Author's posts
Keeper Bio: Lee, Alexander G.
Date of Service: 1880-1884 1835+/-: Alexander G. Lee is born a slave in Portsmouth, VA. 1865: Alexander G. Lee resides in Hampton, VA. 1871: Alexander G. Lee works as a boatman and oysterman at the customs house in Old Point Comfort, VA. Lee, and his wife Nellie, have a son in Hampton, VA. 1873: …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-alexander-g-lee/
Keeper Bio: Jones, John Bradford
Date of Service: 1878-1908 1841: Born a slave in York County, VA. 1860s: Married Sarah “Sal”, a free slave. 1870: In the US Census, John B. Jones lives in the Old Point Area of Virginia with his wife Sarah and their two children. His occupation is listed as a bartender. 1878-1908: Served as Principal Keeper …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-bradford-jones/
Keeper Bio: Hunt, Thomas
Date of Service: 1873-1885 1844: Born in Virginia. 1873: Served as Second Assistant at York Spit Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $400/year. 1874-1876: Served as Assistant Keeper at Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $420/year. 1876-1882: Served as Assistant Keeper at Point of Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-thomas-hunt/
Keeper Bio: Holloway, George W.
Date of Service: 1890-1917 1858: George W. Holloway is born in Isle of Wight County, VA., to parents George & Rosetta Holloway. 1864+/-: Josephine Tynes is born in Isle of Wight County, VA., to parents Charles & Susan Tynes. 1880: In the US Census, George Holloway, age 21, lives in Isle of Wight County, VA., …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-w-holloway/
Keeper Bio: Hodges, Willis Augustus
Date of Service: 1870 1815: Born in Blackwater (Virginia Beach) Virginia on February 12th to a free African American family. 1836: Moves to Williamsburg, NY with his family. 1840s: Started an anti-slavery newspaper, The Ram’s Horn. 1867: Hodges was the first African American elected to represent Princess Anne County in the 1867-1868 Virginia Constitutional Convention. …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-willis-augustus-hodges/
Keeper Bio: Gunter, William M.
Date of Service: 1883-1884; 1891-1894 Born in Virginia. 1883-18849: Served as Assistant Keeper at Cherrystone Bqr Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $400/year. 1891-1893: Served as Assistant Keeper at Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $235/year. 1893-1894: Served as Principal Keeper at Old Plantation Flats Lighthouse, VA. Keeper William Gunter Anecdotes: In January …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-m-gunter/
Keeper Bio: Fitchett, Thomas J.
Date of Service: 1862-1863; 1882-1883 1862-1863: Served as Principal Keeper at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $500/year. 1882-1883: Served as Second Assistant at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $400/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-thomas-j-fitchett/
Keeper Bio: Fitchett, Jesse S.
Date of Service: 1892-1894 1862: Jesse Fitchett is born in Virginia. 1892-1894: Served as Assistant Keeper at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $500/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-jesse-s-fitchett/
Keeper Bio: Farley, James McHenry
Date of Service: 1871-1873 1831: Born in Virginia. 1871-1873: Served as Principal Keeper at New Point Comfort Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $560/year. 1880: In the U.S. Census, James Farley lives in Petersburg, VA. with his wife and daughter. His occupation is listed as a minister. 1882: James Farley was chosen to be publisher and …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-mchenry-farley/
Keeper Bio: Evans, Orlando
Date of Service: 1871-1874 1871-1874: Served as Assistant Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse, MD. His salary was $400/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-orlando-evans/
Keeper Bio: Delk, Junius T.
Date of Service: 1881-1882 1848: Born in Virginia 1880: In the US Census, Junius Delk, age 32, lives with his wife Julia, age 27, and four children in Norfolk, VA. His occupation is shoemaker. 1881-1882: Served as Assistant Keeper at Craney Island Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $420/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-junius-t-delk/
Keeper Bio: Davis, William Roscoe
Date of Service: 1870-1878 1812: Born near Norfolk, Virginia on Todd’s Farm to the son of a white sea captain & enslaved woman of mixed race. 1837: Marries Nancy Moore 1861-1865: William and his family flee to Fort Monroe to seek self emancipation. 1870-1878: Served as Principal Keeper at Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, VA. His …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-roscoe-davis/
Keeper Bio: Darnell, Robert
Date of Service: 1870-1875 1870-1875: Served as Principal Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse, MD. His beginning salary was $600/year and his ending salary was $550/year. 1870: In the Lighthouse Inspection Report, Robert Darnell is described as young, no family, and has a good capacity for his duties as keeper. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-robert-darnell/
Keeper Bio: Chisman, John M.
Date of Service: 1872-1875; 1878-1880 1872-1875: Served as Second Assistant at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $400/year. 1878-1880: Served as First Assistant at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $440/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-m-chisman/
Keeper Bio: Charity, Park
Date of Service: 1881-1882 1826: Park Charity is born in Surry, VA., to parents Squire & Anne Charity. 1849: Marries Elizabeth. 1870: In the US Census, Park Charity (44) lives with his wife Elizabeth (36) and 4 children in Surry, VA., where he works as a farmer. 1871: The 9th Senatorial Convention for the City …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-park-charity/
Keeper Bio: Carter, Peter Jacob
Date of Service: 1871, 1879-1880 1845: Peter J. Carter is born a slave in Northampton County, VA., to parents Jacob and Peggie 1860: Calvin H. Read (owner of Peter, his two younger siblings, and his mother) deeds Peter and his family to his wife as repayment for a $1,000 debt. The Carters are listed in …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-peter-j-carter/
Keeper Bio: Braxton, Thomas H.
