Category: Cherrystone Bar

Keeper Bio: Hudgins, Oliver R. “Ollie”

Keepers

Date of Service: 1885 – 1903 1861:   Born on October 21, in Mathews County, VA to parents Warner & Laura Hudgins. 1862:   Kate Billups is born on October 22, in Mathews County, VA to parents Robert & Mary Billups. 1885:   Oliver Hudgins marries Kate Billups on March 12 in Mathews County, VA. 1885-1886:  Serves as …

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Keeper Bio: Ripley, James Temple

Keepers

Date of Service: 1900-1930 1873:  Born on March 8 in Mathews County, VA, to parents John & Elizabeth Davis Ripley. 1900:  Serves as Assistant Keeper at Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse (VA). His annual salary – $435.  Oliver R. Hudgins of Mathews serves as Keeper. 1901-1905:  Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Pages Rock Lighthouse (VA). His …

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Keeper Bio: Hurst, James Beauregard

Date of Service: 1888-1919 1862:  Born July 24 in Mathews County, VA to parents John P. & Margaret E.  (Thurston) Hurst. 1886:  Marries Narcissus Phillips Hudgins on February 22 in Mathews County, VA.  The couple raises two daughter, Pearl Lorraine and Gladys Leone, and one son, Warner Arnold.     1888-1891:  Serves as First Assistant Keeper at …

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Keeper Bio: Thomas, John William

Dates of Service: 1888-1895 1846:  Born on November 9, 1846, at New Point, Mathews County, VA to parents John B. & Sarah Thomas.  He is orphaned in infancy and raised by his grandmother until age five and then sheltered by various relatives. 1872:  Marries Emma Jane Davis. The couple has eleven children including Ruth Virginia, …

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Keeper Bio: Spady, Alfred J.

Date of Service: 1877-1881 1847-1850: Alfred James Spady is born in Northampton County, VA., to parents James & Adah Spady. 1847+/-: Mary A. West is born in Virginia. 1867:  Marries Mary A. West on December 26th in Northampton County, VA. 1877-1879: Served as Assistant Keeper at Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $420/year. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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    

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Keeper Bio: Mathews, Samuel

Keepers

Date of Service: 1866 1866: Samuel Mathews is named Principal Keeper at Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse, VA., in March. He resigns 8 months later in November. His salary was $400/year. (His wife Mrs. F. Mathews served as First Assistant) Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org    

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Keeper Bio: Salter, Clarence Walter

Date of Service: 1894 – 1925 1877: Born in Mathews County, VA 1894 – 1903: Serves at Old Plantation Flats Lighthouse. 1904: Married Fannie May Hudgins. Had three children – two daughters – Jessie Olga Salter Crouch and Mabel Salter Best; and one son – Charles Bradley Salter. 1903 – 1908: Serves at York Spit …

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Keeper Bio: Respess, Charles Edwin

Date of Service: 1888 – 1915 1862: Born on July 24 – Barn Creek, Gwynn’s Island, VA.1888 – 1890: Assistant on Cape Charles Light Vessel #46. 1891 – 1893: Captain of newly christened Cape Charles LV #49.1892: Married Annie “Lovie” Grimstead on July 13.1893 – 1894: Service at Cherrystone Bar as Assistant ($435/year) and Old …

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Timeline: Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse

1853: It is recommended by the Lighthouse Board to construct a small screwpile lighthouse on the shoals or Sandy Point to mark the entrance to Cherrystone Harbor for a price of $10,000. 1854: $10,000 is appropriated by Congress on August 3rd to construct the lighthouse. 1855: An additional request is made by the Lighthouse Board …

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Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse

The original request to build a small, screwpile lighthouse to mark the entrance to Cherrystone Harbor was in 1853.  Congress later appropriated $10,000 on August 3, 1854. Cherrystone Bar Lighthouse was completed and first lighted on January 1, 1858. It was a white, hexagonal screwpile lighthouse built just south of Cape Charles, Virginia. The light …

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