Fort Dobbs

When the French and Indian War began, Arthur Dobbs, Royal Governor of North Carolina, set about looking into the Colonies defense. He recruited, armed and assembled companies of provencial soldiers and had them construct forts at strategic points on the Western frontier.

It is difficult to consider Piedmont North Carolina as the frontier, and the untamed west, but in 1755, it was exactly that. Fort Dobbs was one of the Forts Governor Dobbs had constructed, situated on the forks of Fourth Creek, a branch of the Yadkin River. The area is now in Iredell county, near the present day town of Statesville.

The Fort accommodated about one company of fifty soldiers and included living spaces for officers, like Hugh Waddell, who would play a big part in this area's history, and oversaw the construction of the Fort. Hugh Waddell was also the Commandant of the fort, and during the 1750's, when Cherokee's took revenge on settlers living near the fort, for the murder of several warriors by Virginians. In 1761, peace was restored and by 1766, the fort was abandoned.

In 1909, the Daughters of the American Revolution acquired the property, which had been farmland, and in 1967, 200 years after its abandonment, excavations began. The site is now a State Historic Site, funded by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and reconstruction of the Fort and outlaying buildings continue. Re-enactments are held there at various times a year and visitors can view it nearly any day.

Daniel Boone was one of the patriots who visited Fort Dobbs. So was Andrew Lambert, one of my direct ancestors, and ancestor of most of the Stanly County Lamberts.

Native Americans would set up small camps within short distances of the  Fort to take advantage of its support, safety  and supplies.  This is a restoration of the encampment that was located close by. 

Daniel Boone was here. Part of the Boone Trail.