Fort Carpenter, Alleghany County, Virginia, was built about 1755-1756 by Joseph Carpenter, who migrated from the Province of New York to "the big bend" of the Jackson River on the Virginia frontier about 1745-1746. It was actually a fortified house, or blockhouse. Located on a low bluff near the mouth of Carpenter Creek, it was later known as Cedar Hill. Logs and stones from the original structure were used in the later dwelling now on the site.