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Where the Virginia Peninsula extends into the deep natural harbor of Hampton Roads, a unique lighthouse maintains its vigil. Its history is intertwined with the struggle for freedom in the United States. Two of its incredible keepers, William Roscoe Davis, and John Bradford Jones personify the experiences of African Americans in the Tidewater region. The building is a tangible reminder of their journey that merits an interpretive display on site to tell the full story of its keepers.
The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse is an octagonal structure standing a modest 58 feet from ground level to the top of the tower. Constructed in 1803, it was built with Aquia sandstone cut from the same quarry that supplied the builders of Mount Vernon, the U.S. Capitol, and the White House. Prior to the U.S. Civil War, a 4th order Fresnel lens was installed, dramatically reducing the light’s oil consumption. The light is situated at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula, on a spit of land named for the safe harbor it provided early settlers during a savage storm.
The strategic importance of this location for the defense of the Chesapeake Bay Region had long been recognized by its inhabitants. British forces traversed this waterway in the War of 1812, enabling their capture of Washington, D.C. After the war, the U.S. government authorized construction of a strong fortification at Old Point Comfort to prevent a repeat of the disaster. The resulting structure was built over a period of 25 years, initially by slave labor, and later by military convicts. It was christened Fort Monroe.
Incongruously, the land surrounding the massive stone fortress soon became home to several posh resorts. Vacationers would undertake excursions by boat into the calm waters of the Roadstead under the steady hand of William Roscoe Davis. This remarkable man was the son of a white sea captain and an enslaved woman. By the laws of the time, he was held in bondage as a slave by white plantation owners. He was allowed to retain his earnings as a pleasure boat operator and learned to read and write. Articulate and passionate, he became a popular “exhorter,” sharing his knowledge of the Bible with fellow slaves.
William married a slave named Nancy Moore, who was held on a nearby plantation, and they had six children together. Although she was to be legally freed upon the death of her erstwhile master, the master’s son refused to honor the will. In an unprecedented act, William spent his entire savings on a legal team and sued the owners of the plantation for her freedom. Incredibly, he won the suit, however, the local judge refused to enforce the ruling, dragging the case on for nearly a decade. Despite this setback, events were soon to provide William and Nancy with the opportunity to seize freedom on their own initiative.
In 1861, as William was turning 50 years old, the United States was torn apart by Civil War. Reports began to reach Major General Benjamin Butler, commander of the U.S. garrison at Fort Monroe, that rebel forces were using their slaves to construct military entrenchments. Three slaves escaped under the cover of night, using the beacon of the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse to guide them to Fort Monroe. Soon, their former enslavers arrived at the fort attempting to convince General Butler to return their so-called property back into enslavement according to the antebellum 1850 Fugitive Slave Act. Twisting their argument, General Butler declared the escaped slaves to be captured enemy property, and thus declared them “contraband of war.”
The way was now open for thousands of slaves to self-emancipate by reaching U.S. Forces, who would pay them for their labor, rather than send them back into slavery. William, Nancy, and their family quickly took their chance to escape to Fort Monroe. William’s eloquence was recognized, and he undertook a tour of Northern cities to raise money for the refugees at Fort Monroe. On their behalf, he advocated for access to education and religious services.
After the war, William was remembered for his warmth and dignity. In 1870, he was appointed as the keeper of the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse. In this capacity, he once hosted the inspector-general for all U.S. lighthouses. According to family legend, the inspector, a retired admiral, neglected to doff his hat upon entering the keeper’s quarters. William informed the admiral that “This may be a government lighthouse, but it is also my home, and you must respect it as such,” to which the admiral apologized and removed the offending hat.
In front of the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse was a fine sandy beach. At the time, there were no public beaches open to African Americans in this popular vacation area. William, however, ensured that the beach in front of the lighthouse was open to all. With a change in political administrations in 1878, William handed the care of the light to another former slave, John Bradford Jones.
Less is recorded about John’s life, however, there are some hints to his character. He was the longest serving keeper, caring for the light until 1908. In addition to these duties, he also raised a family in the quarters next to the lighthouse with his wife, Sally, who was herself a former slave. They would raise a son at Fort Monroe, James ‘Jack’ Wormley Jones, who would serve as a U.S. Army captain with the 92nd Infantry Division “Buffalo Soldiers” in combat during World War I. Later, Jack would become the first African American FBI Special Agent.
The stories of the keepers and their families are important for what they tell us about the spirit of the community around the lighthouse. Today, the light is nestled among local business, fishing piers, and the historic structures of Fort Monroe. It watches over the harbor, steps from the site where the first enslaved African Americans landed in Virginia. Part of the Fort Monroe National Monument, the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse remains an inspiring sight and is well worth a visit.
Due to the superb efforts of the National Park Service (NPS) and Fort Monroe Authority (FMA), the site has been preserved while continuing to drive economic growth in the community. As part of the NPS and FMA’s ongoing preservation of the site, managers should include a display fully interpreting the history of the structure and contextualizing the story of its lighthouse keepers. With their story available to visitors, the Old Point Comfort Lighthouse will continue to serve Hampton Roads as a Beacon of Freedom.
This story appeared in the
Sep/Oct 2021 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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