Scope and Content: Fort Halifax was built in 1754 in present-day Winslow, Me., at the Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers. Massachusetts Governor Shirley ordered its construction as a defense against threatened attacks by Indians allied with the Canadian French. Built under the direction of John Winslow, the fort was in use through 1766; William Lithgow replaced Winslow as fort commander shortly after the fort opened. A truckhouse for trade with the Indians was established at the fort per Resolves 1760-61, c 281 (Jan. 26, 1761), with John Preble and then (by 1764) William Lithgow serving as truckmaster. The truckhouse appears to have ceased operation around 1768. –During the Revolution, the Massachusetts Board of War was directed to reestablish the truckhouse at Fort Halifax per Resolves 1779-1780 c 331 (Sept. 27, 1779), with Josiah Brewer as truckmaster, presumably to support the colony’s war ally, the Penobscot Indians.  Massachusetts also supported Juniper Berthiaume, a lay Franciscan recommended by the French consul, who lived with and instructed the Penobscots in 1780-1781. Berthiaume petitioned the General Court per Resolves 1781, Jan 1782 Sess, c 569 (Mar. 8, 1782), accusing Brewer of misconduct as truckmaster and with supplying the enemy. Resolves 1782, Sept Sess, c 63 (Nov. 6, 1782) closed the truckhouse at Fort Halifax, dismissed Brewer and an interpreter, and reinstated Berthiaume as instructor at the request of the Indians.
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