Entries that mention a member of the Jackson Family in the County Court Records for Harrison County, West Virginia (1784–1827). Transcribed from the book History Of Harrison County West Virginia by Henry Haymond, 1910. Commentary by the author (Henry Haymond) is in italics.
Compiled by Dan Hyde from http://genealogytrails.com/wva/harrison/countycourts.html. Suggested by Nancy Jackson.
Start of Harrison County Court July 20, 1784
Be it remembered that at the house of George Jackson on Buckhan-non River the 20th day of July 1784:—
Wm. Lowther Gent, produced a commission (Sheriff) from his excellency the Governor bearing date the 14th. day of June last past, which was openly read and thereupon the sd. Wm. Lowther, gent, having first entered into bond with George Jackson & Benj. Wilson his securities for his due and faithful performance of the said office took the oath of Allegiance to the Common Wealth & the Oath of office as directed by law.
Ordered that George Jackson, John McCally, John Sleeth, John Wilson, Cornelius West fall. John Goodwin, Edward Jackson, Benjamin Robinson, John Printy and Robert Maxwell are proper persons to be recommended to his Excellency the Governor to fill the office of the peace for said County.
Ordered that George Jackson hath a good and just right to build a mill on his premises in or adjoining Clarksburg on the Elk River so that said Jackson doth not affect no other persons land.
The house in which this first Court was held stood near the present town of Buckhannon in the neck of the loop of the river, about one mile East of the Upshur County Court House, and is said to have been built by John the father of George Jackson. It has long since been torn down and no part of it is now standing.
August 1784
The next meeting of the Court was held in Clarksburg the following August, presumably at the house of Hezekiah Davisson, and was the first court of any kind ever held in that town. The precise location of this house is not known, but it was on what is now main street, somewhere between Second Street and Elk Creek.
That Frederick Westfall an orphan child be bound to George Jackson.
March 23, 1786
John McCally and Captain Edward Jackson, Commissioners, appointed to settle with Greenbrier County the expenses of running the dividing line between Harrison and Greenbrier at five shillings per day.
Note :—The settlement of this account led to several meetings between representatives of the two Counties before it was satisfactorily arranged.
Hezekiah Davisson was awarded the contract to build the Court House for ninety pounds. George Jackson was accepted as his security for 180.
Note :—The pound in use was the Virginia pound, which amounted in the money of the present day to $3.331/3, which made the contract price for building the Court House amount to $300.00.
May 18, 1786
George Jackson has leave to keep a ferry on his own land across Elk, four pence for man and horse, and two pence for one man or one horse.
April 17, 1787
We the Commissioners appointed by the Courts of Greenbrier and Harrison Counties to settle and adjust the expense of running the dividing line between the said Counties, do find the proportion of the County of Greenbrier to be one hundred and twenty three pounds, fourteen shillings and two pence and the proportion of the County of Harrison to be sixty six pounds and ten pence and that the said Commissioners do agree that the sum of twelve pounds eight shillings and three pence shall be paid on the first Tuesday in December next to any person appointed receiver by the Court of Harrison County at the house of Mr. William Poage and the sum of fifty one pounds one shilling and nine pence to be paid to such persons as have obtained receipts for services performed or for provisions found for the purpose of extending said line, and being liens on the County of Greenbrier and Augusta on the said first Tuesday in December and the sum of sixty pounds, four shillings & two pence to be paid also to any receiver appointed by the Court of Harrison on the first Tuesday in September 1788, at the house of the said “William Poage it being the full amount of the sum due from the County of Greenbrier which agreement we do hereby ratify and confirm this 3rd. day of April, 1787.
William. Poage,
John Wilson,
Edward Jackson. [Brother to George Jackson]
August 23, 1787
George Jackson qualified in open Court as Lieutenant Colonel of Militia.
April 23, 1788
George Jackson, Benjamin Wilson, Nicholas Carpenter and John Powers took the oath as trustees for the Randolph Academy.
November 5, 1789
John Powers presented a commission from Governor Randolph as sheriff but reported that he was not able to procure security, thereupon Thomas Cheney, George Jackson and John McCally were recommended to the Governor for the appointment.
