Fort Nashwaak

Last updated

Fort Nashwaak
Fredericton, New Brunswick,
FortStJosephAcadia1692.png
Fort Nashwaak plan
Site information
Controlled byFrench
Site history
Built1691-1692
Battles/wars Siege of Fort Nashwaak (1696)
Designated1924

Fort Nashwaak (also known as Fort Naxoat, Fort St. Joseph) was the capital of Acadia and is now a National Historic Site of Canada in present-day Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It was located strategically up the Saint John River and close to the native village of Fort Meductic for military purposes.

The fort was built during King William's War following the defeat of the capital of Acadia at Port Royal. In 1691-1692, Governor of Acadia Joseph de Villebon built Fort Nashwaak at Nashwaaksis on the north side of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Nashwaak River. It replaced Fort Jemseg (which had replaced Port Royal) as the capital of Acadia.

After Claude-Sébastien de Villieu's successful Raid on Oyster River on the New England frontier, he joined Governor de Villebon as the commander of Fort Nashwaak. From Fort Nashwaak, they executed numerous raids on the New England border with Acadia, aided by their Abenaki and other First Nations allies. The Governor and his forces were involved in the Raid on Oyster River. His most significant success was the Siege of Pemaquid (1696). He benefited greatly from the support of Frontenac in his endeavours. In retaliation, in 1696 the British made an attempted siege of the capital. [1] After de Villebon's death in 1700 and a devastating flood, the fort was abandoned.

The site of the former fort was designated a National Historic Site in 1924. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King William's War</span> North American theater of the Nine Years War

King William's War was the North American theater of the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), also known as the War of the Grand Alliance or the War of the League of Augsburg. It was the first of six colonial wars fought between New France and New England along with their respective Native allies before France ceded its remaining mainland territories in North America east of the Mississippi River in 1763.

The history of Fredericton stretches from prehistory to the modern day. Fredericton, New Brunswick was first inhabited by the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet peoples. European settlement of the area began with the construction of Fort Nashwaak by the French in 1692. In 1783, the United Empire Loyalists settled Ste. Anne's Point, and in the next year, renamed the settlement Frederick's Town. The name was later shorted to Fredericton in April 1785.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Clarence Webster</span> Canadian physician (1863–1950)

John Clarence Webster was a Canadian physician, surgeon, and pioneer in Obstetrics and gynaecology, topics upon which he wrote several textbooks. After his retirement in 1920 he became a historian, specializing in the history of his native New Brunswick, and a supporter of efforts to preserve heritage and historic sites.

Nashwaaksis is a neighbourhood and former village in the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick; it is located on the north bank of the Saint John River and at the mouth of the Nashwaaksis Stream, which should not be confused with the larger Nashwaak River nearby. The word Nashwaaksis is corrupted from the Maliseet word for the area, Nesuwahkik, with the "-sis" appendage meaning "little Nashwaak".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Port Royal (1690)</span> Battle of King Williams War

The Battle of Port Royal occurred at Port Royal, the capital of Acadia, during King William's War. A large force of New England provincial militia arrived before Port Royal. The Governor of Acadia Louis-Alexandre des Friches de Menneval had only 70 soldiers; the unfinished enceinte remained open and its 18 cannon had not been brought into firing positions; 42 young men of Port-Royal were absent. Any resistance therefore appeared useless. Meneval surrendered without resistance not long after the New Englanders arrived. The New Englanders, led by Sir William Phips, after alleging Acadian violations of the terms of surrender, plundered the town and the fort.

Joseph Robineau de Villebon, a governor of Acadia, was born in New France and received much of his education and military experience in France.

Claude-Sébastien de Villieu was a French military officer best known for his service in New France. In addition to service during King William's War, he served for a time as military governor of Acadia.

Pierre Maisonnat dit Baptiste was a French privateer famous for the success he had against New England merchant shipping and fishing interests during King William's War and Queen Anne's War. Baptiste's crew members were primarily Acadians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort William Henry (Maine)</span> United States historic place

Fort William Henry is located in the village of New Harbor in the town of Bristol, Maine. The fort was, in its time, the largest in New England. The fort was originally built in 1692 but destroyed four years later by New France in the Siege of Pemaquid (1696). A reconstruction was built in 1908. The fort was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 1, 1969. Fort William Henry is now operated as a museum about the fort's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Boishebert</span> Historic French-built fort at Woodmans Point, New Brunswick, Canada

