William Jackson (Massachusetts politician, born 1783) facts for kids

William Jackson (born September 2, 1783 – died February 27, 1855) was an important person from Massachusetts. He served as a representative in the U.S. government. He also lived at the historic Jackson Homestead.

Early Life and Work

William Jackson was born in Newton, Massachusetts on September 2, 1783. He went to the local school where his father, Timothy Jackson, used to teach. When William was fifteen, he had a serious leg injury that made him lame for the rest of his life.

Despite this, he loved to learn. He spent a lot of time reading books from the new Newton library. He felt he learned more during that winter than in all his years at school.

Starting a Business

When William was seventeen, he moved to Boston. He started working at a soap and candle factory that his father had begun. William quickly became respected for his hard work. He soon became the foreman, and later, he owned the factory himself.

Family Life

While living in Boston, William married Hannah Woodward. They had three children: Sarah, Timothy, and Marion, along with two more daughters. After Hannah passed away in 1812, William married Mary Bennett. With Mary, he had several more children, including Frances, Cornelia, Ellen, Caroline, and William Ward.

William was always busy with new jobs and projects. He made a lot of money but also faced financial challenges. He represented Boston in the Massachusetts General Court, which is the state's legislature. He was also very involved in groups like the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association.

Around 1820, William decided to move back to Newton. He was about 37 years old and hoped to become a farmer. He felt his many public duties were taking too much time away from his family.

Public Service and Politics

Even after moving back to Newton, William remained very active in his community. By 1825, he was the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. This group helped manage the town.

Community Efforts

William was very concerned about the well-being of his town. He worked hard to make sure Newton was a healthy and safe place to live. His efforts helped the town focus on positive community standards.

William also helped start the Newton chapter of the American Temperance Society. He was the treasurer and secretary for this group. They met to discuss ways to improve community life. Later, this society changed into a "Lyceum," where people discussed many different topics.

Railroads and Progress

By chance, William was asked to give a talk about railroads. He quickly became very interested in trains and railways. He worked with many railway companies and groups. Thanks to his support, a regular train service was built between Newton and Boston in 1844. He also helped plan how this new service would affect real estate in Newton and Brighton.

Political Career

From 1832 to 1833, William Jackson represented Newton in the Massachusetts General Court. He became active in the Anti-Masonic movement. He was then elected to the United States Congress for two terms, from March 4, 1833, to March 3, 1837.

After his time in Congress, he decided not to run again and went back to his manufacturing work. Later, William became a founding member of the Liberty Party. This party was against slavery and later joined with the Free Soil Party. Because of his strong beliefs, William's home, the Jackson Homestead, became a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom.

Later Years and Legacy

As William got older, he passed his candle factory business to his son, Timothy, and his nephew, Otis Trowbridge. William continued to be very involved in town activities, especially in education and religion. He became very religious in his later life.

He served as secretary of the Newton Female Academy. He was also active in Sabbath Schools and was a Deacon at the First Church and the Eliot Church, which he helped to establish.

William Jackson was president of the American Missionary Society from 1846 to 1854. He also published a newspaper. He helped create the Newton Savings Bank in 1848, which aimed to help people save money. William Jackson was the first president of this bank until he passed away.

He died in Newton on February 27, 1855. He was buried in the Old Burial Ground, East Parish Burying Ground.

See also

• Francis Jackson (abolitionist)
• Jackson Homestead