Jackson Family Genealogy                     Table of Contents               Conflicting Data Index

 

A study of Stephen Jackson, aka Killing Stephen, of Chesterfield County, South Carolina
by Bob Mitchell


The Burch Family booklet, written by W. Bernette Burch in 1920, page 12 quotes Bishop Alexander Gregg's book Gregg's History of the Old Cheraws, 1897, regarding Stephen Jackson, father of Henry A. Jackson to wit: "Stephen Jackson was a Captain under Colonels Kolb and Benton in 1780, served under GEN Marion, 'The Swamp Fox'.  This is the father of Henry A. Jackson and grandfather of COL Stephen Jackson of the Civil War."

This is a rather pointed and firm statement in that it covers three generations. There seems to be no doubt in either writers mind about the lineage of COL Stephen Jackson of the Civil War.  However, there were two men named Stephen Jackson who were contemporaries in age and were probably first cousins who served in the Revolutionary War and lived in or near the Cheraws District.  Evidence of one Stephen Jackson is contained in a DAR file claiming kinship to Stephen Jackson, Pvt, Revolutionary War, 1782, South Carolina.  A collection of land and slave transactions beginning in 1794 and ending in 1828 between a Stephen Jackson of Anson Co., North Carolina and an Ann or Nancy Hendrick also should be studied.  Another document is an application for Pension submitted by Nancy Cook, the wife of CPT Stephen Jackson.  The text of the pension claim of Nancy Cook Jackson, widow of Stephen Jackson late of Chesterfield Co., South Carolina and an affidavit from her son, Abel Jackson of Humphreys Co., Tennessee is presented below:

Nancy Jackson, Widow of CPT Stephen Jackson
State of TN }
Humphreys County }
On This Fifteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and forty personally appeared before me William McCasland an acting Justice of the Peace for the said County, Nancy Jackson a resident of Tennessee and County of Humphreys, aged 86, eighty-six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836; that she is the widow of Stephen Jackson deceased who was a militiaman in the service of the United States and that the aforesaid Stephen Jackson entered into the service in the Spring of the year of 1777 in South Carolina having been drafted and sent on a tour of duty to Charleston in South Carolina (name of the Captain or Regiment not recollected) some time in the same year he was again called on and performed a second tour of duty at Charleston (officers not recollected) and returned home, just before the defeat of Gen. Gates at Camden, after said defeat the aforesaid Stephen Jackson together with many others fled from South Carolina with their families, and sought protection in North Carolina in the month of August in the above date, the aforesaid Stephen Jackson together with many others returned to South Carolina in pursuit of the Tories, and continued to serve until near Christmas of the same date. Sometime in the year of 1778, Captain Joseph Griffy from being disabled, became unable to perform his duty incumbent upon him as Captain, and the aforesaid Stephen Jackson was appointed in his stead as Captain of a Company and acted in that capacity until the seize of York and surrender of Cornwallis in 1781. Having been during the time of the aforesaid service in many parts of South Carolina in a part of North Carolina in many skirmishes with British and Tories at the battle at Ramsours Mills and many other places this statement having been made to the deponent by her husband the aforesaid Stephen Jackson deceased, and after surrender of Cornwallis, the aforesaid Stephen Jackson was honorable discharged by Gen. Green, which discharge is lost or mislaid so that the same cannot be obtained. Deponent further states that agreeable to the best of her recollection, that her husband the aforesaid Stephen Jackson was again commissioned as Captain by Gen. Green to aid in the supervision of the Tories in South Carolina, and that the aforesaid Stephen Jackson did faithfully act the part assigned him until the consummation of the definitive treaty of peace in the year 1783. She further declares that she was married to the aforesaid Stephen Jackson on the 16 day of February 1771 in the State of South Carolina and that her husband the aforesaid Stephen Jackson died in South Carolina on the 10th day of September 1832 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appears by reference to the proof hereto annexed. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before the word Jackson interlined before assigned
attest her
William Leaz Nancy x Jackson
William McCasland, JP mark
The above deponent Nancy Jackson not knowing how long her husband the aforesaid Stephen Jackson was in the service of the United States has in order to amend her declaration made the following affidavit. Personally appeared before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace for said County Nancy Jackson who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory she cannot swear positively as to the precise length of the service of her husband the aforesaid Stephen Jackson, but according to the best of her recollection, after so long a lapse of time, that he served faithfully for the term of five years and for such service I claim a pension. She hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that she further declares that she does not know of any person by whom she can prove the services of her husband the aforesaid Stephen Jackson.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.
William Leaz her
William McCasland Nancy x Jackson
mark
State of TN }
County of Humphreys}
On this 6th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four personally before me an acting Justice of the Peace, duly appointed and commissioned, Abel Jackson aged about 68 years appeared who being duly sworn days that he is the son of Stephen and Nancy Jackson late of County and State aforesaid and that he was born in the month of August 1786. That he had a brother named William who was ten years older than himself, who is now dead, and that there were two children older than this said brother William, both of whom died during the War of the Revolution, as he has always heard from his parents during their lifetime. That his mother Nancy Jackson applied for a pension under the Act of Congress of 4th of July 1836, during her lifetime but that she died before receiving it to wit on the 9th day of May in the year 1843 and not in the year 1853, as erroneously and by mistake written in his affidavit of the 5th of December 1853.
his
Abel x Jackson
mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of February in the year 1854 and I do hereby certify that Abel Jackson who has sworn and signed the above is a man of truth and credibility and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year last above written.
William Hendrey JP (seal)

