Place:Fort Edward, Washington, New York, United States

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NameFort Edward
TypeVillage
Coordinates43.268°N 73.585°W
Located inWashington, New York, United States
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog


the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Fort Edward is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 3,375 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the younger brother of King George III, Edward Augustus, Duke of York and Albany.

The village is part of the town of Fort Edward.

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History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
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Early history

Fort Edward or "The Fort" has been strategically important during its long and illustrious history, for it commands the Hudson River and Champlain River valleys. The Indians called the area around Fort Edward Wahcoloosencoochaleva, which means "The Great Carrying Place." The present village of Fort Edward, New York, was called “The Great Carrying Place” because it was the portage between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain.[1] This unique location on the "Great War Path" meant that the area was destined to be settled and fortified early.

As early as 1709 during Queen Anne's War, a stockade (Fort Nicholson) was erected in the area due to its strategic importance. Fort Nicholson was garrisoned by 450 men, including seven companies of “regulars in scarlet uniform from old England.” A crude stockade was built to protect storehouses and log huts.[1] It was later abandoned and then re-constructed as Fort Lydus, the trading post of John Lydus. In 1731, the fortification was reconstructed as Fort Lyman. Sir William Johnson renamed it Fort Edward during the French and Indian War in 1755. Also at this time, a large military complex was constructed on nearby Roger's Island. Today this site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP). Another smaller fort was constructed on the opposite shore of the Hudson River.

During the American Revolution, the area was taken by British forces under John Burgoyne in 1777.

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Post Colonial history

The completion of the Champlain Canal in 1823 linked the area to the north and south and replaced a smaller canal that by-passed local rapids.

The village of Fort Edward incorporated in 1849, setting itself off from the town of Fort Edward.

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