Autographs
Impressive "Andrew Jackson" Free Frank Address Leaf to Lifelong Friend Robert I. Chester, Esq., Jackson, Tennessee
ANDREW JACKSON (1767-1845). Seventh President of the United States (1829"1837), a Politician and Army General who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814), and the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1815).
This fully intact high quality Postal Cover Address Leaf is "Free" Franked, "Free - Andrew Jackson" and addressed in Jackson's own hand to, "Robert I. Chester, Esq., Jackson, Madison County, West Tennessee," Choice Very Fine. This full Envelope Cover measures 5.5" x 3.5" when folded, well written upon a clean light tan period wove paper with a light Circular Red "WASHINGTON CITY- FEB 15" (no year) Postmark and Stamped with a Red "FREE" under Jackson's signature. There is a further Docket along the right side edge which affects the "n" in "Jackson." One address panel seal tears on the blank verso from when opened, which does not touch either the Free frank or address.
Robert I. Chester, Esq., of Jackson, Madison County, West Tennessee, was a life-long Democrat, having been an intimate friend of General Andrew Jackson, and having married the latter's niece, youngest daughter of Robert Hayes. Chester also served as a Quartermaster during the War of 1812 from Tennessee, thus likely knew General Andrew Jackson well. This "Free" franked, nicely penned, scarce Signed "Andrew Jackson" Free Frank Address Leaf with the massive signature across the top portion measuring over 3.5" long.
Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II.
Col. Robert Chester was born in Carlisle, Penn., July 81, 1793. He was reared at Jonesboro, East Tenn., and was educated at the "old field" schools. He served in the war of 1812 as Quartermaster of the Third Tennessee Regiment, being mustered in at Knoxville, October 14, 1814.
In 1816 he began merchandising, and in 1819 engaged in the tobacco business, in which he lost a fortune. In 1822 he was surveyor of Smith County. From 1824 to 1830 he was a merchant of Jackson, and from 1825 to 1833 was postmaster of the town.
In 1835 he went to Texas, where he was appointed a colonel by Gov. Houston in the Texan revolution, but the victory of San Jacinto prevented further proceeding. He returned to Jackson in 1836, and was reappointed postmaster and appointed registrar of the western land district, and has been engaged in the land business much of the time since. In 1837 he was appointed by President Van Buren United States as Marshal for the Western district, and served with one or more intermissions until 1861 - for sixteen years.
He lost heavily during the American Civil War in slaves and other property. He was elected to the Legislature in 1870 and re-elected in 1872, and has been a life-long Democrat, having been an intimate friend of General Andrew Jackson, and having married the latter's niece, youngest daughter of Robert Hayes.
In 1884 he was one of the Tennessee electors. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge since 1817, and is a Knight Templar. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Hayes, by whom he had seven children: Mary Jane, John, Robert Hayes, Martha Butler, William Butler, Andrew Jackson and Samuel Hayes. His wife having died, Col. Chester married Mrs. Jane P. Donelson in 1855.
During the late war his four sons served in the Confederate Army with conspicuous gallantry. Col. Chester has led a remarkable life, full of honor, usefulness, enterprise, benevolence and manhood, and has the fullest confidence and respect of all who know him. The great State has no better citizen. [Goodspeed's History of TN (Madison County, pp. 797-917). Goodspeed, 1887]