Jackson Children Appointed Guardian August 1777
John Mitchell was appointed Guardian to watch over the financial affairs of the children. He married their mother Elizabeth Pamplett Jackson and became their step-father. Source: John Mitchell Will 1783 (attached to Hezekiah and Elizabeth Jackson’s Records on this site)
Abel Jackson Orphan of Hezekiah 1785
Second to Last Paragraph talks about Abel. Here’s what I found on being “bound” to someone… (Elizabeth Pamplet Married Hezekiah- Abel’s father and second John Mitchell. In 1783, John Mitchell died and left a Will but if you look in the first paragraph above it mentions all of Hezekiah’s children and John Watkins is the Executor of John Mitchell’s Will. John’s oldest Son, William will be bound to (apprenticed) whomever John Watkins sees fit even though Elizabeth is still alive and taking care of the younger children as stated in John Mitchell’s Will. Abel’s sister Martha Jackson chose John Watkins (listed above) as her guardian since she was of an age to be able to chose. Even though they had a Guardianship over their financial affairs Hezekiah’s children, Josiah, Robert, Abel and Martha still lived with their mother. (To find John Mitchell’s Will listing all our family members please see Hezekiah and Elizabeth Jackson’s Page on this website) John Mitchell’s oldest son William who would be bound to whomever John Watkins chose has a very large estate to inherit when he came of age.
What does it mean to be bound to someone
As an adjective, denotes the condition of being constrained by the obligations of a bond or a covenant.
On RootsWeb there is a transcript of a talk “What Genealogists should know about 18th Century Virginia Law” presented November 17, 1999 at the Library of Virginia by Mr. John P. Alcock, President, Friends of the Virginia State Archives. This gives an overview of several laws of the period, including nuances that will not be familiar to a modern audience. For instance, the word “orphan” did not have its current meaning of a child who has lost both parents. In a discussion of children who were taken away from their mothers and bound to serve strangers, Mr. Alcock says:
A child whose father had died was an orphan in that era, even if her mother was living. The father in his will could name a guardian or guardians for his infant children (infant was the legal term for under age) to manage their estates and arrange for their education. If he did not do so or if he died intestate, the court could name the guardian unless the child was 14 or older, in which case he or she could choose one. However, “where the estate of the orphan be so small value that no person will educate and maintain him for the profits thereof, such orphan shall be bound apprentice, every male to some tradesman, merchant, mariner, or other person approved by the court until the age of 21.”. Females were similarly bound but to age 18. The master or mistress of every servant was to provide “diet, clothes, lodgings and accommodations and teach him to read and write and at the expiration of his apprenticeship to give him the same allowance appointed for servants of indenture”.
Abel Jackson and Patsey Jackson Married April 27, 1793
Abel Jackson and Patsey Jackson, daughter of Matthew Jackson who consents. sur. William Jackson. William Jackson is an uncle of Patsey Jackson. Source:Marriage Bonds and Minister Returns of Prince Edward County, Virginia 1754-1810
Abel and Patsey Land Deed Oct 1799
Abel and Martha (Patsey) sold their land in Prince Edward, Virginia in October 1799 to Stephen Hall. They made the move to Abbeville, South Carolina right after the sale of their property. This document has Patsey’s legal name, “Martha” at the top but she signed it “Patsey.” Source: Camille Lundeen’s Research–South Carolina land grants Vol. 46 Pg. 368 Film 22561 SLC FamilyHistory Library
Abel Jackson 1800 Census
In 1800 Abel Jackson lived in Abbeville, So. Carolina with his wife, two sons, a daughter along with 9 slaves
Abel Jackson South Carolina Land Grant April 23, 1800
1000 acres surveyed for Abel Jackson February 1800, in the district Ninety-Six, Abbeville County- waters of Little River, Bounded by a line running SE by William Colliers- NE corner to be vacant
Abel Jackson Last Will and Testament March 1806
Abel Jackson Will- March 3, 1806. He states that he is very sick when he had the Will drawn up. His father died without a Will. He learned a valuable lesson to have a Will in place before he died.
Will Of Abel Jackson
Abbeville, South Carolina
In the name of God amen I able Jackson being very sick but of sound judgment mind and memory calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed until all man once to die Do you think it expedient to make the following distribution of my worldly substance. And first I command my soul to God who gave it to my body and to the dust from whence it came to be Intered by Decent Burial—
And as to My worldly Substance after the following Bequests (Viz My Negro Boy Julius I Bequeath to my Son Matthew, my Boy Booker to Hezekiah and my Girl Daphne to Robert and my Girl Hannah to My Daughter Patsey)
I desire that all my Property Real and Personal be exposed to Sale and that the Money be kept at Interest after it is collected until My Children come of age. And then that an Equal Distribution be made between My Children named above with the exception that my youngest child Patsey receive $100 more than my sons. And I appoints and ordain Josiah Patterson and Robert foster my Lawful Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Renouncing all other in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of March in the Year of our Lord 1806—
Able X Jackson
Test Mark
Robert Clark
John Moore
William Clark
Recorded in Will Book No. 1 Page 319
The Estate of Abel Jackson Inventory and Distribution
January 1810, Abel’s four children each received $548.88 with the exception that Patsey received an extra $100.00. $8.00 was paid to John C. Calhoon which Abel was bound to (apprenticed) as a youth and in March 1812, $125 was paid to James Collier for E. Mitchell(Abel’s mother Elizabeth Pamplett Jackson- who had remarried John Mitchell after Hezekiah’s death).
April 9th 1806 Record of Inventory for Abel Jackson
Robert Jackson
Abel’s younger son, Robert was deemed incompetent to take care for himself and his financial accounts so a guardian was appointed for him, his older brother, Matthew Jackson.
Inheritance of Robert and Matthew Jackson Disstributed Feb. 10, 1823
Balance due Robt Jackson Minor from Josiah Patterson Guardian____________$108.52
Paid Matthew Jackson an Lottement____________$108.52
Same time delivered him five Negroes the Property of said Robert viz. Daphne aged about 25 years with her four children Judy 6 years, Rose 4, Julius 2 and Rachel 7 months worth one thousand Dollars as per Recorded
Personally appeared Josiah Patterson Executor of the estate of Abel Jackson and Guardian of Robert Jackson a minor…the the above stated accounts are just and true to the best of his knowledge. and belief. Josiah Patterson 3rd March 1823
Source: SLC Family History Center Film #181702 Camille Lundeen’s Research..
Court Order- Robert Jackson May 18, 1832
This day the sheriff of Tuscaloosa returned in open court-.. of Jurors who summoned by him in pursuance of an order of this court, to ascertain whether Robert Jackson of said county, is non compos mentis, unable to take care of himself- And it appearing to the satisfaction of the court- from the request (?) aforesaid that said Robert Jackson is non compos mentis, and unable to take care of himself – whereupon it is ordered by the court that Mathew Jackson be and he is hereby appointed Guardian for said Robert Jackson. He having entered into Bond in the sum of Twenty seven hundred dollars, with Thomas Goodman and William Jennings his securities.