The next documents to consider are a series of land and slave transactions between Stephen Jackson of Anson County, Ann or Nancy Hendrick or Kindrick and John Jackson. For simplicity we will refer to Ms. Hendrick/Kindrick as Nancy Hendrick as it appears that her name has been transcribed as Kindrick in error and the names Nancy and Ann can be one in the same as Ann could be a nickname for Nancy. There were several Hendrick males in the area during this timeframe and no instances of the surname Kindrick. The excerpts of the aforementioned records are presented below:

• 23 Jan 1794 - Slave Bill: Stephen Jackson to Ann Hendrick, both of Anson County, North Carolina, for L40, Negro girl Silva, age four or five./s/ Stephen JACKSON. Wit: Jeremiah Martin, Nehemiah "X" Forehand. (Anson Co., NC, Deeds C2:225)

• 18 July 1795 Deed: Stephen Jackson to Ann Hendrick, both of Chesterfield Co., South Carolina, for L20, 60 acres on southwest side of Pee Dee River in Anson County, North Carolina, on a branch of Thompson's Creek, joining Benjamin Jackson and State Line between the Carolinas - a survey for Malcolm Campbell dated 16 Apr. 1773../s/ Stephen Jackson. Wit: Jeremiah Martin, William "X" Edding. (Anson County, NC Deeds D:44)

• 15 Sep 1797 Slave Bill: Stephen Jackson to Ann Hendrick, both of Anson Co., North Carolina, for 150 pounds, slave woman Pat, slave girl Vilet aged about four years... /s/ Stephen Jackson WIT. Malachi Watts, John Goodwin. (Anson County, NC Deeds E: 103)

• 1779, The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, SCMAR, Volume V' Number 1, Winter, 1977, No1, p 15, 1779 Jury List for Cheraws District. Thomas Fail, Thomas Scottwins, Thomas Ellerbee Sr., John Thomas, John Spruel, Joseph Griffith, David Perkins, Matthew Holden, Stephen Jackson, Benjamin Martin, John Shoemake, William Hickman, Jason Meadows, Ephraim Horn, James Holmes .

• 7 Jan 1799, Book 43 page 391 Deeds NC 1799, Land Grant to Stephen Jackson , 500 acres in Cheraw Dist.

• 7 Jan 1799, Book 45 page 19 Deeds NC 1799, Land Grant to Stephen Jackson 325 acres in Cheraw Dist.

• 1804 Laws of North Carolina, Chapter CXXVL. "An act to alter names of the persons therein mention, and to legitamate them. Be enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the names of William Joyner, Martha Joyner, Sally Joyner, Joseph Joyner, Mary Joyner and Geraldus Joyner, illegitimate children of Joseph Batts and Elizabeth Joyner, of Edgecomb County, be altered and changed to those of William Batts, Martha Batts, Elizabeth Batts, Sally Batts, Joseph Batts, Mary Batts and Geraldus Batts:...And the names of John Kindrick, Polly Kindrick, Betsey Kindrick and Salley Kindrick, natural born children of Stephen Jackson, of Anson County, be altered to the names of John Jackson, Polly Jackson, Betsey Jackson and Salley Jackson..." (The surname Kindrick was an error in transcription, the name is Hendrick)

• Book 45 page 20 Deeds NC 1810, Dec 29, Stephen Jackson and Ann Kendrick to John Jackson a Negro boy named Simon 1810 Dec 29 Stephen Jackson to John Jackson 250 acres in Anson

• 1817 Oct 16 John Jackson to Stephen Jackson and Nancy Hendrick, 450 acres on Talton and Cedar Creek branches of Thompson CR.

