Joseph Jackson
Born: Died August 7, 1774
Martha Jackson
Children: Ezekial, Hezekiah, Abel, Cain, Patiance, Peter, Joseph, Lucy, Martha
Joseph Jackson was a very prosperous plantation owner and farmer. He had a rather large Manor Plantation in Chesterfield Co., Virginia and a smaller plantation in Prince Edward, Virginia. His plantation where he lived included 21 hogs, 13 sheep, 20 cattle, 3 horses. He wrote his Will as he states in good health but out of concern for his family should anything happen to him. He remembers each one of his children even though they may have been married and well off and even his grandchildren in his Last Will and Testament.
Joseph Jackson never saw the conclusion of the American Revolutinary War only the beginning. Here are a few events he would have heard about before he died.
1774
March: The first Coercive Act, the Boston Port Act, closes Boston Harbour until the full cost for damaged tea had been repaid.
May: Westminster passes a further two Coercive Acts: the Massachusetts Government Act and the Administration of Justice Act.
June 2nd: The British parliament passes another Quartering Act, requiring colonial assemblies to provide vacant buildings for the housing of British regular soldiers.
June 22nd: The Quebec Act is given royal assent. This legislation expands the province of Quebec and allows its French Catholics to hold office and worship freely. This provokes anti-Catholic outrage in the 13 colonies.
July 18th: Fairfax County, Washington’s home county, adopts the Fairfax Resolves, rejecting claims of absolute British sovereignty over the American colonies.
Joseph Jackson's Will and Inventory
In the name of God amen, I Joseph Jackson of the County of Chesterfield being in perfect health sense and memory thanks to Almighty God, but knowing the frailty of this mortal life do make constitute and appoint this to be my last will and Testament. First, resigning my soul to God that gave it, and my body to be buried in a Christian like manner by my Executors hereafter named and do bestow my worldly goods in Manor following viz I lend my beloved wife Martha Jackson all my household furniture and stock of all kinds and all my plantation utensils and likewise seven Negroes to wit; Hitt a Negro man, Nancy a Negro woman, Rose and Negro girl, Anakey a Negro girl, Sukey a negroe girl, a Negro boy Bristol, and a Negro boy Sam to have and to hold during her widowhood and at her marriage or Death the negroe man Hitt I give to my son Peter Jackson and the other six Negroes above named and all the stock and household furniture with the increase of the Negroes to be equally divided between my three children Cain, Patiance, and Peter Jackson. I also give to my son Peter Jackson the manor Plantation whereon I now live to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever. Also I give to my son Cain Jackson all the tract of land that I now hold in Prince Edward to him and his heirs forever. Also I give my Daughter Lucy Power five shillings and to her son Joseph Power the sum of twenty pounds to be taken out of my Estate before Divided to be paid to the said Joseph at the time of his coming to the age of twenty-one years. I likewise give to my son Ezekial Jackson one negroe man named Tom that he now has in his possession to him and his heirs forever. Also I give to my Daughter Martha Watkins the sum of ten shillings also I give to my son Joseph Jackson the sum of ten shillings also I give to my son Hezekiah’s Daughter Martha Jackson the sum of fifteen shillings also I give five shillings to be Equally Divided amongst all of my son Hezekiah Jackson’s children. Now in case either of my three children Cain, Patiance, or Peter Jackson should dye without heir that the personal estate be equally divided betwixt the other two and the land to fall to the surviving brother and if both the brothers should Die without heir my daughter Patiance to have all the personal Estate and my son Joseph the Plantation in Prince Edward to have. And to hold to him and his heirs forever and my son Ezekial to have the manor Plantation whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever. I likewise give to my son Abel Jackson the sum of Ten Shillings and I do appoint my beloved wife Martha Jackson and son Joseph Jackson Executors to this my last Will and Testament I witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of August in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two.
Test Joseph Jackson Mark/Seal
Pages 1 and 2
In obedience to an order of the worhsipfull Court of Chesterfield County to us directed bearing date February court 1774 being first sworn before Joseph Bass gentlemen one of his majesties Justices of the peace for the said County have appraised all the shares and personal Estate of Jospeh Jackson deceased brought to our view as follows to wit;
A Negroe man named Hitt
A Negroe boy named Bristol
A Negroe boy named Sam
A Negroe woman named Sukey
A Negroe woman named Nancy
A Negroe girl named Anakey
A Negroe girl named Rose
A Negroe girl child
1 Bed and Furniture
1 Bed and Furniture
1 Bed and Furniture
1 Bed and Furniture
21 Head of Hoggs
13 Head of Sheep
20 Head of Cattle
1 Sorrel Horse
1 Bay Horse and Sorrel mare
A Parcel of Pewter
A Hand Gun and a Pistol
A Copper Kettle
Two Spinning Wheels and Loom
3 Potts, racks and a frying pan
Piggons Pales and churn with half bushel and a peck
2 Man’s and 2 Womans Saddles
13 Chairs, 4 Tables
Safe
3 Chests
A flax Wheel
Two small trunks
A Parcel of Earthen and glass ware
A Spice morter and some tin ware
A Parcel of knives and forks
A Wheat Mill
Give under our hands the 25 of June 1774 worth 425 pounds
Peter Fitz Patrick, James Ball, John B Foese