The Twenty Children of Rev Richard JACKSON

The Royal Hotel stands on ground which was once where Jackson Hall stood in Kirkby Lonsdale. A subsequent Jackson Hall was built in Coleraine in 1680.

Rev. Richard JACKSON of Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland sired fifteen children with his first wife, Dorothy OTWAY (1605-1645), and then he sired five more with his 2^nd wife, Jane CARTER. Whew!

These sons and daughters, and their descendants, had a significant impact on the next four centuries in Ireland. One of their sons, William, owned leases for land that covered much of Coleraine in the mid-1600s, while son Samuel had dozens of leases in Dublin, Monaghan, Meath and Cavan. Pretty much every time I look in the Deeds Registry, there is one more property to add to the pile. The daughters are harder to trace, women always are, but several of them are named in the records of their marriages to Ireland-based husbands.

These sons of Rev. Richard may have been born with silver spoons in their mouths, but most of them were also vigorously entrepreneurial. At the same time, it should be acknowledged that some of them– first born William is a prime example – were clearly guilty of conducting some aspects of their business enterprises in the grey zone. Even when they were caught red-handed breaking the laws of the land, they still succeeded in pocketing the profits from things such as illegal fishing or logging. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Aside from this mix of qualities which included sure-footed entrepreneurial instincts, good health, and enough capital, the Jacksons who ended up in Ireland had one other ace in the hole. Their father, Rev Richard, was skilled at navigating the ever-shifting sands of mid-1600s political and religious change (the two were like conjoined twins). One week it was best to be a Royalist, the next week, a Parliamentarian, and the week after that it was best just to keep quiet.

There is one more intriguing aspect to their success which I still have to nail down. This is their connection to John Jackson, a goldsmith who was Oliver Cromwell’s Treasurer (goldsmiths were the precursors to banks, and wars could not be fought without their support). We do know that at least one of Rev Richard’s sons, also a John Jackson, was apprenticed as a goldsmith, but he was too young to be that goldsmith. Also, the father of that John Jackson was – you guessed it – another John Jackson. Thanks to Jan Waugh, I have 22 pages of research on this topic. In the meantime, I can’t help but note that when you consider all the toweling, sheeting, canvas, and straw mattresses that Cromwell was requisitioning for hospitals in Ireland, let alone all the cloth needed to kit out the men in his Model Army, it is no wonder that the Jacksons of the Clothworkers Guild would have benefitted from their association with the Jacksons in the Goldsmiths Guild.

One aspect of the London Guilds worth bearing in mind is that it wasn’t just anyone who could earn the right to sign up for an apprenticeship. Most of the time, the backing of a father, brother, or uncle was needed. This increases the likelihood that the success of the Jackson sons and daughters who settled in Ireland rested, at least in part, on a close family connection to Oliver Cromwell’s Treasurer. Once again, it is: Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

For me, the most boring part of the Bible is the dreaded begats. Still, in cases like this, it is the begats that lay the foundation for sorting out who is who. It is especially confounding when families, such as the Jacksons, have only a miserly handful of forenames that they use over and over again: John, William, Richard… A family tree is the necessary skeleton that has to be constructed before we can get to the more entertaining bits.  For the fun part that will follow once the skeleton is assembled, you will have to stay tuned. In the meantime, let’s start with:

THE DREADED BEGATS

As part of the context of this family of Jacksons, it helps to known that Richard Jackson’s first wife, Dorothy, was about 22 years old when she married. She had the first of her 15 children at age 23. From there, it was pretty much a child a year until she died at age 40. She also introduced a number of significant OTWAY connections into the mix.

·         Her family had significant land holdings in Ireland.

·         Her brother, Sir John OTWAY of Ingmire Hall was known to be sympathetic to the Quaker cause and in his role as Justice of the Peace helped to secure the release of Friends from jail in the 1660s. This may become pertinent when we also look at the history of the formidable frequency of Jacksons who were Irish Quakers.

·         Sir John Otway’s daughter Anne married Agmondesham Cuffe, MP, of Castleinch (d. 1727), one of many distinguished families connected to the celebrated Irish writer, Turtle Bunbury.  

