Category: Heritage-Maryland

Keeper Bio: Waters, John C.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1841-1843 1841-1843: John C. Waters is appointed Principal Keeper of Turkey Point Lighthouse, MD. On August 18, 1841. His annual salary is $350. 1843: John is dismissed from duty as Principal Keeper on June 2, 1843. It is not known why he was dismissed, but John Waters wrote a letter on October …

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Keeper Bio: Costin, Thomas W.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1877 – 1910 1845: Thomas W. Costin is born on November 1, in Northampton County, VA. 1877-1883: Thomas Costin is appointed the First Assistant on November 1, 1877, at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA, with an annual salary of $440.00. 1879:  Thomas marries Rosaline Hitchens on January 28, in Northampton County, VA. 1883-1896:  …

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Keeper Bio: Costin, George W.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1910 1886:   George W. Costin is born on October 13 to parents Thomas W. and Ida R. Costin in Piney Point MD. 1883:  George’s father, Thomas, is appointed Principal Keeper at Piney Point Lighthouse, MD. 1910:  Thomas W. Costin dies on duty, on September 10th, at Piney Point Lighthouse. 1910:   George …

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Keeper Bio: Taylor, William B.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1846 – 1849 1802: William B. Taylor is born in St. Mary’s County, MD. 1832: William B. Taylor marries Eleanor Guyther on February 14. 1846-1849: William B. Taylor is appointed Principal Keeper at Piney Point Lighthouse, MD. His annual salary was $350. 1850: His occupation is listed as a farmer in the …

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Keeper Bio: Wilson, Elizabeth

Date of Service: 1873 – 1877 1827+/-:  Elizabeth C. Dodge is born in Maryland. 1869:  Noah Wilson, age 58, Principal Keeper of Piney Point married Elizabeth Dodge, widow/farmer, age 42, on 30 October 1869 at Piney Point by Rev. Smith. 1869-1873: Noah Wilson is appointed Principal Keeper of Piney Point Lighthouse, MD. His annual salary …

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Keeper Bio: Wilson, Noah

Keepers

Date of Service: 1869 – 1873 1803:  Noah Wilson is born in Maryland. 1869-1873:  Noah Wilson is appointed Principal Keeper of Piney Point Lighthouse, MD. His annual salary is $520. 1869:  Noah Wilson, age 58, Principal Keeper of Piney Point married Elizabeth Dodge, widow/farmer, age 42, on 30 October 1869 at Piney Point by Rev. …

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Keeper Bio: Lusby, Robert C.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1833-1841, 1843 1785:  Born on April 12 in Cecil County, Maryland, to parents William and Pamelia Lusby. 1812-1814: Serves in the War of 1812 in the 49 REGT (Veazey’s), Maryland Militia until he was released on September 10, 1814, as an LT. 1815-1817: Sheriff of Cecil County, MD. 1819: Marries Elizabeth Price …

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Keeper Bio: Lusby, Elizabeth

Date of Service: 1844 – 1862 1786:  Born on December 14 to parents Lewis and Mary Lusby, in Cecil, MD. 1819:  Marries Robert C. Lusby on December 21. 1833-1841:  Robert Lusby is appointed Principal Keeper at Turkey Point Lighthouse, MD, on August 10, 1833, where he remained until August 18, 1841. 1843:  Robert Lusby returns …

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Keeper Bio: Heard, Henry

Keepers

Date of Service: 1840 – 1844 1840: In the U.S. Census, Henry I. Heard is listed as residing in the 3rd District, Saint Marys, Maryland. There was a total of 6 Free White persons residing with him and 1 slave. Three of these individuals are employed in agriculture. 1840-1844: Henry J. Heard is listed as …

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Keeper Bio: Clark, Philip

Keepers

Date of Service: 1836 – 1840 1802: Birth of Philip Clark 1836-1840: Philip Clark is Principal Keeper at Piney Point Lighthouse, MD., with an annual salary of $350.00. 1850:  The U.S. Census lists Philip Clarke age 48 residing in St. Mary’s County, Maryland as a farmer. He is head of household, residing with him is …

