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.
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.
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.
Philadelphia: William Hunter to Ebenezer Jackson, has been busy helping friends; kept his mind off his unhappiness, 6 Nov. 1792
Includes typescript.
Receipt, Hamilton & Harper to Treasurer of Tennessee Co., 4 June 1797
Includes typescript.
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.
Receipt, Matthias Maher to Seaborn Jones, for consultation on Tennessee Co., 1 Apr. 1800
Includes typescript.
Augusta: Receipt, George Walker to Matthias Maher, for consultation on Tennessee Co., 2 Apr. 1800
Includes typescript.
New York: Receipt, Matthias Maher to A. Jackson, for advertising meeting of Tennessee Co., 16 June 1800
Includes typescript.
Account, Matthias Maher and Tennessee Co., 1795-1800, 20 June 1800
Includes typescript.
New Haven, Conn.: William Leigh Pierce, Jr. to his step-grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson, on family matters, 25 Sep. [1800]
Includes typescript.
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.
Middletown, Conn.: Deed from Nancy Starr, Samuel Huggins, Jr., and Patty D. Huggins to Ebenezer Gilbert, Jr. for land in Middletown, 7 Sep. 1801
Walnut Grove: Charlotte F. Jackson to her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Sarah Spring Jackson, home life, 2 Apr. 1803
Includes typescript.
Middletown, Conn.: Deed from Ebenezer Gilbert, Jr. to George Jones for land in Middletown, 21 July 1803
Newton, Mass.: Ruth Jackson to her daughter-in-law Charlotte F. Jackson, family matters, 27 Feb. 1804
Includes typescript.
Newton, Mass.: Borodell S. Jackson to his grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson, tells of his schooling, 1 Sep. 1804
Includes typescript.
Newton, Mass.: Borodell S. Jackson to his grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Jackson, on family matters, 30 Dec. 1805
Includes typescript.
Middletown, Conn.: Ruth Jackson to her son Ebenezer Jackson, family matters, 21 Feb. 1806
Includes typescript.
London: Selina Fenwick to Charlotte F. Jackson, family news, 16 Dec. 1807
Includes typescript.
Charlotte F. Jackson to her son Ebenezer Jackson, sending Ebenezer, Jr.'s composition on duelling, 8 Feb. 1808
Includes typescript.
Colchester: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his father Ebenezer Jackson, school life, [1809]
Hartford: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his father Ebenezer Jackson, school life, 15 Jan. 1809
Includes typescript.
Hartford: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his mother Charlotte F. Jackson, personal news, 27 July 1809
Includes typescript.
Colchester: Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. to his father Ebenezer Jackson, asks for declamation and to go to a ball, 10 Aug. 1809
Includes typescript.
Chatham County, Ga.: Deed from George Jones to Ebenezer Jackson for land in Middletown, 1 Jan. 1810
Memo by S. W. Dana concerning Charlotte F. Jackson's power over estate from her first marriage, 29 July 1811
Includes typescript.
Power of attorney regarding Georgia Mississippi Co., 19 Mar. 1814
Includes typescript.
Georgia: Letter and power of attorney from Thomas Young to Ebenezer Jackson regarding Georgia Tennessee Co., 18 July 1814
Easton: William Sitgreaves to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. regarding Baltimore and Philadelphia and the War of 1812, 30 Oct. 1814
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Ebenezer Jackson to his wife, Charlotte F. Jackson, rejoicing in peace, 3 Feb. 1815
Includes typescript.
Indenture between Arthur Harper of Charleston, S.C. and U.S. on Tennessee Co., 27 Apr. 1815
Includes typescript.
New York: Daniel Lord, to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., advice on where to practice law, 27 Feb. 1816
Includes typescript.
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.
Exeter: Amasa Jackson, Jr. to his mother Charlotte F. Jackson, regarding school, 9 June 1817
Includes typescript.
Hartford: Selina Jackson to her mother Charlotte F. Jackson, regarding personal matters, 5 July 1817
Includes typescript.
Philadelphia: Martha Gadson to Charlotte F. Jackson, on personal matters, 17 Sep. 1817
Includes typescript.
New York: Selina Jackson to her mother Charlotte F. Jackson, on her studies, 1 May 1818
Includes typescript.
New York: Selina Jackson to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. on his recent sickness, 10 July 1820
Includes typescript.
Savannah: L. Koliock to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., congratulations upon his marriage, 22 Aug. 1822
Includes typescript.
