Beeman, Richard. Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution, (New York, NY: Random House, 2009.)
Ervin, Sara Sullivan. South Carolinians in the Revolution, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1965.)
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army: During the War of the Revolution - April, 1775 to December 1783, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1973.)
Jeter, Derrick G. "Founding Father's Friday: William Jackson", (derrickjeter.com, April 26, 2013.)
Lewis, James A. Neptune's Militia: The Frigate South Carolina during the American Revolution, (Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press, 1999.)
Littell, Charles Willing. "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Constitution", (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. II, No. 4, pages 353-369; 1878.)
McKnight, DeLoss, III. "Find a Grave Memorial: Elizabeth Willing Jackson (1768-1858)", (findagrave.com, record added - July 9, 2005.)
McKnight, DeLoss, III. "Find a Grave Memorial: Major William Jackson (1759-1828)", (www.findagrave.com, record added - July 9, 2005.)
Moss, Bobby Gilmer. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1983.)
Revill, Janie, copier. Copy of the Original Index Book: Showing the Revolutionary Claims Filed in South Carolina Between August 20, 1783 and August 31, 1786, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1969.)
Wright, Robert K. and Morris J. MacGregor, Jr. Soldier- Statesmen of the Constitution, (Washington, DC: Center of Military History, US Army, 1987.)
Swain, David. "William Jackson Papers - The David Library of the American Revolution" (davidlibraryar.blogspot.com, August 16, 2010.)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. "William Jackson (secretary)", (en.wikipedia.org, last edited - June 22, 2017.)
Pension Application of William Jackson W9072
Thus far in this overall blog, each and every one of the individual posts have possessed a unique characteristic or defining feature that has frequently served to set that specific post apart from the other posts. The post presented here is no different in this respect. The individual addressed in this post was an officer, which is certainly not unusual in regards to the numerous posts currently contained in this overall blog. But, he was not technically a member of the crew of the frigate South Carolina. Indeed, he was a "passenger" on board the patriot frigate as she made her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean towards the North American colonies. This is the first post to address one of the twenty-six gentlemen on board during that specific voyage who were listed on the ship's roster as a "passenger". His story is made doubly unique due his arguing with Commodore Gillon, nurturing a growing dislike for the ranking officer of the frigate, and leaving the patriot frigate as she moored in Corunna, Spain's harbor to seek another manner of getting home more quickly. According to Lewis's work, Neptune's Militia, page 77, once back in the Philadelphia, PA, this individual became one of the men labelled as a member of the "...choir of conspirators..." by Commodore Alexander Gillon. These men sought to defame the Commodore and were close enough, in physical proximity and influence to members of the Continental Congress, that they stood a very good chance of having the Commodore's frigate legally impounded in the harbor. In fact, Commodore Alexander Gillon came to count this man as one of his most venomous antagonists in Philadelphia, PA. Yet, the truly most unique feature of this individual is what he accomplished after the conclusion of the war - he became the secretary to the Constitutional Convention and was thus a signer of the Constitution of the United States of America. The writer of this blog knows of no other individual on board the frigate South Carolina that served in so distinguished a manner. The individual is, of course, William Jackson.
As with so very many of the early American patriots, William Jackson was not a native-born American. Numerous sources agree that he was born in the shire (county) of Cumberland, England on March 9, 1759. If these sources do not specify the exact date of the birth of William Jackson and his birth county in England, they at the very least point out that he was born in the border areas between England and Scotland. But, Cumberland is definitely on the English side of the border.
(Note: The sources cited in this post concerning the birth date and place of William Jackson are as follows:
Jeter, Derrick G. "Founding Father's Friday: William Jackson", (derrickjeter.com, April 26, 2013.)
Littell, Charles Willing. "Major William Jackson - Secretary of the Federal Constitution", (The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. II, No. 4, 1878.)
McKnight, Deloss, III. "Find a Grave Memorial: Major William Jackson (1759-1828)", (www.findagrave.com, record added - July 9, 2005.)
Wright, Robert K. and Morris J. MacGregor, Jr. Soldier-Statesmen of the Constitution, (Washington, DC: Center of Military History, US Army, 1987.)
Swain, David. "William Jackson Papers - The David Library of the American Revolution", (davidlibraryar.blogspot.com, August 16, 2010.)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. "William Jackson (secretary)", (en.wikipedia.org, last edited - June 22, 2017.)
