On July 31, 1799 President John Adams visited the island and designated the site “Fort Independent.” Possibly the President misspoke. It has been known as “Fort Independence” ever since.
“My thirst for amusement was insatiable.”
- Stephen Burroughs
”
Edgar Allan Poe.
Casks of Amontillado - JlJimenez photo
(a variety of sherry wine)
Enlistment papers
Enlistment papers for Edgar Allan “Perry.”
- National Archives
Edgar Allan Perry?
Edgar Allan Poe had a troubled childhood. He enlisted in the army as “Edgar Allan Perry” and served at Fort Independence. Supposedly his story, the Cask of Amontillado, is based on an incident at the fort. A popular officer was killed in a duel and his assailant was trapped for eternity behind a bricked up wall (the same fate as an Italian nobleman in the story.) In reality the surviving duelist continued his military career for nearly thirty years. Perhaps Poe’s imagination was fired by the fort’s austere setting.
John Adams
The Fort’s northwest corner is named for John Adams.
- Official portrait of John Adams, White House Collection
John Hancock
The fort’s southwest corner is named for John Hancock, “the first Governor of the Commonwealth under whose administration new works were thrown up.” Perhaps fancying himself a military leader he also assumed the title of “commander” of the Castle.
- Massachusetts State House Art Collection
State Prison: The Notorious
Stephen Burroughs
For a time Castle Island served as the state prison. One
inmate, Stephen Burroughs, was the son of a Presbyterian
minister, although his insatiable “thirst for amusement” led
him astray. From childhood pranks he advanced to a life of
crime including passing counterfeit coins. Burroughs offered
high minded excuses including economic theories on the
importance of expanding the money supply.
He escaped from Castle Island with seven fellow inmates but
distinguished himself by saving the life of a guard they had
kidnapped. When recaptured he was spared flogging.
Nailing It
Burroughs was assigned to making nails and managed to produce only five a day. (He claimed that a larger number would lower the quality.) When promised a gill of rum if he and other inmates could produce 500 in a day, he made the quota. When the ration of rum did not appear the following day, Burroughs resumed his regular pace
- Internet Archive