Chester County History Center - Halliday Jackson Collection

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  • Subject = Indians of North America--New York (State)

About This Collection

This collection contains 11 volumes of writings and additional manuscripts, ca. 1793-1818, composed or transcribed by Halliday Jackson. These manuscripts primarily relate to his observations on Seneca Native American life, some of which were later published in Civilization of the Indian Natives or, a Brief View of the Friendly Conduct of William Penn Towards Them in the Early Settlement of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Marcus T. C. Gould; New York: Isaac T. Hopper, 1830). Of Irish heritage, Halliday Jackson (August 31, 1771 - February 9, 1835) was a member of the Society of Friends who lived in New Garden, Pennsylvania and later moved to Darby, Pennsylvania. As a missionary, Jackson instructed on various pursuits. From 1798 to 1800 and at other times, he took part in Quaker missions to the Seneca Native Americans, which were organized by the Indian Committee of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. More specifically, between September 1 and October 4, 1806, Jackson traveled to Seneca settlements in western New York to inspect farms, fields, and mills that he and his fellow Quakers had earlier helped the Native Americans establish. In addition, while residing in Darby the 1820s, Jackson, a temperance advocate, served as secretary of the Darby Association for Discouraging the Unnecessary Use of Ardent Spirits. On March 18, 1801, Jackson married Jane Hough (May 23, 1775 - December 28, 1830) and together they had 12 children, including a son also named Halliday, who was a published author and poet. Following Jane’s death on June 13, 1833, Jackson married Ann P. Paschall (1792 - 1874), a Quaker minister born to Samuel and Mary Price Gibson of Darby. Halliday Jackson and his first wife are buried at Darby Friends Cemetery. The Chester County History Center also has two volumes of diaries kept by Halliday Jackson, 1793-1794 and 1810-1834. Other Halliday Jackson papers are at Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College (See: https://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/5182haja) and Haverford College Quaker and Special Collections (See: https://archives.tricolib.brynmawr.edu/resources/hcmc-950-101).
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Civilization of the Indian Natives … and a Narrative of the Proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Parts Adjacent … (part 1 of 2
Indians of North America--Missions, Jackson, Halliday, 1771-1835, Penn, William, 1644-1718, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Indian Committee, Society of Friends--Missions, Society of Friends--Indian affairs, Quakers--Relations with Indians, Seneca Indians, Indians of North America--New York (State)
A full transcription of the manuscript’s title page provides a summary of the contents of this volume: “Civilization of the Indian Natives Exhibiting a brief view of the friendly conduct of William Penn toward them in the early Settlement of Pennsylvania, the subsequent care of the Society of Friends in endeavouring to promote peace and friendship with them by Pacific Measures. And a Narrative of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania New Jersey and parts adjacent since the year 1795 in promoting their improvement and Gradual Civilization. Together with a sketch of the manners and customs of the Seneca Nation.” In his preface, Halliday Jackson expands on changes in perceptions of Native Americans by those interested in their history. He notes that the Native Americans had been seen as either romantic or cruel and barbaric, “but in this [manuscript] will be found the conciliating language of peace and mutual friendship and a disposition manifested on the part of the natives to … peaceably betake themselves to the innocent employments of the pastoral and agricultural Life.” An extended table of contents offers readers a section-by-section guide to the 23 parts of the first 200 pages of this manuscript. For example, Section 9: “Settlement and intercourse of friends among the Seneca Nation.” And Section 10: “Sketch of the manners customs and situation of the Seneca Indians as observed in the year 1798.” Topics often carry over from one section to the next. The second section of approximately 200 pages focus on the “Civilization of the Indian Natives” as observed by the Quakers who lived among them. Comments relate to the development and progress of agricultural pursuits, milling, the weaving of cloth, and other everyday activities. The final pages of “Civilization of the Indian Native …” are titled “Conclusion containing a recapitulation & some general remarks.”
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Civilization of the Indian Natives … and a Narrative of the Proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Parts Adjacent … (part 2 of 2)
Indians of North America--Missions, Jackson, Halliday, 1771-1835, Penn, William, 1644-1718, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Indian Committee, Society of Friends--Missions, Society of Friends--Indian affairs, Quakers--Relations with Indians, Seneca Indians, Indians of North America--New York (State)
A full transcription of the manuscript’s title page provides a summary of the contents of this volume: “Civilization of the Indian Natives Exhibiting a brief view of the friendly conduct of William Penn toward them in the early Settlement of Pennsylvania, the subsequent care of the Society of Friends in endeavouring to promote peace and friendship with them by Pacific Measures. And a Narrative of the proceedings of the Yearly Meeting of Friends of Pennsylvania New Jersey and parts adjacent since the year 1795 in promoting their improvement and Gradual Civilization. Together with a sketch of the manners and customs of the Seneca Nation.”
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Progress of Improvement in 1810
Quakers--Relations with Indians, Jackson, Halliday, 1771-1835, Seneca Indians, Indians of North America--New York (State)
The caption title on the first leaf of this manuscript cites just one year even though Halliday Jackson writes about his observations of the lives of members of the Native American Seneca tribe from 1810 to 1818. He notes how proud the women were of their progress in spinning and blanket making. Men were encouraged by the Quakers in their planting of seeds for growing grain. Additionally, they learned about salting pork, which they had not previously done. The Quakers promoted the education of Seneca children, including in the English language, and cautioned adults against the use of strong drink. In 1811, Jackson notes that the Native Americans started to use wagons to transport produce; hitherto, women had carried it on their backs. At one point, the Native Americans expressed their concern that the Quakers had sinister motives for their visits. Jackson writes otherwise, saying the Quakers were deeply interested in the welfare of the Seneca.
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