Elzy Burroughs
Encyclopedia
Elzy Burroughs was an American
stonemason, engineer
, lighthouse
builder and keeper
.
A native of Stafford County, Virginia
, Elzy Burroughs' family leased and operated a sandstone
quarry
in the Aquia Creek
area of Stafford County. Known as Aquia sandstone, material from quarries in this area was utilized in the construction of Mount Vernon
, the United States Capitol
building, the White House
, and the first lighthouse constructed at Cape Henry in Princess Anne County, Virginia
, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
. As a young man, Burroughs worked in the Tidewater Virginia region at the turn of the nineteenth century. He had a young wife, a Miss Lightburn, also of Stafford County, and a growing family. During his travels he built stone and brick structures, including the county clerks' offices in York
and Middlesex
Counties. His oldest son, John J. Burroughs
(who later served as Clerk of Court of Princess Anne County), was born during this period in 1798 in Middlesex County, Virginia
.
Under contract with the young United States Government under President Thomas Jefferson
, Elzy Burroughs built three lighthouses along the Virginia coast, at Old Point Comfort
at Fort Monroe in 1802; New Point Comfort
, in Mathews County
in 1804, and Smith Point
in Northumberland County
around 1803 (moved further inland and rebuilt by Burroughs in 1807). Only the towers at Old Point and New Point have survived until the present, and both of these are known to be constructed from Aquia sandstone, likely from the Burroughs family quarry.
Soon after the construction of the New Point Comfort Light
, Burroughs settled in Mathews County with his wife and son John, building a house for his family on New Point Comfort Island. Elzy was also made keeper of that lighthouse, where he served officially until 1814. In fact, the subcontractor Elzy had hired to build the new keeper's house there had failed to properly supervise the firing of bricks for the house, and they were ruined. Since Elzy had paid the subcontractor in advance, he was ruined, financially, as well. So Elzy agreed to serve as keeper until he could find a way to finish the keeper's house. Around this time Elzy's younger brother William K. Burroughs was appointed the second keeper of the Smith Point Light
in 1806.
Elzy is known to have moved to Norfolk, Virginia
in 1810, before the end of his keeping service. By this time he is recorded to have been a widower with a large family. His wife, Ms. Lightburn, apparently died sometime in 1810 of unknown causes. During the War of 1812
he reputedly served on the staff of Brigadier General
Robert Barraud Taylor, who was in charge of military operations in the Hampton Roads
area. In connection with his service, some sources have called Burroughs the "hero of the Battle of Craney Island
", but no verification of his status as such is currently known.
Following the War of 1812, Burroughs lived the rest of his life in downtown Norfolk (on Boush Street) and was a successful road construction contractor in the region. He was also contracted by the Federal Government to conduct repairs on the three lighthouses that he originally built, along with old Cape Henry lighthouse, all of which had been badly damaged by British troops during the war. He married his second wife, Ms. Ann Murphy, on December 12, 1820, in Norfolk, but she died less than two years later. Not long after this, on November 8, 1825, Elzy Burroughs himself died after a short illness at what was then called "Cedar Grove", the farm of his eldest son John on Holland Road in Princess Anne Courthouse. Elzy's place of burial at Cedar Grove became the Burroughs family cemetery, which is now within sight of the modern Virginia Beach Municipal Center.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stonemason, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
builder and keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
.
A native of Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
, Elzy Burroughs' family leased and operated a sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
in the Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek
Aquia Creek is a tributary of the tidal segment of the Potomac River and is located in northern Virginia. The creek's headwaters lie in southeastern Fauquier County, and it empties into the Potomac at Brent Point in Stafford County, south of Washington, D.C....
area of Stafford County. Known as Aquia sandstone, material from quarries in this area was utilized in the construction of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
building, the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, and the first lighthouse constructed at Cape Henry in Princess Anne County, Virginia
Princess Anne County, Virginia
Princess Anne County is a former county which was created in the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States in 1691. The county was merged into the city of Virginia Beach...
, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. As a young man, Burroughs worked in the Tidewater Virginia region at the turn of the nineteenth century. He had a young wife, a Miss Lightburn, also of Stafford County, and a growing family. During his travels he built stone and brick structures, including the county clerks' offices in York
York County, Virginia
York County is a county located on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Situated on the York River and many tributaries, the county seat is the unincorporated town of Yorktown...
and Middlesex
Middlesex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,932 people, 4,253 households, and 2,913 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 6,362 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
Counties. His oldest son, John J. Burroughs
John J. Burroughs
John J. Burroughs was an American lawyer and Clerk of the Circuit Court for Princess Anne County, Virginia ....
(who later served as Clerk of Court of Princess Anne County), was born during this period in 1798 in Middlesex County, Virginia
Middlesex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,932 people, 4,253 households, and 2,913 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 6,362 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
.
Under contract with the young United States Government under President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, Elzy Burroughs built three lighthouses along the Virginia coast, at Old Point Comfort
Old Point Comfort
Old Point Comfort is a point of land located in the independent city of Hampton. It lies at the extreme tip of the Virginia Peninsula at the mouth of Hampton Roads in the United States....
at Fort Monroe in 1802; New Point Comfort
New Point Comfort
New Point Comfort is a point of land located in Mathews County at the tip of Virginia's Middle Peninsula in the lower Chesapeake Bay in the United States...
, in Mathews County
Mathews County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,978 people, 3,932 households, and 2,823 families residing in the county. The population density was 108 people per square mile . There were 5,333 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
in 1804, and Smith Point
Smith Point
Smith Point is a San Francisco-based rock band that was formed in 2002. The band has released two EPs and plays at various venues throughout the state of California....
in Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Virginia
Northumberland County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. In 2010, its population was 12,330. Its county seat is Heathsville...
around 1803 (moved further inland and rebuilt by Burroughs in 1807). Only the towers at Old Point and New Point have survived until the present, and both of these are known to be constructed from Aquia sandstone, likely from the Burroughs family quarry.
Soon after the construction of the New Point Comfort Light
New Point Comfort Light
New Point Comfort Light is a lighthouse in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. It is the third oldest surviving light in the bay, and the tenth oldest in the United states.-History:...
, Burroughs settled in Mathews County with his wife and son John, building a house for his family on New Point Comfort Island. Elzy was also made keeper of that lighthouse, where he served officially until 1814. In fact, the subcontractor Elzy had hired to build the new keeper's house there had failed to properly supervise the firing of bricks for the house, and they were ruined. Since Elzy had paid the subcontractor in advance, he was ruined, financially, as well. So Elzy agreed to serve as keeper until he could find a way to finish the keeper's house. Around this time Elzy's younger brother William K. Burroughs was appointed the second keeper of the Smith Point Light
Smith Point Light
Smith Point Light is a caisson lighthouse in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Potomac River. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
in 1806.
Elzy is known to have moved to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
in 1810, before the end of his keeping service. By this time he is recorded to have been a widower with a large family. His wife, Ms. Lightburn, apparently died sometime in 1810 of unknown causes. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
he reputedly served on the staff of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Robert Barraud Taylor, who was in charge of military operations in the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
area. In connection with his service, some sources have called Burroughs the "hero of the Battle of Craney Island
Battle of Craney Island
The Battle of Craney Island was a victory for the United States during the War of 1812. The battle saved the city of Norfolk, Virginia, from British invasion.-Background:...
", but no verification of his status as such is currently known.
Following the War of 1812, Burroughs lived the rest of his life in downtown Norfolk (on Boush Street) and was a successful road construction contractor in the region. He was also contracted by the Federal Government to conduct repairs on the three lighthouses that he originally built, along with old Cape Henry lighthouse, all of which had been badly damaged by British troops during the war. He married his second wife, Ms. Ann Murphy, on December 12, 1820, in Norfolk, but she died less than two years later. Not long after this, on November 8, 1825, Elzy Burroughs himself died after a short illness at what was then called "Cedar Grove", the farm of his eldest son John on Holland Road in Princess Anne Courthouse. Elzy's place of burial at Cedar Grove became the Burroughs family cemetery, which is now within sight of the modern Virginia Beach Municipal Center.