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Husband of Isabella Robinson Jackson
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JOHN JACKSON, in his lifetime one of the large land owners and best known agriculturists of Mersea township, was an early settler of Essex County. He traveled over the entire section when it was still in its primitive state, and he knew of his own personal knowledge the toil and endurance that were the price of the fertile and improved fields of to-day. His last home was located on Concession 1, where he died.
On May 24, 1827, Mr. Jackson married, in Sinnott township, Isabella Robinson. Their children were: Ann, born July 15, 1829, married (first)...
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Husband of Isabella Robinson Jackson
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JOHN JACKSON, in his lifetime one of the large land owners and best known agriculturists of Mersea township, was an early settler of Essex County. He traveled over the entire section when it was still in its primitive state, and he knew of his own personal knowledge the toil and endurance that were the price of the fertile and improved fields of to-day. His last home was located on Concession 1, where he died.
On May 24, 1827, Mr. Jackson married, in Sinnott township, Isabella Robinson. Their children were: Ann, born July 15, 1829, married (first) William Wilkinson, and (second) Robert Allison; Mary (deceased), born Aug. 17, 1832, was Mrs. Parsons; Jane, born March 10, 1834, married John Campbell (deceased) ; Margaret, born May 22, 1835, married Thomas Newcomb, and lives in San Jose, California; Hannah (deceased), born Oct. 3, 1837, married John Newcomb; Isabella, born April 1, 1840, married Benjamin Noble, of Mersea township; John, born Dec. 3, 1841, is deceased: Ephraim, born Aug. 20, 1844, resides in Walkerville; Ellen, born Sept. 1, 1850, married Richard Colbeck, mentioned in the foregoing sketch.
For several years Mr. Jackson kept a diary, and a part of it, relating to his experiences in locating in this section, is here appended:
Account in substance of his travels in the western district of Ontario: “I started in July, 1834, after having lived in the township of Smith about fifteen years, with a view to see the western country, intending to settle in it, if it should answer my expectations. Reaching Coburg, myself and fellow-travellers were detained about two weeks, and then started for Toronto, by steamer, Capt. Lealand in charge. After remaining there eight or nine days, we went on board of the Canadian steam packet bound for Niagara, leaving about 7 o’clock in the morning, and arriving after noon, whereupon we engaged a wagon for Chippewa, reaching there after dark. The next day we went on board the Thames steamer, under Capt. Van Allen, for Port Stanley, which we made after two days, touching at Buffalo and some other places on the way. We next took a wagon for St. Thomas, a distance of nine miles.
“Thinking it was about time I should see a little of the country, I made a little inquiry for land, and was informed that there was lots of land about London, about twenty-eight miles from St. Thomas, but when I got there it fell far short of the description. Nevertheless I got a
view of the country, which is very fine, but appeared to me as frosty as the country I had left, so I returned without finding anything to my mind.
“September. — I now started for the west, and travelled up the lake side about sixty miles, as far as the Rondeau, visiting a great many farms without any satisfaction, as the country is very badly watered, and I had good reason to conclude not healthy, there being much complaint of bloody murrain amongst cattle, although there is a great deal of good land. After going a short way in the township of Raleigh, I went north about eighteen miles to Chatham, a small village on the river Thames, Point Aux Pines, which is in a noble surrounding, six or eight miles above the town, low and very fertile land abounding with fruit. Here I met with Van Allen, who informed me that he owned a farm of 100 acres, with about thirty cleared, lying on the river, which he would sell for $600; so he sent a man to show it, but when we pot there, it also fell far short of the description. I then traveled along up the river about twenty miles to the Moravian village, where I got onto a track that brought me out at the Clear creek, on Lake Erie, and I came down again to St. Thomas.
“October. — As we were in very uncomfortable lodgings, I tried all around for a house, but to no purpose. I was not very satisfied with this part of the country. Taking into account the very low prices of produce, and the many inconveniences, I was almost led to conclude that a man might do a great deal better in the farming line about Toronto, say within about thirty miles of it. Having learned something of the price of land about that distance on my way up, having gone out to see Mr. Craven, and having some conversation one day with a Mr. Crystler, a merchant, I was expressing myself after this manner, when he told me of several lots he had to sell in the neighborhood, but if I wished to go to that part of the country, he had land down there also, he would sell to me. It is 200 acres in the township of Albion, situated so and so, which I considered he offered at half its value, if the land was worth anything. I determined to go to see it. Accordingly I started for the river Thames, a boat being ready to start that day for Chippewa, and we were soon at our destination. I pursued my journey out to Albion to have a view of my great bargain, but to my astonishment when I beheld that part of the township, I would not have lived in it for half of the township. I again visited Craven, whom I found very kind, and other neighbors, who seemed very desirous to get me to settle among them, but to no avail, and I returned home or to my family, having no home. After I got back again to the Chippewa, the boat that I expected was gone up the lake, and no other being expected short of a week I decided to go up the country on foot, a distance of not less than 200 miles, which I accordingly accomplished in about a week, much tired and perplexed. On my way I engaged with a Quaker, a house about eighteen miles east of St. Thomas, where we stayed about two months, during which time I got acquainted with a brother of his, who owned 400 acres of land in the township of Chatham, which he had never seen, and which he wanted to sell at one dollar per acre. As the government price was three dollars per acre, I thought this might be worth attention. After a little rest I started off again for Chatham, and before I got satisfied of this, it cost me about fourteen days and eight or ten dollars, so I came back another road through the country home again without any satisfaction. This is a very badly watered part of the country, and very low.
“November. — After this I became a little more wary, and confined my inquiries and observations a little more to the Lake Shore, as it is the only part of the Province that affords climate for the fruits of the earth to come to perfection; generally inland they are all injured by the frost in the fall of the year. I visited Yarmouth which ,1 think affords generally as good land as I have seen in the West, but I did not think it worth the price, considering the low price of produce, wheat being worth only half a dollar a bushel. Water is scarce here too. I then went down the lake to Port Burwell, on the other creek, township of Houghton and Walsingham, and returned again; but was not fully satisfied, and a short time after I paid another visit to Walsingham, in front of which is a spacious bay, which from information affords one of the finest harbors on Lake Erie. The land along the lake is excellent, and as there is several lots for sale on the lake I determined to make a settlement in that township. Several fine streams empty into the lake along this shore, and a great deal of fish is caught in the season. I look upon the place as possessing as many privileges as any part of the western country that I have seen.
“December. — After making some inquiries I found a house that we could have for the winter, or till we could suit ourselves with a lot. I therefore got the family down to Walsingham in December, all in good health and high spirits through the good hand of our God upon us. Praise His Holy Name!
“It is now March 26th, and we still remain at Walsingham, having passed a very moderate winter, without having been able to make a settlement. The winter had been quite open,
only about one week sleighing, yet this, I am led to believe, is not the ordinary weather for the season. The wheat, on account of the changes of weather, looked bad. In the latter part of March I started again for the West with a view of going as far as Sandwich, by Amherstburg, and if without success, to see the St. Clair. I traveled up the lake to Port Burwell, on the ‘Otter,’ and then to Port Stanley, on the little creek, past Col. Talbot's to the township of Romney, to see a lot belonging to Col. Burwell, on the lake shore, which did not please. I went on to the next township, Mersea, in which are a good many Englishmen. The Main street of this township gave very little encouragement, but nevertheless I must stop and have a little talk with the old countrymen, whom I found very kind, and was recommended to many a good lot, some of which I went to see, one in particular, the owner living in Sandwich, I went to see, taking a view of the country, and making every inquiry by the way. We could not agree, but he told me of a lot his brother owned in the same township, about a mile from the lake, which I thought proper to have a look at. I traveled hack again about thirty miles after a look at it. and was informed of another lot, owned by Joseph Wood, Esq., which laid alongside of it with a good stream of water running through it. I thought these two lots an object, containing altogether 400 acres, which after traveling three or four times to Sandwich, I succeeded in purchasing for $850. I went right to work about the 16th day of May, but could effect but little, having as much as three miles to travel night and morning, the inconvenience of which soon tired me, and I laid plans to move my family. On making some inquiries, I found a man that would bring them up for $16, about one hundred and forty miles, so I wrote my wife. Not being acquainted with the steamboats running, I desired her to investigate and send me word which way she would prefer, also whether she preferred to wait for a boat or to hire a wagon herself, or for me to do it. As it was very early in the season, the boats had not commenced regular trips, and as she could scarcely get a wagon at any price, she thought it best for me to hire one and come down myself. But I could not see the use of my going, and I engaged the man for $16. He started on a Friday, and my expectations were that in the course of a week I would have my family with me, but I was greatly disappointed, as on Saturday the man returned, having met with discouraging accounts of the roads after traveling about thirty miles. I was now at a loss what to do, as I had not written my wife any accounts of this engagement. However, in the midst of my perplexity, I was very agreeably surprised on the day following (Sabbath) when the family arrived at the house where I stopped, all in good health. They came by a boat to Amherstburg, and thence in a wagon. After a little trouble we got our house raised, and thought ourselves very comfortable after our little traveling. In the fall of the same year we had an increase of family, a daughter. There was considerable fever and ague in the country about this time. In the spring of 1836 I engaged Joseph Iveson to work on shares for five years, had a yoke of good oxen and four cows, and raised a little tobacco, corn and potatoes. This bargain did not stand long, as after working about two years of his time, he got married, and we were obliged to part after an arbitration. Again we found ourselves alone, but managed to get along quite comfortably. In the spring of 1841, I engaged a chopper by the name of Francis Ives.”
The Commemorative Biographical Record for the County of Essex, Ontario, by J.H. Beers & Co., 1905, pp 82-84
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