• 1819 September Stephen Jackson and Nancy Kindrick , Dicision of Land: 200 acres to Stephen Jackson and 221 1/2 to Nancy Hendrick in Anson Co.

• Deed Book Y page 582 - Mar 25,1828 - Stephen Jackson to David Crawford - $50 for acres not stated but was first granted to Bluden Curtis – (Benjamin Jackson was an adjoining property owner and David Crawford was married to Hannah Elizabeth Jackson, formerly known as Betsey Hendricks)

• It appears that Stephen Jackson and Nancy Hendrick had four children out of wedlock and they decided to legitimize the children under the provisions of the North Carolina State Law, but apparently Nancy Ann Hendrick did not marry Stephen Jackson nor she did not change her last name to Jackson as records, even in later years, show her as Ann or Nancy Hendrick.

The third document is a DAR File showing evidence of relationship to Stephen Jackson, Pvt, Revolutionary War 1782 under COL Kolb. This file shows a Tempie Rushing as the wife of Stephen Jackson. This fact is also referenced on page 409 of Gregg’s History of the Old Cheraws that refers to this Stephen Jackson as being a PVT and being married to Tempie Rushing.

DAR File ID 94484, Margaret Jackson Boyette, VOL 95, pg 150, traces lineage from Stephen Jackson and wife Temperance Rushing to their daughter Ann Jackson (26 Oct 1807-23 Mar 1880) who married Thomas Poe Terrell (29 Jan 1796-28 Jan 1866). Both Ann and Thomas were born in Chesterfield Co., South Carolina and died in Ashley Co. Arkansas. They were married on 5 Sep 1824 in Chesterfield Co., South Carolina. Thomas and Ann’s daughter, Margaret Jane Terrell (1825-1887) married Jackson Boyette (16 Aug 1818-6Oct 1889) probably in Ashley Co., Arkansas. Jackson Boyette was born in Georgia, probably Clay County and Margaret was born in Ashley Co., Arkansas.

To help differentiate between the various Stephen Jacksons in the Cheraws during the timeframe covered, one tax record and 1790-1820 US Census records for Stephen Jackson are presented below:

Census and Tax Records for Stephen Jackson:

1. 1763 Anson County List of Tithables: Stephen Jackson

2. 1790 Fayette Dist, Anson Co., NC: Stephen Jackson is shown as head of household with 3 males over 16 including head of household, one male under 16 and 3 females over 16.

3. 1790 St Thomas, Cheraws Dist., SC: Stephen Jackson is shown as head of household with 2 males over 16 including head of household, 4 males under 16 and 2 females over 16.

4. 1800 Chesterfield Co., SC: Stephen Jackson over 45 years old, no male children, 2 females 16-25 and one female over 45.

5. 1800 Chesterfield Co., SC: Stephen Jackson, Jr. is 26-44 years old, 3 male children under 10, 1 male 10-15, 4 female children under 10, 1 female 26-44 and 1 female over 45.

6. 1800 Fayetteville, Anson Co., NC: Stephen Jackson is over 45 years old, 1 male 10-15, 2 female children under 10, I female 16-25 and 1 female over 45.

7. 1810 Chesterfield Co., SC: Stephen Jackson is over 45 years old, 2 male children under 10, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 2 female children under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25 and 1 female over 45.

8. 1810 Anson Co., NC: Stephen Jackson is over 45 years old, 1 male under 10, 1 male 16-25, 2 females 10-15 and one female 26-44.

9. 1820 Ratcliff, Anson Co., NC: Stephen Jackson is over 45 years old, 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-16 and 1 female over 45.

10. 1830 Census Records for neither North nor South Carolina show a Stephen Jackson.


