The Fort At Bosley's Mills (Brady's Fort, or Boyles Fort) In Washingtonville PA

Fort Bosley (1777 - 1780)

A settlers' stockaded blockhouse and gristmill (built 1773). 

Garrisoned by state militia troops (20 men) in 1779.

Located four miles west of Fort Rice (which still stands today). 

Referred to as Bradys Fort, Boyles Fort, and Fort Bosley.  

"I have a body in the forks of the chelesquauaque," which the maps show to be where the borough of Washingtonville stands, and was Bosley's Mills."  " 

-A History of Columbia County, Pennsylvania: From the Earliest Times by John Gosse Freeze, 1888

"The settlement (of Washingtonville) started in 1788 when a man named Bosley opened a combination grist and saw mill which was run by water from the small creek on the outskirts of Washingtonville.

A decade later, when British-paid Indians began small raiding parties into Montour County, several men who lived near the mill built a fort for their own protection.  

Called Brady's fort at the time, it was later known as Boyle's Fort.  It was a small affair, a block-house built with port holes cut in for small howitzers.

In a few years, the savages raids came more and more often.  Several of those who lived in Montour County build their homes close to this protective building, so they could take cover when the Indians struck.

After the Indians were finally chased by General Sullivan, some of these people stayed and Washingtonville was founded.  It was incorporated as a borough on April 28, 1870."

-Ron Wilson, writing for the Danville News, June 1961

Boyles Fort & The Battle Of Fort Freeland

On July 28 1779, John Montgomery could hear shots fired, from the direction of Fort Freeland.  He sent two of his young sons on horseback to the top of the hill, to see what was the cause.  They discovered the fort on fire, and a fire ranging "in the timber some distance below."  This was the battle of Fort Freeland, and the land that was Montgomery's farm would later become Fort Rice. (Fort Rice still stands today)

But seven miles to the west  of Fort Freeland in current day Washingtonville, was a gristmill property that was also fortified, as Bosley's Mill, or Fort Bosley.

"Bosley's Mills seems to have been an important military station, stockaded and held by the neighborhood militia. The earliest information as to this post is the date of August 10, 1778, in a letter form Col. Hartley to the council of war.  Speaking of the posts at Jenkins on Briarcreek, and Wallace's at Muncy, and at the head waters of Chillisquaque which was no doubt Fort Rice, he adds:

The militia at Bosleys Mill were under the command of Captain Thomas Keplin.  When they heard the gunfire coming from Fort Freeland, Capt. Kemplin and 12 of his frontier rangers traveled to meet up with Captain Hawkins Boone & 22 of his men, from Fort Boone in Milton. As the combined forces approached Fort Freeland, Boone & His men went left, while Kemplin and his men went right.  

The men were greatly outnumbered.  Twelve of Boone's men, along with Boone, were killed.  Two of his men were captured by the British-Iroquois forces.  

Captain Kemplin is credited with shooting one Iroquois, before  five of his men were captured and taken prisoner.  Those men were: John Neely, George Armitage, George Bailey, John Forney, &  Aaron Martin.  The men were marched nearly 250 miles to Fort Niagara, and were imprisoned for more than 2 years, before they gained their freedom in October 1781, in a prisoner exchange in New York. Aaron Martin was the only Fort Bosley POW not released, he had died of sickness at Fort Niagara.

On April 9 1780, Liet Col Weltner writes "I have manned three material outposts, vix: Fort Jenkins, Fort Montgomery, and Bosley's Mills"

Nothing is found regarding Fort Bosley after 1780, but it is assumed that the post was maintained throughout the Indian hostilities.

Captain Thomas Kempling and his eldest son were killed by Indians at the mouth of Muncy Creek in March 1781.

Where Exactly Was Bosley's Fort Located?

Bosley's is shown in this 1792 Map of Pennsylvania.

The mill stood "Situation within the forks about 1 rod plys 5 1/2 yards above the junction of the branches."

But as to where exactly the fort stood, no one knows for certain.  J. H. Battle, in his 1887 History of Columbia and Montour Counties wrote,   "There is some dispute now as to where the old fort or bloc-house stood.  Some think it stood in the valley just across the creek from the borough, while others contend it stood just back of front street, between Church and Water Streets."

John Bosley sold his mill and surrounding land in 1795. 

Samuel Hutchinson, who donated the land that the Historic Warrior Run Church sits on today, owned Bosleys Mill at one time.

The mill was lost in a fire in 1826.

Recently, a log building thought to have existed in Bosley's time, was discovered inside of a much larger structure that was being torn down, just a short distance from the creek.  Read more about this historic find here - https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/this-revolutionary-war-era-cabin-has.html

The Muster Rolls Of Captain Kemplens Company
June 15 1779

"Inclosed I send Capt Thomas Kemplens muster Roll and am afraid we will not get the Company made up in any Reasonable time in the situation we are in at present Kemplen & his men is gon to Wyoming with the last Escort " - Lt Samuel Hunter to Pres Reed, sent from Fort Augusta June 26 1779

Historical References To Fort Bosley:

Fort Bosley is located in Washingtonville, Pennsylvania near the Chillisquaque River. In 1777, the fort was stockade and served as a refuge for woman and children as the men either defended the fort or scouted for intelligence. After the British and Native American invasion of Fort Freeland in 1779, Fort Bosley served as a protectorate for the stream below the Chillisquaque River. John G. Freeze, A History of Columbia County, Pennsylvania: From the Earliest of Times (Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania: Elwell and Bittenbender, 1883), 13-35

Col. Hunter to Prest. Reed dated Fort Augusta, June 26, 1779, says: “Your favor of ye 2d Inst. I received by Mr. Martin and I am sorry to acquaint you it was not in my power to send any of the Ranging Company to assist at Guarding the stores up here from Estherton, as what few men Capt. Kemplon had under his command was stationed at Bosley’s Mills on Chilisquaqua.” (See Pennsylvania Archives, vol. vii, p. 510.)

The Danville News

July 1976

Lieut. Col. Weltner to Board of War dated Northumberland. April 9, 1780, says: “I have this moment received an express from the West branch, about 12 miles from this Town that the Indians have killed and scalped one man and two children, took one woman prisoner, but she happily made her escape from them in the night. The country is very much alarmed, and likely to go to the flight as they cannot be supplied with provisions, ammunition or flints, as these commodities being so very scarce. I have manned three material outposts, viz: Fort Jenkins, Fort Montgomery and Bosley’s Mills. It is out of my power to scatter my men any more, as I have scarcely as many in Town as will man 2 pieces of artillery.”.

Buckalew, John M., Captain The Frontier Forts Within The North and West Branches of the Susquehanna River Pennsylvania. Read Before The Wyoming Historical And Geological, Society, October 1, 1895. 

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The Danville News

June 23 1961

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Where The Forts Once Stood
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/10/where-forts-once-stood-12-forts-between.html