Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
In Reading, PA, there are still significant reminders of Thomas Jackson’s activities. Most conspicuously, there is signage commemorating the lock where Thomas and Edward Jackson started their business in 1829.
As explained in the Reading Times newspaper article of September 9, 1870, the two brothers stumbled on this location almost by chance and initially started a rope-making business just to the west of the lock.
In this display, you can see that “T Jackson” was the owner of lots 37 and 39, with a dry dock between them. It was here that the rope business grew from small beginnings until it was wiped out by floods.
Edward Jackson partnered with his older brother in starting the rope-making business but soon moved next door to establish a general store and hotel that was ready to welcome boat owners as they waited for the water levels in the lock to balance.
Together, their presence caused a quiet, anonymous lock to become widely known as Jackson’s Lock. This name is already recorded in the bottom right-hand corner of this valuable record.
The Historical Society of Berks County in Reading now holds the last sign that announced the Thomas Jackson Rope Works, donated to the organization by Vicki Jackson, who is related to the Jackson family by marriage.
The only visible evidence of Thomas Jackson’s early days, when he still lived in Ilkeston, England with his father, rope-maker John Jackson, is a modern road sign. No remains of the original property are left.
Despite many hours spent researching in the Ilkeston Library, it was not possible to locate more TJ letters that had been published in local newspapers, nor any reports of his father being put in prison for supporting the American Revolution, a fact that TJ writes about twice in this collection.
One remaining structure from Thomas Jackson’s day is the Gallows Inn, which still exists and is mentioned by TJ as being just along the canal from where his father made ropes.
There is evidence of other branches of the Jackson family that never left England.
The long-established line of ropemakers in the town is reflected by two coils of rope in the town’s coat of arms, along with handmade leather gloves.
