Count Polereczky’s Impoverished Years at Seguin Island Lighthouse
Count John Polereczky went from Hungarian nobility to Maine lighthouse keeper in one lifetime. Born in France, he fought for America as a Hussar during the Revolution, then settled in Dresden, Maine.
In 1796, George Washington’s new lighthouse on Seguin Island needed a keeper, and Polereczky got the job as thanks for his war service.
Despite clearing nine acres and tending the light faithfully, his $200 yearly pay never rose. He begged officials to help feed his family of seven on the remote island, but they refused.
After eight years of struggle, this former count died penniless where he served.
Today, Seguin Island Light Station preserves his remarkable story at Maine’s second-oldest offshore lighthouse.
A Hungarian Count Went From Revolutionary War Hero to Lighthouse Keeper
John Polereczky came from Hungarian nobility with roots going back to 1613.
Born in France, he fought for the American colonists as a Hungarian Hussar in the French army during the Revolution. After the war, Polereczky settled in Dresden, Maine, where he put down roots.
For 25 years, he worked as the town clerk, becoming a well-liked local figure long before he started his lighthouse job.
President Washington Ordered A New Beacon For Maine’s Coast
George Washington approved building Seguin Island Lighthouse in 1795 after Massachusetts merchants asked for it in a petition back in 1786.
Massachusetts gave 10 acres on the island to the federal government in February 1794. Revenue boss Tench Coxe told General Benjamin Lincoln to find the best spot for the lighthouse.
Henry Dearborn ended up as the only person to bid on the project and built the structure from scratch.
The Count Got His Job Before The Lighthouse Was Ready
Polereczky got the lighthouse keeper job in March 1796, months before the light was finished. Benjamin Lincoln gave him the position to thank him for his Revolutionary War service, with Henry Dearborn backing him.
He started with a $200 yearly salary. The government hired him early to get the island ready for farming, paying him an extra $150 to clear at least nine acres of trees and bushes from the rocky ground.
Maine’s Second Offshore Lighthouse Came To Life
The Seguin Island Lighthouse started working in October 1796 with its first wooden tower. Workers built the 40-foot eight-sided wooden structure on a stone base and topped it with a 10-foot iron lantern.
Once the light started shining, Polereczky began getting his regular $200 yearly pay.
His brother-in-law, Christopher Pushard, joined him as helper to manage the tough job of keeping the light burning every night.
The Count Begged For More Money To Feed His Family
By May 1796, Polereczky wrote to Benjamin Lincoln asking for more money to support his growing family. In his letter, he said he was “willing to give up the pleasures of society to do the duties of that office.”
Within just nine months on the job, he sent two letters to Revenue Commissioner Tench Coxe begging for a raise.
Life on the remote, windy island turned out much harder and more costly than anyone in the government realized.
Government Officials Refused To Help The Struggling Keeper
Revenue boss Coxe wrote back to Lincoln about Polereczky’s request for better pay with a firm no.
He claimed the salary was enough for “perfectly good workers” while still noting Polereczky’s good name and war service.
Coxe argued that “the house, the fuel, the land and the salary with the chances for fish would attract many good workers.”
He wouldn’t even mention a raise to President Washington, using tight budget limits as his excuse.
Family Life On The Lonely Island Brought New Tensions
Christopher Pushard briefly moved his wife to Seguin Island, where they had their daughter Jane, likely the first baby ever born there. The new parents soon found island life too hard.
Pushard couldn’t get his family to stay for good in such a lonely place.
The tight living space and rough weather strained the relationship between Polereczky and his brother-in-law as they dealt with the challenges of lighthouse life.
The Harsh Island Conditions Broke The Count’s Finances
Polereczky kept asking for pay raises but got turned down every time despite facing some of the toughest lighthouse conditions in America.
Seguin Island ranks as one of Maine’s foggiest spots, with thick fog covering the area nearly 30% of days each year.
His family costs grew far beyond what his small paycheck could cover, pushing them deeper into money troubles.
With seven mouths to feed, Polereczky watched his noble background mean nothing as daily survival became his main worry.
Eight Years Of Faithful Service Took A Heavy Toll
From 1796 to 1804, Polereczky kept the lighthouse running without fail. Even though the government kept saying no to his requests for fair pay, he never left his post.
The light he kept going guided key shipping traffic heading to and from the Kennebec and Sheepscott Rivers.
His hard work kept the beacon working through storms, fog, and harsh Maine winters during those tough early years of American lighthouse keeping.
The Noble Keeper Died Broke On His Lonely Island
After eight years tending the light, Polereczky died penniless on Seguin Island in 1804. The constant money stress of trying to support seven people on too-small wages directly led to his death.
Despite his noble Hungarian roots and brave service in the Revolutionary War, he couldn’t overcome the money hardships of his lighthouse position.
His death showed how poorly America paid the keepers who protected ships along its dangerous shores.
The Count’s Ghost Story Lives On At Seguin Island
Jonathan Delano took over as keeper after Polereczky died, continuing the tradition of keeping the light burning.
Local folklore claims Polereczky’s ghost still walks the island, unable to rest after his years of underpaid service.
The lighthouse he worked so hard to maintain still guides ships today, now using a first-order Fresnel lens installed in 1857.
The Hungarian count’s sacrifice helped establish what would become one of Maine’s most important navigation aids, though few visitors know the story of its first keeper.
Visiting Seguin Island Light Station, Maine
You can reach Seguin Island Light Station by daily ferry from Sebasco Harbor Resort through RippleSmith Sailing during the 2025 season. There’s no dock, so you’ll wade through knee-deep water to reach the beach.
The resident keepers give tours of the historic 53-foot tower and museum from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
You can ride Maine’s only working lighthouse tramway to access the tower and see the massive 9-foot Fresnel lens from 1857.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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