Fort Sewall

 park, fortification, American Revolutionary War 1775-1783

 Upload a photo

Fort Sewall was first established in 1644 as a defensive breastwork on Gale's Head, one of this area's rocky headlands. The fort was enlarged in 1742 for defense against the French, and further construction including a magazine and barracks occurred in 1794 and, again, at the time of the Civil War. A company mustered at the fort during the War of 1812, and in 1814 the fort was named in honor of Judge Samuel Sewall, a town benefactor during and after the Revolution, who later became a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

This First System fortification was built in 1794 on the site of an earlier fort. The fort was rebuilt in 1799 and improved in 1808 as part of the Second System to mount eight heavy guns. It was planned to be modernized under the Third System.

As of 1851, it was intended to be armed with eighteen 24-pounder guns, three field pieces, two flank howitzers, two 8" heavy seacoast howizters and two 10" heavy mortars, for a total of 27 guns.

The fort was deeded by the US government to the town of Marblehead in 1890. The headland, which is open to public as community parkland, provides spectacular views of Marblehead harbor, Cape Ann, off-shore islands, and the Atlantic. Revolutionary War re-enactment encampments by members of the modern-day Glover's Marblehead Regiment occur at the fort annually, and public programs are presented.

In 1814 the frigate USS Constitution, piloted by a Marbleheader, sailed in to safety under the fort's guns, out of the range of pursuing British attackers.