The Stephen Jackson in Record 1 is obviously not one of the Stephen Jacksons in question, but rather is probably the father of one of these Stephen Jacksons.  In all likelihood he is Stephen Jackson born 1717 in Hempstead, New York and the brother of Benjamin Jackson.  There are many land transactions and other legal documents found in Anson County records that bear the names and or signatures of Benjamin and Stephen Jackson beginning in 1749 and spanning several decades into the 1820’s.  These two men had land holdings that spread over portions of Anson County, North Carolina; Craven County, South Carolina which was part of what later became Chesterfield County, South Carolina; this entire area was know as the Cheraws.  The notion that these men moved from county to county is probably unfounded as the county and state lines moved several times causing them to be enumerated in different counties and states.

Records 2 and 3 do not give us enough information to determine which of potentially three Stephen Jacksons these records may represent. Both records show 2 to 3 males including the head of household over 16 years old. The two Stephen Jacksons in question were both born between 1750-1760.

Records 4, 5 and 6 begin to give us more definition. Records 4 and 5 from Chesterfield County show a Stephen Jackson who is over 45 years old and a Stephen Jackson who is between 26 and 44 years old. This is probably Stephen Jackson born 1717 and his son Stephen, Jr. who was born between 1756 and 1774. Record 6 shows us a male over 45 years old enumerated in Anson County. This Stephen Jackson was born at least before 1755 and is probably the son of Benjamin Jackson.

Record 7 is probably Stephen Jackson, Jr.  There was only one Stephen Jackson enumerated in Chesterfield County in 1810. The elder Stephen Jackson would be about 93 years old by now and has probably died. This Stephen Jackson is probably the Stephen Jackson who was a Private in the Revolutionary War and was married to Temperance Rushing.

Record 8 is probably Stephen Jackson, son of Benjamin Jackson who was born prior to 1755. This Stephen Jackson is probably the Stephen Jackson who was a Captain in the Revolutionary War and was known as Killing Stephen.

Record 9 is probably CPT Stephen Jackson, son of Benjamin Jackson.

Record 10 would indicate that all of the Stephen Jacksons of the area had either died or had moved from North or South Carolina to other areas. In checking other Southern States that other residents of Anson and Chesterfield Counties had migrated to during this period, there was no Stephen Jackson of the approximate age in question in any of those.

Divorce

This subject of Divorce is worth commenting on, for divorce as we know it today simply didn’t happen in the colonial south. England, the source of legal tradition in the colonies, was essentially a divorce-free society which didn’t have a judicial process for divorce until 1857. The colonies, especially in the south, adhered to that tradition. Prior to the Revolution and for many years thereafter, the southern colonies had no process for granting a divorce. The only means of obtaining one was to induce the legislature to pass a private bill granting a divorce, something that rarely occurred. A few petitions were submitted to legislatures, but colonial assemblies limited their consideration to "divorces from bed and board" (a mensa et thoro) which did not permit remarriage. The only other practical options available to an unhappy couple were adultery or desertion.

Even after Independence, the south continued to be essentially divorce-free for several decades. South Carolina, for instance, did not permit a single divorce in the 50 years following independence. Virginia’s first divorce is reported to have been in 1803. Such processes as existed were so cumbersome that only the wealthy or truly desperate considered their use. For example, Georgia’s constitution of 1798 permitted divorce, but only by a two-thirds vote of the legislature.

Unmarried Women

Unmarried women had many of the same rights as men, the principal exceptions being the right to vote, hold office, and serve on juries. Unmarried women (including widows) who had reached the age of majority had the right to sue in court, enter into contracts, buy or sell land or other property, make a will, or to be a guardian to a minor. Unmarried women aged 17 or more could also act as an executrix of a will or administratrix of an intestate estate. Women aged 12 or more could make a will (bequeathing personal property only), witness deeds or contracts, and testify in court – though it is rare to find such a record for minor women. The appearance of a woman in any of these records is a nearly certain indication that they were unmarried.

(Women and the Law: Women, Wives and Widows in the Southern Colonies, http://www.genfiles.com, Bob Baird, Raleigh, North Carolina)

CPT Stephen Jackson

The above is presented to help understand and explain the relationship CPT Stephen Jackson had with his wife, Nancy Cook and his consort Nancy Hendrick.  CPT Stephen Jackson was married to Nancy Cook on 16 Feb 1771 in Abbeville County, South Carolina.  Together they apparently had four male children, two who died during the Revolution and William who was born about ten years prior to Abel Jackson who stated the above in his petition for Revolutionary War Pension on his deceased father’s behalf.  This was done about ten years after his mother, Nancy Cook, had made application and been declined.  She died in 1843 and Abel added his statement to her application in 1854.  Abel died three years later.  I don’t think anyone actually drew pension on behalf of CPT Stephen Jackson.