September 19, 1791
George Jackson granted a certificate that he has been a resident of this Commonwealth, and County from the year 1770, and deemed himself
a good citizen.
October Court, 1794
Ordered that the claims for Wolf certificates due from the public to this County amounting to £168 3s. 4d. together with a claim of £27 10s. Od. be placed in the hands of George Jackson and John Haymond, Delegates to be sold for not less than ten shillings on the pound, and to account on their return from the assembly.
Jackson and Haymond afterwards reported that these certificates were sold for £161 8s. 5d.
May Court, 1795
George Jackson, Wm. Robinson and William Haymond authorized to contract with some one to build a bridge over Elk Creek in Clarksburg on the Main Street to be 16 feet wide.
The following letter explains itself, the writer being a member of the last Congress of Washington’s last term as President.
Philadelphia, 27th. May, 1796.
Gentlemen :
Permit me to take the liberty to enclose for the use of the citizens of Harrison County to you a copy of the land law for the sale of the lands N. West of the River Ohio. I have got 2 copys printed for each County in our District, and I have sent to each Court and one to the Sheriff. The Military land bill is now before the Senate that I expect to bring copy home with me &c. when I return.
We talk to rise on Wednesday next. The House of Representatives sent up one resolution to the Senate for to adjourn on Wednesday last, this they disagreed to, but say they will consent to the day above. As I hope to see you all shortly I shall omit any further details, only say that the Senate & us is all but at war about the South Western Territory, we wish them to be an independent State & the Senate will not agree &c. Accept of my respects and believe me,
Your Most Obedient Servant,
Geo. Jackson.
The Worshipful Court of Harrison County.
June Court, 1796
Ordered that the prison bounds be as follows: To wit: Beginning at Elk Creek one pole above George Jackson‘s Mill dam, thence to the tan yard Run where it runs through the fence; thence up said run and the meanders thereof, to the West side of the cross street, that runs above William Martin or David Hewes house; thence along the said street or alley to a little hollow in said Hewe’s lot, thence down the spring run to Elk Creek, thence up the said creek to the place of beginning.
Note: The law at this time authorized imprisonment for debt, but if the debtor could give a prison bound bond instead of being confined in jail, he was permitted the liberty of a certain boundary, and in case that boundary included his house he was permitted to stay at home but could not go beyond the prison bounds.
The above bounds were about as follows:
Beginning near the Mill and running up the little stream that puts into Elk Creek just below it to the line of Third Street; thence along this street to near Traders Alley; thence Easterly down the little run to the Creek, thence up it to the beginning.
This at that time included all the town lying on the West side of the creek.
June Term, 1796
Commissioners George Jackson, Benj. Wilson and William Haymond reported the specifications and plan for a new jail.
Dimensions 35×20 feet to be built of stone and the walls 2 1/2 feet thick.
The length or front of building to be on the line of Main Street.
The Westerly end to be on the line of the cross street. The jail was located on the South East corner of Second and Pike Streets where the Presbyterian Church now stands, and across Main street from the Court House.
November 24, 1802
Dick, a negro man, the property of Colonel George Jackson, charged with feloniously stealing and carrying away certain property.
Pleads not guilty, found guilty and the prisoner was sentenced to be hung “by the neck until he is dead on Saturday, January 22, 1803.”
The Court fixes the value of the said negro slave at $300.
Note: At this time the County Court had the authority to administer the death penalty to slaves but not to free people.
This sentence was never executed, the prisoner either being pardoned by the Governor or allowed to escape.
November 28, 1805
At a County Court held on the 28th November 1805, Abel Clemmens was arraigned charged with having on the night of the 10th. day of November, been guilty of murdering Barbary, his wife, Elijah, Hester, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Parthena and Amos Clemmens, his children.
He plead not guilty and the Court directed that he be sent to Morgantown for trial in the District Court.
He was tried, found guilty and hanged in 1806 to a locust tree, which stood near the Decker’s Creek, Middle Bridge close to Morgantown.
Clemmens cabin stood at the East end of Clarksburg between Pike Street and the Philippi road near the old Jackson grave yard. After committing the deed he fled to the woods, and for several days was hid in a cliff of rocks north of town, west of and near the present B. & O. station, which are still known as Clemmens Rocks, but being driven desperate by hunger and his own tortured feelings he came in and surrendered himself to the authorities.