These several sources all agree that William Jackson was indeed born in Cumberland County, England on March 9, 1759. But, some of these same sources agree that this geographical area was a part of the much older "English West Riding". The East, Middle and West Ridings of both the Scottish and English sides of the borderlands were wild, ungoverned places of raiders and brigands from powerful families on both sides of the borderlands. These "outlaws" waged an unofficial form of warfare consisting of constant raids and low-intensity warfare against the opposing side. This period of time extended from the 1300s to the mid-1600s and devastated the border regions of both countries. It is not clear if the Jackson family took part in this type of warfare but, it is also not out of the question that they did if they were present in the area of Cumberland, England during that specific period of time.)
One source does give additional information concerning the birth and ethnic descent of William Jackson. This reference is contained in Littell's work, "Major William Jackson...", page 354 and is as follows:
"From a letter of Miss [Ann Willing] Jackson [the eldest daughter of William Jackson] we learn that her father 'was born in Cumberland, England, and on the maternal side of Scotch descent - of an ancestry, the gentry of those countries, and received the rudiments of an excellent education in Scotland.'.".
The only other source available to the writer of this blog that refers the early life of William Jackson is No Name's work, "William Jackson", page 1, which states:
"The son of an Englishman of some local standing in the region along the Scottish border, he [William Jackson] received the rudimentary education typical of the area.".
The use of the phrases "...the rudiments of an excellent education..." and "...the rudimentary education typical of the area..." might well indicate the dramatic turn that the life of young William Jackson was destined to take in a short period of time.
This event in the early life of William Jackson involved tragedy and took the form of the deaths of both of his parents. But, the different sources cited in this post seem to not give any concrete details on the exact circumstances of his being orphaned. The Wikipedia article, "William Jackson (secretary)", page 1, states that "...Jackson was sent to Charleston in South Carolina after the death of his parents.". Jeter's work, "Founding Fathers' Friday", page 1, states almost exactly the same when it says that "...after the death of his parents he was shipped to Charleston, South Carolina...". Wright's and MacGregor's work, Soldier-Statesmen, page 127, elaborates in stating that "...his [William Jackson's] limited and sheltered world was suddenly changed when his parents died and neighbors arranged for the orphan's emigration to Charleston, South Carolina...".
(Note: there does exist one contradictory source that states that William Jackson was not sent to South Carolina after the death of both of his parents. This source is McKnight's entry for "Major William Jackson (1759-1828)" in "Find a Grave Memorial". It erroneously states that William Jackson "...was raised by friends of the family in North Carolina after being orphaned.". This can be attributed to a simple misquote or mistaken identification of the wrong Carolina here in the colonies.)
Littell's work, "Major William Jackson: Secretary of the Federal Constitution", page 354, adds some additional information when it states that:
"...early deprived of his parents, he [William Jackson] subsequently from the patrimony bequeathed him by his father, under the guardianship of the brave and good Colonel Roberts, continued his studies under private tuition.".
This specific source makes it sound as though the young William Jackson continued his studies along the borders of England and Scotland when in fact "...the brave and good Colonel Roberts..." was in fact Colonel Owen Roberts and a South Carolinian to whom the young William Jackson was sent after the deaths of both of his parents. This article from "The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography" does go on to say that William Jackson did immigrate to Charleston, South Carolina but, this follows the above statement.
After the death of his parents, the destiny of young William Jackson seems to lay across the Atlantic Ocean in the rich colony of South Carolina. Wikipedia's article simply states that after the deaths of his parents "...Jackson was sent to Charleston in South Carolina..." to be "...raised by a family friend and prominent merchant, Owen Roberts...". Wright's and MacGregor's work, Soldier-Statesmen, page 127, states that after these tragic and unexpected deaths, Jackson's neighbors, seemingly out of pity for the young orphan, took charge of the future of the young Jackson. Their subsequent actions were such:
"... neighbors arranged for the orphan's emigration to Charleston, South Carolina, to be reared by Owen Roberts, a prominent merchant and family friend.".
Jeter's work, "Founding Fathers Friday...", page 1, is more succinct and virtually blunt when it states that"...after the death of his parents he [Jackson] was shipped to Charleston, South Carolina to live with a family friend, Owen Roberts.".
Littell's work, "Major William Jackson", page 354, properly orders the events at this point in the narrative by stating that "...under the guardianship of the brave and good Colonel [Owen] Roberts, continued his studies under private tuition.
Having immigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, he obtained in 1775, before he had completed his seventeenth year, a commission in the First Regiment of South Carolina Infantry. His colonel was Christopher Gadsden, and his major, his guardian, Owen Roberts.".
