COLLECTION GUIDES

1776-1988

Guide to the Collection

Restrictions on Access

The Jackson family papers II are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.


Collection Summary

Abstract

The Jackson family papers contain materials gathered by Mary L. (Muir) Cammann in preparation for a publication of the letters of this family from which she is descended. Included are original documents; copies, both typescripts and photostats, of letters from individuals and manuscript repositories; background materials and research collected on the family; and her correspondence during the process of research and preparation.

Biographical Sketches

Michael Jackson (1734-1801) of Newton, Mass. served in the French and Indian Wars at Louisbourg, as a private in the Newton Minutemen Company, and at Lexington and Concord. He was commissioned a major in the Continental Army in 1775, fought at Bunker Hill, and was commissioned colonel of the 8th Massachusetts Infantry in 1777. He married Ruth Parker (b. 1731) in 1759.

Simon Jackson (1760-1818) of Newton, Mass., the second son of Michael and Ruth Jackson, served in Captain Phineas Cook's Co. in 1775; was a lieutenant in William Bond's regiment; and was a member of his father's 8th Massachusetts Infantry (1777-1783). He then served in various other regiments until 1784. He married Borodell Shepherd in 1786 and Sarah (Sally) Spring in 1802. He was a farmer and speculator in Newton.

Ebenezer Jackson (1763-1837) was the third son of Michael and Ruth Jackson. He was born in Newton, Mass. and enlisted in his father's regiment (the 8th Massachusetts Infantry) at the age of 14. He served in various regiments until 1783 when he was sent south to establish the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina. He settled in Savannah, Ga. and was involved in various business activities, among them the sale of rice and cotton; the establishment of a packet ship between New York and Savannah; several land companies, including the Tennessee Company; and the ownership of two plantations. He also owned a home in Walnut Grove in Middletown, Conn. from 1801-1826, which served as his family's summer home. He married Charlotte Fenwick Pierce (1766-1819) in 1792.

William Leigh Pierce (b. 1740), the first husband of Charlotte Fenwick, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, reaching the rank of major, and a businessman in Savannah, Ga. as the head of William Pierce & Company. They had one son, William Leigh Pierce, Jr. (1790-1814).

Amasa Jackson (1765-1824), the fourth son of Michael and Ruth Jackson, served in his father's infantry (8th Massachusetts) from 1777-1783 and in other regiments until 1784. He, like his brother Ebenezer, was a merchant in Georgia; the president of the Jersey Bank, 1805-1810; president of the Union Bank, 1811-1821; and the second president of the New England Society. He married Ann Lauder (1765-1793) in 1789 and Mary Phelps (1778-1859) in 1798.

Charles Jackson (1767-1801), the fifth son of Michael and Ruth Jackson, served like his brothers in his father's regiment from 1777-1783 and in other regiments in 1784. He attended the College at Providence (Class of 1788) and received his A.M. in 1796. He was educated in law by General William Hull and served as the U.S. district attorney for Georgia from 1797-1801.

Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. (1796-1874), the son of Ebenezer and Charlotte F. Jackson, graduated from St. Mary's College in 1814; studied law at Litchfield Law School; and was admitted to the bar and began practicing in Philadelphia in 1821. He moved to Middletown, Conn. in 1821 and was involved in politics for several years, serving as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1820-1832 and 1849 and as a U.S. congressman from Connecticut in 1834-1835. He married Eliza Harper (1901-1838) in 1822 and Hannah S. Hubbard (1815-1903) in 1840.

Note: Additional biographical and genealogical information on the Jackson family can be found in Carton 2.

Collection Description

The Jackson family papers contain materials gathered by Mary L. (Muir) Cammann in preparation for a publication of the letters of this family from which she is descended. Included are original documents (most with typescripts in preparation for publication); copies, both typescripts and photostats, of letters from individuals and manuscript repositories; background materials and research collected on the family; and her correspondence during the process of research and preparation. The volume of letters was never published.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mary L. Cammann, Philadelphia, Pa., June 1989.

Restrictions on Access

The Jackson family papers II are stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Detailed Description of the Collection

I. Original materials, 1792-1844

Arranged chronologically.

(Formerly Box 1, Folder 1-12, and Box 7, Vol. 1.)

