Thomas John Jackson
Thomas John Jackson (Known simply as "Thomas Jackson") of Cape Palmas, Liberia was a free African-American slave from Frederick County, Maryland, who emigrated to Cape Palmas in the 19th century. Thomas Jackson was one of the most prominent early Americo-Liberian and was among the early American settlers of Liberia. Thomas Jackson is mentioned in the African Repository by the American Colonization Society and the Maryland State Colonization Society.
Emigration to Liberia
Thomas Jackson a mason was emancipated in view of emigrating to Liberia by his master W. N. Ritchie, Esq. and Amelia Jackson (Seamstress) his wife known simply as "Milly" was emancipated in view of emigrating to Liberia by her master J. P. Thompson, Esq.
Thomas Jackson and Amelia Jackson both emigrated to Liberia aboard SHIP LAFAYETTE, which sailed from Baltimore for Monrovia , 7 December, in the year 1832 and arrived Monrovia 20, January 1833. Thomas Jackson was 40 years old and Milly 37 years old at the time they sailed on the Lafayette. Both settled in Cape Palmas and Shortly after, Milly Jackson died in 1834 with the cause of death unknown.
Thomas Jackson was very prominent and influential in the affairs of the colony. He was appointed Justice of the Peace and Treasurer by the first black Governor of the State of Maryland in Liberia John B. Russwurm in 1838.
Thomas Jackson later married Anna Maria Scott a manumitted slave from Talbot County in 1837. Anna Maria Scott departed from Baltimore on June 28, 1835 on the schooner Harmony, arriving at Cape Palmas, Liberia on August 23, 1835. She married Thomas Jackson in 1837, gave birth to Victoria (Victory) in 1845 and John Payne Jackson was born 25 March 1848.
Members of the family
- Victoria Jackson (Daughter: 1845 - )
- John Payne Jackson (Son: 25 March 1848 – 1 August 1915)
- Thomas Horatio Jackson (Son of John Payne Jackson: 1879–1935)
Sources
- https://www.forgottenbooks.com/en/download/ReportFromtheSelectCommitteetoWhomWasReferredtheSubjectoftheRemovaloftheFreeColo_10506152.pdf
- http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa//speccol/sc5400/sc5496/051300/051368/html/51368bio.html