The Keepers

The Keepers. . At every lighthouse in the United States, the lighthouse Keeper's House was built to house a keeper and his family. In most families, the wife and children would help keep the lights burning. In many cases, when the keeper died, the wife or son would become keeper. Concord Point had many members of the O'Neill family as keepers. John O'Neill, the first keeper, never did move his family into the 1880 Census Keeper's House as he already was an established businessman in town and owned a home nearby. He served at the lighthouse from 1827-38 with an annual salary of $350. Other keepers included: Thomas Courtney 1838-41 and 1844-49, John Blaney 1841-44 and 1849-53, Thomas Sutor, 1853-1861 and John O'Neill, Jr. 1861-1863. John O'Neill Jr.'s widow, Esther O'Neill, was official keeper from 1863 until her retirement in 1881. Her son, Capt. Henry E. O'Neill served from 1881-1919 and was the last keeper of the lighthouse. His annual pay was $500. His son, Henry F. O'Neill (Harry) served as custodian/laborer until the keeper's property was sold in 1920., [photo caption] , John O'Neill Jr. was keeper from 1861 to 1863, [1880 census notice] , Page No. 49 , Supervisor's Dist. No. 2 , Enumeration No. 46 , Note A.--The Common Year begins June 1, 1879, and ends May 31, 1880. , Note B.--All persons will be included in this Enumeration who were living on the 1st day of June, 1880. No others will. Children born since June 1, 1880, will be omitted. Members of Families who have died since June 1, 1880, will be included. , Note C.-- Questions Nos. 13, 14, 22 and 23 are not to be asked in respect to persons under 10 years of age. , Schedule 1.-- Inhabitants in Havre de Grace, in the County of Harford, State of Maryland , enumerated by me on the Ninth day of June, 1880. , _____ , Enumerator. , www.concordpointlighthouse.org , Maryland Heritage Areas Authority , LSHG