Letters and other documents of the Jackson family, including family letters; items related to Ebenezer Jackson's involvement in land companies, especially the Tennessee Co.; and deeds related to the site of Walnut Grove in Middletown, Conn. Also included are letters, passports, and a travel journal of Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. on a trip to Europe, 25 June 1836-8 Mar. 1837. Among the other family members represented here are Charlotte F. Jackson, Ruth Jackson, Selina F. Jackson, and Josiah Tatnall.

Letters, 1792-1840

NOTE: The following list of items is a partial list, but represents the bulk of the original materials in the collection.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Memo, Matthias Maher can object to Zachariah Cox's drawing money out of the Georgia treasury for part of the money for the Tennessee Co. for the following reasons, n.d.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Philadelphia: William Hunter to Ebenezer Jackson, has been busy helping friends; kept his mind off his unhappiness, 6 Nov. 1792

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Receipt, Hamilton & Harper to Treasurer of Tennessee Co., 4 June 1797

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Arthur Harper, to His Excellency Jared Irwin, Governor of Georgia, to keep Zachariah Cox from taking Tennessee Co.'s money out of Georgia treasury, 4 July 1797

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Receipt, Matthias Maher to Seaborn Jones, for consultation on Tennessee Co., 1 Apr. 1800

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Augusta: Receipt, George Walker to Matthias Maher, for consultation on Tennessee Co., 2 Apr. 1800

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New York: Receipt, Matthias Maher to A. Jackson, for advertising meeting of Tennessee Co., 16 June 1800

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Account, Matthias Maher and Tennessee Co., 1795-1800, 20 June 1800

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New Haven, Conn.: William Leigh Pierce, Jr. to his step-grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson, on family matters, 25 Sep. [1800]

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New Haven, Conn.: Ebenezer Jackson to his brother Simon Jackson, best wishes on the latter's marriage to Sally Spring; just bought Walnut Grove, Middletown, Conn., 15 Aug. 1801

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown, Conn.: Deed from Nancy Starr, Samuel Huggins, Jr., and Patty D. Huggins to Ebenezer Gilbert, Jr. for land in Middletown, 7 Sep. 1801

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Walnut Grove: Charlotte F. Jackson to her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Spring Jackson, home life, 2 Apr. 1803

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown, Conn.: Deed from Ebenezer Gilbert, Jr. to George Jones for land in Middletown, 21 July 1803

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Newton, Mass.: Ruth Jackson to her daughter-in-law Charlotte F. Jackson, family matters, 27 Feb. 1804

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Newton, Mass.: Borodell S. Jackson to his grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson, tells of his schooling, 1 Sep. 1804

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Newton, Mass.: Borodell S. Jackson to his grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson, on family matters, 30 Dec. 1805

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown, Conn.: Ruth Jackson to her son Ebenezer Jackson, family matters, 21 Feb. 1806

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

London: Selina Fenwick to Charlotte F. Jackson, family news, 16 Dec. 1807

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Charlotte F. Jackson to her son Ebenezer Jackson, sending Ebenezer, Jr.'s composition on duelling, 8 Feb. 1808

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Colchester: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his father Ebenezer Jackson, school life, [1809]

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Hartford: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his father Ebenezer Jackson, school life, 15 Jan. 1809

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Hartford: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his mother Charlotte F. Jackson, personal news, 27 July 1809

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Colchester: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his father Ebenezer Jackson, asks for declamation and to go to a ball, 10 Aug. 1809

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Chatham County, Ga.: Deed from George Jones to Ebenezer Jackson for land in Middletown, 1 Jan. 1810

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Memo by S. W. Dana concerning Charlotte F. Jackson's power over estate from her first marriage, 29 July 1811

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Power of attorney regarding Georgia Mississippi Co., 19 Mar. 1814

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Georgia: Letter and power of attorney from Thomas Young to Ebenezer Jackson regarding Georgia Tennessee Co., 18 July 1814

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Easton: William Sitgreaves to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. regarding Baltimore and Philadelphia and the War of 1812, 30 Oct. 1814

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Ebenezer Jackson to his wife, Charlotte F. Jackson, rejoicing in peace, 3 Feb. 1815

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Indenture between Arthur Harper of Charleston, S.C. and U.S. on Tennessee Co., 27 Apr. 1815

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New York: Daniel Lord, to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., advice on where to practice law, 27 Feb. 1816

