John Jay Jackson

Notes:

History of West Virginia and the People (The Lee Line). (IV) General John Jay Jackson, son of Hon. John George Jackson, was, like his father, eminent in both the law and the army. He was born in Wood county, Virginia. February 13, 1800. He passed his early life in Parkersburg, becoming identified with its village growth and its later municipal prosperity. His education was begun under Dr. David Creel, who subsequently resided in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was afterward conducted atone of the best schools in Virginia, taught by Dr. Tower at Clarksburg in Harrison county. Young Jackson was a very apt pupil, and at thirteen years of age was admitted to Washington College, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year, when he was appointed by President James Monroe as a cadet to West Point, which institution he entered in 1815, graduating there from in 1818, in the nineteenth year of his age. He was at once commissioned as second lieutenant in the United States army and attached to the corps of artillery ordered to Norfolk, Virginia, where he performed garrison service until the latter part of the year 1819, being then transferred to the fourth infantry. In 1820 and 1821 he performed active service in Florida in the Seminole war, and while thus engaged was commissioned as adjutant and transferred to regimental headquarters at Montpelier, Alabama. At this place and at Pensacola he was a member of General Andrew Jackson's staff. In 1822 he visited Parkersburg on a six months' furlough, and about January 1, 1823, he resigned his commission in the army and turned his attention to law. He completed his preparatory course of study and was licensed to practice law in Virginia April 28, 1823. He soon reached the front ranks in his profession, maintaining his high position to the end of his career. He was in 1826 appointed prosecuting attorney of Wood county, in the county court, and in 1830 he was appointed to the same office in the circuit superior court, holding the position until 1852, when he retired. He was also prosecutor in the circuit supreme court of Ritchie county. For six several terms he served as representative from Wood county to the Virginia house of delegates, and in each of the legislatures to which he was returned he filled a prominent position. In 1842 he was commissioned brigadier-general of the twenty-third brigade of Virginia militia, remaining in this post until the outbreak of the civil war. In politics he belonged to the school of Clay and Webster, believing in the capability of the people for self rule. He was a member of the historic convention at Richmond in 1861 and eloquently upheld the Union, this being about his last public service, though he made various speeches during and after the war in which he advocated forbearance and reconciliation. He was active in every enterprise for the benefit of the community; when the Baltimore & Ohio railway sought right of way from the Potomac to the Ohio, he urged needed legislation, and was one of the earliest and largest contributors to the subscription stock toward the building of the Northwestern Virginia railroad. In later years his means and time were largely used to promote the improvement of the Little Kanawha river, forming a company which erected locks and dams to make it navigable the year round. He organized and was president of the Second National Bank of Parkersburg, and was at various times member of the municipal council and mayor of the city. He died January 1, 1877, leaving to posterity the memory of a fame which rested more upon his legal ability than his political successes. Like his cousin, "Stonewall" Jackson, he was a superb horseman; and like him was also temperate, persevering and purposeful, possessing unusual natural gifts. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and was for over forty years senior warden of Trinity parish. General Jackson married (first) Emma G. Beeson in 1823; she died in 1842; married (second) Jane E. B. Gardner in 1843. He was the father of five sons: Hon. Judge John Jay Jackson, United States District Judge James Monroe Jackson, Governor Jacob Beeson Jackson, Henry Clay Jackson and Andrew Gardner, of whom further. Also three daughters living at the time of his death: Mrs. William H. Small, Mrs. George W. Thompson, Mrs. William H. Smith.

John married Emma G. Beeson on 29 Jun 1823. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Monroe Jackson was born on 3 Dec 1825; died on 14 Feb 1901 in Parkersburg, Wood County, WV.
2. Jr. John Jay Jackson was born on 4 Aug 1824; died on 1 Sep 1907 in Atlantic City, NJ.
3. Jacob Beeson Jackson was born on 6 Apr 1829 in Parkersburg, Wood County, WV; died on 11 Dec 1898.
4. Henry Clay Jackson

John married Jane Elizabeth Beeson on 17 Jul 1843 in Wood County, WV. Jane was born about 1820 in Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Andrew Gardner Jackson was born about 1844.

Notes:

History of West Virginia and the People (The Lee Line). (III) Hon. John George Jackson, son of Colonel George Jackson, was born near Buckhannon, Virginia, in 1774, died at Clarksburg, March 29, 1825. While he was still small he came with his father to Clarksburg. He received a liberal education for the times, and entered public life at an early age, being a member of the legislature by 1797. He was in 1793 appointed surveyor of government lands west of the Ohio, and was a member of all United States congresses from the eighth to the fourteenth inclusive, except the twelfth. Further he was a brigadier general of militia, and in 1819 he was appointed United States judge for the western district of Virginia, in which office he served until his death. His public career was one of marked ability, and it is said that he was the most remarkable man west of the mountains. In business, too, his interests were of the most varied character; he established many enterprises and developed the resources of the country to a degree truly surprising. He married (first) in the Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C., Mary, daughter of John and Mary (Coles) Payne, who was born about 1781, died February 13, 1808. Her sister was the wife of the president of the United States. the famous Dolly Madison, and this wedding was the first celebrated in the White House. John George Jackson married (second) Sophia, daughter of Return Jonathan Meigs (see Meigs). By his first marriage there was a daughter, Mary, who married Judge John Allen, of Virginia, and a son, John Jay, of whom further. By the second marriage there was a son, James Madison, of whom further.

John married Mary Coles Payne in 1800 in Montpelier, Orange County, VA. Mary (daughter of John Payne and Mary W. Coles) was born in 1781; died on 13 Feb 1808. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

19 Apr 1775, Entered service/Fought in the American Revolution
Mar 1782, Indian Invasions of the Buchanan Valley-w/ Capt. White
20 Jul 1784, Justice of the Peace
1786-1790, Member of the Virginia Assembly
Served 4-7th Congresses
Built many schools and was Founder of Collins Settlement
Trustee of Randolph Academy
1795, Member of the Ohio Legislature
Had slaves-Aaron, Cecilia, Malinda, Marg

George married Elizabeth Brake on 13 Nov 1776. Elizabeth was born on 22 Feb 1757 in Moorefield, Hardy County, WV; died on 22 Mar 1812 in Harrison County, WV. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary W. Coles in 1761 in Guilford County, NC. Mary (daughter of William Coles and Lucy Winston) was born on 14 Oct 1743; died on 20 Oct 1807 in Clarlsburg, Harrison, West Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
"Coles Hill", Hanover, Virginia, USA

John married Elizabeth Cummins on 4 Jul 1755. Elizabeth was born on 8 Jan 1722/23 in London, Middlesex, England; died in 1828 in Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV; was buried in Jackson Cemetary, E. Pine St., Clarksburg, WV. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1779, Goochland County, Virginia, USA
• Will: 12 Jan 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA
• Death: 5 Mar 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA
• Probate: 19 Dec 1785, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA

Notes:

land transfer from father George Payne, 3/14/1734 in Goochland Co., land records, book 2 page 105

Buried:
Payne Cemetery

Josias married Mary Anna Fleming in 1732 in Goochland County, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Charles Fleming and Susanna Tarleton) was born about 1709 in St Peters Par, New Kent County, Virginia, USA; died on 30 Aug 1786 in New Kent County, Virginia, USA; was buried in Goochland County, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Death: 6 May 1794, Goochland County, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Died:
"Coles Hill", Hanover, Virginia, USA

William married Lucy Winston after 1738 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA. Lucy (daughter of Isaac Winston and Mary Ann Dabney) was born about 1707 in Hanover County, Virginia, USA; died in 1784. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]