Guide to the John P. Jackson (1805-1861) Papers 1821-1887 (Bulk 1830-1860) MG 47

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary

 

Biographical Note

 

Scope and Content Note

 

Restrictions

 

Access Points

 


Related Material

 


Administrative Information

 

Bibliography

 

Container List

 

Documents

Guide to the John P. Jackson (1805-1861)

Papers1821-1887(Bulk 1830-1860)MG 47Inventory prepared by Kim Charlton as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.


 

Guide to the John P. Jackson (1805-1861)
Papers
1821-1887
(Bulk 1830-1860)

MG 47

 

 

The New Jersey Historical Society

 

52 Park Place

 

Newark, New Jersey 07102

 

Contact: NJHS Library

 

(973) 596-8500 x249

 

 

 

© 2005 All rights reserved.

 

The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher

 

Inventory prepared by Kim Charlton as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

 

Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis.
August 2005. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written
in English.

 

 


 

Descriptive Summary

 

Creator: Jackson, John P., 1805-1861.
Title: John P. Jackson Papers
Dates: 1821-1887
Abstract: The papers, dating from 1821-1887, consist largely of letters and other documents relating to John P. Jackson, a prominent New Jersey lawyer, politician, and vice-president of the New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Company.
Quantity: .9 linear feet (7 volumes)
Collection Number: MG 47

Biographical Note

 

John P. Jackson, the son of Hester Van der Linde Brinckerhoff (1782-1883) and Peter Jackson (1777-1859), was born on June 8, 1805 in Acquanonck, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1823 and then studied law at the Litchfield Law School in Connecticut. He was admitted to the bar in 1827 and went into practice with Ashbel W. Corey and later his brother-in-law, Amzi Armstrong, in Newark, New Jersey.

 

Jackson entered politics in 1831 when he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, then reelected the following year, and made Speaker of the House Assembly. In 1839, he was elected the Clerk of Essex County and remained in that position for ten years. He retired from the legal profession when he assumed the Essex County clerkship.

 

During this same time period he became active in the newly formed New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company. He was elected the company’s secretary in 1832, a director in 1836, and the vice president and general superintendent in 1849. The company grew and strengthened under Jackson’s leadership, and came to include such lines as the one running between Newark and New York City. Jackson remained with the company until his death in 1861.

 

Jackson was also active in charitable and religious organizations. He was a member of the Essex County Bible Society, the New Jersey Colonization Society, The New Jersey Historical Society, the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, and a founding member of the South Park Presbyterian Church of Newark. He was also a trustee of the New Jersey State Normal School and was appointed by President Millard Fillmore to the Board of Visitors at West Point Military Academy.

 

In 1827, John P. Jackson married Elizabeth Huntington Wolcott, the daughter of Betzy Huntington and the Honorable Frederick Wolcott. The couple had eleven children together. John P. Jackson died in Newark, New Jersey on December 10, 1861.

 

click here for Jackson Family Tree

Return to the Table of Contents

 


Scope and Content Note

 

The papers consist largely of letters received by John P. Jackson, and date from 1821-1887, with bulk dates of 1830-1860.

 

The correspondence mostly pertains to John P. Jackson’s business matters and contains complaints concerning the various railroads Jackson oversaw; requests for free tickets or passes; information regarding the railroad company’s stock; discussion of New Jersey and Unites States politics; invitations to dinners, meetings, lectures, and visits; and inquiries into money owed. Correspondents include Samuel Bayard, John J. Chetwood, John Davis, William L. Dayton, Edward Everett, Richard Stockton Field, Theodore Frelinghuysen, Charles Gayarré, Chauncey A. Goodrich, Dudley S. Gregory, Joseph C. Hornblower, Peter Jackson, Jacob W. Miller, J. Phillips Phoenix, Robert Schuyler, George Sheldon, Samuel L. Southard, Richard Stockton, Robert Field Stockton, John R. Thomson, Peter D. Vroom, Asa Whitehead, and William A. Whitehead. There are a few letters from family members, including one from John P. Jackson’s brother, James Jackson, describing the state of the slaves at Mount Vernon.