Following the warp and weft of these families is all about search and re-search as Willie Nolan described the process of doing local history at a lecture that he gave last Thursday in Dublin.

THE CHILDREN OF DOROTHY OTWAY.

1.      William JACKSON (1628-1688).

a.       In the spring of 1663, William Jackson obtained a lease of the Clothworker's lands in Coleraine. …Capt. Jackson was an able and enterprising man, and appears to started developing Killowen not long after obtaining the Clothworker's estate, as the rental of houses of the Waterside, Coleraine, is mentioned in the summer of 1669. He became wood-ranger for the Irish Society, a position from which he would be able to expedite the project of a bridge across the Bann. SOURCE: Coleraine in by-gone centuries, Rev. T.H. Mullin. D.D., Century Services.

b.      The Manor House, later known as Jacksons’s Hall, dates back to 1680, and was likely built at the initiative of this William Jackson. It was built in the grounds of the former Coleraine Castle, a castle which dated back to the 12^th Century, although this castle had been closer to the Waterside than Jackson Hall was.Sometime late in the 20th century,  Jackson Hall was demolished. One source says that it became the site of a new County Hall, but another source says that is that it is now a car park. I am sure someone can set me straight on this.

c.       Two years after William’s death, his widow, Susan BERESFORD, married Col. Jon MITCHELBURN. They had been living separately for some time before she died, in 1706, at the Dublin home of her brother-in-law Samuel JACKSON. Since he died a half hour before her, this makes me suspect that a contagious illness may have been a factor in both deaths.

d.      William was also the grandfather of the Richard Jackson (1722-1787) of Forkhill Lodge, Co. Armagh whose Trust continues to support community needs today. The required annual provision of a coat for every poor farmer (as the Trust specified in 1787) has morphed into supporting the local hospice, and other worthy charities. More on that in a later post.

2.      Thomas JACKSON (1629-bef 1688)

a.       Aside from a birth record, he is invisible. My best guess – based on not much – is that he ended up in Leeds, Yorkshire. His sister Dorothy married a Thomas Walker of Leeds, his brother Nathaniel was also of Leeds, and there are a number of JACKSON families from Leeds and nearby with professional ties which include membership in the Clothworkers Guild. He is one of those on my To-Do-List for further research.

b.      In the will of his brother William Jackson, he was not mentioned in the list of living brothers, hence I presume that he died before 1688.

3.      John JACKSON (1630-aft 1688)

a.       He was bonded as a goldsmith's apprentice for 8 years on March 19, 1647. His master was James Beacham, a goldsmith at St Vedast, Foster lane in London. We do not yet know his relationship to the John Jackson, goldsmith, who was Oliver Cromwell’s Treasurer.

b.      In a history of Colerain, John Jackson was described as “of Colerain”. NOTE: I suspect my reference for this was: Coleraine in by-gone centuries, Rev. T.H. Mullin. D.D., Century Services. When I get home I will check it out. NOTE: This was not the source, and John of Colerain seems to be erroneous. In Bethams, he was of Ballyaghy aka Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry.

c.       The fact that he was still living in 1688 rules him out as the John JACKSON of Antrim who died before 1668. The infant children of that John Jackson, Daniel & Sarah, received land at Tullyvallen, Co. Armagh. This John from Antrim cannot be ruled out as a cousin, so I mention him in this context. SOURCES:

                                                  i.      Reports and Schedules claimed in respect of lands in Antrim]. "John Jackson was one of the ex-soldiers settled in the Parish of Dunaghy, Barony of Kilconway, County Antrim who was displaced by Antrim's recovery of his estates

                                                ii.       An Historical Account of the McDonnells of Antrim page 466. (I assume that the children were either orphaned, or at least their father was dead.)

                                              iii.      Armagh: History & Society. ed A.J. Hughes and William Nolan.2001 Dublin. p 359.

