The Mysterious Mrs. Jackson

Elizebeth Jackson's Memorial

While walking to class every day I never knew I was walking by something so special. Tonight in our graveyard class we learned that Elizabeth Jackson, mother of Andrew Jackson, has a memorial grave here. 

Elizabeth Jackson came to Charleston in 1767, but how did she end up in South Carolina. Elizabeth Jackson ended up in South Carolina after the death of her husband, Andrew Jackson, Sr. She had sons named Robert and Andrew Jackson, who were soon to be captured by the British.

When the British took over Charleston on May 12, 1780, Robert, Hugh, and Andrew decided to join the Patriot regiment. Their brother Hugh ended up dying from heat exhaustion in one of the battles. As the wars went on, Robert and Andrew had an encounter near Waxhaw with British soldiers.

Robert and Andrew were both slashed with swards for disrespecting the soldiers. They were then taken away by the British and held at a prison in Camden. They ended up getting smallpox making the two extremely ill. Their mother Elizabeth Jackson came to their aid by offering a prisoner transfer. 

Robert and Andrew ended up out of jail because of their mother. Two days later Robert died due to smallpox he contracted in the prison. Andrew ended up regaining his strength and becoming healthy again.

Once Andrew became healthy, Elizabeth went to help soldiers at the Charleston Harbor. Elizabeth ended up becoming ill with cholera and died November 1781 in Charleston. Andrew searched for his mothers grave for a while, but couldn't find any remains. 

Elizabeth Jackson's memorial stands today because many people wanted to commemorate her for helping the soldiers in Charleston.