Fort William is a fort in Anomabu, Central Region, Ghana, originally known as Fort Anomabo and renamed Fort William in the nineteenth century by its then-commander, Brodie Cruickshank, who added one storey to the main building in the days of King William IV.[1] It was built in 1753 by the British after they thwarted a French attempt to establish a fort at the same place. Two earlier forts had been established at the same site, one in 1640 by the Dutch, another in 1674 (Fort Charles) by the English. Fort Charles was abandoned in 1730 and destroyed.[2] Along with several other castles and forts in Ghana, Fort William was inscribed on the UNESCOWorld Heritage List in 1979 because of its importance during and testimony to the Atlantic slave trade.[3]
In 1640, the Dutch built the first simple fort in the form of stone nog and brick lodge under the direction of Commander, Arent Jacobsz van der Graeff. In 1653, the Swedes captured the lodge. In 1657, Danish forces took the lodge under Caerloff. In 1659 or 1660, the Dutch recaptured it. When the second Anglo-Dutch war ended in 1667 with the (Treaty of Breda), the English gained a foothold in Anomabo. In 1672 or 1673, the English began building Fort Charles, naming it after King Charles II of England, on the present-day location of Fort William. An early Anomabo chief, perhaps Eno or Eno Besi, inhabited the Dutch lodge at this time and declared it his palace.[4] The fort was abandoned by the English not long after, in order to concentrate efforts and costs on Fort Carolusburg at Cape Coast.
"Ten Percenters" base
In 1698, the Royal African Company "licensed" ship captains not in its employment upon the payment of a 10% "affiliation fee" to enable them to trade in its areas of monopoly. There followed a flood of "Ten Percenters" trading at British forts, often outnumbering the company's own ships. Anomabu became a popular haunt of "ten percenters" (until their licensing was stopped in 1712), exporting vast numbers of slaves.
In 1717, the Dutch director-general at Elmina, Engelgraaf Roberts, quoting an English captain on Anomabu slave trade exports, stated: "From January 1702 to August 1708 they took to Barbados and Jamaica [from Anomabu] a total of not less than 30,141 slaves and in this figure are not included transactions made for other ships sailing to such Islands as Nevis, Montserrat, St. Christopher, for the South Sea Company, the New Netherlands and others which would increase the above number considerably, and of which Annemaboe alone could provide about one third."[5][6]
Fort William
Fort William – 1890s
In 1753, after thwarting a French bid to establish a fort at Anomabu the British African Company of Merchants (successor to the Royal African Company) began construction of Fort William, also known as Anomabu Castle, designed by military engineer John Apperly, who became its first governor.
After Apperly's death in 1756, Irishman Richard Brew took over the governorship of the fort and completed its construction in 1760.
Fort William became the center of British slave trading along the Gold Coast until the slave trade was outlawed in 1807.[7]
Anomabu is a popular tourist destination. The well-preserved remains of Fort William can still be seen.[8]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Anomabu.
^Albert van Dantzig, Forts and Castles of Ghana, 1980
^Randy J. Sparks, Where the Negroes are Masters, 2014, p. 21
^"Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved 9 Oct 2022.
^Courtnay Micots, "African Coastal Elite Architecture: Cultural Authentication during the Colonial Period in Anomabo, Ghana" (PhD diss., University of Florida, 2010), 137, 390-393.
^Phillip Briggs and Sean Connolly, Ghana, (Guilford, CT: Bradt Travel Guides, 2017[1998]), 190.
^St. Clair, William (2006). The Grand Slave Emporium: Cape Coast Castle and the British Slave Trade. Profile Books. "Chapter 7: The Fort," pp. 183–201. (Chapter on the Anomabu fort in a book about the nearby Cape Coast Castle.)
