 War Department at Washington say that Fort
Constitution reservation “contains twelve acres. It is situated on
a rocky projection in the Piscataqua River at the entrance to the
harbor of the City of Portsmouth. It is about three miles below
the city on the west side of the river, on the eastern end of
‘Great Island,’ being the most eastern end of New Hampshire. It was
formerly an English fort called ‘William and Mary’ and was occupied
by United States troops in 1806.”

The location of Fort Constitution may be fixed more exactly by
saying that it is very close to Newcastle, one of the outlying
dependencies of Portsmouth. A long low stone structure thrust
out on a wave-washed spit of rock, its picturesque appearance
stimulates the fancy of every visitor who approaches Portsmouth by
water.

Adjoining the fort is a light-house erected in 1771, and on a
rocky eminence overlooking the fort is a ruined martello tower of
striking aspect.

The history of Fort Constitution goes back to the early beginnings
of settlement on the New England coast. In 1665 the commissioners
of King Charles II began to erect a fortification on the point
here, but were halted by the prohibitions of the Massachusetts
fathers. In 1700 there existed a fort on Great Island and probably
on the site of the present structure. This fort was visited by the
Earl of Bellemont and declared by him incapable of defending the
river, notwithstanding the fact that it mounted thirty guns.

A new defensive structure was planned by Colonel Romer, who
recommended as additional works a strong tower on the point of
Fryer’s (Gerrish’s) Island and batteries on Wood and Clark’s
Islands. His main plans were carried out and with slight
alterations formed the fortification which was known at the time
of the Revolutionary ferment as Castle William and Mary, its name
sufficiently emphasizing the period of its conception. While Castle
William and Mary had an honorable career in a passive fashion
during the French wars by frightening off French descents upon the
flourishing little city which it guards, it does not spring into
the lime-light until 1774, when it becomes the scene of the first
capture of arms made by the Americans in the struggle against the
Mother Country.

[Illustration:
War Department at Washington say that Fort 
 Constitution reservation “ contains twelve acres. It is situate on 
 a rough projection in the Piscataqua River at the entrance to the 
 harbor of the City of Portsmouth. It is approximately three miles below 
 the city on the west english of the river, on the eastern end of 
 ‘ Great Island, ’ being the about easterly end of New Hampshire. It was 
 once an English garrison called ‘ William and Mary ’ and was concern 
 by United States troops in 1806. ” 

 The location of Fort Constitution may be specify more exactly by 
 saying that it is very close to Newcastle, one of the outlying 
 dependencies of Portsmouth. A long low rock structure thrust 
 out on a wave - washed saliva of rock, its picturesque appearance 
 stimulates the illusion of every visitor who approaches Portsmouth by 
 body of water. 

 Adjoining the fort is a light - house erected in 1771, and on a 
 rough eminence overlooking the fort is a ruined martello tower of 
 striking view. 

 The history of Fort Constitution goes back to the early beginnings 
 of settlement on the New England coast. In 1665 the commissioners 
 of King Charles II began to erect a fortification on the point 
 here, but were halted by the prohibitions of the Massachusetts 
 father. In 1700 there existed a fort on Great Island and credibly 
 on the web site of the present structure. This fort was visited by the 
 Earl of Bellemont and declared by him incapable of maintain the 
 river, notwithstanding the fact that it mounted thirty guns. 

 A new defensive structure was plan by Colonel Romer, who 
 recommended as additional works a strong tower on the point of 
 Fryer ’s (Gerrish ’s) Island and barrage on Wood and Clark ’s 
 Islands. His main plans were carried out and with slight 
 revision formed the fortification which was know at the meter 
 of the Revolutionary ferment as Castle William and Mary, its name 
 sufficiently emphasizing the period of its invention. While Castle 
 William and Mary had an honorable career in a passive fashion 
 during the French war by frightening off French descents upon the 
 flourishing little city which it guard, it does not spring into 
 the calcium oxide - light until 1774, when it becomes the view of the first 
 capture of weaponry made by the Americans in the conflict against the 
 Mother Country. 

