HISTORY OF FORT JOHNSON AND THE MONGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The history of Fort Johnson and its builder, William Johnson, began with his arrival in America from Ireland in 1738; when he was 23 years old and was to oversee his Uncle Peter Warren's land holdings south of the present day city of Amsterdam, in the colony of New York. Despite his promise to his uncle not to start a settlement of his own, William purchased a tract of land north of the Mohawk River in 1739; he moved there, building a house in 1743 called Mount Johnson; here he developed a fur trade that became the basis of his fortune. William Johnson soon became involved in colonial politics; he provisioned British military posts, kept the Indians friendly to the British, served in the New York colonial legislature, and in 1756 was commissioned "Superintendent of all the affairs of the Six Nations and other Northern Indians."

THE COLLECTIONS

Although the Fort was stripped of its furnishings and its contents sold in 1777, the Historical Society has provided an appropriate collection of objects and manuscripts pertaining to the Johnsons and the Valley. In actual fact, because local residents purchased many of the Johnson’s possessions, thirteen pieces have come back to Fort Johnson. Today, visitors can see a handsome cherry highboy, a banister back armchair, and a set of 5 cherry Chippendale side chairs that once belonged to the Johnson family.

There is an interesting history connected with a Queen Anne dropleaf table now at Fort Johnson. It originally belonged to the Newkirk family whose house and farm were on the east bank of the Schoharie Creek in what is not the Town of Florida. In 1780, Sir John led a raid on the residents of Warrensbush. Hearing of Sir John’s approach, the Newkirks hid the table in the woods. The house and barn were burned and only this cherry table remained.

A rare toll board from the Mohawk Turnpike is on display at the Fort. It lists the fares paid by all except foot travelers who used this toll road. A coachee from Palatine Bridge and a cutter from Sprakers give the visitor to the Fort an idea on how people traveled when they journeyed along the Turnpike.

There have always been artists in the Valley. Examples of the work of Rufus Grider, Mary Vander Veer and J.F. Harvey are at Fort Johnson. A splendid collection of works by Betsey Reynolds Voorhees includes needlework, paintings, and pen and ink drawings.

As new communities were established, sometimes churches were built before permanent homes. One of the earliest was the Caughnawaga Reformed Church built in 1763. It played a central role in the lives of Valley people until it was torn down in 1863-7-8. At that time, some of the nicer architectural elements and the baptismal font were kept. These pieces were some of the first donated to the Historical Society whose collection constantly grows due to the generosity of the public.

Fort Johnson is a museum and more. Here the visitor can steep himself in the social, cultural, military and industrial past of Montgomery County. And though the Fort has been the setting for many historical novels, no fiction could be as interesting as the real story of Fort Johnson, presented and preserved here for all to enjoy.


Source: Mary Antoine de Julio’s article in Mohawk Valley USA, Summer 1981




Flintlock mechanism with flint still attached to hammer, found on the grounds at Fort Johnson, and below, how it may have looked in 1755.

Sir William Portriat
Here is a great little piece on the Digital Canada Collections site

William Johnson constructed a larger house for himself and his family; acting as his own architect, Johnson built a large three-story stone house about a mile west of his first home; following the Georgian style of architecture, it was finished in 1749 and was to be called Fort Johnson. Along with the house, grist mill and out buildings were on the property; structures flanked the house on the front and were fortified as a means of defense from attack by the French.

With Sir William's removal to Johnson Hall in 1763, Fort Johnson was given to his son John, who married Mary Watts, a member of a prominent New York family; John occupied the Fort until 1774, when upon Sir William's death, John inherited the baronetcy and moved to Johnson Hall.

 Seventeen hundred seventy-five saw the outbreak of the American Revolution and Sir John Johnson's decision to remain loyal to the British Crown; Sir John was attainted a traitor, and he and his family fled to Canada; all Johnson property was confiscated, with Fort Johnson seized by the Tryon County Committee of Sequestration in 1777; and Fort Johnson and all the furnishings were sold at auction.

Throughout the nineteenth century the house passed through many hands; in 1905, the Fort was again for sale; it was purchased by Brigadier General John Watts DePeyster, a Great-Nephew of Lady Mary Watts, and given to the Montgomery County Historical Society.

