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{{unreferenced|date=September 2011}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name =Abbie Burgess
|name =Abbie Burgess
|image =
|image =File:AbbieBurgess(1).jpg
|alt =
|alt =
|caption =Abbie Burgess
|caption =Abbie Burgess
|birth_name =Abbie Burgess
|birth_name =Abbie Burgess
|birth_date = 1839
|birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Birth-date and age|Month DD, YYYY}} -->
|birth_place =
|birth_place = Rockland, Maine
|death_date = 1892, age 53
|death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) -->
|death_place =
|death_place =
|nationality =[[File:Flag of the United States.svg|23px]] [[Americans|American]]
|nationality =[[File:Flag of the United States.svg|23px]] [[Americans|American]]
|other_names =
|other_names =
|known_for =
|known_for =
|occupation =Lighthouse Keeper
|occupation =Lighthouse keeper
}}
}}
'''Abbie Burgess Grant''' (1839–1892) was an [[United States|American]] [[lighthouse keeper]] known for her bravery in tending the [[Matinicus Rock Light]] in [[Maine]] during a raging winter storm in 1856. She did so for nearly a month while her father, the head keeper, was away from the island. Her heroic actions attracted much attention and she was soon a popular heroine.
'''Abbie Burgess Grant''' (1839–1892) was an American [[lighthouse keeper]] known for her bravery in tending the [[Matinicus Rock Light]] in [[Maine]] during a raging winter storm in 1856. She did so for nearly a month while her father, the head keeper, was away from the island. Her heroic actions attracted much attention and she was soon a popular heroine.


== Biography ==
Burgess later married a lighthouse keeper, and spent fifteen years as the keeper at the nearby [[Whitehead Light]]. After her death in 1892, a memorial in the form of an aluminum scale replica lighthouse was placed over her grave in [[Spruce Head Cemetery]].

Abbie was the fourth of nine children of Samuel and Thankful (Phinney) Burgess,<ref name="MaineEncy">{{cite web|last1=Brassard|first1=Nicole|title=Grant, Abbie Burgess|url=http://maineanencyclopedia.com/grant-abbie-burgess/|website=Maine, an Encyclopedia|publisher=Publius Research|accessdate=25 February 2017|date=2008}}</ref><ref name="VirtGuide">{{cite web|last1=D'Entremont|first1=Jeremy|title=History of Matinicus Rock Light, Maine|url=http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/matinicus-rock-light-history.html|website=New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref> who moved to Matinicus Rock in 1853 to become its lighthouse keeper.<ref name="NELights">{{cite web|last1=Wood|first1=Alan|title=Matinicus Rock Lighthouse|url=http://www.nelights.com/exploring/Maine/matinicus_rock_light.html#history|website=New England Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions|publisher=Allan Wood Photography|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref> Although only 15, she soon took over duties of tending the lighthouse so that Samuel could fish and catch lobster, which he sold in [[Rockland, Maine]], 25 miles (40&nbsp;km) away. In the lighthouse, she found a lightkeeper's log, which detailed great storms that had struck Matinicus Rock, including one in 1839 that had destroyed the original lighthouse.<ref name="Rootsweb">{{cite web|title=Abigail Burgess Grant|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mdbnotes/burgess/abbie.htm|website=Rootsweb|publisher=Ancestry.com|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="VirtGuide" />

The family lived in a home near the new lighthouse, and Abbie became concerned that if a gale came, it could get damaged, and Thankful would be unable to be moved. In December 1855 she transferred Thankful's bedroom to a small room in the lighthouse itself.<ref name="Rootsweb" /> Less than a month later a devastating gale struck.

=== Gale of 1856 ===

In January 1856, Samuel left Abbie, Thankful, and her younger sisters to take care of the lighthouse while he went to obtain supplies in Rockland. The lighthouse cutter that was supposed to have supplied the family had not shown up for its September delivery, and food and oil for the lights were running low. He feared that the family might be stuck on the island throughout the winter with no supplies. He charged Abbie with the care of both her family and the lighthouse.<ref name="VirtGuide" />

Almost as soon as he had left, the wind shifted and a gale began. It blew for three days, with waves so high they overran the island with knee-deep water. The home intended for the family was completely washed away. Abbie and her sisters had to secure the lighthouse windows to keep the waves from breaking them in. The lower level flooded, and they were forced to seek refuge in the north lighthouse tower.<ref name="VirtGuide" /> Abbie even managed to rescue all but one of their chickens.<ref name="NEHS" /> Throughout this ordeal she kept the lights burning.<ref name="Rootsweb" />

Even after the gale subsided, the waves were too treacherous for Samuel to return for another three weeks. The family subsisted on one cup of cornmeal mush and one egg per day until Samuel was able to return with supplies.<ref name="NELights" />