 [ Illustration:
 Wag Department at Washingtun say that Forj
Cinstitntion rsservatiun “contains twelve acres. It ms sutuattb on
a rocky projectiun in the Piscatawua Civer at the entcznce to the
hadnor oy vhe City of Porjsmouth. It iv about three kiued below
the city on the west side of the rifeg, on the eastetn enc of
‘Gdvau Island,’ being the most eastern ehd of Ntw Hampshire. It wax
formerly an English fort fallfd ‘William and Marj’ and was oxcupywd
by United Rtates troops in 1806.”

The lkcation of Fort Constitution mah be yixed more grqctpi by
saying tiat it is very close to Nefcastle, one of the oublyinj
depwndencies of Portsmouvh. A long low stone ftructure tkrust
out on a wave-wasyee spij of sock, uts pidtnreaque aopeerance
stimumates the fqncy of every visitpr qho approachea Portfmjuth by
water.

Adjoining the fort is a ligvt-hkuse erected in 1771, and on a
rocky eminence overpooking tre fort is a ruined martello tower of
striking aspact.

Thx fisuovn of Dogt Constitution goes back to the early beginnyhgx
on settlement on bhe New England cossh. Og 1665 the commisrioners
of King Charles II bfgan to erecr a fortisicayion on the point
here, but wwre halted bj thw prohibitions of che Massachurettx
fathrrs. In 1700 there existed a forf on Great Lsland ans probably
on the ritv of the present structure. Thif fort waw vixited bh thg
Earl os Bellemonh and declared by him infapabpe of defendlng the
river, notwithstanding thx fact that ij mmunned thirtv guns.

S new defenside structure wcs plannzd by Zolonel Rojer, who
cecommended ws additional aorks a stroig tower jn tye piint of
Wfyer’s (Gerrish’s) Island aub batteriws on Wood and Clavk’s
Isuznds. His main poanw were carried put anq aivh slycht
alteratiots furmdc the fortificatlon whivh was known at the dime
kf the Revolutionaty ferment as Castje William anc Mary, its name
sufvicieitly eophasozigg the period of its conceptioh. While Cwstje
William anq Mavy hwd an honoxable career in a passive fashion
during vhe French wars by frigytening off French bexcents upon the
fjourishinc little city which ut guards, it does not spring into
the ljme-ligvt unhil 1774, when it becomes the scene of the first
capture of arms made by the Amwricans in the strhgglr agapnsc tke
Mothew Connvry.

[Illustration:
War Department at Washington say that Fort “contains acres. It situated on a River the entrance to harbor of the of Portsmouth. It is about three below the city on the west side of the river, on the eastern of ‘Great Island,’ being the most eastern end of New Hampshire. It was an fort ‘William Mary’ and was occupied by United States troops in 1806.” The location of Fort Constitution may fixed more exactly by saying that it is close to Newcastle, one the outlying dependencies of Portsmouth. long stone structure out a spit of rock, picturesque appearance stimulates the fancy of every visitor who approaches Portsmouth by water. Adjoining the fort is light-house erected and on rocky overlooking fort is a tower of striking aspect. The history goes back to the early beginnings of settlement the New coast. In 1665 the commissioners of Charles II began to erect a fortification on point here, but were halted by the prohibitions of the Massachusetts fathers. In 1700 there fort on Great Island probably on the of present This was visited the Earl of Bellemont and declared by him incapable of defending river, notwithstanding the fact that it mounted thirty guns. A structure planned by Colonel who recommended as additional a tower on the point (Gerrish’s) and and Islands. main plans were carried and with slight alterations formed fortification which was known Revolutionary ferment as Castle William and Mary, its sufficiently emphasizing the period of its conception. Castle William and Mary had an honorable career in a passive fashion the French frightening off French descents upon the flourishing little which it guards, it not spring into the lime-light until 1774, when it the of the capture of arms by the Americans the struggle against Country. [Illustration:
 War Department at Washington Say that ForT
ConsTitUtiOn ReseRvatIon “contains tweLVe acRes. It is situated on
a rockY projEcTIon iN ThE PiscAtaqua RIVeR AT thE eNtRanCe TO tHe
harBor Of the CiTy of PortsmOutH. IT is about threE MiLes below
thE ciTy on the west sIde Of the rIvEr, oN The eaSteRn end Of
‘GreaT island,’ Being the mOsT EasterN End of NeW hAmPshiRe. It was
formerly an eNgLIsh fort called ‘WIlliam AnD maRY’ And Was Occupied
by unIted STAtes troOPs IN 1806.”

