In August 1989, we received a donation of a Betty lamp from Eleanor Storer of Lakewood, New Jersey. Eleanor was a past president and longtime member of the Kingsland Manor Trust and the author of Abrigail’s Tales of Nutley, a book that has been popular with the children who visit the Manor to see Santa and Mrs. Claus.

A Betty lamp was one of the first lamps brought over by the Pilgrims. It was basically a plate or tray with lips on the edge to hold a wick. The tray was filled with oil or fat and the wicks lighted. Our Betty lamp has a tri-cornered plate, or three lips.

The description that was written of the Betty lamp when it was accepted by the Historic Restoration Trust was: a rare example of a New England Betty Lamp (whale oil); made of cast iron; tri-cornered about 1” deep; 4-1/2” x 4” on a solid bracket 6-1/2” with a fancy tip; suspended by a whale hook from a twisted metal bar 9-1/2”; belonged to the Storer family in Wells, Maine which dates back to 1610.

The Betty lamp is in our Summer Kitchen.