=== Later life ===

Samuel lost his position as lighthouse keeper in 1861 for not supporting [[Abraham Lincoln]].<ref name="NEHS">{{cite web|title=Abbie Burgess, Teenaged Heroine of Matinicus Rock Light|url=http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/abbie-burgess-16-year-old-heroine-matinicus-rock-lighthouse/|website=New England Historical Society|date=16 June 2014 |accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref> (At the time lighthouse keepers were presidential appointees.) He was replaced by Captain John Grant. Abbie, however, stayed on to train him and fell in love with his youngest son, Isaac. They were eventually married, and served as assistant keepers on Matinicus Rock for fourteen years, where they had four sons. They were then moved to [[Whitehead Light]] off [[St. George, Maine]], where they served as lighthouse keepers for fifteen years before retiring in 1890.<ref name="MaineEncy" />

Abbie died in [[Portland, Maine]] in 1892. Maritime historian [[Edward Rowe Snow]] located her grave in Forest Hills Cemetery in [[South Thomaston, Maine]] and in 1945 arranged for a memorial in the form of an aluminum scale replica lighthouse to be placed over it.<ref name="NEHS" /><ref name="VirtGuide" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
Burgess is the subject of two [[children's books]]: ''Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie'' by Peter Roop, Connie Roop and Peter E. Hanson and ''Abbie Against the Storm'' by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. She is also that of the folk song "Lighthouse Keeper" by Neptune's Car. There is a [[United States Coast Guard]] [[USCG coastal buoy tender]] (WLM 553) based in [[Rockland, Maine]] named after her as well.
Abbie is the subject of several books, including the [[children's books]] ''Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie'' by Peter Roop, Connie Roop, and Peter E. Hanson, which was featured as the title book of an episode of the children's television program ''[[Reading Rainbow]]'', and ''Abbie Against the Storm'' by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Abbie is also the subject of Your Story Hour's family-friendly radio drama, ''Abbie, the Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter'' on Exciting Events, CD 1, published in 2014.
<ref>{{cite web |title=Abbie, the Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter |url=https://www.yourstoryhour.org/story/exciting-events-volume-1 |publisher=Your Story Hour |access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>

The folk song "Lighthouse Keeper"<ref>{{cite web|title=Lighthouse Keeper| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwfTpknZh9U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/dwfTpknZh9U |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|accessdate=25 February 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> by Neptune's Car<ref>{{cite web|url=http://NeptunesCar.com|title=Neptune's Car|accessdate=25 February 2017}}</ref> was inspired by the experiences of women lighthouse tenders including Abbie, [[Ida Lewis]], and [[Katherine Walker]].

In 1998, the [[United States Coast Guard]] commissioned Cutter [[USCGC Abbie Burgess|''Abbie Burgess'' (WLM-553)]], a 175' [[Keeper-class cutter|Keeper-class buoy tender]]. She is currently stationed in Rockland.<ref>{{cite web|title=USCGC Abbie Burgess (WLM 553)|url=https://www.uscg.mil/d1/cgcabbieburgess/|publisher=United States Coast Guard|accessdate=25 February 2017|ref=WLM553}}</ref>

In 2023, the Chance Theater in Anaheim, CA presented a play, "Matinicus: The Story of Abigail Burgess," written by Jenny Connell Davis, about Abbie's time on Matinicus Rock with her family.<ref>{{cite web|title="Matinicus: The Story of Abigail Burgess" Show Page|url=https://www.chancetheater.com/matinicus/|publisher=Chance Theater|accessdate=29 March 2023|ref=WLM553}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/Abbie_Burgess.asp Coast Guard bio]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/Abbie_Burgess.asp Coast Guard bio]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/175wlm.htm Buoy Tender information]
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/175wlm.htm |title=Buoy Tender information |access-date=2006-10-09 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011123074753/http%3A//www.uscg.mil/datasheet/175wlm.htm |archive-date=2001-11-23 |url-status= }}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata
|NAME =Burgess, Abbie
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = Lighthouse keeper
|DATE OF BIRTH =1839
|PLACE OF BIRTH =
|DATE OF DEATH =1892
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burgess, Abbie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burgess, Abbie}}
[[Category:1839 births]]
[[Category:1839 births]]
[[Category:1892 deaths]]
[[Category:1892 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Knox County, Maine]]
[[Category:People from Rockland, Maine]]
[[Category:Lighthouse keepers]]
[[Category:United States Lighthouse Service personnel]]
[[Category:Women lighthouse keepers]]
[[Category:American lighthouse keepers]]
[[Category:People from St. George, Maine]]
[[Category:19th-century American women]]
[[Category:History of women in Maine]]

Latest revision as of 01:14, 6 October 2024

Abbie Burgess
Abbie Burgess
Born
Abbie Burgess

1839
Rockland, Maine
Died1892, age 53
Nationality American
OccupationLighthouse keeper

Abbie Burgess Grant (1839–1892) was an American lighthouse keeper known for her bravery in tending the Matinicus Rock Light in Maine during a raging winter storm in 1856. She did so for nearly a month while her father, the head keeper, was away from the island. Her heroic actions attracted much attention and she was soon a popular heroine.