Clemmens in his confession stated that he was driven to this horrible act from fear that his children would starve, and by a power that called to him to do it that he could not resist. He was probably insane but “brain storms” and the insanity dodge cut no figure in the Courts of that day, and justice was meted out in strict compliance with the law.
December Term, 1805
Colonel George Jackson proposed to the Court to set up a stove in the Court House for one year and to have the privilege of buying it for cost and carriage at the end of that time or pay an annual rent for it.
Note: This indicates that there had not been any fire in the Court House up to this time as the contract does not call for a chimney.
January Term, 1806
Five dollars was allowed to keep the Court House clean and furnish fire wood for one year.
July Term, 1808
Rachel a negro woman slave, the property of Jacob Means was brought before the Court charged with Burglary and Grand larceny.
John G.[George] Jackson [son of George Jackson] assigned as Attorney for the Prisoner.
The Court considered that the prisoner was not guilty of burglary but guilty of grand larceny, and being asked what she had to gainsay the judgment of the law, she prayed the benefit of clergy, and it was granted accordingly, and the sentence of the Court was that the prisoner be burnt in the hand and receive 39 lashes on her bare back, and the sheriff was directed to execute the judgment of the Court, which was done accordingly.
Note: The plea of benefit of clergy was an exemption from punishment, even for heinous crimes, allowed by civil governments, to persons in holy orders, out of an exaggerated reverence for the professed ministers of God.
Originally no one was admitted to this privilege, unless he was actually a priest in orders, but in a period of universal ignorance the ability to read was a mark of such learning, as to entitle anyone who possessed this power to exemption from punishment, for less than capital crimes. On the establishment of the Penitentiary in America in 1796 this plea was abolished as to free persons.
In Virginia it was considered that as to slaves confinement in the Penitentiary was not suitable, and as to them the benefit of clergy was retained until abolished in 1848.
September Term, 1809
Proceedings taken to erect a water grist mill on Elk Creek at the mouth of Murphy’s Run by John G. Jackson.
December Term, 1810
The Court was in doubt as to the legality of removing the Court House on to the lands of John Wilson suggested that it would require an act of the Legislature to do so, which was finally procured.
Jonathan Jackson qualified as an attorney. [Jonathan was the son of Col. Edward Jackson.]
Note: This was the father of the great soldier Thomas Jonathan Jackson known as Stonewall.
February Term, 1812
John O. Jackson [Should be John G. Jackson] qualified as a Brigadier General 20th. Brigade of Militia.
June Term, 1812
James McCarty Captain, Jonathan Jackson 1st. Lieutenant, John Wilkinson Second Lieutenant and David E. Jackson Cornet [son of Col. Edward Jackson, later to become a famous fur trader. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is named after him.] were recommended to the Governor for appointment in a troop of Cavalry.
“It appearing to the Court that a Company of cavalry have associated themselves together under the foregoing persons as their officers to tender their services to the President of the United States under the Act of Congress.”
Note : The above order indicates preparation for the war with Great Britain then going on, and this Cavalry Company had volunteered to take part in it, but was not accepted, as no record of any Cavalry Company going from West of the mountains can be found.
December 9, 1814
An act of the Legislature passed permitting John O. [should be G.] Jackson to build a dam five feet high across the West Fork River at his Salt Works about three miles above Clarksburg.
April Term, 1815
Proceedings held for John G. Jackson building a dam five feet high across the West Fork River to furnish power for drilling a well and operating salt works.
Note: Jackson’s Salt works were on the West Side of the river above the mouth of Davisson’s run in what is now Clark District.
June Term, 1816
John G. Jackson authorized to construct a toll bridge over the West Fork River at the mouth of Elk Creek. The Legislature requested to approve.
April Term, 1817
The election of the following Board of Trustees for Clarksburg certified to the Court by Lemuel E. Davisson, Town Clerk.
James Pindal,
Daniel Morris,
John G. Jackson,
B. Wilson, Jr.,
John Webster,
James McCalley,
Josias Adams,
Thomas P. Moore
George I. Davisson.