1802 Elizabeth JACKSON Paris both letters TRANSLATION v4
SOURCE: Microfilm held at the National Library, Dublin: Ministère des Affaires Etrangères; Correspondance Politique: Angleterre; Cote 596. NOTE: Elizabeth JACKSON was the widow of the United Irishman Rev. William JACKSON (abt 1737-1795). He had committed suicide while in the dock of a Dublin Court awaiting sentencing for his “treasonous” acts. These two letters, seven years after his death, concern her attempts to secure financial help for their two children. There is much more to learn, for example, what happened to the properties that he had most likely inherited from his JACKSON and GORE ancestors and that she had likely inherited after his death.
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The French in these two letters is the version of French as it was written in 1802. When it comes to translation, there are three kinds: · Literal. Word for word. · Literary. More creative and often better at conveying the intent than literal translation is able to. · Lumpy. My rough and ready blend of Literal and Literary.. NOTE: My thanks to Marje Umezuki who explained Fructidore to me (a month in the French Revolutionary calendar); to Joëlle Pontbriand who helped me with some of my French transcriptions; and to Sylvia Kleinman, a Dublin historian, who taught me how to convert the French calendar into the Gregorian calendar. Beneath my Lumpy translation, I have included a transcription of the French text beside images of my original scans. Hopefully, someone with more translation skills than I currently have can take it from here. After all, Elizabeth JACKSON is worthy of our attention. |
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This first letter - #498 - is a clerk’s copy of Elizabeth Jackson’s original letter. Those words which I could not decode are in [brackets]. |
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498 25 Frucidar an 10[1]
Madam Eliza Jackson[2], Widow of Doctor Jackson[3] Minister; Protestant, Employee of the Government France as Agent of Ireland, and condemned as such in Dublin.
To the Premier Consul [???] Minister of [State?] [to make a report for me?] [next to the demand on the 4th?]
Citizen Consul [AoNo#163?] Doctor Jackson, my husband is condemned to death for having served the French Government very well I pray [saisin = input?] and two young children are the sole heritage that I have been permitted to receive from him. Alarmed for their existence – I came to France, to reclaim the benefits that were given to me by the French Government, and it is to your Citizen Consul who I address my humble claims. I continue to hope that the one who dried up so many of my tears and stopped the heart of the other of misfortune take pity on the deplorable fate of a woman once so wealthy and now delivered to all the bitterness of such a terrible situation. I would have suffered in silence if I had only my misfortune to bear but seeing my two children without help and support is a torment that my heart cannot endure.
I implore your justice and I am solicitating a place for my son, William Jackson[4] age 13 years in the Prytanée de Paris where he can learn to cherish his Benefactor and a pension for sustaining my existence and for my daughter[5] [age 7 years] The reply which was made in your name addressed to the Minister of Marine and that Minister referred me to that of External Affairs but my steps have all been unsuccessful and I have no more than a single hope. Allow me Citizen Consul to expose to your eyes a picture of my situation. Having consumed my [financial?] means after a stay of six months in Paris, I have come to a moment when it will be impossible to exist, and to be able to have my children exist. I have taught them the names of the heroes of France and my heart tells me that he will come to the rescue of their unhappy mother and cast a benevolent eye over her and them. Hotel of Paris Rue d la Roi 15 Sept 1802 I am Citizen Consul With the most profound respect your very humble and obedient servant, Eliza Jackson
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This 2nd letter - #501 - is a clerk’s copy of a response to Elizabeth Jackson’s letter. Those words which I could not decode are in [brackets]. |
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501 12 Sept 1802
Division
Note. The responses Made by the Ministry must relate exactly to the date of the Letters that we have received, and carry in the margin the indications of the Bureau, in order any delay in expediting the affairs Paris, 15 Sept 1802 10[6] of the Republic united and indivisible The Minister of the Marine and of the Colonies to the Minister of External Relations
I send you the evidence made of the instruction attached to the trial At the beginning of the year 2y the Citizens dangers of this enterprise and he committed to it only after having obtained from the Committee of Public Safety the formal promise and an English General Officer would be held hostage The resources that she had are completely exhausted I have the honour to salute you Denis Above all she asks to put her son in the Prytaneé |
This first letter - #498 - is a clerk’s copy of Elizabeth Jackson’s original letter.
