Journal of the Lighthouse Station at Pamlico Point Shoals

Photo by U.S. Coast Guard, 1973.

     The following notes are from a Journal of the Lighthouse Station at Pamlico Point Shoals.  The notes were extracted in 1999 by Robert "Bob" Kaiser, great grandson of Robinson L. Ireland.
     According to Bob, he visited the National Archives in Washington D.C. in the summer of 1999.  The Journal itself is a large bound book of records of the U.S. Coast Guard.  He began his research at the National Archives that day by searching through their index of records and found this Journal listed.  He requested the materials to view and he was taken into a room.  The book was brought in and he was able to actually view his great grandfather's writings in his own hand.  What a treat!!!  He was only able to make a few copies of the actual Journal itself, as it was quite costly to do this.  He recorded a few pages of journal entries on a notepad. 
     The beginning of the Journal is believed to be written in the hand of Robinson L. Ireland (1844 - 1900).  Other entries to the Journal may have been written by a Lighthouse Inspector.
     The original lighthouse was erected at Pamlico Point 1828. It was a brick tower that was on the shore at Pamlico Point.  It was attended by Noah Ireland (1832 - 1917) and Littleton J. Potter (circa 1840 - 1910).  The "new" light station was erected in 1891 and was a screwpile lighthouse that was on the water.

Notes before actual keeping of Journal begins, believed to be written in the hand of Robinson L. Ireland: 

     10 October 1887     Pamlico Point old tower light was discontinued by Order of the Light House Board.
     28 October 1887    The gas temporary was placed on Pamlico Point Shoal by Lieutenant J. Paul, Asst. Inspector.
     21 April 1889        Steamer Violet visited the station with lampist and erected a beacon light on the Point of Shoal at Pamlico Point, N.C.  Leaving the beacon light in command of L.J. Potter.
     10 January 1891    Capt. J.E. Wyatt came out with new light house for Pamlico Point, N.C. The new house was completed on 10th day of February 1891.
     15 February 1891  Capt. J.E. Wyatt and his crowd of workmen started for Baltimore at 10 A.M. with a moderate breeze from southwest.
    
Journal of the Lighthouse Station at Pamlico Point Shoals, N.C.at the mouth of Pamlico River
March 9, 1891

R. L. Ireland reported at Station March 9, 1891 as Keeper the new house March 9, 1891.

     9 March 1891     PM rainy fresh breeze South.  Littleton J. Potter reported at the Lt. Station as Assistant Keeper March 9, 1891.  Discontinued temporary light March 9, 1891.

Random selection of journal entries:

     12 March 1891    Thick rain, light SSE; PM thick rain, variable to SW.  Scrubbing and cleaning up generally.
     17 March 1891    Clear, fresh breeze NE; PM clear, fresh NE.  General cleaning the lens and brasses.
     21 March 1891    AM cloudy, light E; PM fresh, cloudy E.  Midnight storm of wind rain continued until 2:15 a.m., then heavy shift from West and dense rain until 4 a.m., fresh breeze continued from west until 6 p.m.
     4 September 1900  Moderate to calm AM, PM fresh breeze East.  Laborer left station 7:30 to attend R. L. Ireland funeral, late keeper of this station who died Sept. 3rd 1900.
    8 September 1900  Calm in fore noon, East; PM hazy.  Mrs. R.L. Ireland came to the station 3:00 p.m. and removed the personal effects of the late keeper deceased.

Names of Attendants - this is not a conclusive list, but names found from the Goose Creek Islander book, census records and other research materials.

Noah Ireland (1832-1917) - attendant of original lighthouse. Was a soldier in the Civil War, Co. B, 40th Regiment, North Carolina Troops, 1862. Served at Fort Fisher, where he fell into bomb proof, struck the step and injured back from which he never recovered. Buried in the Barnett Cemetery, Hobucken.

Robinson L. Ireland (1844 - 1900) - first keeper of  the "new" 1891 screwpile light station. Was transferred from Asst. Keeper of Brant Shoal Light Station to Keeper of Pamlico Point Light Station. Buried in Carawan Cemetery, Lowland.

Littleton J. Potter (circa 1840 - 1910) - attendant of original lighthouse and first assistant keeper of the "new" 1891 screwpile light station.  Was a soldier in the Civil War, NC Union Volunteers, 1st Regiment, NC Infantry - 1862-1865.   1880 census lists him as "keeper of lighthouse".  Home was at Pamlico Point. Buried in an unmarked grave in a field at the end of Prong Rd., Lowland.

Bob Hopkins - believed to serve as Keeper at the death of Keeper Robinson Ireland in 1900.

John T. Tolson - served as Assistant Keeper until his resignation September 30, 1909.

Devaney Jennette - was transferred from Smith Point Light Station in Maryland to Pamlico Point Light Station as Assistant Keeper on October 1, 1909.  His salary was $40 per month.  He took the place of John T. Tolson, who had resigned.  Mr. Jennette was from Hatteras, N.C.

Mumford Guynn (1862-1931)- served as Keeper. He was listed in the 1910 census as Keeper.  He was also Keeper in 1913 during the September 1913 Hurricane that flooded much of Washington, N.C.   Born in Virginia.  He is buried in the Mercer Cemetery, Lowland.


James "Jim" O. Casey - served as Assistant Keeper.

Peter Gallop

Vernon Gaskill