Alfred Thomas Jackson 1842 - 1912
Related to Xavier through his mother Allison Klein
Alfred Thomas Jackson was born on the 7th of Jan 1842 to Alfred Jackson and Margaret Blackwell of Hoxton County Middlesex London. He was baptised on the 2nd of Feb 1842 in the Parish of St James Clerkenwell in the county of Middlesex.
His father worked as a Jeweler and it seems that Alfred wanted to follow in his footsteps, he was given a start in his trade at an established Workshop and Jewelers. As a young man (22 yrs) he had been employed as a Working Jeweler by George French, of 5 Newcastle Place Clerkenwell, who himself was a Wholesale Jeweler.
The Incident
Alfred had been working late one night (Wednesday 23rd of November 1864) along with fellow employee Francis Ploughman Roberts. Alfred had been working at his bench on the lower floor of Mr French’s workshop whilst Francis had been working upstairs at the time of the incident, it had been said that a neighbour had seen Alfred fleeing from the premises after a noise had been heard, no one had actually witnessed the occurrence in question. The witness Mr Edward Thomason who lived across the alley from the workshop said he heard a noise which caused him to look out of his window when he saw Alfred running away with something in his hand, as described in an article from Old Bailey Proceedings.
The Old Bailey document is a very detailed account of what was said to have happened. It states the outcome, includes witnesses from the event, police statements and further cross-examination. It also states that Alfred Thomas Jackson had received a good character from three witnesses, however, Alfred Thomas Jackson was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to penal servitude for life.
Transportation
Alfred was then held at Bedfordshire Gaol until his committal date which was in 1865. [3]
It was two long years before he was to be sent out to Australia on board the Corona [September 1866] he landed in Fredricktown Western Australia,[Dec 1866]. After his arrival in Fredricktown he was then transported to Fremantle Gaol where he lived out the term of his sentence. [4]
Fremantle Gaol
During this time, it has been said that he was involved in the building of St Mary’s Catholic Church on the corner of Pier St and St Georges Terrace.
He was able to achieve his Ticket of Leave on the 1st of Jan 1875, and his Certificate of Freedom was granted on the 22 Dec 1881.
Life as a free man in WA
Shortly after receiving his TOL he was to be married to Rosanah Julia Chan (aged 19) on 1st June 1876, Alfred Thomas Jackson was 32 years of age by this time. In his marriage to Rosanah he fathered 14 children, 13 of them growing to Adulthood. Rosanah came from a large family herself so this was not unusual in these times.After his release from servitude he worked as a Jeweller, Clockmaker and Goldsmith in partnership with Matthew Chan who was related to his wife, in the Geralton area than later on moving back into Albany to set up his own business/shop [7]
it also seems that Alfred was known as a composer and organist for the local church in Albany. He became an accomplished Goldsmith and Jeweller with his works being mentioned in books by Erickson Dorothy “Gold and Silversmithing in Western Australia”; Erickson Dorothy 1939 “In Search of Fred and Alfred: Convict Jewellers of Western Australia” ; Erickson Dorothy 1991 “Alfred Thomas Jackson biographical details & accomplishments of Jeweller and Convict”; Erickson Dorothy 1991 “Aspects of a Stylistic and Social Influence” Vol 1, Ch 1,vp34-38.[9]
Two of his pieces, a Brooch and a Ring, reside in the WA Museum
Later Life and a sad end.
However sadly later in his life when he got older he was suffering some pain and ailments of old age and hard work no doubt, he took his life on 3rd October 1912 at Plantagenet, Albany WA . It was a sad end to a life that started out so well then just for something that may have been accidental he was shipped off into what was very hard conditions for a young person away from their family. But it seems he was able to work of his sentence to be released a free man then to go one and become a well respected Goldsmith and Watchmaker as well as a community man going to church and playing the organ whilst there. This is indeed a long way from such small beginnings.
