Fort Frederica National Monument (GA)
Read MoreFort Frederica National Monument
An aerial view of Fort Frederica National Monument, with major sites included within the album highlighted...
The mile-long wall and moat which surrounded Frederica was much more impressive in their original forms than what the subtle tree-covered hills now imply. Taking several years to construct the earthen walls once stood six feet high. Fronting these walls was the moat which was bounded on both sides by an eight-foot high wooden palisade! Needless to say, this was a well protected settlement...
This lot was occupied by the family of Daniel Cannon, a carpenter who lived at Frederica during the first five years of its existence. Though a thriving community for only 13 years, most settlers didn't even last that long. Cannon was one of over a third of Frederica's residents who left between 1736-1741...
This lot was site of the home of Patrick Houstoun and his wife Priscilla. Patrick served as quartermaster of Oglethorpe's Regiment as well as a merchant who ran his own ship between Frederica and Savannah. After the decline of Frederica the Houstoun's moved to a plantation near Savannah and raised six children, including their son John who was a delegate to the Continental Congress and later Governor of Georgia...
This lot was home to probably the most unfortunate individual to ever call Frederica home, Samuel Perkins. During his five year stay he was forbidden to sell iron goods, forbidden to work his garden, had his hogs shot, and was beaten up on at least a couple of occasions. Smartly deciding to leave in 1741, no mention of exactly why Perkins was treated this way was ever documented and his departure was simply explained as a result of being "persecuted out of the colony"...
Rowhouses, typical of British design, are homes with a shared wall. Here, the house of Samuel Davison, a tavernkeeper and town constable, adjoined with that of Thomas Hawkins, a doctor. Davison was a very well-liked individual in Frederica but the family of Dr. Hawkins was to be avoided by all accounts. This likely had something to do with Davison's decision in 1741 to leave Frederica after only five years...
The west end of town was where the earth and stone fortification of Fort Frederica itself was located. Sitting on a bluff above the Frederica River, the fort was generally star-shaped in design containing four bastions armed with cannon. Situated as it was on a bend in the river it could defend itself against naval attack from both up and downstream. Though the earthworks have been partially reconstructed the only remaining original portion of the fort is the King's Magazine...
Fort Frederica - King's Magazine
Built during later upgrades to the fort, the King's Magazine that remains today is only about a third of the original structure. What remains was the left-hand portion of the structure which was likely used to store gunpowder. Immediately to its right was a towering gate, or sally port. The remaining third of the structure probably served as rooms for soldiers on guard duty...
Fort Frederica - King's Magazine Interior
Built during later upgrades to the fort, the King's Magazine that remains today is only about a third of the original structure. What remains was the left-hand portion of the structure which was likely used to store gunpowder. Immediately to its right was a towering gate, or sally port. The remaining third of the structure probably served as rooms for soldiers on guard duty...
Fort Frederica - King's Magazine
Fort Frederica's 'big guns', in the form of 12-pounder cannon like these, were placed along the walls facing the river. These guns had a range of around a mile and were intended to be Fort Frederica's main defensive weapon should the Spanish try to attack from the sea...
Fort Frederica - Parade Ground
This panorama looking into the fort from the King's Magazine shows the narrow parade ground used for drills. Two massive storehouses flanked it on each side (the visible foundations) while the location of the fort's well is the brick ring in the center...
Kathy Weemhoff
on February 20, 2015:)
Kathy Weemhoff
on February 20, 2015Yes, quite the place! Surprising how many of the foundations survived!