This passage makes it clear that the personal studies of the teenaged William Jackson did indeed continue in colony of South Carolina under the direction of his guardian, Owen Roberts, who it would appear, was "...a family friend and prominent merchant..." in Charleston, South Carolina. When the American Revolution did commence, his guardian would become his commanding officer and the second in command of the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot in which William Jackson received his appointment as a junior officer or as a subaltern.
The person and influence of Owen Roberts is crucial in the life of the young William Jackson at this point in time. Thus, he deserves a brief digression from the main character of this specific post at this point in the narrative. The purpose of this brief digression is to establish the importance of Owen Roberts in the life of William Jackson and his definite influence in the consequential course of the life of the future secretary of the Constitutional Convention. The following sources address the life and death in combat during the American Revolution of this South Carolinian:
Baxley, Charles B., editor. "Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution, Vol. 1, No. 4 (December, 2004)", "The Battle of Stono Ferry - June 20, 1779", (www.southerncampign.org, 2004.)
Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Revolutionary War Bounty Land Grants: Awarded by State Governments, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1996.)
Ervin, Sara Sullivan. South Carolinians in the Revolution: with Service Records and Miscellaneous Data, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1965.)
Heitman, Francis B. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army: During the War of the Revolution - April, 1775 to December, 1783, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1973.)
Hendrix, Ge Lee Corley and Morn McKoy Lindsey, compilers. The Jury Lists of South Carolina, 1778-1779, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1980.)
Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in South Carolina - Colonel Owen Roberts", (www.carolana.com, 2014.)
Moss, Bobby Gilmer. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1983.)
Revill, Janie, copier. Copy of the Original Index Book: Showing the Revolutionary Claims Filed in South Carolina Between August 20, 1783 and August 31, 1786, (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1969.)
Webber, Mabel L., compiler. "Death Notices from the South Carolina and American General Gazette, and its
Continuation The Royal Gazette, May 1766 - June 1782" (Continued)", (South Carolina Historical Society: The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 17, No. 4 (October, 1916), pp. 147-166.)
Wikipedia. "Battle of Stono Ferry", (www.en.wikipedia.org., last edited - October 10, 2017.)
Pension Application of Owen Roberts BLWt2359-500
The sources cited above that concern the life of Colonel Owen Roberts give little information on his early life. Lewis's very brief work, "The American Revolution in South Carolina - Colonel Owen Roberts", states that "Owen Roberts was born in 1720" which would have made him about fifty-four or fifty-five years old at the outbreak of the American Revolution. This same work goes on the state that "...he was commissioned a Captain in the SC [South Carolina] Provincial troops and served in the Cherokee War during 1760.". This would have been a reference to services performed during the French and Indian War conducted on the southern frontiers of the North American theater of war. No further information has been found by the writer of this blog to date concerning the pre-Revolutionary War life of Owen Roberts. But, there is one other reference to civilian pursuits in the life of Colonel Owen Roberts., though these occurred after the commencement of the American Revolution. According to Hendrix and Lindsey's work, The Jury Lists of South Carolina, 1778-1779, Owen Roberts served on civil juries during the years cited in the title of this particular work. His name is cited on pages 5 and 13 as serving on both grand juries and petit juries, respectively, for the parish of St. Philip and St. Micheal, Charleston District. The interesting element here is that both the names of Alexander Gillon and Micheal Kalteissen also appear on these same lists. It is intriguing to think that Owen Roberts may well have met and been acquainted with the very men that his young charge, William Jackson, would one day be a "passenger" on board their frigate, voyaging across the Atlantic Ocean in an effort to effect the fight against Great Britain in these waters.
(Note: Colonel Owen Roberts was killed in action at the battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779. Thus, his services on these different juries must have been recorded and completed prior to mid-year of 1779 when he was killed.)
Heitman's work, Historical Register of the Officers of the Continental Army, page 469, contains the following information addressing the military services of Owen Roberts during the American Revolution:
Owen Roberts - South Carolina
Major, 1st South Carolina Regiment, commissioned June 17, 1775
Lieutenant- Colonel, 4th South Carolina Artillery Regiment, commissioned November 14, 1775
Colonel, same regiment of artillery, commissioned September 16, 1776
killed in action - Stono Ferry, South Carolina, June 20, 1779
Moss's work, Roster of South Carolina Patriots, page 820, contains almost the exact same information as Heitman but, with a few additional pieces included:
Owen Roberts BLWt 2359-500
born - 1720
died - 1779
married Mrs. Ann Fraser Cattell
He was commissioned a Major on June 17, 1775 in the First [South Carolina] Regiment. On November 14, 1775, he became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Fourth [South Carolina Artillery] Regiment and was a Colonel on September 16, 1776. He was killed at Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779.
