Category: Piney Point

Keeper Bio: Goeshy, Beatrice Evelyn

Date of Service: 1931- 1955 1910:  Beatrice Evelyn Seward is born on September 10th, to parents Howard & Alice Seward in Baltimore, MD. 1930:  In the U.S. Census, Beatrice (21), lives with her sister in Baltimore, MD. Her occupation is listed as Stenographer. 1930:   William M. Goeshy marries Beatrice Seward on December 28th, in …

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Keeper Bio: Goeshy, William Marion

Date of Service: 1916 – 1955 1896:  Walerian Marion Gorsky (aka William Marion Goeshy) is born on April 22 in Wielke, Austria. 1909:   William (Walerian) (age 16) arrives at Ellis Island with his father Piotr Gorski on October 22 on the vessel President Lincoln. 1915:   William receives his “Certificate of Efficiency to Lifeboat Man” on …

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Keeper Bio: Talbott, Joseph Francis

Keepers

Date of Service: 1883-1922 1857:  Born December 10th to in Anne Arundel County, MD. 1876-1879: Serves as an apprentice as a Brass Finisher in Baltimore, MD., at J.H. Register & Sons. 1879-1883:   Works as a Fireman with the United States Lighthouse Service. 1883:   Serves as Assistant Keeper at Currituck Beach Lighthouse, Corolla, NC., from February …

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Keeper Bio: Wingate, Henry Clay

Date of Service: 1902 – 1927   1862:  Born May 19 to parents Thomas and Mary Wingate in Dorchester County, MD. 1880: Occupation is listed as Sailor in the U.S. Census 1889:  Henry is discharged from the Army on November 16 (Spanish American War) 1890: Marries Nettie J. Dodge. 1900: Occupation is listed as day …

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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: 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: 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: 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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Keeper Bio: Yeatman, William

Date of Service: 1904-1939 1872:  Born on July 26 to parents William M. and Anna Yeatman, in St. Mary’s County, MD. 1900:  His occupation is listed as a blacksmith in the U.S. Census. Early 1900s:  Marries Julia Courtney. 1903:  Wife Julia gives birth to a daughter, Mary on December 10. Neither mother or daughter survive. …

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Keeper Bio: Nuthall, Martha

Date of Service: 1850 – 1861 1803:   Birth of Martha McClelland in Maryland. 1843:   John W. Nuthall age 40, widower, married Martha McClelland age 40 on January 3, 1843. 1849:   John W. Nuthall listed as Keeper at Piney Point Lighthouse. His annual salary is listed as $350/year. 1850:   In the 1850 …

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Keeper Bio: Nuthall, John W.

Keepers

Date of Service: 1849 – 1850  1803:   Birth of John W. Nuthall to Charles Nuthall and Anne McClelland. 1826:   John W. Nuthall age 23, married Maria Norris on January 31, 1826, in St. Mary’s County, Md. 1843:   John W. Nuthall age 40, widower, married Martha McClelland age 40 on January 3, 1843. …

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Timeline: Piney Point Lighthouse

1836 Thirty-four foot tall brick lighthouse and Keepers’ dwelling built by John Donahoo of Havre de Grace, MD for $3,888. 1855 Old reflecting apparatus consisting of 10 lamps and 10 15-inch reflectors replaced with a 5th order Fresnel lens. Range increased to 11 miles. 1880 Thirty foot tall bell tower added to the light station …

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Piney Point Lighthouse

Built in 1836, the Piney Point Lighthouse and keeper’s quarters are located 14 miles up the Potomac River from the Chesapeake Bay. Prior to this, a lightship was stationed in the area since 1821 to mark dangerous shoals at Piney Point. This beacon stands preserved today as a witness to a bygone era of high …

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