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is further believed to have been contiguous with Laurel Wood, the plantation of JFH Claiborne.
The forced sales were necessitated by judgments against Jackson in favor of nine different parties, totally $36,727. The largest of these was in the amount of $28,980, owing to W. R. Adams.9
The judgments constituted a great deal of money in 1861, inviting speculation of what they might have represented. One consideration might include the cost of rebuilding after the fire. Another would be the place near New Orleans with a price of $30,000, which Samuel had mentioned in his letter of May 22, 1857.
One of the smaller claims, in favor of Asa Russ, was only in the amount of $ 1,544. It is mentioned here because in point of fact, it was the Russ name that led to the legal description of the site of the residence of the Jackson family. This came about through a researching of the various transfers of that site which legend held was the site of Jackson?s house. After having found the index of the appropriate transfers, it was a disappointment to find that none of the entries predated 1870. Nonetheless, the Russ name stood out and proved to be the key to certain identification. It was an entry that detailed a transfer to Simpronius Russ by Roderick Seal for $2,000 on May 14, 1872.
It is possible that the Russ family was reacquiring real estate that it had once sold to Jackson, Jr. More importantly, it was in the tracing backward from Russ to Seal that led to the description of the sheriffs sale of 1861.
The Legend Revisited
After considering the extant documents and the events depicted in family letters, it may be well to reconsider the legend and its meaning. To some, it may be compelling to think that there were two stories, but one cannot be unaware that they are in fact strikingly parallel. The sequence of events in each case consists of construction, destruction by fire, and finally rebuilding. The protagonist in each case is named Andrew Jackson, and even the builder is Mr. Johnson.
Somehow, over the years, a few facts were modified, and the span of time allowed for a preference to be exerted over what had been recorded. After all, it would have been wonderful for the hero of New Orleans, the seventh president of the United States, to have blessed Hancock County with his presence.
Though not the president, Andrew Jr. still must have been welcomed into the community. It is evident that he was extended large amounts of credit; he was titled ?Major? and
9	This would have been Robert W. Adams and Co., of New Orleans, to whom Claiborne had referred Jackson for ?groceries? in a letter of December 3, 1856. Others awarded lesser amounts included Asa Russ, Mitchell, and John Martin. It is speculated that the latter, who owned a commercial pier at the Bay of St. Louis, may have built the 600-foot long pier mentioned by Sarah.