James Jackson papers
Descriptive Summary
Repository: Georgia Historical Society Creator: Jackson, James, 1757-1806. Title: James Jackson papers Dates: 1781-1796 Extent: 0.4 cubic feet (3 folders, 1 volume) Identification: MS 0422
Biographical/Historical Note
James Jackson (1757-1806) was born in Devonshire, England. In 1772, he arrived in Savannah to study law. He fought for Georgia during the Revolutionary War, after which he became a member of the Georgia legislature. A member of the U.S. Senate since 1793, he left this position after the Yazoo fraud of 1795 and returned to Georgia's state legislature and organized an anti-Yazoo campaign. His efforts resulted in the Yazoo act's rescinding and the destruction of its records. In 1798, Jackson won the gubernatorial election. While in office (he held the position until 1801), Jackson ensured Georgia's political party status as a Jeffersonian state. He served his final term in the U.S. Senate from 1801 to 1806; he died March 19, 1806 in Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
These papers include letters to and from James Jackson, other writings of James Jackson and a letter book of James Jackson which contains letters and writs on processes issued from the office of James Jackson.
Index Terms
Bethesda (Orphanage : Savannah, Ga. (1740-1809)) Bevan, Joseph Vallence, 1798-1830. Broadsides (notices) Brownson, Nathan, 1742-1796. Drawings (visual works) Georgia. General Assembly. Great Britain. Army. Kings American Dragoons. Impeachments. Indians of North America. Jackson, James, 1757-1806. Legal documents. Letter books. Letters (correspondence) Manuscripts (document genre) Port-au-Prince (Haiti) United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783. United States. Congress. Senate. Yazoo Fraud, 1795.
Administrative Information
Custodial History
Unknown. Preferred Citation
[item identification], James Jackson papers, MS 422, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Bulloch Jackson, 1866 (Item 24); Benjamin Tighe, 1966 (Item 22)
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Publication Note
Published in The Georgia Historical Quarterly, v.37, n.1 (March, 1953), p.54-82; n.2 (June), p.147-165; n.3 (September), p.220-249; n.4 (December), p.299-329. Published in Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, v.11 (1955).
Sponsorship
Encoding funded by a 2012 Documenting Democracy grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Container List
Item
1 From James Jackson to Colonel John Twiggs. Augusta, 1781 June 28 ( 3.0 p. ) Jackson asks Twiggs to verify news that Greene and Pickens are gone and asks that Twiggs send someone to Ninety-Six for information.
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2 From James Jackson to General Greene or Wayne?. Martins, 1781 October 30 ( 2.0 p. ) Tells of preparations for moving soldiers from present location and information about defenses of Savannah.
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3 From James Jackson to Governor Nathan Brownson. Augusta, 1781 November 7 ( 4.0 p. ) Report of attack of October 2, 1781 on a post of British Dragoons on the Ogeechee.
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4 Drawing entitled "Plan of Action with Campbell over Ogeechee 1781 November.", undated ( 1.0 p. ) In Jackson's hand.
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5 From John Wereat to James Jackson. Augusta, 1782 February 27 ( 2.0 p. ) Wereat gives the news that he has heard about the war. He also talks about personal matters and expresses the hope of seeing Jackson soon.
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6 From John Wereat to James Jackson. Augusta, 1782 April 8 ( 2.0 p. ) Gives news of friends, personal business. Talks about the war and prevailing opinion that the British are planning to evacuate Savannah.
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7 Report of a court martial held by order of Lt. Col. Jackson. Camp Advance, 1782 July 1 ( 4.0 p. ) Signed by James Stallings.
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8 General order from General Wayne. Headquarters, Camp Gibbons, 1782 July 10 ( 2.0 p. ) Manuscript copy of DS in Jackson's hand. Jackson is to take possession of Savannah after the British evacuate.
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9 Extract from minutes of the House of Assembly, 1782 July 30 ( 1.0 p. ) Manuscript copy. Signed by John Wilkinson. Resolution of the House to give Jackson the Tattnall house in Savannah.
