Fort Bosley (Montour County, Pennsylvania)
Montour County · Pennsylvania · Revolutionary War
History & Significance
John Bosley built a grist mill in 1773 near present-day Washingtonville; following Washington's defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, military authorities fortified and stockaded the mill in 1777 as part of a dozen-fort defensive system protecting the Susquehanna Valley. The fortified mill featured portholes in its walls and briefly mounted a small howitzer.
Never garrisoned by more than twenty troops, the fort served a critical role for regional families. The fort provided security to the family of John Eves, founders of nearby Millville, Pennsylvania, following the Wyoming Valley Massacre.
Last garrisoned in 1780 under Captain Kemplon, the installation subsequently functioned as a commercial mill. During a regional famine in 1788, Phillip Maus arranged for grain delivery to Bosley's Mill to relieve local hardship.
John Bosley sold the mill and surrounding land in 1795, departing for New York. Despite vulnerability as an isolated frontier post, no known attacks were recorded against Fort Bosley.
Key Facts
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bosley
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/fort-bosley-pennsylvania/
- https://accessgenealogy.com/pennsylvania/fort-bosley-bosleys-mills-montour-county-pennsylvania.htm
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=285751
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montour_County,_Pennsylvania
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