Date of Service: 1876-1883 1845+/-: Thomas H. Braxton is born in Northampton County, VA., to parents Hamson & Elder Braxton. 1853+/-: Priscilla Downes is born in VA. to parents Abe & Gennie Prower (Trower?) 1875: Marries Priscilla Downes on January 9th in Northampton County, VA. 1876-1879:Served as Principal Keeper at Cherrystone Bqr Lighthouse, VA. His …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-thomas-h-braxton/
Keeper Bio: Bond, Elbert
Date of Service: 1892 1892: Served as Assistant Keeper at Nansemond River Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $435/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-elbert-bond/
Keeper Bio: Bourbon, Dennis
Date of Service: 1881-1883 1846+/-: In September, Dennis Hackett Bourbon is born a free man in Alexandria, VA., to parents Dennis & Rachel Lyles Bourbon. 1870: Dennis Bourbon, age 24, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July at Boston, MA. He is described as 5’-8” tall and works as a ship carpenter. 1880: In the …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-dennis-bourbon/
Keeper Bio: Bond, William A.
Date of Service: 1879-1882 1879-1881: Served as Assistant Keeper at Nansemond River Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $420/year. 1881-1882: Served as Principal Keeper at Nansemond River Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $540/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-a-bond/
Keeper Bio: Blount, Peter F.
Date of Service: 1881-1885 1850: Born in Virginia to parents Henry and Caroline Blount in Surry County, VA. 1874: Peter F. Blount (age 24) marries Sarah E. Tynes (age 20) on February 18th in Isle of Wight County, VA. 1880: In the U.S. Census, Peter Blount, age 31, lives with his wife Sarah and 3 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-peter-f-blount/
Keeper Bio: Arnold, James A.
Date of Service: 1896-1919 Born in Virginia. 1896-1919: Served as Principal Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse, MD. His beginning annual salary was $575/year and his ending salary was $960/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-a-arnold/
Keeper Bio: Gray, Araminta
Date of Service: 1822-1823 1822: Bodkin Point Lighthouse, MD is constructed, and John Gray is appointed Principal Keeper in January. 1822: John Gray dies in August. William B. Barney of the fifth U.S. Naval District, recommends that his widow, Araminta, be appointed Principal Keeper. Stephen Pleasonton endorses his letter and then forwards it to President …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-araminta-gray/
Keeper Bio: Tatham, Rosannah
Date of Service: 1844-1849 1843: Daniel Tatham is appointed Principal Keeper in April at Bodkin Point Lighthouse, MD. His annual salary is $400/year. 1844: Daniel Tatham passes away in July and his wife, Rosannah, is appointed Principal Keeper at Bodkin Point Lighthouse, MD. Her annual salary is $400/year. 1849: Rosannah Tatham resigns as Principal Keeper …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-rosannah-tatham/
Keeper Bio: Elmore, Augusta P.
Date of Service: 1871-1877 1845: Augusta P. Ashburn is born on June 9 in Virginia 1863: William M. Elmore marries Augusta P. Ashburn in Virginia. 1870: In the 1870 Lighthouse Inspection Report, the inspector requests a new boat for the station, stating that the Keeper and his family capsized and almost drowned. 1871-1877: Augusta P. …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-augusta-elmore/
Keeper Bio: Potts, Nancy B.
Date of Service: 1865-1872 1865: Nancy B. Potts, the wife of Jean G. Potts, is appointed First Assistant Keeper at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA. Her beginning salary is $300/year. (Her husband Jean G. Potts served as Principal Keeper) 1868: Keeper Jean G. Potts is killed in a disagreement by a man he meets walking on …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-nancy-potts/
Keeper Bio: Harding, Julia A.
Date of Service: 1865-1869 1834: Julia A. is born in approximately 1834 in Maryland. 1865-1869: Julia A. Harding is named the First Assistant Keeper at Cape Henry Lighthouse, VA. Her beginning salary is $350/year. Her ending salary is $400/year. (Her husband William Harding served as Principal Keeper) 1870: In the 1870 U.S. Census, William Harding’s …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-julia-harding/
Keeper Bio: Creekmore, Mary
Date of Service: 1869-1870 1869-1870: Mary Creekmore, born in Virginia, is named the Second Assistant Keeper at Cape Henry Lighthouse, VA. Her salary is $400/year. (Her husband H. Creekmore served as Principal Keeper) Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-mary-creekmore/
Keeper Bio: Richardson, Carrie
Date of Service: 1870-1872 1870-1872: Carrie Richardson, born in New Hampshire, is named the Second Assistant Keeper at Cape Henry Lighthouse, VA. Her salary is $400/year. (Her husband Henry Richardson served as Principal Keeper) Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-carrie-richardson/
Keeper Bio: Mathews, Mrs. F.
Date of Service: 1866 1866: Mrs. F. Mathews, is named the First Assistant Keeper at Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse, VA., in June. She resigns 5 months later in November. Her salary was $300/year. (Her husband Samuel Mathews served as Principal Keeper) Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-f-mathews/