Those words which I could not decode are in [brackets].
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498 25 Frucidar an 10[7] Madam Eliza Jackson, Veuve du Doctor Jackson Ministre; Protestant, Employé par le Gouvernment François comme Agent du Irlande, et condamné comme tel [til?] à Dublin.
Au Premier Consul [???] Ministre des [________? rapport] [________? Pour ma faire] [________? Je pre me]
Citoyen Consul [AoNo#163?] Le Docteur Jackson, mon mari etant condamné à la mort pour avoir voulu servir la Government Français, Tous [cer?] [Biens?] j’orent [saisir?] 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’adresse mes humbles reclamations. Je conçur l’espoir que [celui??] qui a tari la source de tante de larment et arreté le cour de l’autre de malheure prendroit pitié du Sort deplorable d’une femme jadis si fortuneé et a present livreé à toutes les amertumes d’une situation si affreuse. J’eusse souffert in silence si je n’eusse en que mon seul malheur à supporter mais voir mes deux enfants sans secoures, sans soutien 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[8] ans dans le Prytanée de Paris [9] où il peut apprendre à cherir son Bienfaiteur[10], et une pension pour soutenir mon existence et celle de ma fille [age de 7 ans[11]] La Reponse qui me fut faite en votre nom, m’addresseoit au Ministre de la Marine et ca Ministre me renvoya à celui des Relation Extérieures mes Démarcher d’euront été toutes infructereuses et je n’ai plus qu’un seul espoir. Permettez Citoyen Consul que j’expose à vor yeux a tableau de ma Situation. Elle est calle qu’aprèes avoir consumé mes moyens [?????] par un sejour de cing mois àn Paris, je touche an moment ou il me sera impossible d’exister, et de fair existe mes enfants Je leùr ai appris [ta?] [benir?] le nom du heros de la France et mon cour me dit qu’il jettera sur elle et sur eux un regard de Bienfaisance
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This 2nd letter - #501 - is a clerk’s copy of a response to Elizabeth Jackson’s original letter.
Those words which I could not decode are in [brackets].
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501
Division Bureau Des Officiel Militaires.
Au commencement del’an 2y Citoyen Ministre le Comité de Salut Public ayant ordonnée à chacun des Ministres des Relations Extérieures et de la Marine; d’expedier un Agent secret en Irlande le General Dalbarade, alora en place fit choix du Docteur Jackson, Ministre Anglican L’objet ostensible de la mission cet étranger étoit des rédiger à Dublin une feuille périodique [?] mais des instructione particulièrer lui prescrivoieur d’offrin aux Irlandair les Secoura et la protection de la France; es de les Determineu à seconer le joug des Anglais, le Docteur Jackson pressentit les |
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dangers de celle entrēprise et n’y dévoua qu’après avoir obtenu du Comité de Salut Public la promesse formelle qu’il servit pourvu à la subsistance de sa famille et qu’on retiendroit en otage un Offier Général Anglais dans la tête devoit repondré de la sienne Si la suites des événement a prouvé que le Docteur Jackson a secondé avec zèle les voeux du Gouvernement française, elle n’a que trop justifié les craintez qu’ il avoit conçues sur sa sureté personelle. Dénoncé par un confident infidèle, il fut arreté comme couplable de haùte trahison ne s’en soustrait que par une mort voloutaire an supplice qui lui étoit réservé. Ces faits sous attestés par le témoignage des plusieurs personnes qui dans le tems, eurent part à la Délibération du Comité de Salus Public et par la procédure que je vous remets ci jointe. Après la mort du Doctor Jackson, sa veuve retenue en Irlande par la survellance rigoureuse qu’on exerçoit sur elle ne put passer en frànce; elle n y est que depuis cinq mois et a vainement rappellé jusqu’ a present |
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les engagement pris avec son mari. Les ressources ce trouvent entièrement espuisiér et elle sollicite de la justice du Government une pension alimentaire pur elle et sa fille agée 6 ans et une place au Peylanneé pour son fils [ainé?] que en dans sa 13 [ence?] année Quoique le Docteur Jackson ais reçue ses premiers Ordrer d’ un de mes prédécesseura, le caractere de sa mission la range dans la classe des Agents de votré Mistèrene et j’ai pensé qu’il vous appartenoit de provoquer la Décision du Premier Consul sur les réclamation de sa veuve. Je crois inutile, Citoyen Minister, d’appuyer par mes insistances les démarcher que Made Jackson doit faire après de vous. Ses malheurs, sa position actuelle intéresseront vivement votre sensibilitè et j’espère qu’elle obliendre par votre entrmise les secour dont elle a le plus pressant Besoin en qu’elle a mèrités par de si douloureux sacrifices J’ai le honneur ete vous saleur Denis Elle demande surtout à mettre son fils du Prytaneé |
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[1] The 25 Fructidor Year 10 corresponds to 12 September 1802. It is the month of fruit: the 12th month of the French revolutionary Calendar, extending from Aug 19 to Sept 22
[2] Elizabeth JACKSON. It was alleged that his second wife, Elizabeth, most likely served him his arsenic-tainted tea when she joined him in his prison cell at breakfast on the day of his death. He drank it in the hope that his suicide, by pre-empting a state execution, could protect the few assets he had for their children.
