WOMEN IN HISTORY - ABBIE BURGESS GRANT

Lighthouse keeper at Matinicus Rock and Whitehead Light Stations in Maine, commissioned by U.S. Coast Guard

DATE OF BIRTH

1839

PLACE OF BIRTH

Maine

DATE OF DEATH

1892

PLACE OF DEATH

Portland, Maine, in a house on Maple Street.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

In 1853, Abbie's father, Sam Burgess, was appointed Lighthouse Keeper at Matinicus Rock. Abbie was one of ten children. She had two older sisters, one older brother; five younger sisters; her youngest sibling was a boy. She married Isaac Grant, son of Capt. John Grant, the keeper of Matinicus after her father. They had four children: Francis, Melvina, Mary Louise and Harris. [This information is courtesy of Abbie's great granddaughter, Patricia Grant.]

EDUCATION

Limited formal schooling. Home-schooled by mother. Abbie could read and write.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Although her father and father-in-law held the title of Lighthouse Keeper at Matinicus Rock, it was Abbie that was in charge of the work. In 1873, Isaac was appointed Keeper at White Head Light Station and he and Abbie tended the lights there. Abbie received the appointment of assistant keeper at White Head in 1875. She retired from there in 1890 due to illness.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Clifford, Mary Louise and J. Candace, Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers. Williamsburg, Va., Cypress Communications, 1993.
  • Roop, Peter and Connie, Keep The Lights Burning, Abbie. Minneapolis, Minn., Carolrhoda Books, c1985. (for younger readers)
  • Jones, Dorothy Holder and Ruth Sexton Sargent Abbie Burgess, Lighthouse Heroine. New York, Funk & Wagnalls [1969] (fiction; for middle readers)

WEBSITES