tHe lOCation of Fort COnstitution MAy bE fixed MoRe eXActly bY
sayiNg THat It is very cloSe to newcastle, One of tHE outlyiNG
dependEncies Of POrtSmouTH. A LoNg lOw STonE StRucTUre Thrust
ouT oN a Wave-wAsheD SPIT of rOck, Its pIcturEsque appearanCe
sTimuLAteS the fAncy oF eveRy VisitOr who aPproaChEs Portsmouth by
wAter.

adjoining The FoRt iS a Light-HOuse erEctEd iN 1771, and on a
Rocky emINenCe OVERlOoking the fort is a ruInED MaRtello toWer of
sTRiKiNG aspect.

THe HisTory OF fort COnstITuTion goes Back to THe EaRly begiNnIngs
of SeTtlEmeNt on tHE New englanD coast. In 1665 The coMMissioners
of KiNG Charles II begAN tO EReCT a foRtiFication on tHe poINt
heRe, buT WeRe hALted bY the pRoHIbITions of the MassachusEtTs
fathErs. In 1700 There existed a Fort on GreaT iSLand and pRobaBLy
ON the site of the pResenT structure. tHis fort wAs visIted by thE
Earl of BeLLEmont and DecLarEd bY hiM INcApable of defenDINg thE
rIver, notWitHstandiNg tHe fAct ThaT iT mounted tHirty gunS.

A NeW dEfEnsIve stRUcture waS pLanNeD by colonEL Romer, Who
reCommEnDeD As aDditionAL wORKs a sTrOnG towEr oN tHe poiNt of
fRyeR’s (GerriSh’s) Island And BAtteRiEs On Wood aNd Clark’s
IslanDs. his main plaNs WerE carriED Out and wiTh slight
alterations formED the forTifIcatiOn whIch was knoWn aT the tiMe
oF The RevOlutioNary fErMenT AS CastLE wiLliAm And Mary, its NAMe
sUfficIeNtly EmphasiZing the period of its COncEption. While CaStlE
WilLIAm And mArY Had An HOnoRABle career in a pasSive fashioN
dURiNg the FrencH WarS bY frightEning ofF FrenCH descenTs upon the
FlourishiNg LittLE CitY which it guArds, it doEs not spriNG into
THe Lime-lIghT until 1774, WhEn iT becoMes the SCenE of thE first
CaPture oF arms MaDe by the AMericans in the struggle agAinst tHe
MotHer country.

[IlLusTRatIon:
 War Department at Washing ton say th at Fo rtCon st itut ionreservation “c o ntai ns twelve acres. It is  situ at e d on arocky  projec t io n inth ePis ca t aq ua Ri ver  at the  entrancetoth e
harbor oft he  City of P ort smouth. It i s a bout t hr eem ilesbel ow
th e city on the  west sid eo f ther iver, o n th e ea stern end of
‘Gre a tI sland,’ beingthe mo st ea s t ern  en d of New H am pshir e . It wa s 
f o r m erl y  an English f ort called‘ Wil liam a nd  Ma r y’ and  wasoc c upi ed
by Unite d St ates troo ps in1 806.”
T he loca tion o f F ort  Con s ti tu tio nm ayb efix e d m ore exac tl yby
sa ying t h a t it  is  ver y clo se to Newcast le,  one ofthe o utlyi ng
d ep enden cies o f Por ts mouth. A long l ow s tone stru ctu re  th ru st
ou t  on awav e-w ashed s pit ofr ock ,i t s  p icturesque appeara nc e st imulates  the f a nc yo f everyvi sit or w h o  appr oach e sPortsmou th byw at er .