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10 From George Handley to James Jackson. Augusta, 1785 September 2 ( 1.0 p. ) Encloses an Order of Council of August 31 which appoints Jackson one of the commissioners of the Galphinton Treaty with the Creek Indians. Enclosure missing.
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11 From James Jackson to Caleb Swann. New York, 1790 May 4 ( 2.0 p. ) Manuscript copy. Gives approximation of number of men in service in Georgia from 1775-1782.
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12 Notes on Bethesda, 1792 January ( 4.0 p. ) In Jackson's hand. Gives history of Bethesda Orphanage and discusses the controversy with John Johnson about Bethesda.
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13 Proceedings of the U.S. Senate, 1795 March 2 and 1795 March 3 ( 18.0 p. ) In the proceedings are bills and resolutions concerning treaties and trade with the Indians, and authorizing the President to claim certain territory for the United States. Jackson was involved with this legislation. Notation that these are true copies, signed Sam. A. Otis, Secretary is on the back.
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14 Resolutions of Impeachment against Philip Clayton, 1796 circa February-March ( 2.0 p. ) Manuscript in Jackson's hand.
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15 From Nathan Brownson, Speaker of the House of Assembly to Governor James Jackson. House of Assembly, Augusta, 1798 January 7 ( 1.0 p. ) Informs Jackson that he has been elected governor.
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16 From William Robertson, Secretary of the State Senate to Governor James Jackson. Senate chamber, Louisville, 1798 February 13 ( 1.0 p. ) Informs Jackson that the Secretary of the Senate, having no office, will share part of the Secretary of State's office.
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17 From the Secretary of War James McHenry to the Governor of Georgia James Jackson, 1798 September 11 ( 2.0 p. ) Manuscript copy. Assures Jackson the federal government will take up the business of the western lands. Congratulated Jackson on measure taken by Georgia and South Carolina for preventing the refugees from Port au Prince from intruding in these states.
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18 Petition of James Jackson to the Senate and House of Representatives of the Georgia legislature, undated ( 2.0 p. ) Regarding receiving payment for period February 1780-June 1781 when he served as Brigade major of the state militia. Cover sheet contains notes concerning action taken on petition by the legislature and penciled notes from JVB Joseph Vallence Bevan to Dr. William Bacon Stevens on Jackson's military career.
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19 Sketch of the Yazoo Speculation, undated ( 11.0 p. ) Manuscript in Jackson's hand.
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20 "List of the members of the state legislature who were supposed would be opposed or who would advocate the Yazoo Bill.", undated ( 2.0 p. ) View online. Online Inventory Contains Digitized Items
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21 Autobiographical sketch, "Character of J.J. drawn by himself.", undated ( 10.0 p. )
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22 Broadside. "Order of the Funeral Procession of the Hon. James Jackson.", 1806 March 20 ( 1.0 p. )
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23 Notes on David Ramsay, The History of the Revolution of South Carolina..., II (Trenton), 1785, circa 1790-1791 ( 53.0 p. ) At end is a statement that Jackson's notes are just and true. Signed by John Twiggs and Elijah Clarke. Augusta, December 24, 1791. Copy in the hand of William Bacon Stevens. Pages 1-4 missing.
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24 Letter book of James Jackson, 1782-1796 ( 237.0 p. ) In various hands, including Jackson's. Contains letters, 1788-1796, to various military and civil officials written by James Jackson when he was general of the state militia. Also contains lists of writs and processes, issued from the office of James Jackson, October 1782-August 1792. The letters are written to: Governor Edward Telfair; Governor George Mathews; Governor Jared Irwin; the U.S. Secretary of War Timothy Pickering; the U.S. Secretary of State Timothy Pickering; General James Gunn; General John Morrison; Col. Daniel Stewart; Col. Moses Burnet; Col. Joseph Habersham; Col. Thomas Wylly; Col. — Maxwell; Lt. Col. — Carr; Major Samuel Hammond; Capt. William Johnston; Capt. Joseph Way; Capt. Rains; Capt. — Armstrong; Mr. Robert, Jr. or John? Bolton; Mr. Stephen Files.