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New York: Charlotte F. Jackson to Mrs. Arthur Harper, thanks for her kindness during her daughter Harriet Jackson's stay with her, 16 Jan. 1817

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Exeter: Amasa Jackson, Jr. to his mother Charlotte F. Jackson, regarding school, 9 June 1817

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Hartford: Selina Jackson to her mother Charlotte F. Jackson, regarding personal matters, 5 July 1817

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Philadelphia: Martha Gadson to Charlotte F. Jackson, on personal matters, 17 Sep. 1817

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New York: Selina Jackson to her mother Charlotte F. Jackson, on her studies, 1 May 1818

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New York: Selina Jackson to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. on his recent sickness, 10 July 1820

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: L. Koliock to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., congratulations upon his marriage, 22 Aug. 1822

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Washington, D.C.: A. Cuthbert to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., informing him that tariff will be next subject in Congress, 3 Feb. 1824

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

U.S. Military Academy, West Point: Amasa Jackson, Jr. to his brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., sorry that he must stay at West Pt. and is unable to visit him, 15 Jan. 1825

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Walnut Grove: Selina Jackson to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., describing presidential ball, 12 Mar. 1825

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

New York: Rembrandt Peale to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., couldn't have painted portrait of Ebenezer, Sr. in a red coat, 29 May 1825

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Gallipolis: Samuel F. Vinton to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the laws on joint tenancy, 7 July 1825

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Hannah S. Hubbard to her brother Gurden S. Hubbard, personal (written at age 5), 5 Mar. 1827

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Washington, D.C.: J. MacPherson Berrien to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., thanking him for horses he selected, 27 Mar. 1827

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Deed regarding the sale of enslaved people which were part of first marriage of Charlotte Pierce, 20 Feb. 1828

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Gallipolis: Samuel F. Vinton to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding a bill to increase naval officers' pay, 20 Apr. 1828

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Fairfield: Roger M. Sherman to Ebenezer Jackson, regarding Dr. Jarvis' marital troubles, 21 Dec. 1828

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Washington, D.C.: J. W. Huntington to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the Union Bank of Tennessee, 17 Dec. 1833

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the health of the latter's father, 30 Dec. 1833

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the health of the latter's father, 5 Jan. 1834

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Whitemarsh: Harriet Tatnall to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding their father's health, 31 Jan. 1834

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Harriet Tatnall to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., on personal matters, 12 Feb. 1834

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. regarding the health of the latter's father, 6 Mar. 1834

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Hartford: George Corning to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding tailoring, 20 Mar. 1834

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the health of the latter's father, 1 Apr. 1834

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown: H. F. Tatnall to Eliza, 10 June 1836.

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Mirille King to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding buying pictures, 1 Nov. 1836

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown: Jonathan Baines to E. Jackson. Jr., 12 Dec. 1836

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown: E. Jackson to Miss C. Tatnall, 29 Jan. 1837

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Middletown: E. Jackson to brother, 17 Mar. 1837

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Boston Navy Yard: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the monument for Eliza Jackson's grave, 11 June 1838

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Elias Reed to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the enslaved woman Grace, 13 June 1838

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Elias Reed to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the enslaved woman Grace, 16 July 1838

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Boston: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding Eliza Jackson's gravestone, 20 July 1838

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Savannah: Elias Reed to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the enslaved woman Grace, 23 June 1840

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Anonymous, to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., enclosing ten dollars, Oct. 1840

Includes typescript.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Passport of Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. on a trip to Europe, 1836

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Passport of Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., 1844

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. journal, 1836-1837

Journal kept by Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., a representative from Connecticut, on a trip to Europe.

II. Jackson family correspondence (copies), 1776-1840

Arranged chronologically within each correspondent.

(Formerly Box 1, Folder 13-22, Box 2, and Box 3.)

This series contains the copies of Jackson family correspondence collected by Mary L. (Muir) Cammann for her publication. They include both photostats and typescripts and are arranged by author, except in cases where the author is not a member of the Jackson family, in which case they are filed by recipient.

Each letter contains a code in the upper left corner indicating the source of the letter. A key to these codes can also be found in this series.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Key to coding of source material

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Col. Michael Jackson, 1776-1840

Contains materials both by and about him related to his military service in the Revolutionary War. Also some family materials.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Ruth Jackson, 1804-1810

Ebenezer Jackson

This group of materials is divided into four sections: 1. family and personal letters, 2. letters while port officer at Savannah, 3. business correspondence, and 4. his letterbook. Letters from Ebenezer to his brothers Amasa and Simon, while often about business matters, are filed with family letters.

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Family and personal correspondence, 1783-1840

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Port officer at Savannah, 1799-1802

Carton 1SH 15PC 2

Business correspondence, 1800-1812

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Business correspondence, 1813-1834

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Letterbook, 1801-1805

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Letterbook, 1812-1820

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Charlotte F. Jackson, 1798-1810

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Simon Jackson, 1781-1815

Both family and business letters, including some legal tangles. Also includes letters written by his wife Sally Spring Jackson.

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Amasa Jackson, 1785-1824

Business and family matters, including business dealings for his father-in-law Oliver Phelps.

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Charles Jackson, 1789-1801

Mostly related to his position as U.S. district attorney for Georgia, with some family materials.

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., 1813-1874

Mostly family correspondence. Also includes his will.

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Other Jackson family, 1807-1838

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Other misc. copies

Non-Jackson family correspondence.

III. Card file

(Formerly Box 4.)

Card file containing a chronological record of each document in the collection, including copies and originals. The cards also note to which chapter in her book each letter would belong. This box also includes a reference card of historical resources.

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

IV. Background materials

Arranged topically.

(Formerly Box 5.)

Background and source material gathered for Mary L. (Muir) Cammann's research, including genealogies; biographical information on the members of the Jackson family: and background on Walnut Grove.

This series also contains general background information in two disbound volumes. The first contains a mix of information on the above subjects and the second, "Charles E. Jackson source materials," contains information collected by Mary L. (Muir) Cammann's grandfather.

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Jackson family genealogy

Background/biographical:

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Jackson family

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Michael Jackson

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Ebenezer Jackson

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Simon Jackson

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Amasa Jackson

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Charles Jackson

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

William Leigh Pierce

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

Walnut Grove, Middletown, Conn.

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

"Jackson letters -- background," disbound volume

Carton 2SH 15PD 3

"Charles E. Jackson source materials," disbound volume

V. Mary L. (Muir) Cammann correspondence

Arranged by type of correspondent.

(Formerly Box 6.)

Correspondence written and received during the author's process of research and the collection of letters. Her correspondents include family members; historical societies and libraries; and publishers.

With family:

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Alice Jackson, 1961-1962

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Claire Jackson Kemp, 1967-1988

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Misc., 1960-1988

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

With historical societies

Arranged alphabetically by society.

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

With Mary Bullard, 1973-1979

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

With Virginia Wood, 1975-1977

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Misc., 1961-1973

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Regarding her book, 1962-1983

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

"Dead Ends," 1962-1972

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

With publishers, 1960-1986

VI. Printed materials, 1813-1895

(Formerly Box 7, Vol. 2-4.)

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Pierce, William Leigh, Esq. The Year: A Poem, In Three Cantoes. New York: David Longworth at the Shakespeare-Gallery, 1813.

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Starr, Frank Farnsworth. The Edward Jackson Family of Newton, Massachusetts in the Line of Commodore Charles Hunter Jackson, United States Navy, Middletown, Connecticut. Cambridge, Mass.: University Press, 1895.

Carton 3SH 15PE 4

Microfilm of 5 Jackson family letters from New York Historical Society

Preferred Citation

Jackson family papers II, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Cammann, Mary L. (Muir).
Jackson, Amasa, 1765-1824.
Jackson, Charles, 1767-1801.
Jackson, Charlotte Fenwick Pierce, 1766-1819.
Jackson, Ebenezer, 1763-1837.
Jackson, Ebenezer, 1796-1874.
Jackson family--Genealogy.
Jackson, Michael, 1734-1801.
Jackson, Ruth Parker, 1731-
Jackson, Simon, 1760-1818.
Pierce, William Leigh, 1789 or 1790-1814.
Tatnall, Josiah, 1795-1871.

Organizations:

Tennessee Company.

Subjects:

Diaries, 1837-1837.
Europe--Description and travel--1800-1918.
Family history--1750-1799.
Family history--1800-1849.
Real property--Connecticut--Middletown.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--American forces.
Voyages and travels--Diaries.