Elizabeth Jackson and the Mystery of her Remains

Before we can delve into the mystery of why Elizabeth Jackson was buried right on our own campus we must first learn about who she was. Elizabeth Jackson was the mother of the 7th president of the United States, Andrew Jackson. According to the History of American Women Blog, Elizabeth was an Irish immigrant born in Country Antrim around 1740. Elizabeth and her husband Andrew Senior immigrated to the United States in 1765 with their two sons Hugh and Robert. Shortly after the families arrival to the Carolinas the Jacksons obtained 200 acres of land in the Waxhaws settlement.

Courtesy of Professor Hardwood's blog

President Andrew Jackson or Andrew the second, was born March 15, 1767 just three weeks after Andrew Senior, his father, passed away. After his passing Elizabeth and her children moved into her sister and brother in-law's house in present day South Carolina. Elizabeth worked as a housekeeper and nurse for her very sick sister. Finally when Andrew was 14 Elizabeth passed away due to small pox. 

According to the Post and Courier Andrew was devastated over the missing remains of his mother, “The uncertainty over the fate of her remains was a matter of concern to Jackson even in his White House years,” But where is Elizabeth? The marker on campus states she is "near this spot", the Post and Courier claims that her grave marker was moved to campus from a place 2 1/2 miles away...the location of Elizabeth's remains is a mystery, but her memory lives on through her now distant relatives and history fanatics.

My McLoughlin Ancestry

"People will not look forward to prosperity who never look backward to their ancestors." -Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France

Trying to research my family was a difficult task. My Grandparents immigrated to the United States with nothing more than their passports, some clothes and a few dollars. In the way of documents, little can be found about my Grandparents much less about my great grand parents and beyond. Thankfully one of my cousins on my father's side put together a family tree a few years ago. Although for the majority of my family there are just names, no dates of birth, or death because there simply aren't records readily available. 

My Great Grandparents marriage license 

One of the very few records I was able to find was the marriage certificate for my paternal Great Grandparents, Patrick McLoughlin and Helen 'Ellie' McNamara. They were married February 9, 1911 in Mohill, Ireland. The marriage certificate was officiated and the ceremony was performed at the Roman Catholic Church of Mohill. 

One of the only records I was able to find was for my Great Uncle Paddy, my paternal Grandfather's brother. Uncle Paddy was the oldest of thirteen kids. Patrick was born June 16, 1914 in Mohill, Ireland. What I find very interesting is that on my Great Grandparents marriage license and on my Great Uncle's birth certificate the documents ask for "Rank of Professionalism of Father".  My Great Grandfather was a potato farmer. 

My Great Uncle's Birth certificate

According to my Dad, my Great Grandpa was some sort of 'important political leader' in Mohill. Although my Dad is not sure what my Great Grandpa did, I know my Grandpa had some sort of connections to the IRA- the Irish Republican Army. My Dad said when he was little he remembered my Grandpa helping to collect money and donations for the IRA from New York with other Irish immigrants, so I can only imagine my Great Grandfather was involved in the Irish Republican Army in some way as well. My Dad never met his Grandfather so we can only assume what he was like. He was a tough Irish potato farmer who was born and died in the small rural town of Mohill. My family may not have exciting backgrounds but my ancestry is filled with hard workers and deep Irish roots.

Mohill, County Leitrim Ireland 1940s 

Our Deadly Scavenger Hunt

Last Monday, February 24, we visited the Bethel United Methodist Church. This church has a rich history. Until 1852 the church hosted mass for both white and black churchgoers.
Then "Old Bethel" was donated to the black congregation in 1876. Today, Bethel United Methodist Church is Charleston's oldest Methodist church. At Bethel UMC their graveyard is home to countless graves since 1796, here are my ten favorites;