P.I.; Heitman, p. 469; S.C.H.&G., V., 56, 57, 90; A.A.6492.
In Ervin's work, South Carolinians in the Revolution, Owen Roberts name appears in two separate citations. The first of these citations is contained within a section of a work entitled "The Names, as Far as Can be Ascertained, of the Officers Who Served in South Carolina Regiments of the Continental Establishment". It is an alphabetical listing of all known officers who served in one of the various different regiments raised by South Carolina for service in the Continental Army, along with their ranks and regiment commanded by them, and any associated comments concerning that specific officer. On page 60 of that work occurs the following information:
Owen Roberts Colonel, 4th Regiment, Artillery Killed, Stono Ferry, June 20, 1779
(Note: The second citation is that of a roster of a "...Captain Richard B. Roberts' Company of the South Carolina Corps of Artillery, Commanded by Col. Owen Roberts.". This is the sole reference to Colonel Owen Roberts in this particular document. The similarity of the last names in this specific citation of both of the named officers leads one to question whether they were related by birth or marriage. Indeed, in the latter portion of Owen Roberts pension application a "Richard Brooks Roberts" is referred to as being the father of the petitioner, Lucius Q.C. Roberts. This petitioner also refers to Owen Roberts as being his grandfather. If this is indeed true, that would make Richard Brooks Roberts the son of Colonel Owen Roberts and, quite possibly, the unnamed son who is referred to below in this post.)
Revill's work, pages 382-383, provides a final piece of information concerning the services of Colonel Owen Roberts during the American Revolution. These pages contain a table entitled "A List of the Names of Officers in the Army to Whom Certificates Have Been Granted". This table lists the officers by their names, the date the certificate was issued, and the amount of the return. On page 383, the following information appears concerning Owen Roberts:
Owen Roberts July 4, 1785 255p/14s/8 1/2d
This certificate was issued just over six years following the death of Colonel Owen Roberts at the Battle of Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779. According to the pension application of Owen Roberts BLWt2359-500, this was issued to "...Representatives of Colonel Owen Roberts, deceased..." on July 4, 1785. This seems like a small amount to be issued to a Colonel of the South Carolina Line as well as a small amount to be issued to an officer actually killed in action defending his country. But, at the opening of the pension application of "Owen Roberts BLWt2359-500", and contained within the... "Report of the Secretary of War to the House of Representatives, dated 15th of February 1791...", there appears the following statement:
"Owen Roberts, was a Colonel of the South Carolina Continental Regiment of Artillery, and that he was mortally wounded in the service of his Country on 20th of June 1779 -- 7 years half pay, viz. $4,200, was granted the 16th of April 1792 to Representatives of Colonel Owen Roberts, deceased --...".
That Colonel Owen Roberts was a respected and significant individual in South Carolinian society can readily be deduced by three events following his death on June 20, 1779 at the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC. According to Webber's work, "Death Notices", pages 154-155, the first event took place on July 16, 1779, just a few weeks after his untimely death in combat. It took the form of a funerary poem of a reasonable length which will be cited in full here for the readership of this blog to view for themselves.
"To the Memory of
Owen Roberts, Esq.
Colonel of the Continental Corps of Artillery,
Raised by the State of South Carolina;
Who was slain in the attack of the British lines at Stono-Ferry
June 20th, 1779.
To worth approv'd, at merits honou'd shrine
The muse that tribute pays so justly thine
Lamented Roberts! whose virtues great and good
Were, for thy country's safety, sealed in blood.
If sorrowing friendship could that worth display,
Which would have grac'd the Greeks heroick lay;
Thy memory should to future ages dear,
Be ever honour'd with a grateful tear.
In every act thy patriot spirit shown,
But, most in that when Freedom called for one,
Whose generous soul would every danger brave,
Her wrongs to right, her right from wrong to save.
For this, her soldier, thou her cause embrac'd,
Thy country happy in a choice well plac'd;
For this, thou brav'd grim war's terrific low'r,
And mov'd undaunted through the deathful show'r.
But here, alas! how shall my muse relate?
