UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESINVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

Typo all entries - completeapplicable sections

STATE:

Rhode IslandCOUNTY:

NewportFOR N PS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER DATE

COMMON

Fort Barton .

AND/OR HISTORIC:

ft2cToN . .:.H .: H. . .:! ... .:

STREET AND NUMBER;

Lawton and Highland AvenuesCITY OR TOWN

TivertonSTATE

- Rhode Island, 02878

0 District 0 Building

]Cj Site

00 Structure

Obiect

PRESENT USE Chock One or More as Appropriate

0 Agricultural . 0 Government

0 Commercial . 0 Industrial

0 Educational . 0 Military

0 Entertainment 0 Museum

4.QWNER OF PROPERTY

Town of Tiverton

313 Highlad RoadSTREET AND NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN:

T lyertoncTIoN.LO *LE3AL DESCRIPTION H*H

COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC

Tiverton Town HallSTREET AND NUMBER:

3k3 Highland RoadCITY OR TOWN;

Tiverton

t4[;;EP.ENt.AT10:N.E*IsTlNG SO .

TITLE OF SURVEY:

Not so representedDATE OF SURVEY;

DEPOStTOItY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

STREET AND NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN: STATE:

Form 10.300July 1969

CATEGORY

Check One‘a

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Park

0 Priilale Residence

eNs N.E:

0 Religious

0 Scientific

0 Transportation 0 Comments

0 Other Specifr

STATE:

STATE

0 Federal [j

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0 Excellent Good Fair 0 Deteriorated 0 Ruin, 0 UnexposedCONDITION

Check One Check One

0 Altered Unaltered fl] Moved Origir.al Site

DEScRIeE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL if known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Fort Barton, so named after Colonel William Barton, is a Revolutionary War earthwork built on a high granite hill overlooking the Sa-konnet River, Aquidneck Island, and Narragansett Bay. In 1777 theMassachusettsGeneral Assembly agreed to aid the State of Rhode Islandin building a fortification above Howl3ad’s Ferry to be called TivertonHeights Fort. Judging from its configuration today, it was probablybuilt in this shape: / Itsmaximwn dimensions were about 150feet by 100 feet. ‘ It held seven guns--18- and 2b-pounders--which were probably placed at the corners. Stones werepiled on both the inside and outside surfaces of the embankments,and alayer of soil applied over the stone. The stones prevented cannonballsfrom penetrating, and the soil facing protectedpersonnel from anystones that shattered under an impact. The troops probably pitchedtheir tents to the rear of the fort. A hewn granite stone, found atthe rear of the fort, was perhaps part of a small arsenal structure. rnThe land slopes sharply down behind the fort, making difficult any rearattack by a hostile oarty, although cannons could have been set up onthe hill across the stream. -

zToday the onginal three-acre site of Fort Barton as well asseveral acresof adjoining land is owned by the Town of Tiverton andis a public park. A serpentine path leads un the hill from the north-west, and various overlooks have been marked by stones. The mounds ofearth that were the fort are still, remarkably well defined despite their clong and severe exposure to the elements. The main, western, embanla’nentis the most prominent; and. inside the fort, the land is dug out deeplyin places. Fortunately,Fort Barton has not had to be "restored;1’ itscharacter as a strategic defense is still entirely palpable. The hill -

on which it is built has been steepenedalong its west face to aid in 0

building Highland Avenue. The Tiverton Conservation Commission in 1970 aerected a lookout tower within the fort as a part of their project ofmaking Fort Barton an historic park.

SIcNIFlCANcE:: ;. .: -

PERIOD Check One or More ae Appropriate

0 Pre-Columbian 0 16th Century 18th Century fl 20th Century

0 15th Century 0 17th Century 0 19th Centuiy

SPECIFIC DATEISI If Applicable and Known 1777 -

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One or More se Appropriard

Aboriginal 0 Education 0 Political 0 Urban Planning

o Prehistoric 0 Engineering 0 Religion/Phi.. 0 Other Specify

O Historic 0 Industry losophy

________________________

0 Agriculture 0 Invention 0 Science

o Architecture 0 Landscepe 9 Sculpture

________________________

O Art Architecture 0 Social/Human

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13 Commerce 0 Literature itarian

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Communications Military 0 Theater

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0 Conservation o Music 0 Transportation

________________________

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFIcANCE

When the British captured Newport, on Aquidneck Island, in 1776,it was welL understoodby the Continentals that the English might attempt to enlarge their sphere of occupation in the direction of either

‘a Providence or Boston. The shortest water distance between the Islandof Aquidneck and the mainland and therefore the most logical point for

0 troop crossing was at Howlandts Ferry, Tiverton. The MassachusettsGeneral Assembly agreed to aid the State of Rhode Island in quickly

F- erecting fortifications on commanding ground overlooking this narrowstrait, thus establishing a vital defense at this key site.

In July, 1777, Lieutenant-Colonel WIlliam Barton and four menpicked from the ttTiverton Heights Fort’t consummated oneof the most

F’ daring exploits in the records of the American military. Through con-in tacts on Aquidneck, Barton had learned that the commanding general ofa- the British Newport garrison was spending much of his summer at the

house of a Mr. Overing, about h’ailfway down the island, in what is nowPortsmouth. The raiders broke into the house and took captive thebe-

LU wildered general, Richard Prescott. The.successof Bartonts coup dew main tremendouslyboosted American morale, low at this particular time

in the war, and consequently the fort at Tiverton was renamed "FortBarton."

In the spring of 1778, General George Washington selected GeneralJohn Sullivan to assumecommand of Fort Barton and to direct staFingoperations for a new invasion of Aquidneck two attempts in the previousautumn had failed. The Marquis de Lafayette was to cordinate theparticipation of the French fleet and landing force, and a grand plan ofstrike by land and sea was formulated. On August 9, 1778, the Battle ofRhode Island began with the crossing at Howlandts Ferry of 11,000 Continental line troops and militia--one of the greatest massingsof Continental soldiers during the entire war. Several unforeseen forcesplagued the campaign, however--including a severestorm that greatlydamagedthe French fleet; and the British line held. At the end ofAugust, most of the Continental troops departed the area, leaving onlya small force to man Fort Barton.

See Continuation Sheet.

Form lO-SOOa UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE hode I5land

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORMNewport

FOR NPS USE ONLY

Continuation SheetENTRY NUMBER I DArE

Number all entries

8. Significance.

In August, 1970, thugh the efforts of the Tiverton Conservation -

Commission ari others, the Town of Tiverton acquired the land on whichFort Barton is built, as well as lands adjoining it. Today the site servesas a place where one can examine an important and well-preserved AmericanRevolutionary artifact,and also as a place where the public can enjoynatural beauty and scenic views.

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GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES

Latitude: 41° 37’ 46.34" N

Longitude: 71° 12’ 36.79" W.8.,.:: I IIE Ut, £2, LI’%/, Cmv HummockPt ‘¼’

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‘Form 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE

July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY

NewportPROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map ENTRY NUMBER DATE

z .. .. .;.. ... . . . ..‘.:....

o COMMON: Fort Barton- AND/OR HISTORIC:

- LOCATIONSTREET AND HUM BER:

Lawton and Highland AvenuesCITY OR TOWN:

TivertonSTATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island liii Newport .....

Z . .. ..

5OURCE

- U. S. Geological Surveyw CALE: 1: 2.j,000

DATE: 1943EQWREU$T$ . ‘

TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS

1. Property broundaries where required.2. North arrow.

3. Latitude and longitude reference.