Capt. John Jerrison

I represent John Jerrison. I lived in the Escambia River District, which included both banks of the Escambia River from the Alabama line into present day Santa Rosa County, about 25-40 miles north of Pensacola as it existed in 1820. My household was part of an Anglo-American population that settled and farmed land in Spanish territory without permission of the Spanish government, but which was tolerated because it supplied Pensacola with produce. At the time of the 1820 census of the Escambia River District, I was 40 years old and married to Jane Jerrison. We had 6 children between 1 and 18 years old, and our household included one enslaved Black person. We had a moderate-sized farm with cattle and hogs. I was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Territorial Governor in 1826 and later served as Mayor of Pensacola. I am buried in St. Michael’s cemetery.