^. Archived from the original on 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
February 01, 2023
fort, william, ghana, 19th, century, lighthouse, cape, coast, fort, william, lighthouse, fort, william, fort, anomabu, central, region, ghana, originally, known, fort, anomabo, renamed, fort, william, nineteenth, century, then, commander, brodie, cruickshank, . For the 19th century lighthouse in Cape Coast see Fort William Lighthouse Fort William is a fort in Anomabu Central Region Ghana originally known as Fort Anomabo and renamed Fort William in the nineteenth century by its then commander Brodie Cruickshank who added one storey to the main building in the days of King William IV 1 It was built in 1753 by the British after they thwarted a French attempt to establish a fort at the same place Two earlier forts had been established at the same site one in 1640 by the Dutch another in 1674 Fort Charles by the English Fort Charles was abandoned in 1730 and destroyed 2 Along with several other castles and forts in Ghana Fort William was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 because of its importance during and testimony to the Atlantic slave trade 3 Fort WilliamPart of British Gold CoastFort WilliamFort WilliamCoordinates5 10 27 N 1 07 08 W 5 17419 N 1 1189 W 5 17419 1 1189Site historyBuilt1753 1753 Garrison informationOccupantsBritain 1753 1957 Contents 1 History 1 1 Earlier forts 1 2 Ten Percenters base 1 3 Fort William 2 Gallery 3 Notable residents amp Prisoners 4 ReferencesHistory EditEarlier forts Edit In 1640 the Dutch built the first simple fort in the form of stone nog and brick lodge under the direction of Commander Arent Jacobsz van der Graeff In 1653 the Swedes captured the lodge In 1657 Danish forces took the lodge under Caerloff In 1659 or 1660 the Dutch recaptured it When the second Anglo Dutch war ended in 1667 with the Treaty of Breda the English gained a foothold in Anomabo In 1672 or 1673 the English began building Fort Charles naming it after King Charles II of England on the present day location of Fort William An early Anomabo chief perhaps Eno or Eno Besi inhabited the Dutch lodge at this time and declared it his palace 4 The fort was abandoned by the English not long after in order to concentrate efforts and costs on Fort Carolusburg at Cape Coast Ten Percenters base Edit In 1698 the Royal African Company licensed ship captains not in its employment upon the payment of a 10 affiliation fee to enable them to trade in its areas of monopoly There followed a flood of Ten Percenters trading at British forts often outnumbering the company s own ships Anomabu became a popular haunt of ten percenters until their licensing was stopped in 1712 exporting vast numbers of slaves In 1717 the Dutch director general at Elmina Engelgraaf Roberts quoting an English captain on Anomabu slave trade exports stated From January 1702 to August 1708 they took to Barbados and Jamaica from Anomabu a total of not less than 30 141 slaves and in this figure are not included transactions made for other ships sailing to such Islands as Nevis Montserrat St Christopher for the South Sea Company the New Netherlands and others which would increase the above number considerably and of which Annemaboe alone could provide about one third 5 6 Fort William Edit Fort William 1890s In 1753 after thwarting a French bid to establish a fort at Anomabu the British African Company of Merchants successor to the Royal African Company began construction of Fort William also known as Anomabu Castle designed by military engineer John Apperly who became its first governor After Apperly s death in 1756 Irishman Richard Brew took over the governorship of the fort and completed its construction in 1760 Fort William became the center of British slave trading along the Gold Coast until the slave trade was outlawed in 1807 7 Anomabu is a popular tourist destination The well preserved remains of Fort William can still be seen 8 Gallery Edit 1870s 1890s King George IV plaque Gold Coast King George VI Memorial Youth Centre Fort William Crest reads Freedom and Justice Notable residents amp Prisoners EditVenture Smith William Ansah SessarakooReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort Anomabu Albert van Dantzig Forts and Castles of Ghana 1980 Randy J Sparks Where the Negroes are Masters 2014 p 21 Forts and Castles Volta Greater Accra Central and Western Regions UNESCO World Heritage Convention Retrieved 9 Oct 2022 Courtnay Micots African Coastal Elite Architecture Cultural Authentication during the Colonial Period in Anomabo Ghana PhD diss University of Florida 2010 137 390 393 Ghana tourism site Archived March 12 2007 at the Wayback Machine Phillip Briggs and Sean Connolly Ghana Guilford CT Bradt Travel Guides 2017 1998 190 St Clair William 2006 The Grand Slave Emporium Cape Coast Castle and the British Slave Trade Profile Books Chapter 7 The Fort pp 183 201 Chapter on the Anomabu fort in a book about the nearby Cape Coast Castle Ghana Slave Forts Archived from the original on 2008 06 25 Retrieved 2012 03 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fort William Ghana amp oldid 1123918730, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
