Rev. Ernest Alonzo Jackson1

b. 13 August 1877, d. 12 November 1928
Ernest Jackson (cropped)
photo shared by Jane Kimball
FatherStephen Alonzo Jackson2 b. 22 Sep 1851, d. 4 Mar 1892
MotherMary Cloyd Ernest2 b. 7 Jan 1851, d. 9 Jul 1937
Birth13 Aug 1877 Rev. Ernest Alonzo Jackson was born on 13 Aug 1877 at Brook Hall, Washington County, Virginia.3 
Childhood  Ernest's father died in 1892, at which time Ernest was 14 years old. His mother remarried 6 years later. 
Religion At the age of about 18 Ernest developed an interest in religion and decided to become a missionary. He traveled to Nyack, New York where he worked his way through a mission training school. On June 5, 1899 he sailed for Brazil on the ship Hevelius.4 
  Ernest landed at Recife on the northeastern coast of Brazil, where he joined the Baptist missionary effort. Ernest traveled deep into the interior of Brazil, often traveling great distances by small boat or on horseback. By 1902 Ernest was ready to marry. He returned to the United States and with the help of the Baptist missionary board met his future wife.4 
Marriage31 Dec 1902 He married Jannette Beazley on 31 Dec 1902 in Dunbrooke, Essex County, Virginia.5 
  Following their marriage Ernest and Jannette immediately returned to Brazil where they headed into the interior (see map link below). The journey from the coast took 6 or more weeks, traveling by rail, steamboat, and mule. Six of the couple's children were born in Santa Rita do Rio Preto (now Santa Rita de Cassia), deep in the State of Bahia. Twin daughters, born in late 1903, died within 2 days of each other in Jan. 1904.

Ernest and Jannette periodically made trips back to Virginia and Tennessee to visit family. As each child grew up they were left in the states to attend school. A family photo (see below) taken at the home of Ernest's mother at Abingdon in 1923 documents one such trip. In 1928 Ernest and Jannette brought son Stephen north for school. Only the youngest child, Carey, left New York with his parents for the return journey to Brazil aboard the Lamport & Holt's Vestris. The ship sailed from New York on Nov. 10, 1928, bound for Buenos Aires. The following day the ship began to list and take on water. The emergency was not well managed by the crew and on Nov. 12th the ship sank. Over 100 lives were lost; Ernest, Jannette and Carey all perished in the disaster.4 
Death12 Nov 1928 Ernest died at sea on 12 Nov 1928 at age 51.6,7 

Related Links and Images:

View a map showing how Rev. Jackson and his family traveled into the interior of Bahia, Brazil (includes a photo)
Ernest with his mother, brother, and children on the steps of the Jackson family home at 102 E. Main St. in Abingdon (1923). Click on the camera icon, then "mouse over" the faces8
The webpage , Jackson Papers - Vestris Index, maintained by Rev. Jackson's grandson, Ramon Jackson, holds considerable information about the sinking of the Vestris on Nov. 12, 1928. The website includes original documents pertaining to the surviving children's efforts to learn about their parent's final hours. There is also testimony from court proceedings that followed the accident.

Family

Jannette Beazley d. 12 Nov 1928
Children
  • Ernestine Beazley Jackson9 (3 Nov 1903 - 26 Jan 1904)
  • Mary Catherine Jackson9 (3 Nov 1903 - 24 Jan 1904)
  • Elizabeth Byars Jackson9 (25 Dec 1904 - 3 Dec 1999)
  • James Ernest Jackson9 (8 Apr 1906 - Aug 1972)
  • Judson Gordon Jackson9 (31 Jan 1908 - 9 Feb 2005)
  • Virginia Frances Jackson9 (13 May 1909 - Jan 1982)
  • Stephen Pomeroy Jackson9 (27 Feb 1911 - 29 Jul 1996)
  • Carey Boughan Jackson9 (1 Nov 1913 - 12 Nov 1928)
Last Edited13 Oct 2012

Citations

  1. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 733.
  2. [S156] Stephen A. Jackson household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon, ED 92, p. 23A (stamped), dwelling 303, family 337. Jan. 2005, image 45 of 47. Enumeration includes: Stephen A. Jackson, 27, "general merchandise", b. VA; May _ E., 28, wife, keeping house, b. VA; Ernest A., son, 2, b. VA; also a boarder and 2 servants.
  3. [S1526] Jane Jackson Kimble (transcriber), "Jackson Ledger - 1887 by P.A. Jackson", Jackson Family Genealogy (http://www.jacksonfamilygenealogy.com/pages/… : viewed Jul. 2006). Data from p. 53.
  4. [S2652] Ramon Jackson, "Jackson family," e-mail to D. Powell, 13 May 2011. Ramon is the grandson of Ernest Alonzo Jackson and holds many of the family papers.
  5. [S2634] Jane Jackson Kimble, "Descendants", Jackson Family Genealogy (http://www.jacksonfamilygenealogy.com : Apr 2011). The marriage date is cited to Essex Co., VA Marriage Register Book 1:147 which states that EA Jackson son of S.A. Jackson and Mary Ernest was 25, single, born in Washington Co., Virginia and was a resident of Bahia, Brazil where he was a missionary. J. Beazley daughter of James Beazley and Catharine Boughan was 32, single, born in Essex County.
  6. [S2636] "Jackson Vestris Papers", Ramon Jackson, Ships and Places (http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/rj/vestris/jpvi.htm : Apr 2011).
  7. [S3014] Family data, Minter Jackson and wives, The Holy Bible, original held in 2012 by Smyth Co. Virginia Genealogical Society, digitized online at http://smythcountygs.org/Family_Bibles.html. Death records page (3rd entry in right column) reads: Earnest Alonzo Jackson [and] Jaenette [sic] Beasley Jackson [and] Cary Jackson _____ in the S.S. Vestris Nov 12th 1928.
  8. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Ramon Jackson.
  9. [S2634] Jane Jackson Kimble, "Descendants", Jackson Family Genealogy (http://www.jacksonfamilygenealogy.com : Apr 2011).