Thomas Jackson Signature

Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War

THE ENTIRE COLLECTION


Thomas Jackson Letters and Related Documents

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Thomas Jackson
1805-1878
Thomas Jackson’s life over the 44 years before his English cousins started saving his letters.
TJ_Letter_1850-09-09
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1850-09-09

Business washed away for the second time

Thomas Jackson is encountering huge challenges learning to live in America.

TJ_Letter_1856-01-04
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1856-01-04

Seeking More Replies

Concern about Aunt Reiley and persuading his cousins to help support her

TJ_Letter_1856-06-03
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1856-06-03

Business Good : Family Mixed

Engraving of new ropewalk and report of Reading's rapid growth. Updates on TJ's American family and expressions of disappointments that English members of the family are not diligent to replying letters from America!

TJ_Letter_1857-12-11
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1857-12-11

Already Advocating For Abolition

TJ already critical of the treatment of blacks. Hard times for TJ’s business. William Slater had joined him from England in June but had to be “let go.”

TJ_Letter_1859-01-10
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1859-01-10

William Slater Working With TJ

Thomas Jackson sent most of this collection of letters to Caleb Slater, his older cousin who still lived in England and also ran a rope works. Here we find that Caleb's son, William had moved to Reading PA and was working with TJ.

TJ_Letter_1859-03-21
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1859-03-21

Money For Aunt Reiley

Aunt Reiley was poor and TJ wanted her American relatives to help her

TJ_Letter_1860-01-08
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1860-01-08

Making Peace With Relatives

Thomas Jackson seemingly had fallen out with Caleb and William Slater and was trying to repair relationships. William was no longer in USA

TJ_Letter_1860-10-21
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1860-10-21

Conflict Between The States

A transitional letter including family matters, nostalgia for England, mechanization of rope making and, finally, his introduction to the very lively politics in USA.

TJ_Letter_1862-06-21
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1862-06-21

Whites Not Concerned About Black People

TJ regrets continual denial of freedom for back folk and foresees slavery will be abolished but that the motive will not be the white man's concern for the rights of the black but for "military necessity."

TJ_Letter_1862-08-12
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1862-08-12

Appalled By Slave Market

TJ's intense emotions on witnessing a slave market. Letter first sent to Caleb Slater with the request that he get it published in the local English paper.

TJ_Letter_1862-08-13
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1862-08-13

Writing Other Abolition Articles

Thomas Jackson reveals he had written several other articles about the war and already had them published in America.

TJ_Letter_1862-10-12
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1862-10-12

Preparations For War

The Confederates had achieved victories against the North and were within 100 miles of Thomas Jackson who sends descriptions of how his fellow town folk in Reading responded.

TJ_Letter_1863-05-23
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1863-05-23

War Continues: Family Update

The war is continuing now some distance from Reading but TJ still expresses determination not to allow the South to dissolve the union. Also reports on family members.

TJ_Letter_1863-08-20
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1863-08-20

The War In Great Detail

This long letter includes much detail about many aspects of the war and is highly recommended for all visitors to this site.

TJ_Letter_1863-08-25
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1863-08-25

Reflections On War & Life

Ruminating on family, war and life. TJ has no doubt he wants to leave America a better place for his children yet questions "What is there in all this strife and turmoil and struggling for

TJ_Letter_1864-04-18
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1864-04-18

The Curse Of Slavery

Mainly documenting first hand experiences of slaves and slavery, the treatment of prisoners and bounties for men who sign up for war. Also accounts of state of business in the North.

TJ_Letter_1864-09-01
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1864-09-01

England Is Dishonest

TJ accuses England of not staying neutral but was clearly supporting the Confederacy. "The British are immoral and devious."

TJ_Letter_1864-09-28
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1864-09-28

State Elections Abolition Issues

Still very angry at all those who challenge Lincoln and his administration. "The copperhead, proslavery party has lied more outragously than I have ever heard them before.

TJ_Letter_1864-10-02
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1864-10-02

Excitement & Parades For Upcoming election

Sharp criticisms of proslavery copperheads and their search for substitutes for the draft. Finally TJ verbalizes his worst fears namely that England will declare its support for the Confederates.

TJ_Letter_1864-11-08
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1864-11-08

Lincoln Not Re-Elected?

The possibility that Lincoln may not get re-elected is obsessing TJ's mind. This leads him to review many aspects of the war, past, present and future.

TJ_Letter_1864-11-16
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1864-11-16

Joy At Lincoln's Re-Election

Unreserved delight at the result of the election. Yet still expressing hatred for his opposition. Also more on the treatment of prisoners and the suffering of slaves

TJ_Letter_1864-12-01
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1864-12-01

Confirming Thomas Jackson's Mission

In these last two pages (all that remains of a much longer letter), we see TJ's expectations of slavery at last being abolished.

TJ_Letter_1865-04-10
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1865-04-10

The Fall Of Richmond

"We have had about two weeks of wild and extraordinary excitement" This detailed letter Includes vivid accounts of the celebrations in the north as various southern cities culminating with Richmond finally fall.

TJ_Letter_1865-04-18
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1865-04-18

Death & Mourning Of Lincoln

A detailed, contemporary account of what it was like to learn of Lincoln's assassination as well as sharing his anguish and grief that his beloved antislavery leader had been gunned down in the prime of his achievements.

