1802 Letters in French Eliza JACKSON – 1st letter
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25 Frucidar an 10[1] Madam Eliza Jackson, Veuve du Doctor Jackson Ministre; Protestant, Employé par le Gouvernment François comme Agent du Irlande, et condamné [comine?] [til?] à Dublin.
Au Premier Consul [???] Ministre des [________?] [________?] [________?]
Citoyen Consul [???]
Le Docteur Jackson, mon mari etant condamné à la mort pour avon voulu servir la Government Français, Tous [?] [Bien??] [???] [j’orent?] [sarsin????] et deux jeunes enfantes sont le seult heritage q’il [m’a?] eté permis de reçovoir de lui [. _] Allarmée?] sur [ceur?] existance – je suis venue en France, pour reclamer les bienfaits qui me furent promi par le Government françois, et c’est a vour Citoyen Consul que j’adresson [mon?] humbler reclamations. Je conçur l’espoir que [celui??] qui a tari la source de [tant??] de larment et arreté le cours de [lànto???] de malheure prendroit pitié du Sort deplorable d’une femme jadis si fortuneé et a present livreé à toutes les amortumer d’une situation si affrende. J’eusse souffert in silence si je n’[??] en que mon seul malheur à supportine[?] mais voir mes deux enfants san secoure, sans soulien c’est un tourment que mon cour ne peut endurer.
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J’implorai votre justice, et j’esai en solliciter une place pour mon fils William Jackson age de 13 ans dans le Prytanée de Paris[2] [on?] il peut apprendre à cherir son [Bienfacteur?], et une pension pour soutenir mon existence et celle de ma fille [age de 9 ans[3]] La Reponse qui me fut faite en votre nom, m’addresseoit au Ministre de la Marine et ca Ministre me [??????] à celui des Relation Extenieurs [??] Demarcher supier d’une ont etè toutes infructinser et je n’ai plus qu’un seul espoir. Permetter Citoyen Consul que j’expose à vor yeux a tableau de ma Situation. Elle est [belle?] qu’apier avoir consumé [mer?] moyene [?????] par un sejour de cing mois àn Paris, je touche an moment ou il me sera impossible d’exister, et de fait [????] mes enfants Je leur as affairs [ta?] [benir?] le nom du her or de la France et mon cour me dit qu’il viendra au secours de leur mere malheureuse et qu’il jettera sur elle et dur ense Un regard de Bienfaitance
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[1] The 25 Fructidor Year 10 corresponds to 12 September 1802.
[2] Thanks to Sylvie Kleinman, I learned that the Prytanée de Paris would shortly be renamed and become the Lycée Louis le Grand, on Boulevard St. Michel. It is in the heart of Paris, is prestigious, and had very high educational standards. It was named after the Prytaneum of Athens where the sons of worthy patriots would be educated, expenses and sometimes board paid by the state. The Revolution brought in massive education reform. The school was run by former Jesuits, and changed names several times. Late 1790s, and Napoleonic era, many boys were educated at the Paris Prytanée on a state scholarship to reward their father’s service (military, or as administrators in government, patriots, etc). … When people referred to the Prytanée, full stop, it usually meant the national one, at La Flèche, which was the prime military academy. That Eliza Jackson specifies Prytanée de Paris is therefore welcome. NOTE: There may be school records.
[3] The age of Elizabeth Jackson’s daughter is not clear. It might be seven or it might be nine. In the subsequent letter, she is referred to as age six. The Dublin historian, Sylvie Kleinman helped me to clear this up: … in the 2nd letter, Decrès refers to a 6 year old daughter. Did he misread what she had written, or did he have a verbal interview with her, or ask an underling to check birth certs and residence permits etc? One would assume so. This documentation would have been necessary if indeed state aid was granted. If the little girl was 6, she could have been conceived as late as April ’95, prison visits permitting, and turned 6 ca January 1802. Or she was 9, and Decrès got it wrong. And if Eliza was pregnant with a 3rd child at the time of the trial, she either lost the baby, or had it and left if with relatives in Ireland. NOTE: I suspect that Elizabeth Jackson’s daughter was Louisa Mary Jackson. Her birth was recorded as 27 July 1795 and she was christened at Fyfield, St Nicholas, Essex, England. Fyfield is about 70 miles north east of London, but I have no idea what may have taken the family there. The evidence supporting this conjecture is that the father’s name was recorded as Rev. William JACKSON, the mother as Eliza JACKSON and their abode was recorded as Dublin. SOURCE: Free Reg. NOTE: If we base the children’s birth dates on their age in 1802, and if the birth record for Louisa Mary JACKSON is a fit, then age six or seven is a good fit. The son William JACKSON, since he was age 13 in 1802, would have been born abt. 1789.
[4] The name of this street was changed to the rue de la Loi during the French Revolution; its name was restored to Richelieu in 1806.
[5] The 25 Fructidor Year 3 corresponds to 11 September 1795. Rev William JACKSON died April 30, 1795. NOTE: I have no idea why this earlier date is included. Perhaps it refers to earlier correspondence?