(1831-1905)
At the age of seventeen, Abigail married widower, Jeremiah Becker, a trapper and fisherman in the marshes of Long Point, who was already raising five boys and a girl; so young Abigail became a stepmother to these children. Over the next few years, they would add three girls and five boys to the Becker family.
The previous day, a three-masted schooner; Conductor; loaded with wheat; left Amherstburg harbour and headed for Toronto. Despite storm warnings, Captain Robert Hackett set off, feeling that they could make it safely before the worst of it hit, and if need be, could wait it out at Long Point Cut, in the safety of the harbour. However, with the driving snow and a moonless night, he missed familiar landmarks, and as the schooner took on water, it sank. The crew lashed themselves to the masts and prayed that their ship would not break up before daylight, when they might be seen.
Abigail Becker was up early on November 24; lit the kitchen fire as usual and then headed down to the beach to fetch the water for breakfast. She soon caught sight the Conductor, and the eight poor souls huddled in the rigging, and waving frantically, was thrilled when the men began to wave back. Herself a non-swimmer, she ran back to the house and immediately put her children to work.
She and the older ones ran down to the beach with matches, tea, a kettle, and blankets. Gathering driftwood to build a fire they soon had the water ready, while Abigail wrapped her skirt around her and waded into the freezing water to beckon the men to swim toward the fire. Knowing it was their only chance, the Captain kicked off his boots and told the men that he would go first, and if he made it safely, the rest should follow.
However, once near shore, his strength failed and the undertow began to carry him back. Undaunted, Abigail grabbed the collar of his coat, and half carried him to the waiting warm blankets and hot tea. She then went back into the water, encouraging the others, and one by one, five more seamen were brought safely to her fire. "At one point her crippled son rushed to her aid, only to have his crutch sink in the shifting sand, leaving him to the mercy of the churning waters. Again Abigail successfully saved both a seaman and his would-be rescuer".
Noticing the badly frost-bitten feet of one of the men, Abigail removed her shoes and gave them to him, continuing her work in bare feet, moving amoung them making sure they were warm and being looked after. All but the cook, who couldn't swim, were brought to safety that day, though the next morning the crew, now feeling much better, went out to the wreck and hauled him to shore. Though more dead than alive, he too, survived.
number of honours, including a banquet held at Buffalo (some of the men were American sailors), at which she was presented with $500, most of it contributed by sailors. A letter signed by Queen Victoria acknowledged her feat and enclosed a gift of £50. In 1860 the Prince of Wales presented a further cash gift while he was duck hunting on Long Point and the governor- general sent a belated congratulatory letter in the 1890s.
But probably the best recognition for her heroism came from The Benevolent Life Saving Association of New York, when they presented her with a gold medal. President Joseph Walker wrote: "The giving of our medal is confined to the saving of American life. If thee wilt find that there was an American life saved from on board Schooner Conductor, Abigail shall have our best medal." We know that at least two were, and the gold medal was struck.
However, when it arrived at Port Rowan, a receipt was required and since Abigail was unable to read or write, as receipt a daguerrotype was taken of Abigail proudly displaying her new bible and the medal (above right).
Eventually, Jeremiah went back to trapping to augment their meagre farm income, and their finances began to improve. When he froze to death on one outing, Abigail was left to to raise a young family on her own, until she married Henry Rohrer.
Abigail Jackson Becker Rohrer died on March 21, 1905, at the age of 74. A public subscription was taken at that time to erect a monument to her memory, and there was enough money left over to furnish a ward in the Norfolk General Hospital. She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Simcoe, and today looking over the Long Point Bay, stands a plaque describing the events of that stormy night and the heroism of one brave Canadian woman.
