Tour of Georgetown Harbor and Lighthouse

 Georgetown Harbor

While on vacation in SC this past June 2010, my husband Pat and I took a day trip about 60 miles north of the Isle of Palms to Georgetown to see the Georgetown Lighthouse where my grandmother Irene Elizabeth O'Hagan Ball was born in 1890. The boat tour included a walk on the beach on North Island for collecting shells and a view of the Georgetown Lighthouse from the river. It was a wonderful half day tour that I highly recommend. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but our tour guide said that it may be open next year.

Georgetown Lighthouse

The lighthouse is isolated by water, strong currents and no roads, far from town or neighbors. I tried to imagine living there as my great grandmother did, a newlywed starting her marriage and family on a remote island. The first three of her 12 children where born at the Georgetown Lighthouse: Aunt Janie on July 1, 1887, Aunt Lottie on October 22, 1888, and my grandmother Irene on September. 6, 1890. Papa bought Julia a horse since she liked to ride.


I believe that Papa's oldest brother John J. O'Hagan drowned at Georgetown.

The lighthouse is on North Island in Winyah Bay where three rivers meet and flow into the Atlantic. The currents are very strong so even today, ships and boats must consider the tides or risk a long ride home.

My husband Pat enjoying the tour boat.

Married Feb. 24, 1886 Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church

I took a vacation with my family to Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, north of Charleston in June. We visited Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church where Papa and Julia Schuppe were married on February 24, 1886.

Stella Maris RCC c. 1920

It's a very pretty church located on Sullivan's Island, just a short drive from Wild Dunes.

Here's a copy of their marriage certificate I picked up while I was there. The witnesses were L. McKevlin and Hannah O'Hagan. Hannah was the wife of Papa's oldest brother, John J. O'Hagan.

A bonus to visiting the church is that it's across the street from Fort Moultrie, a national park. The fort is open to explore and takes you back to 1776 when it was a palm log fort. I was surprised to see that Seminole Chief Osceola is buried in front of the fort.

Denis and Mariah O'Hagan arrive NYC Sept. 2, 1850 on ship West Point

A friend found the following:

"In 1852, New York Emigrant Savings Bank Test Book for Denis O'Hagan, Stone Cutting -- Native of New Mills, 2 miles from Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland...on Sept. 2/50 on ship West Point from Liverpool. Parents living, father John, Mother Rose Malone; two brothers in Ireland. Patrick and John, 1 in U.S. Sisters living, Cathe Kerr, Hester, Rose Ann and Mary Jane; is married to Maria Corr. No Children."

Rose Malone was Denis' mother. I have notes from aunts and cousins that Denis' mother was Mary Jane Hamilton. Mary Jane was his sister

I will look for the passenger list of the West Point in 1850.

Papa's Service Years at Morris Island 1878-1887

I just got the book The Morris Island Lighthouse Charleston's Maritime Beacon by Douglas W. Bostick and found Papa and his brother listed in the Appendix Lightkeepers Stationed on Morris Light on page 124.

They served together from 1878 to 1880. Papa was there 1878-1887. John served 1876-1880.