[or-roots] Help with Thomas Jackson and Robert Merchant

[Nancy Lee Adams]

Clyde, 

Interesting, I live in St. Helens & my son-in-law's grandparents are buried
at Fairview, Cem. Scappoose. 

You know that they had to move... I would say about one third of the graves
out of the way to widen highway 30 years ago.. through Scappoose & St.
Helens &  widen eventually all the way to Astoria, Even though they haven't
gone that far yet.. 
Have you or any of your family went to Fairveiw Cem to search for Thomas
Jackson?

Do you think he is buried in the Cemetery itself or possibly just outside
the cemetery since his donation land claim is right there? In the old days,
I read they buried there family in the corner of the land claims. 

How much land (acres) did he have there? (that would need to be search for
his 1853 grave?)

The Map your Mother's has with the spot marked X, can you tell me where
about it is in relationship to the layout of the cemetery itself? 
I may be able to go & take a look to see if I can find anything>>> If you
want to tell me about where the " X " is?

Nancy



 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Clyde Gillespie
Date: 04/26/05 14:23:19
To: or-roots at sosinet.sos.state.or.us
Subject: [or-roots] Help with Thomas Jackson and Robert Merchant
 
 Once again, I am in need of expert help.  For those of you who helped me
with (George C. Gillespie land patent), I thank you.  Now, I need help in
finding information on George’s father-in-law, Thomas Jackson.
 
 
My great-great grandfather, Thomas Jackson, the father of Angeline Fidelia
Gillespie (who married George C. Gillespie) came to Columbia County
(Scappoose & St. Helens) from California's gold fields in 1846 & established
a 320 acre Oregon Donation Land Claim # 3587 near Scappoose. 
 
He had left his wife, Phoebe Jackson, & her two infant daughters Angeline &
Mary Louise) behind in Iowa.
 
Unfortunately, Thomas died of Smallpox in 1853 & is buried on his land claim
  I am told that an X marks his burial spot on the map my Mother saved.  His
land claim is now the site of the Fairview Cemetery.  We know Thomas is
buried there, but cannot find his marker. 1853 was a long time ago.
 
Here are a couple of paragraphs excerpted from log cousin’s log:
 
"Shortly thereafter (or maybe before), Thomas took off by covered wagon for
the West, & arrived at New Helvetia (Sutter's Fort, Sacramento), CA in 1845.
 He couldn't stay there unless he became a Mexican citizen, so in a few
months, headed for Oregon. Thomas arrived in Oregon in July 1846, & then
obtained donation land claim #3587 for himself in Columbia County, OR (near
Scappoose).  Thomas died at Scappoose of Smallpox in 1853. 
In the meantime, my great-great grandmother, Phoebe, was making plans of her
own.  In 1847, she joined her sister, Lucretia Merchant, her sister's
husband, Robert Merchant, their children, Andrew, Sarah Jane, & William - &
along with her own two children headed by covered wagon for Oregon.  The
Merchants settled down on a donation land claim in Yamhill County.  Robert
is said to have worked his land, but it is not now known whether he also
practiced shoemaking, the trade he learned as a youth in Scotland."  
It seems as though Thomas didn't quite make the 1860 census.  If anyone has
information on Robert Merchant or Lucretia, or any of their children, I
would appreciate that as well.  
 
I truly thank you’ all for your help.
 
Dominos vobiscum
 
Dr. Clyde Gillespie
 
 
 
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