Fort Boishébert is a National Historic Site at Woodmans Point outside the Town of Grand Bay–Westfield, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada. Located at the confluence of the Saint John River and Nerepis rivers, the fort may have had its origins as a fortified aboriginal village. Joseph Robineau de Villebon noted this in a letter dated October 22, 1696, "Sr. de Neuvillette reported that he was continuing on his way down river and would, as he passed the fort of the Nerepis Indians..." Earlier in October 1696, French soldiers upon being rescued by Nerepis, retreated to Fort Nerepis after being attacked by a small English fleet that had entered Saint John Harbour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Chignecto (1696)</span> Raid during King Williams War on Chignecto, Acadia

The Raid on Chignecto occurred during King William's War when New England forces from Boston attacked the Isthmus of Chignecto, Acadia in present-day Nova Scotia. The raid was in retaliation for the French and Indian Siege of Pemaquid (1696) at present day Bristol, Maine. In the English Province of Massachusetts Bay. Colonel Benjamin Church was the leader of the New England force of 400 men. The raid lasted nine days, between September 20–29, 1696, and formed part of a larger expedition by Church against a number of other Acadian communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Pemaquid (1696)</span> Action of King Williams War

The siege of Pemaquid occurred during King William's War when French and Native forces from New France attacked the English settlement at Pemaquid, a community on the border with Acadia. The siege was led by Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Baron de St Castin between August 14–15, 1696. Commander of Fort William Henry, Captain Pasco Chubb, surrendered the fort. Iberville killed three of the soldiers and sent the other 92 back to Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval battle off St. John (1696)</span> Battle of King Williams War

The Naval battle off St. John took place on July 14, 1696, between France and England toward the end of King William's War in the Bay of Fundy off present-day Saint John, New Brunswick. The English ships were sent from Boston to interrupt the supplies being taken by French officer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville from Quebec to the capital of Acadia, Fort Nashwaak on the Saint John River. The French ships of war Envieux and Profond captured the English frigate Newport, while the English frigate Sorlings and a provincial tender escaped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Chedabucto</span> Battle of King Williams War

The Battle of Chedabucto occurred against Fort St. Louis in Chedabucto on June 3, 1690 during King William's War (1689–97). The battle was part of Sir William Phips and New England's military campaign against Acadia. New England sent an overwhelming force to conquer Acadia by capturing the capital Port Royal, Chedabucto, and attacking other villages. The aftermath of these battles was unlike any of the previous military campaigns against Acadia. The violence of the attacks alienated many of the Acadians from the New Englanders, broke their trust, and made it difficult for them to deal amicably with the English-speakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raid on Oyster River</span> Action of King Williams War

The Raid on Oyster River happened during King William's War, on July 18, 1694, at present-day Durham, New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Fort Nashwaak</span> Action of King Williams War

The siege of Fort Nashwaak occurred during King William's War when New England forces from Boston attacked the capital of Acadia, Fort Nashwaak, at present-day Fredericton, New Brunswick. The siege was in retaliation for the French and Indian Siege of Pemaquid (1696) at present day Bristol, Maine. In the English Province of Massachusetts Bay. Colonel John Hathorne and Major Benjamin Church were the leaders of the New England force of 400 men. The siege lasted two days, between October 18–20, 1696, and formed part of a larger expedition by Church against a number of other Acadian communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military history of the Maliseet</span>

The Maliseet militia was made up of warriors from the Maliseet of northeastern North America. Along with the Wabanaki Confederacy, the French and Acadian militia, the Maliseet fought the British through six wars over a period of 75 years. They also mobilized against the British in the American Revolution. After confederation, Maliseet warriors eventually joined Canada's war efforts in World War I and World War II.

The Raid on Groton happened during King William's War, on July 27, 1694, at Groton, Massachusetts. This was one of numerous attacks against the settlement in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The village had been raided during King Philip's War and temporarily abandoned by numerous families. It was also raided in June 1707 during Queen Anne's War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval battle off St. John (1691)</span> Battle of King Williams War

The Naval battle off St. John took place on 22 September 1691 between France and England toward the beginning of King William's War in the Bay of Fundy off present-day Saint John, New Brunswick. The English ship sailed with the new British Governor of Acadia Edward Tyng while the French ship sailed with the French Governor of Acadia Joseph Robineau de Villebon.

Simon-Gérard de La Place was a 17th-century French priest and missionary who served in Acadia, the French province in what is modern north-eastern Canada. He participated in King William's War against English-led forces in Acadia.

References

Texts

Endnotes

45°57′42″N66°37′33″W / 45.96167°N 66.62583°W / 45.96167; -66.62583