[3] Rev. William JACKSON (abt 1737-1795). He was prominent United Irishman who died after being convicted of treason but before sentence could be pronounced.. I have written several blog posts in the hopes of learning more about him, and also in the hopes nailing down the ancestry of his father and the lives of his wives and children. My hope has been that this may also shed light on what led him to become a member of the United Irishmen. Some of my relevant Blog Posts:
[4] William JACKSON (abt 1789 – aft 1839)
· What became of the widow of Jackson I have never been able to learn, but in 1839 Dr. M'Neven informed me that there was a son of his then residing in Rome. SOURCE: The United Irishmen, their lives and times. Richard Robert. Madden p188
[5] Louisa Mary JACKSON (1795-?0
· BIRTH CERT: Louisa Mary, dau of Reverend William & Eliza Jackson of Dublin chr 27 Jul 1795 St Nicholas, Fyfield, England.
[6] The 28 Fructidor Year 10 corresponds to 15 Sept 1802
[7] The 25 Fructidor Year 10 corresponds to 12 September 1802. It is the month of fruit: the 12th month of the French revolutionary Calendar, extending from Aug 19 to Sept 22
[8] This would indicate a birth date of 1789. I am still nailing down the timelines of when Rev. William was in Paris or England, but it seems likely that he was mostly in England at this time.
[9] Thanks to Sylvie Kleinman, I learned that the Prytanée de Paris become known as the Lycée Louis le Grand. It was on the Boulevard St. Michel in the heart of Paris. It was a prestigious school with high educational standards and had been run by former Jesuits. It changed names several times. It had been named after the Prytaneum of Athens where the sons of worthy patriots would be educated, expenses and sometimes board paid by the state … 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 [because it narrows down which one it is]. NOTE: There may be school records.
[10] The Bienfacteur would have been the Citizen Consul
[11] The age of Elizabeth Jackson’s daughter is not clear [7?] In the subsequent letter, she is referred to as age six. Again, Sylvie Kleinman helped me here: … 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. 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. and that her birth was in 27 July 1795. Assuming a full-term birth, this would indicate a conception in November; therefore likely at the prison where Rev. William was being held and visits were permitted. Louisa Mary was christened at Fyfield, St Nicholas, Essex, England. Fyfield is about 70 miles north east of London. I have no idea what may have taken her mother there. In the christening record, William JACKSON is recorded as her father, her mother as Eliza JACKSON. Their abode was recorded as Dublin. SOURCE: Free Reg. NOTE: This makes the age of the daughter to be 6 or 7 a good fit with this birth record.
[12] 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.
[13] The 25 Fructidor Year 3 corresponds to 11 September 1795. Rev William JACKSON died April 30, 1795. The given age of her son William is consistent with the letter being written in 1802. NOTE: The date of 11 September1795 is included may refer to earlier correspondence. The gap between April 1795 and September 1795 a fit with Elizabeth being unable to get to France for five months.
[14] The 28 Fructidor Year 10 corresponds to 15 Sept 1802