On the evidence of the 1851 census, Jean Jackson was born in Abbey Parish, Paisley, c. 1789. There is an entry for ‘John’, ‘D.L.’, i.e. ‘Daughter Lawful’, to William Jakison and Jean Mitchel, baptised 14^th September 1786. This is probably hers. The entry is further problematic in that it reads ‘born on the 16^th & baptd the 14 Current.’ The 16^th therefore probably signifies the 16^th August. The handwriting is shaky and this carelessly drafted entry is generally difficult to make sense of.

The marriage of ‘Jean Jakeson’ to ‘Alexander Gardiner’ was recorded on 10^th December 1814, in Abbey Parish.

At the time of the 1841 census, Jean, whose age was given as 50, was living with her husband, Alexander, four sons and three daughters, at Lincleve, Elderslie.

In 1851, Jean, whose age was now given as 62, was still resident at Lincleve but by now she was a widow, her husband Alexander having apparently died in the meantime. She was designated as a ‘housewife’.

The remainder Jean’s extensive household at this time consisted of:

William, son, 26, farmer’s son. Alex., son, 22. The words ‘Farmer of 150 Acres employing 2 out dor (sic) Labourers’ follow, but it is not entirely clear whether these refer to William or Alexander. Matthew, son, 21. Janet, daur, 24 (?), employed at home. Eliz., daur, 19 (?), employed at home. John, son, 17, employed on farm. Thomas Jackson, brother, unmarried, 56, grazier. John Colimore, servant, unmarried, 22, farm servant.

Note that all of the sons and daughters named were unmarried and that all members of the household were listed as having been born in Abbey Parish.

Forebears

If Jean’s brother Thomas Jackson (see infra) has indeed been correct identified, then this would imply that her parents were William Jackson and Jean Mitchell. The connection however remains to be positively established.

Brothers and Sisters

Note the presence of an unmarried brother, Thomas Jackson, a grazier, aged 56, at Lincleve, at the time of the 1851 census.

An excellent match is provided by a child of that name who was born on 12^th February 1794 and baptised in Abbey Parish on the 23^rd. His parents were Wm Jackson and Jean ‘Mitchill’.

Robert Jackson, who was born on 8^th March 1788 and baptised on the 9^th in Abbey Parish to the same parents was therefore probably a further younger brother of Jean Jackson.