The Montgomery County Historical Society was incorporated May 10 1904 by J.H. Hanson, Charles Stover, John Sanford, Charles E. Bell, W. Max Reid, David D. Cassidy, Charles E. French, Edward P. White, Willis Wendell, Spencer K. Warnick, Fred R. Greene, Abram V. Morris, Theodore B. Van Derveer, Cornelius Van Buren, Washington Frothingham, S.L. Frey, Isaac E. Smith, Daniel I. Devoe, Harry Bush, Ralph Gove, Garret Lansing, C.F. Van Horne, Alfred DeGraff, Robert Hartley, and Edward DeGraff. It met in the Amsterdam Free Library.

 Its purpose was to promote and encourage original historical research; to disseminate a greater knowledge of the early history of that portion of New York State known as Tryon County by means of literature and the publication and distribution of literature on historical subjects; to gather books, manuscripts, papers and relics relating to the early history of Montgomery County and the Mohawk Valley; to suitably mark places of historical interest; and to acquire by purchase, gift, or otherwise, the title to or custody and control of historical spots and places.

On October 17, 1904 the Hon. Stephen Sanford purchased the A.G. Richmond collection of aboriginal artifacts in Canajoharie and donated it to the Historical Society and a major exhibition was placed in the Amsterdam Public Library.

On October 30, 1905, at a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Historical Society, it was reported by W. Max Reid that after meeting with General J. Watts DePeyster of Tivoli, New York that the General had agreed to buy the Fort Johnson property and deed it to the Montgomery County Historical Society; it was to be owned by them as long as it was used for historical purposes; thus began a custodianship which has lasted nearly 99 years.  The Trustees of the Historical Society resolved on November 15,1905; “That it is the sense of this society, that the act of Major General John Watts DePeyster in voluntarily preserving for the generations to come one of the most important relics of our colonial history, is an evidence of the lofty patriotism which has been characteristic of him and of his family and ancestors. That with a deep and abiding sense of its responsibilities in the premises, this society will endeavor, to measure up to General DePeyster’s standard of citizenship and patriotism and will suitably care for that historic place.”

 The Montgomery County Historical Society has preserved, maintained and provided public access to Fort Johnson primarily through the work of its volunteers. In the early years of the 20th century, the Society needed to make repairs to the Fort and furnish it, in order to open it to the public and funds were provided by the Hon. Stephen Sanford to accomplish this as well as the construction of a wall to protect the Fort and grounds from spring flooding of the adjacent creek.

On June 18, 1915 the Society elected as president Mrs. Fred R. Greene.  Mrs. Greene was not only one of the first women elected to such a position in the State, but also supervised the original restoration and furnishing of Fort Johnson in 1905 and 1906.   Mrs. Greene promoted may events at Fort Johnson the most spectacular of them was on June 14 1919; a Pageant on the life of Sir William Johnson.  The New York State Historical Association called it: “The most elaborate historical pageant ever given in the Mohawk Valley.”  Over 1,500 people were present.

Through the 1920’s, ‘30’s, and ‘40’s the Montgomery County Historical Society continued to promote interest in the history of the Mohawk Valley with essay contests in the public schools, historic pageants, organized field trips to historic sites in the area, publications, and the encouragement of original research on Sir William Johnson and his times.

In the 1950’s and ‘60’s the society purchased more land surrounding Fort Johnson to expand its facilities and present more programs and events dealing with the colonial era in the Mohawk Valley. The 1980’s saw several major exhibits including “The Quilts of Montgomery County” and “Rufus Grider, Historian and Artist.”

During these decades, under the leadership of the late president, Mrs. Rebecca M. Evans, Fort Johnson was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974, was the subject of an historic structures study in 1977, and underwent an extensive restoration project between 1979 and 1981; this building, representative of the best of colonial architecture, has survived relatively untouched by the changes of style and time for 250 years.

In recent years the Society has added new programs and events including; Colonial Days, an 18^th Century event featuring military reenactors, traders and demonstrators; A Holiday Open House, a celebration of the start of the holiday season; and Sundays at the Fort, programs throughout the season on different aspects of colonial life and Montgomery County History. Through its ongoing preservation efforts, the Montgomery County Historical Society continues to provide public access to this important historic site in the Mohawk Valley.