Montauk Point: Lighthouse Memories

The first lighthouse keeper in our family was my grandfather, John Ninde Buckridge. He had a picturesque career in the Navy and was part of Perry's Expedition to the China Sea and Japan where the Treaty of Friendliness was signed in March, 1854. He was one of three Americans who slept on Japanese soil after the Treaty was signed. His next venture was as a member of the Paraguay Expedition under LCDR Joseph Hull of Saybrook, CT, which took place from 1856 to 1859. Then he served in the Civil War, was injured and had his right leg amputated at the thigh. He began a 25 year career as a lighthouse keeper in 1877. He first served as assistant keeper of the Stepping Stones station. Next came the Stratford Shoals lighthouse and then Eatons Neck. The title "assistant Keeper" indicates to me that these were two-man stations. In 1883 he was assigned to the Inner Lighthouse, Lynde Point, at Saybrook, CT as Keeper. Here, at last, he was able to have his family with him. My father, Thomas Buckridge, was nine years old when my grandfather was assigned to Lynde Point Breakwater lighthouse, and he lived in the lighthouse until he married. He was initiated into lighthouse keeping at an early age, for apparently he did most of the climbing for his father who must have found it difficult to climb those tower stairs with a wooden leg.