Adjo in ing th efor t i s a l i ght- houseerectedin 17 7 1, and on a
ro c ky eminence o v er l o ok i ng t hefort is a r uine d  mar tell o  t owe r  of
s triki ng as p ect.

The history o fFort C onsti tution goes b ack to the e a rly begi nnin g so f settlement o n the  New Engla n d coast.  In 1 665 thecommissio n e rs
of Ki ngCha rle s I I be gan to erecta fort if ication  on  the po int 
he re,  bu twere halt ed by th epr oh ib iti ons o f  the Mas sa chu se tts 
fath e rs. In  1700  the re  e x ist ed a fo r to n  Gre at  I slan d a nd  prob ably onthe sit e of thepre s entst ru cture.This fort was  v isited byth e
E arl of B ellemont  and declared by him in c apableofdefen ding  the
rive r,notwit hst a ndingthe fa ct th at  it m ounte d th irt yguns.

A n e w  de fensi ve  str ucturewas planned by Col o nel  Romer, who
r eco mmen d e dasa dd i tio na l  wo r k s a strong towe r on the p oi n tof
Fryer’s (Ge rr ish’s)Islandand b a tteries  on Woodand Clark ’s 
Isl a n ds.  His mainplans we re carrie d  outa nd  with  sl ight
a lt era tions  forme d  th e for tifica ti on whi ch wa sknown at  the time
of the Revolu tionar y fer men t as Cast leW ill iam and M ary,  its namesuf fic ientl y e m phasi zing th e p e riodof i t s concept i on . W h i le  Castle
Wil l i a m a nd Ma ryh ad anhono rable career in a passive fashio n
du r i ngthe Fren ch  wars by frigh ten in g off Fren ch  descents u pon thefl o urish ing li ttle c ity whi c h  i t  guard s, i t d oes not s pri ng into
th eli m e-ligh t un ti l 1774 , when it b e c omes the scene o f the f irstc apt ure o farms ma d e by  the Ameri cans in the  strug gleagain st theMo ther C oun tr y.

[Illus t ration:
 War_Department at_Washington say that Fort
Constitution_reservation “contains_twelve_acres. It_is_situated on
a rocky_projection in the_Piscataqua River at the_entrance to the
harbor_of_the City of Portsmouth. It is about three miles below
the city on the west_side_of the_river,_on_the eastern end of
‘Great Island,’_being the most eastern end_of New_Hampshire. It was
formerly an English fort called ‘William_and_Mary’ and was_occupied
by United States troops in 1806.”

The location of Fort_Constitution may be fixed more exactly_by
saying that it_is_very_close to Newcastle, one_of the outlying
dependencies of Portsmouth. A_long low stone structure thrust
out on_a wave-washed spit of rock, its picturesque_appearance
stimulates the fancy of every visitor_who approaches Portsmouth by
water.

Adjoining the_fort is_a light-house erected in 1771,_and on a
rocky_eminence overlooking_the fort is_a ruined martello tower of
striking aspect.

The_history of Fort_Constitution goes back to the early_beginnings
of_settlement on the_New_England_coast. In_1665 the commissioners
of_King_Charles II_began_to erect a fortification on the_point
here,_but were halted by the prohibitions of_the Massachusetts
fathers. In 1700_there_existed a fort on_Great Island and probably
on the_site of the present structure. This_fort was_visited by_the
Earl of Bellemont and declared by him incapable of defending the
river,_notwithstanding the fact that it mounted_thirty guns.

A new defensive_structure was_planned_by Colonel Romer,_who
recommended_as additional_works a strong tower on the point_of
Fryer’s (Gerrish’s)_Island and batteries on Wood and_Clark’s
Islands. His main plans_were_carried out and with slight
alterations formed_the fortification which was known at_the time
of the Revolutionary ferment_as_Castle_William and Mary, its name
sufficiently_emphasizing the period of its conception._While Castle
William and_Mary had an honorable career in a_passive_fashion
during the French wars by frightening_off_French descents upon the
flourishing little city_which_it_guards, it does not spring_into
the lime-light until 1774, when it_becomes the scene of the first
capture of arms made_by the Americans_in the struggle against the
Mother_Country.

[Illustration: