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Jackson Tree Fractured Branch
©2010-2024 Doug Wilson

The Jackson family of Long Island, whose immigrant ancestor arrived there in 1643 as one of the first inhabitants of Hempstead, is also known to a been part of the earliest colonial communities in northern and central New Jersey. (Jackson Family Genealogy) Three of the sons of James Jackson and Elizabeth Hallett are fairly well documented. A fourth son, James Jr, moved to Woodbridge and started a three generation proprietorship of The Elm Tree Tavern of Woodbridge, NJ, 1739-1820. Historical evidence paints a picture of these generations and their activities. Pieces of Eight, a pirate story on this site, also helps define the family of James Jackson Jr and Mary Fitz Randolph.

Public and private records document likely descendents of this family that continued to live in New Jersey after the sale of the tavern. However, these records are not clear which members of the second generation begot the third generation or if this line continues. In 2013, a record trail came to light from two histories of Rockaway, NJ, that suggest James Jr's son Benjamin had a son John in Essex County and who had a daughter Phebe and a son Charles in that county who subsequently removed to Morris County. DNA evidence is yet needed to prove the records are referring to this particular Benjamin and John. This same year, DNA evidence, in combination with available records, firmly connects one documented line of descent from Thomas of the third generation to keep the tavern.

If you are a male with surname Jackson and believe your Jackson paternal line traces back to these Jacksons in New Jersey, please consider participation in the Jackson Surname Y-DNA Project.

evolution of the county system in New JerseyNew Jersey was first established as a province in the possession of King James of England and proportioned out as East and West Jersey to proprietors as favors for their loyal service. Over the years it evolved as diagrammed on the map series at left. (Rootsweb)

There are numerous records of Jacksons (from Long Island) living north of Middlesex & Essex/Union Counties and Jacksons (from Ireland) living in southern New Jersey. The bulk of these records belong to either of these immigrant family lines.

There are, however, a number of records that are not readily associated with either line mostly because the record contains limited or no mention of familial relations, like tax, land and petition documents that contribute to the early New Jersey substitute for missing US Census records. These create "orphans" that may or may not be affiliated with the known families from Long Island and Ireland.

In early years of the settlement of Jersey, I find few Jackson references in the archives and genealogical records. In 1685, Thomas, William, and Annabel Jackson from Scotland were put aboard the exile ship, Henry and Francis, bound for Perth Amboy. Thomas died on the voyage and William moved on to New York after arrival. Annabel may have been wife to either of them and could have accompanied William to New York. There is no other record in New Jersey for her. (Whitehead, p28) Also in nearby Perth Amboy, a 1727 probate record cites the death of a Joseph Jackson and includes no reference to his family or origins. (NJA s1v23, p256)

The NJ Archives also includes references to Jackson among its records of marriages in areas bordering on Pennsylvania, known for its population of Quakers. (NJ Archives s1 v22) They are

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Northern New Jersey Counties

Middle New Jersey Counties

Southern New Jersey Counties

Conclusion

References

from NJ Archives series 1: v22 Marriages, v23 Wills, v30 Wills, v; US Colonial Census;

Shipwrecks, Sea Raiders, and Maritime Disasters along the Delmarva Coast 1632-2004 , Donald Shomette, 2007.
Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey v.16, New Jersey Archives v.1, 1880.
1664 - 1964 An Historical Sampler Woodbridge, Edna Oberlies Jost and Margaret Krewinkel Jost, 1964.
History of Woodbridge Township, author, 1955.

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