The Grave Confusion about Elizabeth Jackson

Although we are still several months away from mother's day, I think this is a perfect moment to recognize a kind woman and mother who was lost to time. As most are likely familiar with, the seventh president of the United States was a man named Andrew Jackson, a fairly well-famed president, however, his not so well-known mother is actually commemorated right here in front of the Charleston building I sit in now.



Elizabeth Hutchinson Jackson immigrated to the not-yet United States of America from Carrickfergus, Ireland; there to escape the widespread persecution of Protestants at the time. She traveled here married to Andrew Jackson Sr., her husband to join with three of her other sisters and their husbands.

Unexpectedly, several years later, her husband passed away on the border of North and South Carolina merely three weeks before the famed soon-to-be president was born. She spent the next thirteen years raising her youngest son, and his two older brothers on her sister's Crawford Plantation, where they were always guests. This would play a huge role on both her and her son in his future career.

At just thirteen years of age, the Massacre at Waxhaw (located a few miles from the family), prompted two of the Jackson boys to join the continental Army as scouts. At this time, the few wounded who had not been killed during this battle were taken to a local church where Ms. Jackson was a key caretaker in nursing him back to health.

While on a scouting mission shortly after this, Andrew Jackson and his brother were taken prisoner by the British Cavalry, where they were both seriously injured. Only Elizabeth's efforts would save the lives of the future president and five other captives. Through a prisoner exchanged she orchestrated, Andrew Jackson, his brother, and several other prisoners of war were freed, though Andrew's brother died shortly upon returning home.

Even after this terrible loss, she still continued to try and provide as much comfort and aid to those in need. Elizabeth continued on to travel with several other local women to care for the smallpox and illness-ridden prisoners of war located in Charleston Harbor, and there she spent her final moments, before passing of one of the many diseases she worked to treat.


Her final resting place is forever unknown, although a beautiful memorial to her hard work and selfless life was moved into the center of the College of Charleston campus and city. Here lies her memory.