Jackson family

The traceable origins of my Jackson family start in Southam, Warwickshire, circa 1605 where we find Tymothy Jackson. In 1625 he is married to Dorithy and the birth of their first child Ann is recorded by baptism 19th April 1625, sadly Ann died in the November. The records go on to show a further eight children being born to the couple. Theses births start the amazing sequence of first names which enabled the family to be traced with relative ease right through to today. The first names Miles, Rowland and Timothy appear and re-appear successively. Rowland being one of the most important in my line.

The name Jackson is relatively common and can be difficult to trace but the first names used are not common and enable the links to be made with great certainty. I have found some other Jackson's by using the IGI and a similar naming pattern exists which leads me to suspect that these are also offshoots of the same line but have not been able to link them to a common point to join them all together but I feel this cannot be a coincidence.

The Warwickshire family clearly had some modest wealth as revealed by wills and at least one burial inside the parish church, always an indicator of wealth.

The next generation in line is that of Rowland Jackson who marries Grace. I have not been able to trace their marriage, this may be partly due to the chaos of the civil war which affected the whole country but some significant events occurred in the area around Southam. Rowland's baptism is recorded Jan 1644/5 and the baptism of his son Timothy is found November 1669. Two other births are recorded for the couple, Rowland and Miles.

It is at this point that a significant event takes place, history and time do not reveal what precisely takes place. The normal rules of inheritance at this time were for the oldest son to inherit the property. Younger sons having to make their own way in the world or receiving small bequests. Some time before 1700 an event appears to have occurred which results in Timothy leaving Southam and being found in Northolt, Middlesex upon his marriage to Mary Golder in Jan 1698/9.

There is no explanation in the will as to why Rowland, the younger son inherits the property and land in Southam or why Timothy the eldest migrates some 150 mile to Middlesex. What family rift occurs or event that necessitates Timothy's move is unlikely to be known. He receives a bequest of £70 in total on his father's death to be paid over five years. £70 was a substantial sum but why over five years, does this indicate a father's lack of trust in his son's financial ability? A mystery.

There is evidence that the links with the families in Warwickshire and Middlesex are maintained at least until the mid 1700's.

Linking Timothy in Northolt to Warwickshire may have been impossible but for the records found on his marriage. The link and evidence is clear.

So now to Middlesex - Timothy and Mary's first child is recorded circa May 1700 with the birth of Elizabeth who dies as an infant. A further seven children are recorded including Rowland, Miles and Grace all of whom confirm the link to the previous generation.

I spent many years trying to find Rowland's marriage, the baptisms of his children all being recorded in Northolt or Greenford. Eventually the marriage was found in the clandestine registers of Fleet, this revealed a marriage to his Cousin Martha Golder which might indicate they ran away to marry without family approval. His brother Miles also married at Fleet.

Rowland's son John provides the next generation with the birth of his son Rowland being recorded in Greenford in 1773 with the mother recorded as Mary. This may be a mistake in the record as John and Jane Jackson are shown as having children biannually at the same time in Greenford. The sequence being interrupted in 1773 when there is only the entry for John and Mary. I lean towards the church official making the entry suffering a little confusion. Further evidence is also given in the will of Martha Jackson in her bequests to her nephews and nieces. Also the lack of a Rowland in the list makes my supposition reasonable.

Martha also left a bequest to the parish of Northolt as well as indicating she wanted to be buried in a brick lined grave, 8 feet deep and covered with a gravestone.

Rowland 1773 married Mary Stevens in Ealing 27th October 1800. They have ten children which lead us into the era of census and civil registration.

His son George married Maria Harwood, their daughter Sarah married William Payne and their daughter Jessie Marry was my Great Grandmother. The 1800's were hard times for the Jackson's being labourers in the main.