Who Exactly Was Elizabeth Jackson??

Have you ever asked yourself who Elizabeth Jackson was? Well... Probably not because I hadn't either. But after researching her I asked myself a different question,  how on earth did I not know who Elizabeth Jackson was? I hope you ask yourself the same question after reading this blog post.

Origins

She was born in Carrickfergus Ireland which is just 11 miles from Belfast. Born in the year 1740 to the last name of Hutchinson but married Andrew Jackson Senior in 1761, therefore taking on his last name. The newly webs soon emigrated to America just 4 years after they were married. In those 4 years they had 2 sons, who also came with them to America. Their reason for emigrating to America was to escape religious persecution and tariffs from the ruling Anglican faction.

New Life in America

Andrew and Elizabeth Jackson started their life in America with 200 acres of land sitting on the Waxhaws settlement in the Carolinas. But in 1767, at the early age of 29 Andrew Jackson senior died unexpectedly. Just three weeks after his death, Elizabeth Jackson gives birth to Andrew Jackson II.

After Andrew Jackson's Birth

After Andrew was born Elizabeth moved to the home of James and Jane Crawford, where she  worked as a house keeper. She took care of her sister Jane, who after moving to United States of America had some health problems. Then Jane’s health took a rapid decline and soon became an invalid.  When asked to move into the Crawford household, she wasn’t invited just out of family love, but instead out of necessity. Ms. Jackson needed a home for her son and herself, and Mrs. Crawford needed a care taker for his wife Jane.

Elizabeth’s Death

During this period of the war, all of Elizabeth’s children and herself where captured.  Andrew and his brother where held together at the family home where they were ordered to destroy furniture, but when asked ordered to clean the mud off of the British solider that had invaded their home, Andrew replied “sir I am a prisoner of war and claim to be treated as such”. This didn’t sit to well with the soldiers as one took a swing at his head leaving his most famous scar. While this was happening Elizabeth was aboard a British prisoner ship and managed to secure a prisoner exchange, then she soon perished aboard the ship. 

Elizabeth Jackson's Headstone in Magnolia Cemetary