It became, therefore, of
great moment to Massachusetts to defend the line of the Deerfield in the
French and Indian war of 1744-48. A few private houses were fortified in
what is now Bernardston, and two or three more further west in
Coleraine, particularly Fort Lucas and Fort Morrison, the owners being
assisted by grants of men and supplies from the General Court; and
during this war and more especially the next and last French war, the
Indians often lurked with hostile intent in the vicinity of these
extemporized forts, and not infrequently surprised and killed and
scalped men from the little garrisons, and carried women and children
into captivity to Canada.
But the first regular fort built to protect the valley of the Deerfield
and incidentally also the line of the Connecticut, was placed by
Massachusetts in the present town of Heath. It was built wholly at the
public expense, and garrisoned by regularly enlisted or impressed
soldiers, and named Fort Shirley from the enterprising Governor of the
Province.
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