 thumb|right|235px|fort willam and mary in 1705 fort william and mary was a colonial fortification in britain's worldwide system of defenses, manned by soldiers of the province of new hampshire who reported directly to the royal governor. the fort, known locally as "the castle", was situated on the island of new castle, new hampshire, at the mouth of the piscataqua river estuary. == colonial period == first fortified by the british prior to 1632, the fort guarded access to the harbor at portsmouth and served as the colony's main munitions depot. the fort also served to protect kittery, maine on the opposite shore, which was raided numerous times by the tribes of the wabanaki confederacy during the french and indian wars. == american revolution == in 1774, it was the only permanently manned military post in new hampshire. on december 14, 1774, local patriots from the portsmouth area, led by john langdon, stormed the post and seized the garrison's powder, which was distributed through several new hampshire towns for potential use in the looming struggle against great britain. on december 15, 1774, patriots led by john sullivan again raided the fort, this time seizing numerous cannon. === 1774 raid === thumb|left|fort william and mary in 1705 as tensions increased before the american revolutionary war, lord north's ministry became concerned that the profusion of arms in new england would lead to bloodshed. on october 19, 1774, king george iii issued a confidential order in council forbidding the export of arms and powder to america. word of the order reached operatives in new england's patriot movement. the port at boston had been closed in punishment for the boston tea party, and the portsmouth committee of correspondence kept in close contact with friends of liberty in boston. tensions in massachusetts nearly erupted into violence in the fall of 1774 when redcoats seized provincial gunpowder during the so-called powder alarm. upon learning of the order in council, patriots feared that the british
1774_in_the_Thirteen_Colonies British_forts_in_the_United_States Buildings_and_structures_in_Rockingham_County,_New_Hampshire Colonial_forts_in_New_Hampshire Forts_in_New_Hampshire Landmarks_in_New_Hampshire New_Hampshire_in_the_American_Revolution