F is for Frederick Jackson of Anwick Lincolnshire

Our members are participating in the A-Z Blogging Challenge for 2018 with the theme People of My Place. Today's entry is from Linda Jackson.

Frederick JACKSON was born in 1841 in the village of Anwick in the Wapentake of Flaxwell, Kesteven, Lincolnshire. The youngest child of seven and the fourth son of Zephaniah Jackson (1805 –1876) and Susannah Cowlishaw (1798 – 1869), he had six known siblings, four of whom survived into adulthood.

Frederick was born into an era when farming was a harsh life. His father was a successful farmer of 22 acres, a grocer, draper and village Sub-Postmaster. Frederick from an early age was involved in the family business. In 1861, he was living and working on the farm.

In 1870 aged 29 years he married Elizabeth Bemrose (1848-1930) the daughter of Joseph Bemrose a master Carpenter from Welbourn, Leadenham, Lincs. The couple had six known children.

The 1871 census records them living with his widowed father and elder brother Elijah on Tattershall Road, Anwick, Frederick was a farmer of 11 acres. Following his father’s death in 1876, the post office, grocery, farm and also a blacksmith were being run by the brothers and Elizabeth. They are recorded in the 1885 Lincolnshire Kelly’s Directory.

“Elijah & Fredk. Shopkeepers, farmers & Post office”.

Fredrick was a hardworking man providing local services for the Anwick community. Life was comfortable for the family who employed a servant to support the household and its heavy workload.

However, Frederick's work ethic did get him into trouble. It was reported in the local newspaper, the Grantham Journal 12 July 1884, that instead of sending his children to school as required by law, he employed them to work on the farm. He was fined 5 shillings.

Frederick died in 1889 aged 48 years, leaving Elizabeth with six young children, a farm and post office. She ran the latter until her death in 1930. Whilst their lives were uneventful, they had an impact on the village, as illustrated in Elizabeth’s obituary. The following abstract is taken from the Grantham Journal 06 September 1930.

“Death of Postmistress – Mrs Elizabeth Jackson passed away last week, one of Anwick’s oldest and most respected inhabitants, aged 82, had been in charge of the Post Office at Anwick ever since its institution. For almost to the last she took and active part in the affairs connected with the mails. It was in 1870 she came to Anwick when she married the late Mr Frederick Jackson, one of her earliest recollections of the village was in connection with the Franco-Prussian war, for it was the habit to read the latest bulletins of the battles published in the weekly papers to the men of village, many of whom at that time were unable to read. Mr Jackson ran the shop in addition to his farm, was a business of much importance. For the people had almost perforce to obtain their weekly necessities here. The stone steps leading to the shop were worn away by the feet of the villagers testify to the brisk business once done”.

Frederick and Elizabeth JACKSON are buried in St Edith’s, Anwick, Lincolnshire