The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1922-03-17
ANDREW JACKSON
Continued from Page Tvo.)

rivalry Tor contending states. is &C
knowledsed as our own"
Evidently the committee had had
some conclusive evidence as to
Jackson's birthplace furnished to
them whereupon they based that
statement. There Is still another
bit or secondary evidence to prove
that Jackson very well knew the
place OF his birth. In 1853 some
contention arose as to the place of
his birth. and the Lancaster Ledger
published an article on the subject.
The following paragraph from that
paper is to the point:
But the testimony rests not here.
Many years ago il was mooted
whether Gen. Jackson was born in
this state or just over the line in
North Carolina. Col James II.
Witherspoon, then prominent cltl-
zen OF this district and intimate
friend OF Jackson's addressed to him
letter OF inquiry as to his birth
place. The reply Of Gen. Jackson
was full and particular. He states
:hat he was born in the Waxhaws.
In South Carolina. on place be-
longing to Maj. Crawford. This let
ter is now In the hands OF James II.
Witherspoon. Esq. son OF the late
Col. James II. Witherspoon. to whom
It was addressed. Unfortunately.
Nj. Witherspoon 10 on a summer
tour among the highlands. and We
are consequently deprived OF the
pleasure OF laying it before our
readers
This letter is now in the library
OF congress-. and is cited by j. s
Bassett in his life OF Jackson
Perhaps this was the evidence up-
on which the committee Of the gen
eral assemb bly, based it's statement in
1920. Al any rate all OF Jackson's
statements are to the effect that he
WAS born in South Carolina on Rob
ert Crawfords plantation The
rules OF evidence permit a man to
testify as TO tn" time and place OF
his birth In certain circumstances
hearsay evidence as to the time of
child's birth is admissible hut not
hearsay evidence as to the place of
the child's birth There is no evil
dence within the reach OF the gen
eral Investigator to contradict Jack
son save that of several witnesses
who have given testimony from
hearsay and tradition that Jackson
was born at the house OF one George
McKemey. a relative. There is not
one single direct statement from
anyone that he or she knew OF his
or her own knowledge OF the place
this hearsay testimony was offered
after Jackson and all OF his elders
and contemporaries were dead
There is a tract OF land lying with
in the bounds OF North Carolina and
about three miles from the Craw-
ford place that belonged to George
Mckemey at the time OF Jackson's
birth, as shown by the public records
OF MecklenburG county. but that is
no proof that Jackson was born
McKemey's house, and the fact that
Mckemey owned that tract OF land
in 1867 is not sufficient proof that
he lived upon IL at the time OF
Jackson's birth, even admitting that
jackson was born in McKemey's
house. as claimed by this made-to-
order tradition
On the other hand. We have
statement by one OF Jackson's early
neighbors. who doubtless knew him
we'll from infancy to young man.
hood. when he went to Tennessee.
and who was considerably older than
Jackson. that he was born in South
Carolina. This was Gen William r.
Davie. who spent many years Of his
life in the neighborhood In which
Jackson was born and who was
some time governor OF North Caro-
INA. He was appealed to in 1873
by native OF Lancaster district then
residing in Charleston. who made
the following statement to Gen.
Davie:
- Much has been said here rela-
tive to the birthplace OF Gen. Jack
son. have stated that he is a ma
tive OF Lancaster. in this state"