Fort Jay: Historic Structure Report

Yocum, Barbara

This Historic Structure Report on Fort Jay, Governors Island National Monument, provides a chronology of its physical evolution, describes its architectural elements, and identifies its character- defining features. Fort Jay is located on Governors Island in New York Harbor, one- half mile from the southern tip of Manhattan. No defensive works are known to have been erected on the island during its early history. Governors Island was among the lands occupied in the early 17th century by the Manahatas Indians who called it “Pagganack.” It became a Dutch holding in 1637, when the Manahatas conveyed the island to the Director and Council of New Netherland, a Dutch colony first settled in 1623. The Dutch called the island “Nooten” or “Nutten” for its abundant nut trees, and pastured cattle and goats there. It was also the site of an early windmill and a house erected by Wouton Van Twiller, second director- general of New Netherlands. Dutch rule ended in 1664 with the capture of New Netherland by Great Britain, which renamed the colony New York. The island acquired the name “The Governor’s Island” following the passage of an act by the New York Assembly in 1698 to set aside the island “for the benefit and accommodation of his Majestie’s Governors,” although the more common “Nutten Island” survived well into the 18th century. New York Governor Cornbury is said to have constructed a “pleasure house” there during his tenure 1702- 08. The island was later used as a quarantine station and as a sanctuary for English pheasants. Although Major General William Pepperell’s regiment encamped on the island in 1755, no defensive works appear to have been constructed at that time, nor do plans by Captain John Montréser to fortify the island in 1766 appear to have been implemented.

Fort Jay: Historic Structure Report

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