Sometime in the early 1790’s CPT Stephen Jackson apparently began his relationship with Nancy Hendrick. The first instance of their business dealings was 23 Sep 1794 when there was a slave trade between the two in Anson County.  This began a series of slave and land transactions that cover a period of time that extended to 1828.  Sometime during this period he and Nancy Hendrick’s relationship became more than one of business as she had four children from about 1794 to about 1800 that were declared by Jackson in 1804 to be his natural children.  By act of the North Carolina State Legislature John Hendricks, Hannah Elizabeth (Betsey) Hendricks, Mary (Polly) Hendricks and Sarah (Sally) Hendricks had their names changed to Jackson.

Abel Jackson migrated from South Carolina to Tennessee sometime before 1820 as he was enumerated with his family on the 1820 US Census in Stewart Co., Tennessee.  By 1830 his land was resurveyed into Humphreys Co., Tennessee where he and his family were enumerated on the 1830 census.  He had a 60-70 year old female living in his household at the time.  It is probable that this was his mother, Nancy Cook.  Nancy Cook was living with Abel in 1840 when she began the application process for Revolutionary War Pension in Humphreys Co., Tennessee; she was 86 years old at the time.

CPT Stephen Jackson was enumerated on the 1790 Anson Co., North Carolina US Census as well as the 1800, 1810 and 1820 US Censuses for Anson County.  He was not enumerated in 1830, however Nancy Hendricks was counted in Anson County that year.  She is shown living alone and was between 70-80 years old.  Nancy Hendrick died before 1840 as we find a record of the Anson County Sheriff’s Sale of her assets in March of 1840.  She must have died intestate.  According to the statement of Abel Jackson, CPT Stephen Jackson preceded her in death on 10 Sep 1832.  It is possible that he was sick during the census of 1830 and living with someone else or perhaps he was living with Nancy Hendrick and not enumerated.

Recent yDNA testing was performed on a direct descendant of Abel Jackson.  The sample matched a sample submitted by a direct descendant of Benjamin Jackson through his son David Jackson and also matched the Jackson line of Hempstead, New York.

Pvt Stephen Jackson

According to Miss Margaret Jackson Boyette’s genealogy and statement provided to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in support of her claim of kinship to the Patriot Stephen Jackson, he was a Private under COL Kolb in 1782 with the South Carolina troops.  This assertion was supported by her evidence and affirmed by the DAR.

Bishop Alexander Gregg says that CPT Stephen Jackson served under COL Kolb as well.  There was nothing in the statements of either Nancy Cook or Abel Jackson to support this claim.  Subsequent review of several other Pension Claims that mention CPT Stephen Jackson do not indicate COL Kolb in the chain of command.  It is, however, possible that CPT Stephen Jackson and Private Stephen Jackson could have both served under COL Kolb since both were from generally the same area.  It is my position that Bishop Gregg had his Stephen Jacksons confused.  I submit that Private Stephen Jackson, Jr. is a son of Stephen Jackson, Sr. who was born 1717 in Hempstead, New York.  This is supported by the tax and census records presented earlier in this study and by the process of eliminating the other Stephen Jackson as a possible father for Henry A. Jackson.  Henry A. Jackson appears to be a contemporary in age to Stephen Jackson, Jr. based upon census records, so I further submit that Henry A. Jackson is a brother to Stephen Jackson, Jr. and son of Stephen Jackson, Sr.  William P. Jackson also appears to be a son of Stephen Jackson, Sr. based upon distribution of his assets after his death.

Private Stephen Jackson’s age has been reasonably established be census records.  He appears to have been born about 1760.  Henry A. Jackson’s birth year appears to be about 1756 based upon census records.  It is therefore impossible for him to be a son of either of the Stephen Jacksons who served in the Revolutionary War.  It is feasible and probable that he is a son of Stephen Jackson, Sr.  William P. Jackson, who is also about the same age as Stephen, Jr. and Henry A. Jackson, is connected to Henry A. Jackson’s family based upon his will excerpt which is shown below with my notes.