Biography

[edit]

Abbie was the fourth of nine children of Samuel and Thankful (Phinney) Burgess,[1][2] who moved to Matinicus Rock in 1853 to become its lighthouse keeper.[3] Although only 15, she soon took over duties of tending the lighthouse so that Samuel could fish and catch lobster, which he sold in Rockland, Maine, 25 miles (40 km) away. In the lighthouse, she found a lightkeeper's log, which detailed great storms that had struck Matinicus Rock, including one in 1839 that had destroyed the original lighthouse.[4][2]

The family lived in a home near the new lighthouse, and Abbie became concerned that if a gale came, it could get damaged, and Thankful would be unable to be moved. In December 1855 she transferred Thankful's bedroom to a small room in the lighthouse itself.[4] Less than a month later a devastating gale struck.

Gale of 1856

[edit]

In January 1856, Samuel left Abbie, Thankful, and her younger sisters to take care of the lighthouse while he went to obtain supplies in Rockland. The lighthouse cutter that was supposed to have supplied the family had not shown up for its September delivery, and food and oil for the lights were running low. He feared that the family might be stuck on the island throughout the winter with no supplies. He charged Abbie with the care of both her family and the lighthouse.[2]

Almost as soon as he had left, the wind shifted and a gale began. It blew for three days, with waves so high they overran the island with knee-deep water. The home intended for the family was completely washed away. Abbie and her sisters had to secure the lighthouse windows to keep the waves from breaking them in. The lower level flooded, and they were forced to seek refuge in the north lighthouse tower.[2] Abbie even managed to rescue all but one of their chickens.[5] Throughout this ordeal she kept the lights burning.[4]

Even after the gale subsided, the waves were too treacherous for Samuel to return for another three weeks. The family subsisted on one cup of cornmeal mush and one egg per day until Samuel was able to return with supplies.[3]

Later life

[edit]

Samuel lost his position as lighthouse keeper in 1861 for not supporting Abraham Lincoln.[5] (At the time lighthouse keepers were presidential appointees.) He was replaced by Captain John Grant. Abbie, however, stayed on to train him and fell in love with his youngest son, Isaac. They were eventually married, and served as assistant keepers on Matinicus Rock for fourteen years, where they had four sons. They were then moved to Whitehead Light off St. George, Maine, where they served as lighthouse keepers for fifteen years before retiring in 1890.[1]

Abbie died in Portland, Maine in 1892. Maritime historian Edward Rowe Snow located her grave in Forest Hills Cemetery in South Thomaston, Maine and in 1945 arranged for a memorial in the form of an aluminum scale replica lighthouse to be placed over it.[5][2]

Legacy

[edit]

Abbie is the subject of several books, including the children's books Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter Roop, Connie Roop, and Peter E. Hanson, which was featured as the title book of an episode of the children's television program Reading Rainbow, and Abbie Against the Storm by Marcia Vaughan and illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Abbie is also the subject of Your Story Hour's family-friendly radio drama, Abbie, the Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter on Exciting Events, CD 1, published in 2014. [6]

The folk song "Lighthouse Keeper"[7] by Neptune's Car[8] was inspired by the experiences of women lighthouse tenders including Abbie, Ida Lewis, and Katherine Walker.

In 1998, the United States Coast Guard commissioned Cutter Abbie Burgess (WLM-553), a 175' Keeper-class buoy tender. She is currently stationed in Rockland.[9]

In 2023, the Chance Theater in Anaheim, CA presented a play, "Matinicus: The Story of Abigail Burgess," written by Jenny Connell Davis, about Abbie's time on Matinicus Rock with her family.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Brassard, Nicole (2008). "Grant, Abbie Burgess". Maine, an Encyclopedia. Publius Research. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e D'Entremont, Jeremy. "History of Matinicus Rock Light, Maine". New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b Wood, Alan. "Matinicus Rock Lighthouse". New England Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions. Allan Wood Photography. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Abigail Burgess Grant". Rootsweb. Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Abbie Burgess, Teenaged Heroine of Matinicus Rock Light". New England Historical Society. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Abbie, the Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter". Your Story Hour. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  7. ^ "Lighthouse Keeper". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Neptune's Car". Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  9. ^ "USCGC Abbie Burgess (WLM 553)". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  10. ^ ""Matinicus: The Story of Abigail Burgess" Show Page". Chance Theater. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
[edit]
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