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Keeper Bio: Suter, Charlotte

Date of Service: 1844 – 1846 1840:  Charlotte Suter and her husband, Henry Sr., both born in Great Britain, are listed in the U.S. Census as living in St. Mary’s Co. MD. 1841:  Henry Suter dies on February 7, at age 71, and is buried at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Valley Lee, MD. 1844-1846:  Charlotte …

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Keeper Bio: Phillips, John Adams

Keepers

Date of Service: 1869 – 1877 1817: Born March 20 to parents Joshua and Mary Phillips in Somerset, MD. 1838: Marries his wife, Anne Jane Stayton on June 5, in Baltimore, MD. They raise 4 children – 3 boys and 2 girls. 1861:  Enlists in the United States Navy on June 26 and achieves the …

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Keeper Bio: Tyler, Charles C.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1905 – 1919 1859:  Born April 13 to parents Thomas and Maria Tyler in Somerset, MD. 1880:  Occupation is listed as Seaman in the U.S. Census 1900:  Occupation is listed as Oysterman in the U.S. Census 1905–1906: Serves as Second Assistant at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA, with an annual salary of $440. …

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Keeper Bio: Sterling, Henry Columbus

Keepers

Date of Service: 1900 – 1937 1872: Born on August 10 to parents George B. and Nancy Clark Sterling in Lawsonia, Somerset County, MD. 1891: Marries Sally Marian Riggin on July 28. They raise 6 children. 1900: Serves as First Assistant at Solomons Lump Lighthouse, MD. His salary is $420/year. 1900-1901: Serves as First Assistant …

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Keeper Bio: Evans, Lorenzo Dow

Keepers

Date of Service: 1879 – 1900   1831: Born in Maryland 1875: The first Solomons Lump Lighthouse is constructed. It was a square, screwpile on five wrought iron piles. It was painted white with a brown roof and black lantern and exhibited a fixed white light. 1879-1893: Serves as Keeper at Solomons Lump Lighthouse, MD. …

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Keeper Bio: Shawn, Walter M.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1895 – 1908 1862: Born on February 14 in Queen Anne’s County, Eastern Shore, MD. 1869-1870: Family moves to Gloucester County, VA. 1880: Works as a farmer.                     1888: Works as a lumberman.  Marries Virginia E. Davis on December 26.  The couple raises three children, Lessie, Linwood, and Estelle. 1895-1901: Serves as …

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Keeper Bio: Brooks, William Thomas “Billy”

Date of Service: 1909 – 1923 1853: Born on September 3 in Mathews County, VA.                1878: Marries Lucy Jane Marchant on January 31.  The couple has six children ­- Egbert, James, William, Thomas, Golden, and Gladys.      1900: Works as an oysterman.                     1909-1911: Serves as Assistant Keeper at Cobb Point Bar Lighthouse, MD beginning November …

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Keeper Bio: Matthews, Robert Harold “Hallie”

Keepers

Date of Service: 1918 – 1941   1873: Born on October 14 in Mathews County, VA. Marries Edna Earle Brooks.  The couple raises one child – Mary Elizabeth. 1918- 1920:  Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse (VA). Starting annual salary – $480; ending – $720. 1918: On August 7, First Assistant …

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Keeper Bio: Brumfield, Georgiana (Georgia) Sherwood

Date of Service: 1895 – 1919 1849: Born on August 24 to parents John and Rebecca (Sherwood) Crouch in Cecil County, MD. 1865: Moves to Turkey Point Lighthouse, MD., where her father is appointed Keeper. 1870: Marries William Brumfield on September 23 at the lighthouse. They raise at least 6 children. 1873: Georgiana’s father, Keeper …

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Keeper Bio: Crouch, Rebecca

Date of Service: 1873 – 1895 1825: Born on November 17 to parents Philip and Ann Sherwood in Baltimore, MD. 1840:  Marries John M. Crouch. They raise 3 children. 1850: In the U.S. Census John Crouch is 33 years old, married to Rebecca, age 25. His occupation is listed as a laborer. 1865: Rebecca’s husband …