4.      Francis JACKSON (1632-1680).

a.       Jackson, Francis; son of Richard; born at Halton Lancs. School: (1) Kirkby Lonsdale; (2)  Giggleswick. Admitted May 31 1649 age 17 (b. Abt 1632) son of Richard Jackson (1619), rector of Halton and Dorothy Otway. In his father's will dated Jan 15, 1679, he was described as dead and without issue. Married May17, 1665 Elizabeth PARKE of Sebberg. NOTE: Another Francis JACKSON was Master of Kirkby Lonsdale School in 1656 (Leech Yorkshire Schools, 2.416)

b.      Was he the ffranc Jackson in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim mentioned in the 1669 Hearth Money rolls? Not impossible.  SEE: Jacksons of Steeple.

5.      Jennet JACKSON - born between 1633 and 1640.

a.      She married Oliver NORTH July 6, 1671, and gave birth to her son Oliver NORTH  in 1684, when she was at least 44 years old.

b.      A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of GreatBritain and Ireland.  Part II.  OLIVER NORTH, Esq. of Newton, m. 6 July, 1671, Jennet, dau. of the Rev. Richard Jackson, rector of Whittington from 1640 to 1680, d. and was buried at Whittington, 25 Jan. 1723, leaving a son, RICHARD NORTH, Esq. of Newton, baptised 18 Jan. 1684, who s. his cousin, Abigail Jackson, of Jackson's Hall [NOTE: see beneath – Abigail daughter of re. Leonard JACKSON], in her estates in England and Ireland  He m. Anne Preston, and by her (who was buried at Whittington, 10 Feb. 1760) had issue, a son, OLIVER. He d. 1773, and was buried at Whittington

6.      Anna JACKSON. Born 1633, we know nothing more about her.

a.       One possibility is that she was the sister who married a Rev John Jackson, rector of Skipworth and also of Doncaster (Rev. John was mentioned as a brother-in-law in Samuel Jacksons 1705 will). There is also a line of Doncaster JACKSONs who have the same three shoveller birds in their family arms as the Westorland Jacksons do.

7.      Maria JACKSON (1634-bef 1642)

a.       A 2^nd Maria was born in 1642, hence I assume the death of the first one happened before this.

8.      Richard JACKSON (1634-bef 1688).

a.       So far, he is invisible to me – except for his baptismal record. It is entirely possible that he ended up in Co. Armagh.

9.      Hannah JACKSON (1636-aft 1688). She married Major BOND.

a.       A forename for her husband would help us move forward.

10.  Elizabeth JACKSON (1637-bef 1688)

a.       Was she in Leeds with her brother Nathaniel? Not impossible.

b.      Another possibility – one sister married a Rev John Jackson, rector of Skipworth and also of Doncaster. There is also a line of Doncaster JACKSONs who have the same three shoveller birds in their family arms.

11.  Dorothy JACKSON (1639-aft 1688)

a.       There was a will probated in the York Prerogative & Exchequer Courts 19 Jun 1697 for a Dorothy WALKER of Leeds – there is a good chance this is her will, since she married a Thomas WALKER, a merchant of Leeds. There is also a burial of a Dorothy WALKER at St Giles Anglican, Pontefract, Yorkshire May 20, 1696 which may be her (but maybe not – another record has this burial as a daughter of Jane). NOTE: There are other JACKSONs near Pontefract whose arms bear the same constellation of three shovellers.

12.  Nathaniel JACKSON (1640- btw 1688-1705)

a.       Of considerable interest is: Estate of Jackson family of Burley Leeds: 1/4 messuage in Birkby; house, garden, orchard and 12 closes (59a.), Keddingley (Nathaniel Jackson; Eliz. Jackson; Benj. Wade). National Archives, D4762/4  1690-c1730.  This record is  held at the Gloucestershire Archives:

b.      TGF Patersons Notebook #135 has a transcription of notes from the 1705 will of Samuel Jackson: … to my nephew William Jackson son of my brother Nathaniel Jackson of Leeds in Yorkshire deceased and his issue male.

