Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #50 from Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg)

State Delaware
County (Primary) Sussex
Other Counties Northampton, Accomack
Family Name Jackson
Family History Notes 1. Henry Jackson, born say 1669, was called "Harry a Maletto," the servant of William Sterling, in March 1689/90 when Francis Betteley deposed to the Northampton County, Virginia court that he had been harrowing wheat in company with Harry when Harry told him where Mr. John Baron stored cloth and other goods (which Betteley later stole). Harry was called Henry Jackson, "maletto servant to William Sterling," on 29 September 1690 when he sued for his freedom. The case was resolved by the parties agreeing that Henry would serve one year and then be discharged from service with reasonable clothing. On 28 May 1697 he, called "the maletto," was presented for driving a cart on Sunday. He was discharged from the presentment on payment of the court fees [Wills, Orders, 1689-98, 46, 62, 64-5; 1698-1710, 427, 451]. He had a child by Ann Shepherd, a "Christian white woman" who was presented by the Accomack County, Virginia Court for having an illegitimate child. When required to identify the father of her child on 6 June 1721, she told the Accomack County court that it was "Indian Edmund," but on 6 July 1721 she admitted that it was Henry Jackson, "a Mullatto." The court ordered that she be sold for five years [Orders 1719-24, 33]. Henry and Ann may have been the parents of 2 i. John, born say 1720. 2. John Jackson, born say 1720, may have been the John Jaxon who was taxable in Bogerternorton Hundred of Somerset County in the household adjoining Edward Harman in 1739 [List of Tithables, 1739]. He had a child by Jane Harman in Somerset County before 18 November 1740 when she confessed that he was the father [Judicial Record 1740-2, 59-60, 310]. He was a "mulatto" who baptized his son William on 15 June 1746 at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River Hundred, Sussex County [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 91]. His children were 3 i. William, born say 1740. ii. Patience, born 25 9ber 1748 at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 94]. She married Job Friend ("Melattoes") on 8 June 1772 in Sussex County [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 284]. iii. ?James, called a "Poore Muloto & Several in his family" when he was a delinquent taxable in Indian River in 1789, head of a Sussex County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [DE:455] and 3 "free colored" in Indian River Hundred in 1820 [DE:208]. iv. ?Stephen, servant of John Regua/ Ridgeway in March 1754 when the Sussex County court ordered him to serve additional time to make up for thirty day's lost service worth 52 shillings [Delaware Archives RG4815.017, 1753-1760, frame 93]. He was taxable in Indian River from 1773 to 1784, head of a Sussex County household of 5 "other free" in 1810 [DE:320] and 5 "free colored" in Dagsborough Hundred, Sussex County in 1820 [DE:388]. 4 v. ?Annanias, born say 1760. 3. William Jackson, born say 1746, son of John Jackson, was baptized on 15 June 1746 at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River. He, a "mulattoe," and his wife Nelly registered the 19 October 1768 birth of their daughter, Lydia, at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 91, 98]. He was taxable in Indian River Hundred, Sussex County, in 1773 and 1774, head of a Sussex County household of 4 "other free" in 1810 [DE:458] and head of a Nanticoke Hundred household of 4 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:232]. Their children were i. Lydia, born 19 October 1768, baptized 20 August 1769. ii. ?Agnes, born say 1770, married Edward Hermon (Harmon) on 27 November 1788 in Sussex County, Delaware. iii. ?Israel, married Polly Handsor, "free Mulattoes," on 18 April 1802 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 302, 318]. 4. Annanias Jackson, born say 1760, and his wife, Hester, registered the 10 March 1785 birth of their daughter, Hester, at St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, Indian River [Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties, 106]. He was head of an Indian River, Sussex County household of 8 "other free" in 1810 [DE:455] and 5 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:208]. They were the parents of i. Hester, born 10 March 1785, married Eli Hitchins on 9 September 1802 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 318]. Eli was head of a Dagsboro, Sussex County household of 9 "free colored" in 1820 [DE:378]. ii. Katherine, married Thomas Hanzor on 4 February 1808 in Sussex County, Delaware [Records of the United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring, Delaware 1756-1855, 320].
Additional Notes

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[Author (if known)], Free Black Families of Colonial Delmarva (abstracted by Paul Heinegg), [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

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