The Jackmans, the blacksmiths of North Bucks

by Geoff Kirk

The first Jackman that can be positively traced in Winslow, is a William Jackman who was born in Tingewick in about 1749.   He is mentioned as the nephew of Christopher Bigg in the latter's will of 1775, under which he inherited a messuage in Sheep Street with a blacksmith's shop which he already occupied, probably near The Bell. William was actually the nephew of Christopher Bigg's wife Mary, nee Reeves, sister of William's mother Elizabeth (who was buried at Winslow on 28 March 1788). Elizabeth and her husband Hemens Jackman inherited the other property of Mary and Christopher Bigg in Sheep Street. William's parents and grandparents had originated from Stratton Audley, just over the border in Oxfordshire. William married Elizabeth Adams of Swanbourne on 4 June 1771 at Winslow. The Adams family can be traced back to the late 1600s in Swanbourne. Elizabeth had been baptised at Swanbourne on 8 Oct 1747.  At this time the name was spelt Jakeman. William and Elizabeth had 12 children between 1772 and 1791. The children were as follows:

• John, born c. 1772 in Winslow, married Mary Norman of East Claydon on 9 Sep 1796 in Winslow. Died in Oct 1834.
• William, born c. 1773 in Winslow, died 1847 in Winslow. William became a tailor and did not follow the family trade of blacksmith.    It became clear why this happened when studying the Posse Comitatus of 1798, where William is described as "rather deformed". Will of William Jackman, 1847.
• Thomas, born c. 1775 in Winslow, married Lucy Lander in 1804.
• Mary, born c. 1777 in Winslow
• Elizabeth, born c. 1779 in Winslow, married Edward Jarvis; died before 1847
• Ann, born c. 1780 in Winslow. She predeceased her brother William, whose will refers to his being administrator of her estate.
• Martha, born c. 1783 in Winslow, died 1783 in Winslow
• Rebecca, born c. 1783 (twin sister of Martha) died 1789 in Winslow
• Edward, born c. 1784 in Winslow. He is mentioned as "Emmens Jackman" in the will of his brother William.
• Martha, born c. 1787 in Winslow, married George Clarke of Loughton at Loughton on 26 April 1813
• Rebecca, born 1789 in Winslow.
• Emmens, born c 1791 in Winslow.

John Jackman followed in his father William's footsteps and became a blacksmith in Winslow. John & Mary produced 12 children between 1794 & 1817. Winslow was by now over-endowed with blacksmiths and family members moved to other villages for employment. The children were as follows:

• John, born c. 1794 in Winslow
• Elizabeth, born c. 1797 in Winslow
• William, born c. 1800 in Winslow, married Ann Marriott 21 Jan 1822 in Thornborough, then when Ann died, married Catherine Claridge of North Newington on 14 May 1837 at Weedon Lois. William moved to Thornborough to carry on his trade as blacksmith.   His son William was blacksmith at Dadford; William's son John was blacksmith at Chackmore; John's youngest child Catherine Beatrice MacKenzie Jackman married Luis Chandos Francis Morgan-Temple, the Master of Kinloss - grandson of the 3rd Duke of Buckingham - in 1921 at Stowe. George Jackman, another son of William of Thornborough, was blacksmith at Whaddon. Alfred Claridge Jackman, another son, was blacksmith at Haversham and Newport Pagnell. Another son, John Jackman, was blacksmith at Weedon. Another grandson of William of Winslow, John Jackman Allen, became the blacksmith of Foscott. George Andrew Jackman, son of William of Dadford, became the blacksmith at Westbury and Preston Bissett.
• Mary Ann, born 1802 in Winslow. (Presumed died before 1816)
• Susanna, born c. 1803 in Winslow. She is mentioned as "Susan Jackman" in her uncle William's will; she had a son Henry
• Hannah, born c. 1804 in Winslow, married Thomas Viccars at Drayton Parslow on 2 January 1826. Hannah died in 1888 in Drayton Parslow. Their second child was Jane Viccars who later became the wife of John Kirk of Drayton Parslow.
• Rebecca, born c. 1806 in Winslow, died January 1807 in Winslow
• Caroline, born 24 October, 1807 in Winslow, died December 1808
• Martha, born 20 July, 1811 in Winslow
• Sophia, born c. 1813 in Winslow
• Mary Ann, born c. 1816 in Winslow
• Edward, born c. 1817 in Winslow, married Hannah ....... of Whaddon. Blacksmith, living at Albert Place, Winslow, in 1871. In the 1841 census he was living next to the Bell with his mother.

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According to Arthur Clear, the Jackmans' blacksmith's shop until the early 19th century was opposite the gates of Winslow Hall.