Washington, D.C.: A. Cuthbert to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., informing him that tariff will be next subject in Congress, 3 Feb. 1824
Includes typescript.
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.
Walnut Grove: Selina Jackson to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., describing presidential ball, 12 Mar. 1825
Includes typescript.
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.
Gallipolis: Samuel F. Vinton to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the laws on joint tenancy, 7 July 1825
Hannah S. Hubbard to her brother Gurden S. Hubbard, personal (written at age 5), 5 Mar. 1827
Washington, D.C.: J. MacPherson Berrien to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., thanking him for horses he selected, 27 Mar. 1827
Deed regarding the sale of enslaved people which were part of first marriage of Charlotte Pierce, 20 Feb. 1828
Includes typescript.
Gallipolis: Samuel F. Vinton to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding a bill to increase naval officers' pay, 20 Apr. 1828
Includes typescript.
Fairfield: Roger M. Sherman to Ebenezer Jackson, regarding Dr. Jarvis' marital troubles, 21 Dec. 1828
Includes typescript.
Washington, D.C.: J. W. Huntington to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the Union Bank of Tennessee, 17 Dec. 1833
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the health of the latter's father, 30 Dec. 1833
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the health of the latter's father, 5 Jan. 1834
Includes typescript.
Whitemarsh: Harriet Tatnall to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding their father's health, 31 Jan. 1834
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Harriet Tatnall to her brother Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., on personal matters, 12 Feb. 1834
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. regarding the health of the latter's father, 6 Mar. 1834
Includes typescript.
Hartford: George Corning to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding tailoring, 20 Mar. 1834
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the health of the latter's father, 1 Apr. 1834
Includes typescript.
Middletown: H. F. Tatnall to Eliza, 10 June 1836.
Includes typescript.
Mirille King to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding buying pictures, 1 Nov. 1836
Includes typescript.
Middletown: Jonathan Baines to E. Jackson. Jr., 12 Dec. 1836
Includes typescript.
Middletown: E. Jackson to Miss C. Tatnall, 29 Jan. 1837
Includes typescript.
Middletown: E. Jackson to brother, 17 Mar. 1837
Includes typescript.
Boston Navy Yard: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the monument for Eliza Jackson's grave, 11 June 1838
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Elias Reed to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the enslaved woman Grace, 13 June 1838
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Elias Reed to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the enslaved woman Grace, 16 July 1838
Includes typescript.
Boston: Josiah Tatnall to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding Eliza Jackson's gravestone, 20 July 1838
Includes typescript.
Savannah: Elias Reed to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., regarding the enslaved woman Grace, 23 June 1840
Includes typescript.
Anonymous, to Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., enclosing ten dollars, Oct. 1840
Includes typescript.
Passport of Ebenezer Jackson, Jr. on a trip to Europe, 1836
Passport of Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., 1844
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.
Key to coding of source material
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.
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.
Family and personal correspondence, 1783-1840
Port officer at Savannah, 1799-1802
Business correspondence, 1800-1812
Business correspondence, 1813-1834
Letterbook, 1801-1805
Letterbook, 1812-1820
Charlotte F. Jackson, 1798-1810
Simon Jackson, 1781-1815
Both family and business letters, including some legal tangles. Also includes letters written by his wife Sally Spring Jackson.
Amasa Jackson, 1785-1824
Business and family matters, including business dealings for his father-in-law Oliver Phelps.
Charles Jackson, 1789-1801
Mostly related to his position as U.S. district attorney for Georgia, with some family materials.
Ebenezer Jackson, Jr., 1813-1874
Mostly family correspondence. Also includes his will.
Other Jackson family, 1807-1838
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.
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.
Jackson family genealogy
Background/biographical:
Jackson family
Michael Jackson
Ebenezer Jackson
Simon Jackson
Amasa Jackson
Charles Jackson
William Leigh Pierce
Walnut Grove, Middletown, Conn.
"Jackson letters -- background," disbound volume
"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:
Alice Jackson, 1961-1962
Claire Jackson Kemp, 1967-1988
Misc., 1960-1988
With historical societies
Arranged alphabetically by society.
With Mary Bullard, 1973-1979
With Virginia Wood, 1975-1977
Misc., 1961-1973
Regarding her book, 1962-1983
"Dead Ends," 1962-1972
With publishers, 1960-1986
VI. Printed materials, 1813-1895
(Formerly Box 7, Vol. 2-4.)
Pierce, William Leigh, Esq. The Year: A Poem, In Three Cantoes. New York: David Longworth at the Shakespeare-Gallery, 1813.
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.
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.