The Jackson/ Reader Family

In the late 1700’s, a Native American was enslaved by an English colonist in Simsbury, CT. Considered unsatisfactory as a servant, his enslaver did what was considered the common solution for ridding the community of "Undesirable Indians." They intoxicated him, then sent him to the West Indies (Cuba, Jamaica, or Bermuda) in exchange for an African. That African they received in exchange was Peter Jackson.

Peter Jackson would eventually marry and have 7 kids, all of whom would spend most of their lives in that area. Peter would die in 1819, buried at Simsbury Cemetery.

In 1835, my hometown of Bloomfield, CT was incorporated... portions of the town made up of areas that were formerly Simsbury. While researching Civil War veterans in Bloomfield, I came across Cornelius Reader, the grandson of Peter Jackson. Cornelius fought with the 29th Connecticut Colored Regiment and died while away at war.

I then came across George Reader, also the grandson of Peter Jackson. George also served in the Civil War, fighting with the 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment and also dying while away at war.

I then came across Erastus Jackson, also the grandson of Peter Jackson. Erastus also served in the Civil War, fighting with the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Colored Regiment and also dying while away at war.

Here I stand at the gravestone of a Native of Africa... his lineage determined to show they were more than just objects to be traded like how their grandfather was treated... yet their story has never been told. Don't worry... I plan to tell it.