vital records sources
go to Mary Protheroe's page

Thomas was baptized at St. Sepulchre Church in London. That record says the family was living on Turnagain Lane, which was in an area just south of Clerkenwell in the Holborn neighborhood and almost a stone's throw from St. Sepulchre.

The "porch" of St. Sepulchre, which appears to be the main entrance, dates from the 15th century and would have been very familiar to several generations of the Jackson family.

By 1759 the Jacksons were living on Mutton Lane,1 where Thomas, Sr., opened a shop making and selling turned ebony and cut glass pieces with silver adornment.
     On 4 December 1765 Thomas, Jr., signed a turner's apprenticeship contract to serve under his father for seven years. His brother John did the same in 1769. For whatever reason, both boys went over the seven-year term before they were declared "free" to practice on their own in May 1777. They apparently took over the business when Thomas, Sr., died in 1788. 2

Thomas' apprentice agreement with his father has water damage, but it calls Thomas, Sr., a London Citizen and turner, meaning he had also gone through the apprentice system. Because Thomas, Jr., wasn't moving away from home, Thomas, Sr., only had to provide what he normally would for him, reference to that being "in consideration of the premises." It was common for an apprentice's parent to pay the master when they weren't related.

Mutton Lane was where the Jacksons lived and worked. They also had business interests in properties on Glass Court behind Mutton Lane, and Silver Street, later Turnmill Street, at the "foot" of Clerkenwell Green. These buildings were small, likely between two and three-stories, and probably built for houses and shops of craftsmen to begin with. Given that both turning and glass-cutting are attached to Thomas' name and the number of properties for which he was taxed, he must have had a large business. It's surely not a coincidence that he was associated with "Glass Court" and "Turnmill Street," but when these specific areas were developed with their associated craftsmen hasn't been found. A source, now lost, says that Thomas advertised "at the sign of the golden coffee mill."
     In The Medical Observer of June 1808,3 an article on "smelling bottles" says "Jackson the glassman of Mutton Lane, manufactures smelling bottles complete at one guinea a gross, about three-half-pence each." This probably was Thomas' brother John, who appears in London directories after Thomas, Jr., apparently retired. It still sheds light on the business they were in. Another source referring to advertisements says "Thomas Jackson of Clerkenwell, London, succeeded by Jackson & Sons (1768-1800), had a factory for making wickered bottles and cut smelling bottles." No specific source for this ad is given, which apparently included illustrations.4 The date span 1768-1800 is probably incorrect and is discussed in Thomas, Sr.'s, biography. Based on tax records, Thomas, Jr., owned the leases on properties in the Turnmill St./Mutton La. area and may have lived on a landlord's income rather than continuing with manufacturing. London directories suggest he left the business to John and his nephews in the first decade of the 19th century. Records show he was likely renting out properties before he retired. He left no will, so would have sold the leases by the time he died in 1826.
     Clarissa (Stoddart) Gooch, one of Thomas, Jr.'s, granddaughters, described him as "a fine, tall handsome man and had no stoop [she would have remembered him in his old age] and was also a religious man. In 1825 he thought of marrying a widow lady and took [her] sister Elizabeth to call on her, but his health declined & he changed his mind and in 1826 he died 75 years of age and a bright man."1 Clarissa also said that shortly before he died, he woke up from several days of unconsciousness and told her mother (Sarah (Jackson) Stoddart) that he had seen his deceased wife (Mary (Protheroe) Jackson) and a daughter who had died as a child. Mary told him Sarah would join them in two years, and that, at least, was true. After Mary died, Thomas lived with the Stoddarts at 61 Red Lion Street, and that's the street given for his residence when he was buried in one of the cemeteries in St. James parish. Despite searches in London parish registers, nothing has been found about his daughter who died young.

children of Thomas Jackson and Mary Protheroe:

Sarah b. 22 November 1771
unknown daughter b. after Sarah, died young

vital records sources: Thomas' birth and death dates are recorded in a family Bible. His birth and baptism dates are in the St. Sepulchre (London) parish register, his marriage date is in the St. Andrew, Holborn, parish register and his burial date is the St. James, Clerkenwell, parish register.

1. http://www.oldbaileyonline.org.uk/, Reference Number: t17590228-6, 28 Feb 1759.
2. Francis Buckley, A History of Old English Glass (1925), p. 130.
3. The Medical Observer, vol. 3, no. 9 (June 1808), p. 202.
4. Journal of the Society of Glass Technology vol. 17 (1933), p. 123.