Jeremiah Coughlan, the merchant who operated the fishery business on Wigwam Point, was appointed Naval Officer Reservist and given the finances to recruit a defense militia from the local fishermen.
After the American Revolution started in 1776, American privateers, and privateers of their French allies began raiding the coast trying to capture ships and their cargoes.
In 1779 there was a raid on Twillingate and one of Slade's ships was captured at Battle Harbour, Labrador. 5 privateers were captured by the Royal Navy in the Fogo area in 1780.
The cannons were activated 1812 because of the war between US and Britain.