The cruel mandate of relentless fate
Arrests the good, the valiant, and the just,
And bids him mingle with his native dust;
His soul, serenely great, attends the call,
Nor seeks to shun, but glories in his fall,
Your praises then, O Carolinians, give,
And in your annals, let him ever live;
Let every honour be bestow'd by fame.
For sure such merit must deserve a name.
Friday, July 16, 1779.".
This a well-devised poem, composed a mere four weeks following the death of Colonel Owen Roberts at the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779. It is quite obvious that he was well-respected and highly thought of for this to be executed so soon after his death. It is also possible that some family member - possibly his wife, Ann Cattell Roberts - could have commissioned this poem to be written and then submitted it to the South Carolina and American General Gazette for publication on July 16, 1779. As one can see, the poem is unsigned by the actual author and therefore cannot be attributed to any specific South Carolinian poet.
The second event signifying the stature and place of Owen Roberts in South Carolinian society is in the way of an anecdote concerning his death in battle. It appears in Blake's work, The American Revolution, a section entitled "Anecdotes of the Revolution", pages 219-220 and is quoted as follows:
"Colonel Owen Roberts,
Colonel Owen Roberts, of the American army, fell mortally wounded in the battle of Stono [Ferry], during the revolution. His son was in the same action, and hearing of his father's situation, hastened to find him. The expiring soldier observing the anguish of his son, addressed him with the greatest composure, 'I rejoice, my boy, once again to see you and embrace you. Take this sword, which has never yet been tarnished by dishonor, and let it not be idle, while the liberty of your country requires it.'.".
As stated above in this post, this son of Owen Roberts could certainly be the Richard Brooks Roberts, who was also a captain in the 4th South Carolina Regiment of Artillery at that time and was probably also a patriot participant in the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779. This anecdotal reference, as well as the reference in the pension application of Owen Roberts BLWt2359-500, are the only references to a son of Colonel Owen Roberts that the writer of this blog has encountered in the research on Owen Roberts and William Jackson.
The third, and final, event is a rather unusual one in light of the previous posts included in this overall blog - a painting. The writer of this overall blog is aware of portraits of some of the officers who served on board the frigate South Carolina - a portrait of Alexander Gillon, one of John Mayrant, and the portrait of Michael Kalteissen which still hangs today in the main hall of the German Friendly Society in Charleston, SC. But, the picture referred to here is an actual picture depicting an interaction between two people rather than a posed portrait of a single individual.
In the picture, an officer is sitting on the ground in the lower left, clearly suffering from a mortal wound to his right leg. Another officer is standing on the right side of the picture, receiving a proffered sword from the wounded, sitting officer. The work is entitled, "The Death of Colonel Owen Roberts" and was executed by a Henry Benbridge at some unspecified date. The only date of the depiction that the writer of this blog has seen is "after 1779" which is the time frame of the events depicted and the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779 in which Colonel Owen Roberts was killed. The prone officer is certainly the subject of the painting - the mortally wounded Colonel Owen Roberts - while the standing officer on the right is almost certainly Richard Brooks Roberts, his son, if the above cited anecdote is to be believed.
(Note: The writer of this blog has encountered only four sources that have made any reference to a family in relation to Colonel Owen Roberts. Those four sources are the anecdote concerning the mortal wounding of Colonel Owen Roberts, the pension application of Owen Roberts BLWt2359-500, and the picture painted by Henry Benbridge (though the supposition here is that this is depicting the grown son of Colonel Owen Roberts). The fourth source, Moss's work, Roster of South Carolina Patriots, page 820, but, only refers to Colonel Owen Roberts's wife - Ann Fraser Cattell. No other sources refer to family members of any kind. Another note of interest is that the various battle descriptions of the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC fought on June 20, 1779 do not refer to the death of Colonel Owen Roberts in that specific battle. His death is only referenced in sources directly addressing this finite, tragic event.)
Several sources state that young William Jackson - seventeen years old at the time of the outbreak of the American Revolution - owed his commission as a junior officer in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot to his respected, influential and well-placed guardian, Colonel Owen Roberts. Records of the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC seem to indicate that the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Foot was not present at this intense and rather indecisive engagement. By the time of the battle, Colonel Owen Roberts had been promoted to the position of colonel and commanding officer of the 4th South Carolina Regiment of Artillery while the young William Jackson seems to have remained in his former regiment of foot. The writer of this blog has wondered how and when William Jackson was informed of the death of his benefactor, Colonel Owen Roberts, in the Battle of Stono Ferry, SC on June 20, 1779.