Dates of Service: 1880-1885 1848: Edward David Bland is born a slave in Dinwiddie County, VA., to parents Frederick & Nancy Yates Bland. 1860s: After the Civil War, the Bland family moves to Petersburg, VA, where Edward attended night school. 1872: Marries Nancy Jones on December 18th in Petersburg, VA. They raised 9 children. 1874: …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-edward-david-bland/
Date of Service: 1914 – 1925 1885: Born on June 12th in Accomack County, VA. 1914: Served as First Assistant at Point No Point Lighthouse, MD. His annual salary was $480. 1917: Served as First Assistant at Tangier Sound Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $480. 1917 – 1925: Promoted to Principal Keeper at Tangier …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-martin-wible/
Dates of Service: 1932-1942 1900: George Frank Hudgins born on October 1st, 1900, to parents Alex B. & Cora Powell Hudgins, in Mathews County, VA. 1920: In the U.S. Census, George F. Hudgins lives in Mathews County, VA. with his parents and 2 brothers. His occupation is listed as a Sailor. 1926: George F. Hudgins …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-frank-hudgins/
Dates of Service: 1888-1895 1842: John William Thomas is born in Mathews County, VA. to parents Jessie & Matilda Thomas. 1866: John W. Thomas marries Mary E. White on December 23rd in Mathews County, VA. 1880: In the US Census, John W. Thomas, age 36, lives with his wife, Mary, and their 4 children. His …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-william-thomas/
Date of Service: 1830 1796: James Davis marries Mary Clarke on October 1st in St. Mary’s County, MD. 1830: James Davis serves as Principal Keeper at Point Lookout Lighthouse, MD from September 20th through December 3rd, when he died on duty. His salary was $350. Sources: Chesapeake Chapter Keeper’s Database; familysearch.org; uslhs.org
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-davis/
Date of Service: 1830-1847 1830: James Davis (father of Ann Davis), is appointed Principal Keeper at Point Lookout Lighthouse, MD. On September 20th. 1830: James Davis dies on duty on December 3rd. 1830: Ann Davis is appointed Principal Keeper at Point Lookout Lighthouse, MD. On December 12th. Her annual salary is $350. 1831: In a …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-ann-davis-2/
Date of Service: 1866-1906 1842+/-: Benjamin Franklin Greenwood is born in Virginia. 1860: Benjamin Greenwood marries Julia Savage on November 22, in Arlington, VA. 1866: Benjamin Greenwood is appointed Principal Keeper at Jones Point Lighthouse, VA. at the age of 24. His beginning salary was $120/year, and his ending salary was $500/year. 1870: In the …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-benjamin-franklin-greenwood/
Date of Service: 1884-1885; 1891 1821: Born in Southampton County, Virginia to parents George and Catharine Worrell. 1858: His wife, Emeline Bond, is born in North Carolina to parents Mills and Morning Bond. 1879: George W. Worrell marries Emeline Bond on November 19th in Nansemond County, VA. 1880: In the US Census, George Worrell, age …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-w-worrell/
Date of Service: 1881-1883 1829: Exum White is born a free man in Nansemond County, VA. to Meredith & Parma Small White. 1840: Adaline Reed (Reid) is born in Virginia. 1850: In the US Census, Exum White (age 20) lives on the property of James & Lucy Norfleet in Nansemond County, VA. and works as …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-exum-white/
Date of Service: 1873-1881 1855-1860: Born in Virginia. 1873-1881: Served as Principal Keeper at Point of Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $540/year. 1880: In the US Census, William Washington lives in Isle of Wight County, VA., with his wife Maggie (age 22) and Lucy Sparrow (age 20) Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-washington/
Date of Service: 1879-1882 1836: Born in Virginia. 1879-1882: Served as Second Assistant at York Spit Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $400/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-shedrach-tucker/
Date of Service: 1883-1888 Born in Virginia. 1883-1888: Served as Assistant Keeper at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $540/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-samuel-thornton/
Date of Service: 1872-1883 1840: George W. Thomas is born in Virginia. 1868-1869: George W. Thomas lives in Isle of Wight County and owns a building that is rented to the Freedmen’s Bureau to be used as a school. He receives $5.00 per month in rent. 1872-1883: Served as Principal Keeper at White Shoal Lighthouse, …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-w-thomas/
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. …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-alfred-j-spady/
Date of Service: 1882 1853: Amy Wood is born in Edenton, NC., to parents William & Malvine Wood. 1860s: Amy Wood marries Haywood Pettigrew in Edenton, NC. They go on to raise 3 girls. 1870: In the U.S. Census, Amy and Haywood Pettigrew live in Tyrell County, NC. 1882: Amy W. Pettigrew served as Acting …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-amy-w-pettigrew/