TJ_Letter_1865-05-01
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1865-05-01

Atrocities Of War

Still incensed that Lincoln had been shot and that many northerners had been sympathetic to "putting Lincoln out of the way." Additionally provides an extensive list of alleged southern atrocities.

TJ_Letter_1866-01-02
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1866-01-02

Thaddeus Stevens On Reconstruction

A post-war letter that Thomas Jackson sent to influential U.S. Senator Thaddeus Stevens.

TJ_Letter_1867-05-27
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1867-05-27

Perceived Post-War Problems

Also updates on TJ's business and his close relatives in America.

TJ_Letter_1868-01-18
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1868-01-18

Three Years After Lincoln

A wide-ranging account of how the North had changed after the civil war. He claims that most white men in the North wished that blacks had not been given the vote! Also nostalgia for his old home in England.

TJ_letter _1869-02-22
1869-02-22

Rent Required for Building Lot

Thomas Jackson appears to be giving favorable terms to rentee– probably a man who worked for him

TJ_Letter_1871-00-00
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1871

Half Brother's Existence Explained

Thomas Jackson reveals that his father had sired a son by a different woman to his mother. Also reveals his dislike of his father yet took him in during the last days of his life.

TJ_Letter_1871-02-06
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1871-02-06

Family Review: Another War

As well as family details, TJ starts to comment on the Franco Prussian war from the traditional English position of taking sides against the French. Explains how happy most citizens of Reading were because their ancestors were from Germany, and the Germans appeared to be outsmarting the French.

TJ_Letter_1871-04-06
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1871-04-06

Thomas Jackson Vs. Horace Greeley

Greeley was a major figure in American journalism and politics but that in no way limited TJ's vigorous opposition to his views.

TJ_Letter_1872-00-00
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1872-01-01

The Alabama Claims

This is a simple Post Script to another letter. TJ believed that America's Alabama Claims against England were primarily a piece of political theatre.

TJ_Letter_1872-01-29
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1872-01-29

Disillusionment & Sadness

Unhappy with failing health. Disillusioned with politicians and the fact that ill educated people can vote. Notes that, "Americans tend to earn a lot but spend all they get."

TJ_Letter_1874-07-20
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1874-07-20

Grief And Arson

Grieving the death of his first born son at only 41 years. To make matters worse, his rope making factory has been burned down to the ground with a total devastation of all his business.

TJ_letter_1874-09-00
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1874-09-01

Retreated to seaside for health

TJ is now nearly 70 and is ailing. He often “cannot hold a pen steady of at all”, suffers from rheumatism and is resigned to accept the will of God. This letter was sent to his English cousin Sarah

TJ_letter_1874-12-29
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1874-12-29

TJ's Death Is Approaching

Relatives now share new information about Thomas Jackson's deteriorating health.

TJ_letter_1875-02-14
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1875-02-14

The Dialog Continues

We are reaching the end of our journey. The familiar handwriting appears more shaky but still determined. Thomas Jackson died Died Aug 6, 1878.

TJ_Letter_1875-09-14
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1875-09-14

Last Letter: Envelope Only

Here is our final record in Thomas Jackson's familiar handwriting. It is now very labored.

TJ_Letter_1878-08-08
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1878-08-08

The Pen Silenced Forever

Thomas Jackson passed away in Reading at the age of 72. Tributes to him can be seen within.

Documents Relating to Thomas Jackson

John-Wilkes-Booth
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J Wilkes Booth Confession

J Wilkes Booth Confession

The original of this letter was in J Wilkes Booth’s own handwriting and this copy was saved and passed down to us as part of the Thomas Jackson letters collection.

Doc_TJ Patent_1839-06-25_pt1
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1839 Patent #1

Patent from Thomas Jackson 1839-06-25

This invention was devised to solve the problem that a swish of the tow horse’s tail could disconnect the tow rope from the old attachment hooks, causing great problems and frustrations.

Doc_TJ Patent _1839-06-25 pt2
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1839 Patent #2

A new way of building railroad locomotives so they can climb inclined surfaces while pulling a train of heavy wagons. This ability enabled trains to carry more trucks at a time over hilly terrain thus saving money

Doc_TJ Patent_1839-01-18
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1839 Patent #3

To Solve the problem of Boat propellors getting caught up in obstacles

Tow lines, other obstacles and the sides of the canal locks were possible problems and adjustments were provided for heavily loaded boats

Doc_stamps & wax seals
Mailings Around 1840

Stamps Stolen, Cross Hatched Writing & Wax Seals

Sadly most of the stamps on the letters in this historical trove were soaked off to start a child’s stamp collection during the confinement of English households during the second world war. However there are also many letters from the days prior to postage stamps.

Divorce of Thomas Jackson & Ruth Hicks April 9, 1869
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1869-04-09

Divorce of Thomas Jackson & Ruth Hicks

For most of his life in Reading, Thomas Jackson was a widower. His first wife Matilda Hayward, the father his children, unexpectedly died in 1843 on a return visit to see her relatives In England

NP_1954-06-16
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1954-06-16

Reading's Oldest Industry

A reminder that the company that Thomas Jackson started in 1829 went on to be a major manufacturer, employer and innovator for many years.