John

b. May 1830
  • Father: Jack b. circa 1810
  • John was born in May 1830 in Montgomery County, Alabama, at Greenwood plantation.
  • He and Rachial were the parents of Emma and David.
  • Promissory Note from Green Wood to Bolling Hall, dated 5 January 1850
         Notation across text of the second page, “Cancelled, Bolling Hall, February 16th, 1855
         State of Alabama, Montgomery County (Deed Book Vol. N, pages 382-383)
         Whereas I am indebted to the Estate of the late Doctor Thomas Brown in the sum of Thirty Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cents and to secure the evidence and payment thereof have executed to Bolling Hall Executor of the last will and testament of said Thomas Brown a note of which the following is a copy – “$38,554.39. Twelve months after date, I promise to pay Bolling Hall executor of the Estate of Thomas Brown Dec’d or bearer Thirty Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cents for value received with interest from date – January 5th 1850. “Green Wood.”
         Now, therefore, know all men by these Presents, that I Green Wood, for and in consideration of the premises, and to secure the payment of said sum of money in said note mentioned and also in consideration of the sum of One Dollar to me in hand paid by Bolling Hall at and before the Sealing and delivery of these Presents, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have bargained, sold and conveyed, and do by these Presents, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Bolling Hall the following named negroes slaves viz. Neptune & wife Pleasant and her two children Richmond & Butler; Henry and wife Crecy and her five children, Andrew, Sarah, Charles, Sandy and Mahala; Ned, Sylvy, Bill, Stephen, Turner, Warren, Granville; Little Bob and wife Eliza and their three children, Frank, Aleck and an infant not recollected, but believed to be Montgomery. Peter and his wife Darcas and her two children Dilsey and Charity, Peter Quarles, Ben, Hansel, Dave and wife Clarisa; Little Sam and Wife Fereby and her three children Beverly, Alfred and an infant name not recollected [Elbert]; Big Sam and wife Caroline; Jenny and her child Joe, John, Tom; Edmond and wife Ailsey; Maria and her two children Ann and Cass; Mary and her children Jerry, Morris, Sue, Rhoda, Wesley and Jane; Old Bill and wife Margaret and her children Len, Amanda, Harriet, Rose, Smith and an infant name not recollected [Frances]; Big Bob and wife Kizzy and her six children, Matilda, Ben, King, Lucey, Augustus and Cummings; Leah and her nine children Jim, Little Guilford, Archy, Chloe, Abraham, Satan, Jefferson, Dallas and Patsy, and Flora, a child of Patsey; Toby and Hannah and her children Ephraim, Rachel, and two other small children names not recollected; Daniel Adam and wife Caroline and her two children not recollecting their names [Mary and Thornton], and also her children Charles, Adam, Daniel and Oliver; And also another woman Letty. To have and to hold the above bargained and sold negroes to the said Bolling Hall, his executors, Administrators and assigns, Provided always and these presents and this Sale and Conveyance are upon the express condition, not if I the said Green Wood shall pay or cause to be paid and discharged the above mentioned debt with interest at Maturity of said note according to its tenor and effect, then this deed of conveyance and all and every interest title and estate in and to the above named negroes, Shall cease, determine, and be utterly null and void; but otherwise shall remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and affixed my seal this the fifth day of January One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of J. A. Elmore & W. Garrett. Green Wood [seal].
         The State of Alabama, City & County of Montgomery
         Personally appeared before me William Garrett, a commissioner duly commissioned & qualified a Commissioner to take proofs & acknowledgements of Deeds etc. executed in the State of Alabama, to be read or recorded in the State of Texas: Green Wood, the maker of the foregoing Deed to Bolling Hall, Executor etc. and executed the same by signing, sealing and delivering the same in my presence, on the same day that it bears date – given under my hand and seal this fifth day of January AD 1850. W. Garrett [seal], Commissioner.
  • On Wednesday, 24 July 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "John cut his foot [while skinnking poles]. Bled very freely, several times, fainted."
  • On Tuesday, 8 February 1853, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Went to the river with 8 hands & Mr Reding," and on the following day, "John & Quarles working at Mr Con's for John Reding." On Monday, the 14th, "7 hands at work on flats & two at Con's at work for John Reding.
         John Conn was the husband of John Reding's sister Nancy, who died in 1851.
  • On Wednesday, 11 April 1855, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent John to work at James Mitchell's mill to pay for Blacksmith George's work."
  • Although no marriage record has yet been found for Harriet and John, it is an educated guess that they were together having children beginning in 1859.
  • On Sunday, 18 January 1863, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent off 5 hands to Houston on the second call Genl Magruder - John, Hamp, Ben, Sandy, Wesley & four on the first call making 9 good hands."
  • On Sunday, 1 February 1863, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "The negros I sent to work on call of Genl Magruder returned last evening except John & Tom, John Sick at Mr Berreys 12 miles from Houston, Greens Buyo."
  • Following emancipation, John adopted the name John Jackson although he appears in the 1870 census as John Wood..
  • John and Harriet appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Montgomery County, Texas, and it is an educated guess that "Dan" is actually the son of John and Rachel, and daughter "Martha" is actually son March.. Other members of the household included Milly, Candace, David, March, Bill, Mandy Jackson, Fanny Jackson and Solomon Jackson.
  • He was doing farm work, according to the 1870 census.
  • John and Harriet appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Montgomery County, Alabama. Other members of the household included Bill, Mandy Jackson and Solomon Jackson.
  • He was a farmer, according to the 1880 census.
  • Children of Mary born between 1825 and 1848, and also sons of Jack (1830-1833), were recorded by Green Wood.
  • Children of Harriet born between 1851 and 1862, were recorded by Green Wood. Although they are all listed as children of Ned and Harriet, since Ned died in April 1858, the listing clearly is in error.
  • Children of Rachial born between 1846 and 1855, were recorded by Green Wood.
  • Last Edited: 9 Apr 2015

Family 1: Rachial b. 18 February 1830

  • Emma b. 7 December 1851, d. 1859
  • David b. 2 August 1853

Family 2: Harriet b. 27 May 1836