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Size | 1 item |
Abstract | Samuel C. Jackson was a Congregational minister of Andover, Mass. The collection is a diary, 11 October 1832-9 May 1833, of Samuel Cram Jackson, covering the period of his stay in Charleston, Columbia, Camden, and Salem, S.C. Jackson, who had journeyed south for his health, commented on many topics, including the nullification controversy, slavery, and political and social conditions in South Carolina. He knew many prominent men, among them participants in the nullification debate, including William Drayton (1766-1846), Robert Y. Hayne (1791-1839), and Joel R. Poinsett (1779-1851); and others, including reformer Thomas S. Grimke (1786-1834); missionary J. W. Barr (1802-1832); judge Henry W. De Saussure (1764-1839); Irish artist William Leigh (1811-1833); planter and Democratic congressman Robert Witherspoon (1767-1837); and president of the College of Charleston Jasper Adams (1793-1841). All of these men are mentioned in the diary, as are other South Carolina politicians, educators, and clergymen. During his travels, Jackson also served for a short time as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia. |
Creator | Jackson, Samuel C. (Samuel Cram), 1802-1878. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
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Samuel C. Jackson was a Congregational minister of Andover, Mass.
Back to TopDiary, 76 pages, of Samuel Cram Jackson (1803-1878). Jackson, a Congregational clergyman, began a leave of absence from his parish in Andover, Mass., on 11 October 1832. He left his wife Caroline and two daughters (one of whom was born in his absence) behind while he journeyed to South Carolina for the purpose of recovering his health, which had been threatened by an attack of consumption. Jackson's diary begins with his embarkation at Boston aboard the Liverpool, bound for Charleston, S.C.
Jackson recorded that, upon his arrival in Charleston, he lodged at the Planters' Hotel, then boarded with a Mr. Smith on Meeting Street. His attention was quickly drawn to the nullification controversy, which was raging at the time. He frequently referred to the activities and statements of such leaders of the debate as William Drayton (1766-1846), Robert Y. Hayne (1791-1839), and Joel R. Poinsett (1779-1851). Jackson wrote a detailed description of Hayne's 29 November 1832 speech on nullification at the Circus, and also outlined the fears and plans of the Union faction with which Jackson sympathized.
While in Charleston, Jackson mingled with and wrote about reformer Thomas S. Grimke (1786-1834), missionary J. W. Barr (1802-1832), president of the College of Charleston Jasper Adams (1793-1841), and other prominent men. In his diary, Jackson also documented the social and clerical activities in which he participated during his visit.
On 8 December 1832, Jackson traveled by rail to Columbia, where he lodged with a Professor Howe on Camden Street. During his stay, he wrote numerous diary entries having to do with slavery, including one about a Muslim slave belonging to Thomas Goulding, president of the board of trustees of Oglethorpe University. Jackson took advantage of his sojourn in the state capital to familiarize himself with the workings of South Carolina politics. The diary shows that he became a regular visitor to the state house and that he attended several sessions of the nullification convention.
Jackson left Columbia on 12 January 1833 for Camden, where he was the guest of Judge Henry W. De Saussure (1764-1839). Returning to Columbia on 14 January, he preached occasionally over the next few weeks at the First Presbyterian Church. During this time, he also visited with Irish artist William Leigh (1811-1833), recording biographical information about Leigh in the diary. In March 1833, Jackson attended several nullification meetings, and, in April, attended the annual Presbytery in Salem, S.C., where he stayed with planter and Democratic congressman Robert Witherspoon (1767-1837). Jackson began his journey back to Massachusetts on 2 May 1833, recording in his diary brief comments on the parts of North Carolina and Virginia through which he travelled. The diary ends on 9 May 1833, with Jackson's arrival in Warrenton, Virginia.
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