Date of Service: 1873 – 1879 1824: Phoebe is born in Pennsylvania. 1879-1879: Phoebe D. Richards is appointed First Assistant at Craney Island Lighthouse, VA. (Her husband Elisha Richards is Principal Keeper). Her salary is $420/year. 1879: Phoebe D. Richards writes a letter to the Secretary of the Navy pleading her case to remain as …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-phoebe-d-richards/
Date of Service: 1873 – 1879 1822: Elisha Richards is born in New Jersey. 1873-1879: Elisha Richards is appointed Principal Keeper at Craney Island Lighthouse, VA. (His wife Phoebe D. Richards is First Assistant). His salary is $540/year. 1879-1879: Phoebe D. Richards is appointed First Assistant at Craney Island Lighthouse, VA. (Her husband Elisha Richards …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-elisha-richards/
Date of Service: 1915 1915: John Peterson dies on duty at Hawkins Point Lighthouse on February 17th at age 75. 1915: John Peterson’s wife, Sarah E. Peterson is appointed Principal Keeper at Hawkins Point Lighthouse, MD., following the death of her husband. She served at this position for approximately 30 days. Sources: Chesapeake …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-sarah-e-peterson/
Date of Service: 1879 – 1915 1846: John Peterson is born in Germany. 1879-1881: John Peterson is appointed First Assistant at Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, MD. His salary is $420/year. 1881-1886: John Peterson is appointed Principal Keeper at Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, MD. His salary is $540/year. 1886-1892: John Peterson is appointed the first Principal …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-peterson/
Date of Service: 1877 – 1880 1853: Abram Parkinson is born in Maryland to parents Abraham and Henrietta Parkinson. 1860: In the U.S. Census, Abram (7), lives with his parents Abraham and Henrietta Parkinson, as well as his sister, Mary Josehine (9). 1870: In the U.S. Census, Abram (16), lives with his father …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-abram-parkinson/
Date of Service: 1874-1877 1851: Mary Josephine Parkinson is born in Maryland to parents Abraham and Henrietta Parkinson. 1860: In the U.S. Census, Mary (9), lives with her parents Abraham and Henrietta Parkinson, as well as her brother, Abram (7). 1870: In the U.S. Census, Mary (18), lives with her father Abraham, and brother, Abram …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-mary-josephine-parkinson/
Date of Service: 1869 – 1879 1815: Abraham Parkinson is born in Maryland. 1845: Abraham Parkinson marries Henrietta Marie Hood on March 20th, in MD. 1860: In the U.S. Census, Abraham lives in Annapolis with his wife Henrietta, son Abram, and daughter Mary Josephine. His occupation is shoemaker. 1863: Abraham’s wife, Henrietta Parker …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-abraham-parkinson/
Date of Service: 1901 1844: Sarah E. is born in Maryland. 1866: James E. Meeds marries Sarah E. in Maryland. 1900: In the U.S. Census, James Meeds, age 61, is listed as lighthouse keeper at Fort Carroll, along with his wife, Sarah. 1901: Sarah E. Meeds is appointed as a laborer at Fort …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-sarah-e-meeds/
Date of Service: 1873 – 1901 1839: James E. Meeds is born in June in parents Edwin & Mary Meeds in Maryland. 1866: James E. Meeds marries Sarah E. in Maryland. 1862-1865: James E. Meeds fought in the 8th Maryland Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. 1873-1901: James E. Meeds is appointed Principal Keeper of …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-e-meeds/
Date of Service: 1853-1855 1805+/-: Sarah Levy is born in Maryland. 1853-1855: Sarah Levy is appointed Principal Keeper at Fishing Battery Lighthouse, MD., after her husband John Levy died. Her salary is $400/year. Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-sarah-levy-2/
Date of Service: 1853 1871+/-: John Levy is born. 1853: John Levy is appointed the first Principal Keeper at Fishing Battery Lighthouse, MD. John Levy dies soon after being appointed. His salary was $400/year. His wife Sarah Levy was named Principal Keeper after his death. Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-levy/
Date of Service: 1865-1867 1821+/-: Susan W. Heath Kendall is born in Virginia. 1865-1867: Susan Kendall is appointed First Assistant at Point of Shoals Lighthouse. Her salary is $300/year. (Her husband Thomas L. Kendall is Principal Keeper) 1870: In the U.S. Census, Thomas lives with his wife, Susan, in Northampton County, VA. Sources: Chesapeake …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-susan-kendall-2/
Date of Service: 1854-1870 1813+/-: Thomas L. Kendall is born in Virginia. 1854-1861: Thomas L. Kendall is appointed the first Principal Keeper at Point of Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His salary is $500/year. 1861-1865: Thomas Kendall enlists in the 5th Virginia Cavalry. The lighthouse is discontinued during the Civil War. 1865-1868: Thomas L. Kendall is reinstated …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-thomas-l-kendall/
Date of Service: 1865-1869 1865-1869: Margaret Huneke is appointed First Assistant at White Shoal Lighthouse, VA. Her beginning salary is $300, and her ending salary is $400. (Her husband, Peter J. Huneke served as Principal Keeper). Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-margaret-huneke/
