Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-01-27
Gen. jackson In Boyhood.


In passing through Anderson district, some
years since, | heard Mrs. Stephenson, vene-
rable matron, who had been the youthful ac-
qnain,ance of Gen. Andrew Jackson during the |
revolutionary war. | was induced by curios- !
ty, as well as respect for the character of this
estimablc old lady, to visit one who had been
the companion of our illustrious Ex-Presidcnt,
in the days of his boyhood and obscurity. ]
found Mrs. Stephenson all that she had been
represented to bean intelligent, kind heart
ed and fine looking old matron full of conversa-
ton and anecdotes Of the "old war" She was
born in the neighborhood of the Waxsaws, in
Leicester district S. c. and there grew up with
the future "hero of New Orleans" The mo-
,her OF Andrew jackson, and her three sons,
were well known to Mrs. Stephenson. Andrew
was the youngest, and about her own age.
They were sent to the same school, and their
parents lived very near to each other THETA
ther of Gen. jackson died before Mrs. Stephen
sls,s recollection, and shortly after his settle
ment in South Carolina. lie and his wife were
both from Ireland. At the commencement of
the revolutionary struggle in South Carolina,
Andrew was going to grammar school, kept in
the meeting house of Waxsaw neighborhood.
As the contest grew warm the school was dis
continued, and the meeting house burnt down.
In the mean time, one of Andrews brothers
died, and the other entered the services of his
country. During the war this other brother
also died with the small poX.
The Waxsaw neighborhoVd, at one period of
the revolution, was the seat OF war III the South
crn country, and was laid almost entirely de So
| late, and left without inhabitants. 1t was du-
ring this distressing period that Andrew him
jpincd the army. The particulars of his ser
vices were unknown to Mrs. Stephenson. She
understood however, that he was taken priso-
ner by the British, and heard that he had re.
ccivcd a blow from an officer with his sword
for not performing some menial office during
his imprisonment. There were two cousins o
! Andrews in the army with him. One Of then
was killed and the other taken prisoner
| w nl'st prisoner Ol war III IIldTlCslOil lc wa
taken sick, and his aunt Mrs. Jackson lost he
life in attempting to visit him. she fell vic
m to the climate and sorrow, and her nephew
soon followed. This left Andrew without re
Iaton on this side of the Alantic--a boy ar,
nimosta stranger in new country. The lii
tie property which his family possessed ha
been plundered and destroyed.
When the country was restored TO peace, h
found himself in no very agreeable situation
destitute OF home, relations, friends and me
ncy. Under these circumstances, he made tn
house of Mr.. White his home. White wa
the uncle of Mrs. Stephenson, and saddler
trade. Andrew remained with him twelve c
eighteen months, and during that time assstc
him IN working at his trade. What progrcs
the future President ofthe United States MAD
in his humble but respectable occupation,
not known. But the fact OF his being thus el
gagged for that length of time is well known
Mrs. Stephenson. Becoming tired of the bus
ness o. making saddles, and finding an opport,
nifty of doing better, he left Mr.. Whites an
went TO North Carolina, where he aiterwal
commenced the study Of law, and was ADM
ted to the bar.