Date of Service: 1870 – 1886 1837: George Henry Selden is born in March, in Virginia. 1839: Judith Hale is born in April, in Virginia. 1858+/-: George Henry Selden marries Judith Hale in Westmoreland, VA. 1864-1866: George H. Selden enlists in the U.S. Navy in September 1864, where he served as Petty Officer on the …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-henry-selden/
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-temple-ripley/
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-walter-m-shawn/
Date of Service: 1903 – 1930 1867: Born in Mathews County, VA. 1887: Serves as an oysterman. Marries Willia Peters on February 27. The couple raises one child – Edith Pearl. 1903 – at least 1913: Serves as Assistant Keeper at Stingray Point Lighthouse (VA). Starting annual salary – $420; ending – $480. 1915: Serves …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-andrew-broaddus-sadler/
Date of Service: 1897-1931 1869: Born in Craven County, North Carolina on December 11, 1869. 1897: Works as a cook at Smith Point Lighthouse in Virginia for $30. 1898-1901: Works as First Assistant at Pages Rock Lighthouse in Virginia. His annual salary was $420. 1901: Marries his wife Virginia Mildred Oliver on October 9, in …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-claudius-foster-sutton/
Date of Service: 1936 – 1947 1907: Born October 13 in Delmar, Wicomico County, MD1926: Marries Gladys Ruth Elmore on September 1 in Crisfield, Somerset County, MD.1931: The couple has their first child, a son, Lewis Riggin Carman, Jr. on April 16.1932: The couple has their second child, a daughter, Caroline Virgie on October 24.1936-1938: …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-lewis-riggin-carman/
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-charles-edwin-respess/
Date of Service: 1895 – 1923 1856: Born on January 17 in Mathews County, VA1879 or 1880: Married Ellen Gertrude “Mittie” Thomas and raised eleven children.1895: Serves at the Smith Point Lighthouse. The Chesapeake Bay freezes. Ice strikes lighthouse – carries it six miles away from the foundation. Lantern, fog-bell apparatus, oil and some supply …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-filmore-hudgins/
Date of Service: 1930-1968 1908: Born on November 16 in Mathews County, VA.1930: Marries Melva Sadler on June 21. The couple raises three children.1930: Joins the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Serves as a seaman on Diamond Shoals Lightship #105.1933: Survives 150 mph winds of Chesapeake-Potomac hurricane. The Lightship is swept off course 5 miles.1937: Transferred to …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-crewe-floyd-earl/
Date of Service: 1937-1965 1903: Born March 30 in Hallieford, Mathews County, VA.1920: Begins service in the Merchant Marine and as a crew member on the Steamer Pennsylvania. The vessel stopped at Old Point Comfort Lighthouse in route between Cape Charles and Norfolk, VA.1929: Married Arlys Hurst on August 26. The couple raises one daughter, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-nelson-stanley-atherton/
(Located 80 miles south of Baltimore on the Virginia side of the entrance of the Potomac River, 2.5 miles east-southeast of Smith Point) 1802-93 Two land-based lighthouses, two lightships and one screwpile in service. 1893 Screwpile damaged by ice. Keepers abandon station. 1895 Screwpile carried away by ice. 1897 Present 52 foot tall caisson light …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/timeline-smith-point-lighthouse/
Smith Point is located on the Southern side where the Potomac River enters the Bay. The first light at this point was erected in 1802. Erosion of the shoreline caused the light to be moved in 1807. In 1821 a lightship was stationed off the point. In 1828 erosion again forced the Light-House Board to …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/smith-point-lighthouse/