 

There are also a number of letters discussing the various organizations and societies that Jackson was involved in. These include the New Jersey Colonization Society, the Essex County Bible Society, Princeton University, South Park Church, and an unspecified temperance society. Additionally, there are a small number of newsletters/updates for the New Jersey Colonization Society and the South Park Presbyterian Church of Newark.

 

The papers also contain editorials; a small number of receipts and bills; court documents; one Newark land deed; and a smaller amount of correspondence to other people, including John Darcy Stevens, the President of the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company.

Return to the Table of Contents

 


Restrictions

 

Access Restrictions

 

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

 

Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff.

 

Use Restrictions

 

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

 

The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials.

Return to the Table of Contents

 


 

Access Points

 

The entries below represent persons, organizations, topics, forms, and occupations documented in this collection.
Subject Names:
Bayard, Samuel J.
Crittenden, John J.
Darcy, John S.
Dayton, William L.
Dickerson,
Philemon.
Everett, Edward.
Frelinghuysen, Theodore.
Gayarre, Charles.
Hornblower, Joseph C.
Jackson, John P., 1805-1861.
Maclean, John.
Schuyler, Robert.
Southard, Samuel L.
Stites, Richard Wayne.
Vroom, Peter D., 1791-1873.
Whitehead, Asa.
Whitehead, William A.
Subject Organizations:
New Jersey. Legislature. General Assembly.
New Jersey Colonization Society.
New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company.
South Park Presbyterian Church (Newark, N.J.)
Subject Topics:
Acquisition of property–New Jersey.
Courts–New Jersey.
Judgments.
Law–New Jersey.
Politics–New Jersey.
Subject Places:
Essex County (N.J.)
Newark (N.J.)
Document Types:
Deeds.
Invitations.
Letters (Correspondence)
Newsletters.
Promissory notes.
Receipts.
Subject Occupations:
County clerks.
Lawyers.
Politicians.

Return to the Table of Contents

 


Related Material

 

This is a selective list of related collections at the New Jersey Historical Society.

 

Manuscript Group 20, Peter D. Vroom (1791-1873) Papers. Contains letters of John P. Jackson.

 

Manuscript Group 26, Joseph P. Bradley (1813-1892) Papers. Contains letters of John P. Jackson.

 

Manuscript Group 139, East Newark Land Company Records. John P. Jackson was a founder of this company.

Return to the Table of Contents

 


Administrative Information

 

Custodial History

 

Eleven documents, marked with the accession numbers M1245-M1256, were donated by Mrs. Neilson Abeel in 1918. Two letters, marked with the accession numbers M1369 and M1370, were donated by William S. Baker in 1920. The source of the remainder of the items in this collection are unknown.

 

Preferred Citation

 

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 47, John P. Jackson

Papers, The New Jersey Historical Society.
Return to the Table of Contents

 


Bibliography

 

Lee, Francis Bazley. Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey. Lewis Historical Publishing Co. : New York, 1910, Vol. IV, pgs. 1386-1387.

 

Shaw, William H. History of Essex and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. Everts & Peck : Philadelphia, 1884, pgs. 261-262.

Return to the Table of Contents

 


Container List

 

Documents

 

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Correspondence to John P. Jackson from: A-D: Robert Adrain; Abner Aikman, with a note from Frederick Wolcott; William Cowper Alexander; Robert Anderson; Samuel Bayard; Charles Beecher; George Washington Cassedy; John Joseph Chetwood; A.N. Corry; Edward Tanjore Corwin; E.R. Crain; John Jordan Crittenden; Jos. Cross, with note from Charles H. Whitecar; John Davis; Matthew W. Day; William Lewis Dayton (3 letters); A. Dell (?); Democratic Whigs of the City; Alfred L. Dennis; John Thomas Duffield. 1827-1859
1 2 Correspondence to John P. Jackson from: E-H: John Edgar

