ranking officer killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. The block house that stands today was built in 1844 and was the last to be built in Maine.
The Civil war period saw a fifty man company called the Kittery Artillery commanded by Dr. Mark Wentworth, Captain. The Kittery Company was very soon replaced by Battery B 1st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery in 1863. If the fort had been completed it would have resembled Fort Knox, all work was ended in 1868. Fort Knox is located in Bucksport Maine.
At one time there were barracks, Officers Quarters, and a cookhouse with mess hall, a powder magazine and two rifleman’s houses. A shot furnace stood on the Lower Battery at one time as well. A guard shack and hospital stood just north of the fort.
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