White's Fort

White's Fort was an 18th-century residence and fortification located near the present-day unincorporated community of Hayfield, Frederick County, in the U.S. state of Virginia. Alternatively known as "White Hall", the first structure contributing to White's Fort was built between 1732 and 1735 by Dr. Robert White (1688–1752), a Scottish American physician, military officer, pioneer, and planter. White's Fort was later utilized as a fortification by White's son Major Robert White for the protection of European American settlers in the vicinity of Great North Mountain during the French and Indian War. The farm was also the birthplace of Alexander White (1738–1804), an inaugural member of the United States House of Representatives. Dr. Robert White arrived as one of the first pioneer settlers and physicians of Frederick County, Virginia between 1732 and 1735. He staked out a farm of 375 acres along Hogue Creek south of the present-day unincorporated community of Hayfield, Virginia along U.S. Route 50, and named his farm "White Hall". The original structure that would be expanded upon to become White's Fort was erected between 1732 and 1735 to serve as White's primary residence. White's eldest son, Major Robert White, inherited the White Hall property following the death of his father in 1752. In 1763, White expanded the residence at White Hall by erecting a taller stone structure 4 feet from the original dwelling and an adjacent stockade to serve as a fortification to protect White's family and other families residing in the vicinity of Great North Mountain from attacks by Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Following White's addition to the house built by his father, the buildings became known as White's Fort. In July 1763, White received word that Native Americans were approaching Frederick County from the Cacapon River in Hampshire County and thus warned his fellow settlers in the area to seek safety within his fortification. One of the nearby residents, Owen Thomas, refused to abandon harvesting his crops and was subsequently killed by the approaching Native Americans. The following year in June 1764, White again received word that Native Americans were present in the area and invited his neighbors to seek safety at his fort. More than 20 of the settlers in the area heeded his call, but were attacked by Lenape tribesmen while en route to White's Fort, after which most of them were killed. Others in the party were captured or escaped, one of which was a woman who survived a scalping. In his A History of the Valley of Virginia (1833), Samuel Kercheval remarks of White, "who had a small fort around his house as an asylum for the people in the neighborhood." White later acquired an additional tract of 374 acres along Hogue Creek from his brother John White on April 7, 1790. It was on this property in 1790 that White erected the brick mansion that would later be known as "Hayfield". The structures constituting White's Fort were destroyed by fire around 1919.

Dr. Robert White (1688–1752) arrived as one of the first pioneer settlers and physicians of Frederick County, Virginia between 1732 and 1735. White staked out his farm which consisted of 375 acres along Hogue Creek south of the present-day unincorporated community of Hayfield, Virginia along U.S. Route 50. White named his farm "White Hall". The original structure that would be expanded upon to become White's Fort was erected between 1732 and 1735 to serve as White's primary residence. White's eldest son, Major Robert White, inherited the White Hall property following the death of his father in 1752. In 1763, White expanded the residence at White Hall by erecting a taller stone structure 4 feet from the original dwelling and an adjacent stockade to serve as a fortification to protect White's family and other families residing in the vicinity of Great North Mountain from attacks by Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Following White's addition to the house built by his father, the buildings became known as White's Fort. In July 1763, White received word that Native Americans were approaching Frederick County from the Cacapon River in Hampshire County and thus warned his fellow settlers in the area to seek safety within his fortification. One of the nearby residents, Owen Thomas, refused to abandon harvesting his crops and was subsequently killed by the approaching Native Americans. The following year in June 1764, White again received word that Native Americans were present in the area and invited his neighbors to seek safety at his fort. More than 20 of the settlers in the area heeded his call, but were attacked by Lenape tribesmen while en route to White's Fort, after which most of them were killed. Others in the party were captured or escaped, one of which was a woman who survived a scalping. In his A History of the Valley of Virginia (1833), Samuel Kercheval remarks of White, "who had a small fort around his house as an asylum for the people in the neighborhood." White later acquired an additional tract of 374 acres along Hogue Creek from his brother John White on April 7, 1790. It was on this property in 1790 that White erected the brick mansion that would later be known as "Hayfield". The structures constituting White's Fort were destroyed by fire around 1919.

• 1919

  The structures constituting White's Fort are destroyed by fire.

• 1790

  On April 7, White acquires an additional 374-acre tract along Hogue Creek from his brother John White, and erects the brick mansion later known as Hayfield.

• 1764

  In June, more than 20 settlers heed White's call to seek safety at his fort but are attacked by Lenape tribesmen en route; most are killed.

• 1763

  White expands the residence at White Hall by erecting a taller stone structure 4 feet from the original dwelling and an adjacent stockade, after which the buildings become known as White's Fort.

• 1763

  In July, White warns fellow settlers of approaching Native Americans; Owen Thomas refuses to abandon his crops and is killed.

• 1752

  Major Robert White inherits the White Hall property following the death of his father, Dr. Robert White.

• 1735

  The original structure that would be expanded upon to become White's Fort is erected as White's primary residence.

• 1732

  Dr. Robert White arrives as one of the first pioneer settlers and physicians of Frederick County, Virginia, and stakes out a 375-acre farm along Hogue Creek, naming it White Hall.

1. 1White's Fort (Hayfield, Virginia) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2White's Fort - Wikidatawikidata.org