Francis Jackson (abolitionist)

Francis Jackson (1789–1861) was an abolitionist in Boston, Massachusetts. He was affiliated with the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, the American Anti-Slavery Society and the Boston Vigilance Committee. He also worked for the South Cove Corporation, filling in land in Boston's South End in the 1830s.

Jackson was born in Newton, Massachusetts to Timothy Jackson (1756–1814), who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later built the Jackson Homestead in Newton. Siblings included Edmund Jackson, George Jackson, Stephen Jackson, Lucretia Jackson, and politician William Jackson, who was also against slavery.

Francis Jackson served on the Boston City Council in 1823–1824 (common council, Ward 12) and 1826 (alderman). In 1832 he held the position of "Land Commissioner" for the city of Boston. He lived on Washington Street (c. 1823), Tremont Street (c. 1832) and Hollis Street (c. 1848–1861).

He worked for the South Cove Corporation c. 1833–1840. In Boston "by 1830 the population had increased so much that it was felt that the time had come when more room was needed, and soon afterwards the first grand real estate enterprise was inaugurated by the filling up of the South Cove. The company was chartered Jan. 31st, 1833, and $415,000 was subscribed. The work was begun May 3d, 1834, under the management of Mr. Francis Jackson, and finished in November 1837. Seventy-seven acres of good land were thus added."

As an abolitionist, Jackson assisted fugitive slaves: "he sheltered many in a room of his house, at Number 31 Hollis Street." He was involved with the trial of Anthony Burns in 1854. In 1854 and 1856 he "was called upon to preside" over the New England Anti-Slavery Convention held at the Melodeon.

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