• Anson Co., NC Deed Book 11 page 438 - Oct 18,1844 - The heirs of William P. Jackson being Mary Jackson, A.M. Lowery, Alex May, Stephen Jackson & Benjamin A. Jackson to John Edwards - $1200 for 153 acres on Thompson Creek adjoining the State line.

• Mary Jackson mentioned is Mary Blakeney Jackson, widow of Henry A. Jackson.  Stephen and Benjamin A. Jackson are sons of Henry A. and Mary Blakeney Jackson.  A.M. [Alfred Moore] Lowry is a son-in-law of Henry A. and Mary Jackson; he was married to their daughter Henrietta.  Since there was no mention of a wife or children in his will, he must have never married.  The fact that William P. Jackson named the above individuals indicates a close relationship between him and those named individuals.  Henry A. Jackson was a contemporary in age to William P. Jackson and it seems logical that they could have been brothers.  Henry A. Jackson was the father of COL Stephen Jackson of Chesterfield Co., South Carolina, who was a very strong supporter of the Confederacy during the Civil War and an active politician after the war.

Killing Stephen

The moniker of "Killing Stephen" is most likely that of CPT Stephen Jackson.  Ensign Phillip Rushing in his statement supporting his service in the Revolutionary War, Rushing says he served under CPT Stephen Jackson.  He further quotes CPT Jackson as saying, "he had killed 19 Tories and that he must kill the 20th before he stopped, that is with his own hand he killed his nineteen."  Rushing also states that they served under COL Wade and COL Smith.  His statement was attested to by his brother, Richard Rushing who confirmed they served under CPT Stephen Jackson, COL Wade and COL Smith.  John Hunter, in his statement in support of his request for pension for his Revolutionary War service stated, "That he afterwards, but the day month or year he cannot recollect, volunteered for one month under Captain Stephen Jackson (called Killing Stephen Jackson)---John Jackson Colonel, that they made their headquarters at the house of the said Colonel John Jackson near the North Carolina line, but whether in Chesterfield District South Carolina or in Anson County North Carolina, he cannot say positively, and scoured the county round about for Tories; that he served out the month for which he had volunteered and returned home."

It is clear that CPT Stephen Jackson’s subordinates had no trouble remembering him and his exploits.  Based upon the statements made by his subordinates, it appears that CPT Stephen Jackson was known as "Killing Stephen".  As is the case with many soldiers who have seen the action that CPT Stephen Jackson obviously saw, they sometimes become maladjusted and have a hard time dealing with normal life after the war.  This could be the reason for the failed marriage of CPT Stephen Jackson and the subsequent relationship with Nancy Hendrick.

Summary

Based upon the above documents and records, it is my opinion that "Killing Stephen" is CPT Stephen Jackson.  Further, it is my opinion that CPT Stephen Jackson is the husband of Nancy Cook and father of Abel Jackson of Humphreys Co., Tennessee.  CPT Stephen Jackson is also the Stephen Jackson that had the recorded slave transactions and land dealings with Nancy Hendrick.  This is the same Stephen Jackson who petitioned the North Carolina Legislature in 1804 to make the children of Nancy Hendrick his legal children as he was convinced that they were his natural children.  Nancy Cook, CPT Stephen Jackson’s legal wife, migrated to Tennessee with their son Abel sometime between 1820 and 1830.  It is my position that CPT Stephen Jackson and Nancy Cook were in fact separated prior to her move to Tennessee and that he consorted with Nancy Hendrick during this time.  Based upon the legal interpretations of divorce shown in the text above, separation was the only answer during that time.

I think Bishop Alexander Gregg and later W. Bernette Burch were relying upon family lore when they proclaimed Henry A. Jackson a son of CPT Stephen Jackson.  Based upon the ages of both individuals taken from census records, this would be mathematically impossible.  These two individuals are within approximately 5 years of being the same age.  Therefore, Henry A. Jackson was most likely a brother or first cousin to CPT Stephen Jackson as opposed to being his father.  It is my opinion that Henry A. Jackson the son of the elder Stephen Jackson and brother to Stephen Jackson, Jr., the Private in the Revolutionary War.


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Written by Bob Mitchell ~ Contributed to the Jackson web site July 30, 2007
Copyright 2007-2008 by Bob Mitchell, all rights reserved.  This document may be reproduced, only if remaining intact, with full acknowledgement to the author.