Date of Service: 1880-1882 1845: Haywood B. Pettigrew is born in September, in Tyrell County, NC. 1864: Haywood Pettigrew enlists in the 2nd US Colored Cavalry as a Private. 1866: Pettigrew is discharged on February 12th as a Sergeant in the US Colored Cavalry. 1860s: Haywood Pettigrew marries Amy Wood in Edenton, NC. They go …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-haywood-b-pettigrew/
Date of Service: 1878-1888 1878-1880: Served as Second Assistant at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $400/year. 1880-1883: Served as First Assistant at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $440/year. 1883-1888: Served as Principal Keeper at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $660/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-james-payne/
Date of Service: 1912 1862: Born in Virginia approximately 1862. 1870s: Marries William Major Parker. 1886-1912: Lived with her husband, William Major Parker, Principal Keeper at Killock Shoal Lighthouse, VA. 1912: Venus Parker’s husband, William Major Parker died on duty January 22nd at the age of 57. Venus took over his duties of Principal Keeper …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-venus-parker/
Date of Service: 1876-1912 1855: Born in in April, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. 1870s: Marries his wife, Venus. 1876-1886: Served as Second Assistant at Assateague Lighthouse, VA. His beginning salary was $390/year and his ending salary was $400/year. 1886-1912: Served as Principal Keeper at Killock Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His beginning salary was $500/year …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-major-parker/
Date of Service: 1872-1886 1842: Born in Northampton County, VA. to parents Gilbert & Rachael Parker. 1872-1878: Served as Assistant Keeper at Thimble Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $440/year. 1874: Married Sarah Jane Lyons on April 20th in Hampton VA. 1878-1886: Served as Principal Keeper at Back River Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-southey-parker/
Date of Service: 1870-1871 1870-1871: Served as Assistant Keeper at Lower Cedar Point Lighthouse, MD. His salary was $400/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-f-parker/
Date of Service: 1873-1885 1852: Born in Virginia. 1873-1874: Served as Assistant Keeper at Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $420/year. 1874-1885: Served as Principal Keeper at Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $540/year. 1880: In the US Census, Santa A. Morse (28) lives in York County, VA., with his …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-santa-a-morse/
Date of Service: 1875-1886 Born in Maryland. 1875-1877: Served as Assistant Keeper at Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, MD. His salary was $420/year. 1877-1886: Served as Principal Keeper at Craighill Lower Range Front Lighthouse, MD. His salary was $540/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-b-lewis/
Date of Service: 1880-1884 1835: Born in Virginia. 1880: In the US Census, Alexander G. Lee (age 45) lives in Hampton, VA., with his wife Nellie (age 50), and two sons. His occupation is lighthouse keeper. 1880-1881: Served as Assistant Keeper at Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $400/year. 1881-1882: Served as Second …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-alexander-g-lee/
Date of Service: 1878-1908 1841: Born a slave in York County, VA. 1860s: Married Sarah “Sal”, a free slave. 1870: In the US Census, John B. Jones lives in the Old Point Area of Virginia with his wife Sarah and their two children. His occupation is listed as a bartender. 1878-1908: Served as Principal Keeper …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-john-bradford-jones/
Date of Service: 1873-1885 1844: Born in Virginia. 1873: Served as Second Assistant at York Spit Shoal Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $400/year. 1874-1876: Served as Assistant Keeper at Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was $420/year. 1876-1882: Served as Assistant Keeper at Point of Shoals Lighthouse, VA. His annual salary was …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-thomas-hunt/
Date of Service: 1890-1917 1858: George W. Holloway is born in Isle of Wight County, VA., to parents George & Rosetta Holloway. 1864+/-: Josephine Tynes is born in Isle of Wight County, VA., to parents Charles & Susan Tynes. 1880: In the US Census, George Holloway, age 21, lives in Isle of Wight County, VA., …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-george-w-holloway/
Date of Service: 1870 1815: Born in Blackwater (Virginia Beach) Virginia on February 12th to a free African American family. 1836: Moves to Williamsburg, NY with his family. 1840s: Started an anti-slavery newspaper, The Ram’s Horn. 1867: Hodges was the first African American elected to represent Princess Anne County in the 1867-1868 Virginia Constitutional Convention. …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-willis-augustus-hodges/
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 …
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-william-m-gunter/
Date of Service: 1862-1863; 1882-1883 1862-1863: Served as Principal Keeper at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $500/year. 1882-1883: Served as Second Assistant at Cape Charles Lighthouse, VA. His salary was $400/year. Sources: Familysearch.org, Chesapeake Chapter Database.
Permanent link to this article: https://cheslights.org/keeper-bio-thomas-j-fitchett/
