According to her obituary, Hannah Bennett's mother died when she was an infant, and she was raised by her grandparents Moses Ellsworth, Sr., and Anna Marie Elizabeth Hinkle Ellsworth in Harrison Co, Virginia (West Virginia). They raised her in the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1798, Hannah Bennett's grandfather Moses Ellsworth had to write a marriage consent for her to marry William Jackson, stating "....whom I have raised from a child and therefore think I have the best rite to give her a way as her mother is dead and her father lives a great distance from this place."

William Jackson, age 21, and Hannah Bennett, age 18, married on 7 April 1798 in Clarksburg, Virginia (West Virginia). They had twelve children total, but two children Polly and John died young. In 1828, William (age 51) and Hannah (age 48) migrated along with their ten children (ages 6 through 29) to Salem (now Harlan) Township, Warren County, Ohio.

The 1850 census shows William (age 73) and Hannah (age 70) living in Warren Co, Ohio, with their orphaned grandchild Sarah Ellen (age 9), daughter of Elias and Hannah Collins Jackson. William's occupation was listed as farmer. Hannah died at age 75 years, 1 month, 2 days, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Jacob and Delilah Jackson.

The obituary of Mrs. Hannah Bennett Jackson is found in Bowling Green State University's Library Archives. The obit was transcribed and contributed by Jerry Gross.

--------Mrs. Hannah Bennett Jackson--------

Mrs. Hannah, wife of William Jackson and mother of Rev W. B. Jackson, of the Cincinnati conference, died at the residence of her son, Jacob Jackson, in Warren County, O., February 20, 1855, in the seventy-sixth year of her age. Her maiden name was Bennett; her mother was an Ellsworth, daughter of Moses Ellsworth, spoken of in the "Life of James Quinn," and called "the pious patriarch," of an "extensive pious and amiable family." She was born in Pendleton county, Va. and her mother died when she was an infant. She was taken and raised by her grandparents, in Harrison County, Va, where she was united in marriage with the husband who still survives. Hence she had the advantage of the pious instructions of her grandfather and mother Ellsworth and was early taught the precepts of the Gospel of Christ. She sought salvation in the means of grace, and powerfully converted to God, while engaged in secret prayer. She then labored for the good of others and soon her husband was brought up to knowledge of the truth, and she with her husband united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was faithful while she lived. She was zealous, patient and persevering in her Christian duties; she loved all the means of grace, especially those of secret prayer, love-feast, and class meetings, and as long as health permitted she was found in the house of God; she was one of those quiet Christians who never shouted, yet took great delight and found much consolation in singing the songs of Zion - there was great melody in her voice; she had many of our best hymns and sweetest spiritual songs committed to memory and could always find something appropriate to sing to suit every condition of the Christian in this life. One of those sweet spiritual songs that she used to sing frequently, while tears would bedew her cheeks, that seemed to express the true sentiments of her heart, is in part as follows:

"Come and taste along with me,
The weary pilgrim's consolation,
Boundless mercy, full and free,
The earnest of complete salvation.
Joy and peace in Christ I find,
My heart to him is all resigned;
The fullness of his power I prove,
And all my soul dissolves in love.
Jesus is the pilgrim's portion;
Love is boundless like the ocean.
When the world or flesh would rise,
And strive to draw me from my Savior,
Strangers slight or friends despise,
I then more highly prize his favor.
Friends believe me when I tell,
If Christ is present all is well.
The world and flesh in rain arise.
I all their efforts can despise.
In the world I've tribulation
But in Christ sweet consolation.
When I'm in the house of prayer,
I find him in the congregation;
Music sweet unto my ear,
Is the glad sound of free salvation.
When I join to sing his praise,
My heart in holy rapture raise;
I view Immanuel's land afar,
And shout and wish my spirit there;
Glory, honor, and salvation,
What I feel is past expression."

She loved and read the Bible much, and was familiar with its teachings. She was sound in Methodist theory. She taught her children, aided by her husband, both by precept and example, to seek a home in heaven, and she labored not in vain. She lived to see all her children happily converted to God, but one. She has seven children living, and four have passed into the spirit land. Her death was that of the righteous. May God bless and save all her posterity in heaven is my prayer. J. BOTKIN

Note: Because of the granddaughter, Hannah (Bennett) Jackson, it is known that a daughter of Moses and Anna Marie (Hinkel) Ellsworth was married to a Bennett. It is not known if her mother was a Barbara or a Hannah Ellsworth. However, it is a proven fact that her grandparents Moses Ellsworth, Sr. and Anna Marie (Hinkel) Ellsworth contributed to the cause of American Independence by providing supplies to the American soldiers in the Revolutionary War. It is not yet proven that Moses Ellsworth, Sr. served as a soldier in this war.