Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Jackson, John Edward

by Gordon Goodwin

JACKSON, JOHN EDWARD (1805–1891), antiquary, born on 12 Nov. 1805, was second son of James Jackson, banker, of Doncaster, by Henrietta Priscilla, second daughter of Freeman Bower. Charles Jackson (1809–1882) [q. v.] was a younger brother. John matriculated at Oxford from Brasenose College on 9 April 1823, graduated B.A. with second-class classical honours in 1827, and proceeded M.A. in 1830 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, ii. 736). In 1845 he became rector of Leigh Delamere-with-Sevington, Wiltshire, and in 1846 vicar of Norton Coleparle in the same county. He was also rural dean and honorary canon of Bristol (1855). Jackson, who was F.S.A., was librarian to the Marquis of Bath, and arranged and indexed the bulk of the manuscripts at Longleat (Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. p. 180, 4th Rep. p. 227). He died in March 1891.

Jackson was a careful writer on antiquarian topics, and was always ready to aid fellow-students. His works are:

1. ‘The History of Grittleton, co. Wilts,’ 4to, 1843, for Wilts Topographical Society.
2. ‘A Guide to Farleigh-Hungerford, co. Somerset,’ 8vo, Taunton, 1853 (1860, 1879).
3. ‘History of the ruined Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Doncaster,’ 4to, London, 1853.
4. ‘Maud Heath's Causey,’ 4to, Devizes, 1854.
5. ‘Murder of H. Long, Esq., A.D. 1594,’ 8vo, Devizes, 1854.
6. ‘Kingston House, Bradford,’ 4to, Devizes, 1854.
7. ‘History and Description of St. George's Church at Doncaster,’ 4to, London, 1855.
8. ‘On the Hungerford Chapels in Salisbury Cathedral,’ 4to, Devizes, 1855. 9. ‘A List of Wiltshire Sheriffs,’ 4to, Devizes, 1856. 10. ‘History of Longleat,’ 8vo, Devizes, 1857. 11. ‘The History of Kington St. Michael, co. Wilts,’ 4to, Devizes, 1857. 12. ‘The History of the Priory of Monkton Farley, Wilts,’ 4to, Devizes, 1857. 13. ‘Swindon and its Neighbourhood,’ 4to, Devizes, 1861. 14. ‘Malmesbury,’ 4to, Devizes, 1863. 15. ‘Devizes,’ 4to, Devizes, 1864. 16. ‘The Sheriffs' Turn, Wilts, A.D. 1439,’ 4to, Devizes, 1872. Jackson also edited for the Wiltshire Archæological and Natural History Society the ‘Wiltshire Topographical Collection’ of John Aubrey, 4to, 1862; Leland's ‘Journey through Wiltshire,’ 4to (1875?); and for the Roxburghe Club the ‘Glastonbury Inquisition of A.D. 1189, called “Liber Henrici de Soliaco,”’ 4to, 1882. He was an active contributor to the ‘Wiltshire Archæological Magazine,’ in which appeared his valuable monographs on ‘Charles, Lord Stourton, and the Murder of the Hartgills, January 1557,’ 1864; ‘Ambresbury Monastery,’ 1866; ‘Ancient Chapels in Wilts,’ 1867; and ‘Rowley, alias Wittenham, co. Wilts,’ 1872, reissued separately.

   [Athenæum, 14 March 1891, p. 352; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1890; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Foster's Yorkshire Pedigrees, vol. i.]

   G. G.