The first fort built at the site was constructed in 1741 to protect a plantation owned by Captain Mark Carr.

Carr owned 500 acres (200 ha) of land in the area that was granted to him by the Georgia Trustees.

His plantation came under attack on March 18, 1741, by a group of Indians who were allies with the Spanish colonial forces in Florida.

The fort was expanded in 1758 to provide protection for the new settlement of Sunbury, which was built on land owned by Carr.

[2] The need to defend the Medway River and Sunbury rose again at the outset of the American Revolutionary War.

Indian allies and the British 60th regiment was part of the plan to take Georgia from the Continental Army.

The British declined to attack and pulled back only to return in January with a larger force.

[2] Fort Morris and Sunbury played a minor role in the American Civil War.

General William T. Sherman's March to the Sea brought an influx of Union soldiers to the area.