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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-oliver-r-hudgins/
Date of Service: 1870 – 1871 1817: Emma Jane Dixon is born on June 28th, in VA. to parents Tinsley & Pamelia Dixon. 1836: Samuel Trader marries Emma Jane in VA. 1860: In the U.S. Census, Samuel (46) lives with his wife Emma (41) in Madison, VA. with their 5 children. His occupation is …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-emma-jane-trader/
Date of Service: 1870 – 1874 1813: Samuel Trader is born on August 30th in VA. 1836+/-: Samuel Trader marries Emma Jane in VA. 1860: In the U.S. Census, Samuel (46) lives with his wife Emma (41) in Madison, VA. with their 5 children. His occupation is listed as seaman. 1870: Samuel Trader serves as …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-samuel-trader/
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-beauregard-hurst/
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, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-william-thomas-2/
Date of Coast Guard Service: 1955-1975 U.S. Army Assignments: Enlisted in the Puerto Rico (PR) National Guard on 11 June 1950 and recalled to Active Duty in September 1950. He was assigned to an Infantry Regiment in the Republic of Korea as a replacement for combat causalities in the all-Puerto Rician unit on 20 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-ismael-torres/
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: 1875 – 1919 1855: Born on April 15 in Mathews County, VA 1875: Serves as Second Assistant Keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse (VA). Annual salary – $400. 1875-1876: Serves as First Assistant Keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse (VA). Annual Salary – $440. 1876-1907: Serves as Keeper at Windmill Point Lighthouse (VA). …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-garnett-williams/
Date of Service: 1925 – 1954 1892: Born on July 3 in Mathews County, VA. 1914: Marries Emma Lewis on October 10. The couple has two children – Eileen and Weldon Lewis. 1917: Works as a fisherman – Gwynn’s Island, VA. 1925: Works for the United States Lighthouse Service as a foreman for the Shipping …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-charles-franklin-sadler/
Date of Service: 1881 – 1916 1835: Born on June 18 in Mathews County, VA.1858: Marries Laberta F. Jarvis on November 11. Couple raises ten children: Martha, Louisa, Mary Ellen, Wesley, Mary E., Tommie, Robert, Delena, Maria, and Luther. 1860s: Ripley serves during the Civil War for the Confederacy on the Giles Light Artillery – …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-wesley-foster-ripley/
Date of Service: 1882 – 1921 1856: Born on April 1 in Mathews, Virginia.1879: Marries Emma Susan Dixon on September 25. Couple raises five children: Ruby, Elizabeth, John Dixon, Talmadge, and Levi Theodore. 1882 to 1883: Keeper Marchant begins service on December 31 as Acting 2nd Assistant Keeper at Wolf Trap Lighthouse, Virginia. Salary – …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-levi-d-marchant/
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: 1916 – 1943 1882: Born January 5 in Mathews County, VA1908: Married Edna Grey Brooks on November 18 at Bethel United Methodist Church in Laban (now Onemo), Virginia. The couple raises three children, daughters Edna Virginia, Alice Jeanette and a son, James Carlton.1916 to 1917: Serves as Second Assistant Keeper at Wolf …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-james-diggs/
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 three miles offshore, between the York & entrance to Rappahannock Rivers, Mathews County, VA – 03-14-18) 1821 Lightship stationed on Wolf Trap Shoal. 1861 Confederate troops destroy lightship. 1864 Lightship station re-established. 1870 Screw pile lighthouse built on shoal. 1893 Lighthouse destroyed by ice floes and swept 20 miles down the bay, settling near …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/timeline-wolf-trap-lighthouse/
The Wolf Trap light is located in 16 feet of water on the eastern end of the Wolf Trap Spit south of where the Rappahannock River enters the Chesapeake Bay. It is a caisson tower with its light 52 feet above mean high water. Congress first appropriated funds for a light at Windmill Point or …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/wolf-trap/
