Fort Robinson (Perry County, Pennsylvania)
Perry County · Pennsylvania · French and Indian War, Pontiac's War
History & Significance
Fort Robinson was a stockaded blockhouse fort built in 1755 in the colonial Province of Pennsylvania for the security of settlers moving into the area following the Albany Congress. The fort was constructed in 'Shearman's Valley,' now known as Shermans Dale, Pennsylvania, near present-day Northeast Madison Township.
It was located along the famous Allegheny or Traders' Path and was the only source of protection for the traveler along the Allegheny Path between the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain and the Tuscarora. Unlike the fortified posts erected by provincial authority following General Braddock's defeat in 1755, Fort Robinson never housed militia because it was built by locals to protect not only them, but also those traveling the Allegheny Path.
It was able to house 40 men and their families when needed but sat empty unless danger was nearby. The fort witnessed multiple violent incidents during the frontier conflicts: In late 1756, men at the fort were alerted that the Woolcomber family had been massacred; the father had invited Indians into his home for dinner, and a 15-year-old boy escaped to the fort reporting that his parents, sisters and brother were killed. During Pontiac's War, in July 1763, Shawnee Indians raided the farms of William White and William Anderson, killing all but one inhabitant; because of the war, many settlers had taken refuge in Fort Robinson, but a dozen men including three of George Robinson's sons volunteered to warn those harvesting in the fields; the Shawnees ambushed the Robinson party at Buffalo Creek, killing five before the settlers fled.
Key Facts
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Robinson_(Pennsylvania)
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=90726
- https://historicalmarkerproject.com/markers/HM1PFC_fort-robinson_Loysville-PA.html
- https://thepennsylvaniarambler.wordpress.com/2025/09/10/fort-robinson/
- https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/pa-south2.html
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