Wesley Jackson (also known as William Wesley Jackson) is my earliest confirmed JACKSON ancestor. According to his grave marker at the St. James Union AME Church, he was born on 11 July, 1811 and he died on 11 March, 1877. As of now, his parents are unknown.

According to the census records for 1850/60/70, Wesley was a farmer who lived most of his life in Northwest Fork Hundred in Sussex Co., DE. Northwest Fork is not near the current Indian River community but is, instead, just north of the town of Seaford (and the headwaters of the Nanticoke River) on the Maryland border.

Based on these census records we also know that Wesley's wife was named Elizabeth. The death certificate for her son, William, lists her maiden name as PALMER.

Elizabeth Jackson is buried at the Indian Mission Church cemetery in Sussex Co. Her grave marker lists her birthdate as 6 January, 1820 and her death date as 6 January 1896. It is interesting that Elizabeth chose to be buried at Indian Mission cemetery instead of at the St. James Church with her husband. This suggests that Elizabeth (and her family?) may have had close ties to the Indian River community, despite living in Northwest Fork.

Based on the birthdate of their first child, Wesley and Elizabeth were probably married sometime before 1840.

Wesley and Elizabeth had the following children: