Bernardston in Franklin County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon's Fort
1630 - 1930
Photographed by Russell C. Bixby, March 27, 2012
1. Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon's Fort, Route 10, Northfield Road (East)
Built in 1740 on this site. The first Proprietor's Meeting in Fall Town was held here in 1741. The Lieutenant's son Eliakim was shot by Indians in 1747 while working west of the fort walls.
Erected 1930 by Massachusetts Bay Colony-Tercentenary Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • War, French and Indian. In addition, it is included in the Massachusetts Bay Colony—Tercentenary Commission Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1740.
Location. 42° 40.298′ N, 72° 30.752′ W. Marker is in Bernardston, Massachusetts, in Franklin County. It is on Northfield Road (U.S. 10), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 360 Northfield Rd, Bernardston MA 01337, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Deacon Ebenezer Sheldon's Fort (approx. 1.9 miles away); King Philip's Hill (approx. 2 miles away); Bernardston Veterans Monument (approx. 2.1 miles away); Burke Fort (approx. 2.4 miles away); Indian Council Fires (approx. 2.7 miles away); Captain Richard Beers
this page online
More about this marker. Located at the intersection of Route 10 and Purple Meadow Road in Bernardston.
Regarding Lieut. Ebenezer Sheldon's Fort. This marker was placed at the site of one the forts established by Governor William Shirley, along the northern border of Massachusetts, as a defense against the French and their Indian allies. Construction of these forts or fortified houses immediately preceded the French & Indian War (1754-1763).
These frontier fortifications of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were the subject of a 2006 publication titled "The Line of Forts (Historical Archaeology on the Colonial Frontier of Massachusetts)" by Michael D. Coe
Also see . . . Tercentenary Commission Markers. Original 1930 publication by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Tercentenary Commission Markers, commemorating the three hundredth anniversary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. (Submitted on May 21, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts.)
Photographed by Russell C. Bixby, May 20, 2011
2. Lieu. Ebenezer Sheldon Fort Marker
The marker prior to restoration.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 2,419 times since then and 132 times this year. Last updated on October 9, 2011, by Michael Tiernan of Danvers, Massachusetts. Photos: 1. submitted on July 27, 2012, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. 2. submitted on May 20, 2011, by Russell Chaffee Bixby of Bernardston, Massachusetts. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
