Person:Martha Randolph (3)

Per oral history of C. Bruce Lee, she lived at 220 or 221 Whiton Street, Jersey City, Hudson, NJ.

1865 NJ State Census fails to show a Martha Jackson or Martha Randolph.

1870, 1871, and 1872 Jersey City Directories fail to show any matches for Martha Jackson or Martha Randolph.

1870 US Census (NY, NY Co, 10th ED, 15th Ward, p.24), Charles Jackson, 23, mulatto, b. VA, occupation cook, could read and write, personal estate valued at $300; Martha Jackson, 47, mulatto, also b. VA, also cook, could not read or write. They were both living with James Slater, a hotel keeper (b. England).

1879-1880 Boyd’s Business Directory (Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties, NJ), fail to show a seamstress or dressmaker named Martha Randolph or Martha Jackson.

1880 US Census (NJ, Hudson, Jersey City, ED 36, sh 80D, ln 21), Charles 30, black, b. VA, both parents b. VA, worked as a cook. His mother Martha Jackson 61, bl, widow, b. VA, both parents b. VA. Also living with them, Emma Ripler 14, white, adopted daughter, b. VA, both parents b. VA. Unable to read the street name. Census was taken June 30, 1880.

1881 Gopsill’s Jersey City and Hoboken Directory, compiled & publ by Wm. H. Boyd, Wash, DC, p. 184, Jackson, Martha, widow John, 246 Pine; and Jackson, Charles K., cook, 246 Pine.

1882 Gopsill’s 1882 Jersey City and Hoboken Directory (year ending April 30, 1882), p. 178, Jackson, Martha, widow John, 246 Pine; p. 177, Jackson, Charles H., cook, 246 Pine.

1883 Gopsill’s 1883 Jersey City and Hoboken Directory (year ending April 30, 1883), p. 234, Jackson, Charles H., cook, 310 - 1st. No Martha, widow John.

1884 Gopsill’s 1883-4 Jersey City and Hoboken Directory, p. 230, Jackson, Charles K., caterer, 246 Pine. No Martha, widow John.

1885 New Jersey State Census, Martha Jackson is not living with Charles and his family in Jersey City. I believe she’d already died.

State of NJ Index of Wills, Inventories prior to 1901, no Charles or Martha Jackson in Hudson County.

1892 Hudson Co, NJ Index of Deeds, Liber 555, pg 38, dtd 6/11/1892: “This indenture made the eleventh day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety two between James Jackson, widower, of the City of New York in the County and State of New York of the first part. And Marth R. Jackson of the City of Jersey City in the County of Hudson and State of New Jersey of the second part. Witnesseth that the said partyof the first part for and in consideration of one Dollar ... hath given, granted, bargained, .... All that certain tract or parcel of land and premises herinafter .... and which on a map entitled “Map of Lafayette one mile from Jersey City Ferry Hudson County NJ 1806” made S. B. & D. E. Culver City Surveyors and duly filed in the office of the Clerk of Hudson County ... Beginning at a point on the Northerly side of Maple Street distant one hundred (100) feet Westerly from the Northwesterly corner of Maple and Whiton Streets and from thence rimming Northerly and parallel with Whiton Street ....being part of lot number thirty-two in black number thirteen (13) on said map being the same premises conveyed by the said Martha R. Jackson to the said James Jackson by deed dated September 2nd 1884.”

• • • I believe this is Martha’s son, James, formerly referred to as John Jackson 8/30/00 ***

8/11/03, This is not her son, but perhaps her grandson, named for his grandfather John Jackson.

• • • 1/23/07 This is NOT our Martha Jackson. There were two Martha Jacksons living in that part of Jersey City during this time period. **

1920 Hudson Co, NJ Surrogate’s Docket, Case 50760, Liber 114, Docket 26, pg 190, will pg 696, Martha R. Jackson, Will & Proofs dtd 6/28/1920, Qualification of Executrix (Annie Shaffer) Mar 28, 1921, Will Liber 117, pg 356. *** I will need to write the Hudson County Courthouse to have them send me a copy of the will and estate papers 8/30/00 *** This is the WRONG Martha Randolph.

5/5/03 Search of NJ Death certificates for 1896 - 1921 revealed no matches. Search of NYC Death index revealed one possible match: Martha Jackson d. 3/7/1883 at the age of 63 years, certificate no. 451257. Will order record to confirm. 7/30/03 - WRONG Martha Randolph - darnit! - lbl