An entry in the records at the Carteret County Courthouse in Beaufort, NC, shows the gift of land by Joseph Fulford and Elijah Pigott for the erection of a lighthouse on Cape Lookout. The entry is dated Feb 18, 1805 and reads:
"We, Joseph Fulford and Elijah Pigott of the County of Carteret and State of North Carolina, in consideration of the sum of $1 paid to us by the United States of America, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, do hereby, give, grant, bargain, sell . . . to the said United States of America four acres of land on Cape Lookout so-called in the State aforesaid for the accommodation of a lighthouse to be erected in pursuance of the Act of Congress pased on the 20th day of March 1804." (Deed Book O, pg 427)
The lighthouse was duly erected and began service in 1812. It was 96 feet tall.
The first known keeper of the light was James Fulford, who was appointed Jun 2, 1812, and served 16 years.
On Jan 28, 1828, William Fulford was appointed keeper. He was still at it at age 64, according to the 1860 Census. He served for 26 years.
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