13.  Samuel JACKSON (1641-1706). When he died in Dublin, he was possessed of considerable property – worth more than £30,000 – much of it detailed in his will. The only record of the will is in the form of an abstract done by Arthur Tenison Groves, and a transcription and/or interpretation of the Groves version by TGF Paterson. Both are held at the Armagh County Museum. NOTE: When I get home, I will update my transcription of this 1705 will.

a.       He served as the 2nd member of Parliament representing Coleraine, Londonderry in the Irish House of Commons from 1695-1703.

b.      He resided at the time of his death with a nephew, Richard JACKSON in a house on Mary Lane, Dublin. His will mentions property that he owned in Co. Monaghan, Co. Cavan, Dublin as well as at Clifford in Yorkshire. The Dublin properties included: Young, Cashall & Fishamble St., and a house in King St. which he bought from William Robert Thornton. Other deeds indicate that he held a lease to lands in what is now called Dunlaghaire, but was known in earlier times as Kingstown.

c.       Tues. 15-19 Jan 1706. ... This morning Sam Jackson Esq. died, 'tis said he was worth £30,000 which he left to his two nephews. About half an hour after, Madam Mitchelburn, sister to the said Jackson, died in the same house. NOTE: She was a sister-in-law of Samuel Jackson. Her first husband was William Jackson, and she was living with Samuel while estranged from her second husband, Co. John Mitchelburne.

14.  Marie JACKSON (1642-). This is the 2nd of two Marie Jacksons.

a.       I know nothing about her, but do wonder if she might have been the Mary JACKSON who married Richard MITCHELBURNE. See: Mitchelburne and Jackson connections.

15.  Daniel JACKSON (1688-?) He is one of my mystery men.

a.       This is an interesting possibility:  1695 Nov 26 Indenture between Daniel Jackson of Castleton, parish of Rochdale.Admon of Pheobe Jackson widow, dec, who was exetrix of Richard Jackson of Castleton gent, dec, 1 part & Edmund Tetlow of Huntland of Oldham gent, 2 part. Signed: Daniel Jackson. Wit: Sam Hamer; John Chadwick;William Wilson; Charles Chadwick. Ind: Mr D. Jackson assignt to Mr Halliwell, 1695. SOURCE: http://www.tetlow.co.uk/17th_century.htm NOTE: This is a parish which straddles Yorkshire and Lancashire.

b.      The intriguing thing about this forename is that the John JACKSON, who was ceded lands in Tullyvallen had a son named Daniel. That Daniel was not of age in 1668. There were a few other yeoman class Daniel Jackson in Ireland in the mid-1600s. It is one of the less usual Jackson forenames.

THE CHILDREN OF JANE CARTER.

16.  Rodger JACKSON (b1645-?)

a.       He would have been too young to have served with Cromwell, so he is not the Rodger JACKSON awarded lands in Ireland for military or financial services rendered.

17.  Jane JACKSON (1648-1648). Obviously, she died as an infant

18.  Rev. Leonard JACKSON (1650-1726

a.       His son Robert inherited lands as a nephew of Samuel JACKSON (1641-1706)..

b.      His daughter Abigail JACKSON married a Mr. BUCKLEY (who may have lived in Ireland – there are a few prospects for what his forename might be, but no slam-dunk evidence). When he died, sometime before 1734, she then married a Sir Oliver CROFTEN. She had no issue, and Jackson Hall in Kirkby Lonsdale, along with other properties then went to her NORTH relations.

c.       His daughter Jane was unmarried at the time that her sister Abigail was widowed. The two of them inherited a significant number of acres of land in Ireland.

19.  Abigail JACKSON (1655-1721)

a.       She married a Rev John JACKSON Sept 21, 1685. CORRECTION: I had previously thought she was the Abigail who had married Rowland BURROW.

20.  Vigesima JACKSON (1657-1734). They must have run out of family forenames since her name means the twentieth. Perhaps it was also a signal that enough is enough.

a.       From Turtle Bunbury: Elizabeth Bouch was a granddaughter of the Rev Richard Jackson, rector of Whittington Lancs. Another of the Rev. Jackson's granddaughters, albeit from a different line, was Rose Jackson who married Thomas Bunbury of Cloghna, County Carlow. Just to clarify, the Rev. Jackson's daughter Vigesima (1657-1734, by his later wife Jane Carter) married the curate Thomas Bouch (c. 1660-1716, who succeeded his father-in-law as rector of Whittington in 1680) and they were parents of Elizabeth Bouch.