Margaret Bock

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.