Date of Service: 1865-1870 1865-1870: Peter J. Huneke is appointed Principal Keeper at White Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His beginning salary is $500, and his ending salary is $600. (His wife, Margaret Huneke served as First Assistant). Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-peter-j-huneke/
Date of Service: 1870-1880 1870-1872: William F. Hatsell is appointed Principal Keeper at Point of Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His salary is $600/year. (His wife Rebecca Hatsell is First Assistant). 872-1878: William F. Hatsell is appointed Principal Keeper at Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC. His salary is $820/year. 1878-1880: William F. Hatsell is appointed Principal Keeper at …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-f-hatsell/
Date of Service: 1871-1874 1871-1872: Rebecca Hatsell is appointed First Assistant at Point of Shoals Lighthouse, VA. Her salary is $400/year. (Her husband William F. Hatsell is Keeper) 1872-1873: Rebecca Hatsell is appointed Second Assistant at Bodie Island Lighthouse, NC. Her salary is $350/year. 1873-1874: Rebecca Hatsell is appointed Third Assistant at Bodie Island Lighthouse, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-rebecca-hatsell-2/
Date of Service: 1894-1903 1868: Born on July 9th in King George County, VA. to parents Benjamin and Ann Grymes. 1870: In the U.S. Census, Martha, 2 years old, lives with her brother Benjamin, and parents on Mathias Point in King George County, VA. 1880: In the U.S. Census, Martha, 12 years old, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-martha-c-grymes/
Date of Service: 1886-1919 1861: Born to parents Benjamin and Ann Grymes in King George County, VA. 1870: In the U.S. Census, Benjamin, 9 years old, lives with his sister Martha, and parents on Mathias Point in King George County, VA. 1880: In the U.S. Census, Benjamin, age 19 and single, lives with his sister …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-benjamin-c-grymes/
Date of Service: 1857-1861 1818: Born to parents Robert & Amelia Lively in Elizabeth City, VA. 1857-1861: Amelia Lively Dewees is named Principal Keeper at Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, VA. Her salary is $550/year. 1861: Resigns as Principal Keeper on May 12th. 1865: Amelia Lively Dewees dies on August 10th in Elizabeth City, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-amelia-dewees-2/
Date of Service: 1867-1871 1831+/-: Ellen Mary Jackson is born in Maryland. 1848: Ellen Mary Jackson marries Zorabable H.H. Cropper on February 2nd, in Baltimore, MD. 1850: In the U.S. Census, she is 19 years old, married to Zorabable H.H. Cropper. 1860: In the U.S. Census, Ellen Cropper is 28, living with her husband …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-ellen-mary-cropper/
Date of Service: 1876-1883 1876: William Clegg is named First Assistant at Lambert Point Lighthouse, VA. His salary is $420/year. 1876-1883: William Clegg is named Principal Keeper at Lambert Point Lighthouse, VA. His salary is $540/year. (His wife Mrs. J.V. Clegg, served as First Assistant) Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-l-clegg/
Date of Service: 1876-1882 1876-1882: Mrs. J.V. Clegg is named the First Assistant Keeper at Lambert Point Lighthouse, VA. Her salary is $420/year. (Her husband William Clegg served as Principal Keeper Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-mrs-j-v-clegg/
Date of Service: 1867-1872 1820: Sally Bell is born in Virginia. 1840: Marries David Nottingham Boole on November 23rd. 1867-1872: Sallie Boole, named the First Assistant Keeper at Hog Island Lighthouse, VA. Her salary is $400/year. (Her husband David Boole served as Principal Keeper) 1895: Sallie Boole dies on January 15th. She is buried at …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-sallie-boole/
Date of Service: 1864-1872 1821: David Boole is born in Northampton County, Virginia. 1840: Marries Sally Bell on November 23rd. 1864-1872: David Boole is named Principal Keeper at Hog Island Lighthouse, VA. His beginning salary is $400/year, and his ending salary is $560/year. (His wife Sallie Boole served as First Assistant) 1896: David N. Boole …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-david-nottingham-boole/
Dates of Service: 1927-1957 1899: Born in Norway on March 14. 1914+/-: At age 15, Sven Olsen serves aboard a Norwegian Merchant ship for approximately 10 months. He then works on an English coal ship which was torpedoed by a German U-Boat during World War I off the coast of St. Nazaire, France. 1922-1925: …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-sven-t-olsen/
Date of Service: 1907-1921 1870: Born on December 10, in Mathews County, VA to parents Thomas & Mary Powell. 1897: Marries Maria Jane Winder on April 28 in Mathews County, VA. The couple has four children – Carl, Nellie, Audrey and Lizzie. 1907: The Mathews Journal reports that “Mr. R. F. Powell of Cricket …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-robert-franklin-powell/
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: 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/
Date of Service: 1909-1930 1861 Born on October 13 in Mathews County, VA to parents Larkin & Sarah Winder Davis. The couple has six children, two of whom will become lighthouse keepers. In addition to William Edward Davis, son Albert “Allie” L. Davis will serve at five Chesapeake Bay lighthouses for about 14 or more …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-edward-davis/