; Edward Everett; Richard Stockton Field; J. Franklin; Theodore Frelinghuysen; Theodore Frothingham; Charles Gayarré; Archer Gifford

; Chauncey Allen Goodrich; Henry Woodhull Green; Dudley Sanford Gregory; John C. Groome; Ralph Randolph Gurley; Hager; Willis Hall, with note from John George McKean; M.W. Halsey; Robert (N.?) Halsted; Edwin Francis Hatfield; Alexander Henry; Henry; Ogden Hoffman; M.B. Hope; Joseph C. Hornblower (3 letters); Lewis L. Houpt

; E. Huntington.

1827-1859
1 3 Correspondence to John P. Jackson from: J-P: James Jackson; Peter Jackson (2 letters); ( ) Joline

; E.W. Leavenworth; Robert M. Lusher; George (P. Macaullos?); John Maclean; Silas Merchant; A. Merwin; Jacob Welsh Miller; David (Nervius?); J. Phillips Phoenix (3 letters); J.B. Pierney;W. Pierson, Jr.

1825-1859
1 4 Correspondence to John P. Jackson from: R-S: G.R. Richardson; J.L. Robinson; Edw. Rogers; Z. Rossell; William Schley

; Robert Schuyler (3 letters); George Sheldon (3 letters); H.R. Shotwell

; Smallwood; Asa D. Smith; Truman Smith; George W. Smythe; Samuel L. Southard (3 letters); Richard Wayne Stites; Richard Stockton, with draft reply; Robert Field Stockton

1821-1860
1 5 Correspondence to John P. Jackson from: T-Z, unknown: John R. Thomson (2 letters); Elihu Townsend; Edw. Vanderpool; – Peter D. Vroom (3 letters); Francis Wayland; Norman White; Asa Whitehead; William A. Whitehead; H. Wilson; N.A. Wilson; George W. Wood; William Wright; Lincoln ( ); W.P. ( ) 1824-1860
1 6 Correspondence (general): To David H. Baker from John P. Jackson (2 letters); To Caleb Baldwin from the Committee of the NJ Railroad and Transportation Company, printed letter; To John Stevens Darcy from William A. Gulick; To John Stevens Darcy from Edwin Augustus Stevens; To James Henderson from ( ) Hollenbach; To Elizabeth Wolcott Jackson from ( ); To Frederick Wolcott Jackson from ( ); To John P. Jackson from Anthony Deys Camp; To Mary and Julia Jackson from Elizabeth Wolcott Jackson and John P. Jackson

; To Schuyler B. Jackson from Robert ( ); To Jas. L. Morris from Philemon Dickerson; To H.J. Southwayd from Thomas T. Kinney; To John Tircher (?) from Robert Schuyler; To C.W. Toller from R.R. Gurley

1829-1887
1 7 Society/Organization Newsletters: New Jersey Colonization Society (3 letters); South Park Presbyterian Church of Newark 1838-1852
1 8 Editorials/Speeches: “Speech of the Hon. Daniel Webster, in the Senate of the United States on the President’s Veto of the Bank Bill” (printed pamphlet); “For the State Gazette”; “To All Good Teamsters, Cattle Drivers, and Charcoal Drivers, Tandem Riders and Horse Jockies!!” 1832-1851
1 9 Court Documents and a Land Deed: William Roberts, Jr. v. Moses Hey; Elijah C. Pierson v. Joseph Fenkes; Deed: William Pierson, Sheriff to John P. Jackson 1827-1852
1 10 Financial Documents: Bills, Receipts, Promissory Notes, and Stock Transfer 1833-1858
1 11 Miscellaneous: Certificate to be a counselor-at-law, John P. Jackson, signed by Peter D. Vroom; Invitation to the commencement of Burlington College; Blank stationary from the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company. 1830-1861

Return to the Top of Page

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email