JACKSON, WILLIAM (1832-89) was the son of Samuel Jackson, of Green Hammerton, Yorkshire. At the opening of the Waikato war he was farming at Papakura. He at once volunteered for service, and distinguished himself in repelling an attack on Ring's redoubt at Wairoa, then only partially built. He was then authorised to raise a company of 60 men for the Forest Rangers (Jul 1863), and by the end of the year they were in the field scouring the Wairoa forest and the Hunua ranges. He was present at Mauku (Sep 1863) and on Dec 14 his (No. 1) company surprised a strong body of Maori in a gorge near the source of the Wairoa, and killed eight of them.

The Rangers being reorganised, Jackson raised a fresh company which was attached to the 2nd Waikato Regiment and was actively engaged throughout 1864, being present at Waiari (11 Feb) and Orakau (Mar-Apr). For these services Jackson was thanked and promoted major. When hostilities ceased he settled down on a military grant. Though there was no further fighting, conditions were so uneasy that Jackson raised two troops of volunteer cavalry (one at Te Awamutu), of which he had command for some years.

In 1872 he was elected M.H.R. for Waikato, which he represented to 1875. In 1887 he was again elected to Parliament, this time for Waipa, which he represented to the time of his death (29 Sep 1889). He was Government whip during three sessions. Jackson devoted much energy while in Parliament to securing for the Forest Rangers and Nixon's men the privileges granted to others who served in the war.

Gudgeon (p); Cowan, i (p), and in N.Z. Railways Magazine, 1 Feb, 1936 (p); Parltry Record; N.Z. Herald, 30 Sep, 1 Oct 1889.

Reference: Volume 1, page 233

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