 Her heroic actions attracted much attention and she was soon a popular heroine.Abbie Burgess was the fourth of nine children of Samuel and Thankful (Phinney) Burgess, who moved with his invalid wife, a son, and several daughters to Matinicus Rock in 1853 to become its lighthouse tender.Although only 15, she soon took over duties of tending the lighthouse so that her father could fish and catch lobster, which he sold in Rockland, Maine, 25 miles (40 km) away.