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Keeper Bio: Crouch, John M.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1865 – 1873 1817:  Born on April 10 in Cecil County, Maryland. 1840: Marries Rebecca Louisa Sherwood. They raise 3 children. 1850: In the U.S. Census John Crouch is 33 years old, married to Rebecca, age 25. His occupation is listed as a laborer. 1853: Listed as Constable for the 5th District …

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Keeper Bio: Bowling, James Thomas

Keepers

Date of Service: 1873 – 1879 1839: Born June 9 in Baltimore, Maryland to parents Thomas & Susana Bowling. 1860s: Marries his wife, Margaret. They raise 4 children. 1863–1868: Served as Ensign for the Union Navy, where he was stationed on the USS Allegheny, a receiving ship. 1873–1874: Served as Principal Keeper for Craighill Channel …

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Keeper Bio: Humphreys, Loch Weems

Date of Service: 1901 – 1914 1874: Born November 2 to parents Richard and Mary Drusilla (Bunting) Humphreys in Calvert County, MD. 1897: Marries his wife, Ellen Delilah “Nellie” Lusby on August 25. They go on to raise 4 children – 2 sons and 2 daughters. 1900: In the U.S. Census, Loch Humphreys is married, …

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Keeper Bio: Weems, Sr., James Locke

Date of Service: 1887 – 1918 1888: Born January 18 to parents James & Margaret Weems in Calvert, MD. 1878: Marries Mary Alice Ireland on February 21, 1878, in Calvert, MD. They had 5 children. 1887–1890: Served as First Assistant at Cove Point Lighthouse, MD. His salary was $420/year. 1890–1891: Served as Principal Keeper at …

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Keeper Bio: Messick, Harold McKnett

Date of Service: 1939 – 1960 1900: Born January 3 to parents William and Elizabeth Messick in Wicomico County, MD. 1918: Per the 1917-1918 U.S. Draft Card, Harold is 18 years old, single, and his occupation is listed as a streetcar conductor. 1930: In the U.S. Census, Harold lives with his wife, Alice, and their …

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Keeper Bio: Gray, Paul B.

Date of Service: 1921 – 1925 1887: Born on March 5 to parents Benjamin Nathaniel and Sarah Gray, in Drum Point, MD. 1900: In the U.S. Census at age 12, he is listed as living with his parents, Nathaniel, and Sarah. His father, Nathaniel, is the Principal Keeper at Cove Point Lighthouse, MD. 1905: Serves …

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Keeper Bio: Leikam Sr., George Henry

Date of Service: 1940 – 1960 1902:  Born on March 4 in Baltimore, MD 1940:  Stationed at Norfolk, Virginia as Quartermaster on the U.S. Coast Guard Tender, Violet. 1942 to 1943:  Keeper Leikam begins service as 1st Assistant Keeper at Holland Island Bar Lighthouse, Maryland. Salary – $1,440 a year. 1943 to 1945: Keeper Leikam …

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Keeper Bio: Tune, Helen C.

Date of Service: 1877 – 1883 1854: Helen Dodge was born in October 1854 in Vermont 1871: Marries Thomas Steptoe Tune on June 21 in the District of Columbia. 1872:  Daughter Lorena Elizabeth is born on June 22 in the District of Columbia 1877:  Helen is hired as acting Keeper in March for the Piney …

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Keeper Bio: Slacum, William Kirwan

Keepers

Date of Service: 1892 – 1914 1833:  Born on November 8, 1833, in Church Creek, Dorchester County, MD. To Barzillai and Julia Ann Slacum 1862:  Marries Margaret Jane Christopher on February 4, 1862, in Dorchester County, MD. 1880: Occupation listed as a clerk in Baltimore, MD. in the U.S. Census. 1892: Serves as Assistant Keeper …

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Choptank River Station

There are no photos of LV-25 marked as Choptank known to exist. If one is found, please contact the Chapter Historian. (See contact information at the bottom of this page) Choptank River Station, 1870-1871 LV-25 was placed at the entrance to the Choptank River at the junction with the Tred-Avon River in January 1870 to …

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