Thomas Jefferson's Mother often visited St Paul's
Church in Shadwell where she lived as a girl

The East End of London has strong historic connections with America. The first colonists to settle the New World came from the East End beginning their voyage from Blackwall, the Mother of Thomas Jefferson, one of America's greatest Presidents, was raised in Shadwell, one of the poorest areas of East London, John Quincy Adams, 6th President of America, his greatest grandparents emigrated from the East End of London to Massachusetts in 1633, the First Liberty Bell was cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry which still exists to this day.

Thomas Jefferson's Grandfather was Isham Randolph, Virginia's Colonist Agent in London, on one of his many trips over here, he met with Jane Rogers, they fell in love and were married at Whitechapel Parish on the 25th of July 1717, they moved to his house in 'Shakespeares Walk', Shadwell, where their first child Jane Randolph was born, she was baptised in 1720 at St Paul's Church, Shadwell, it later became known as the 'Sea Captain's Church' because of 75 sea Captains buried there, Captain Cook's son received his baptism there.

In 1735, Jane would have been 15 when the family moved to Virginia, they settled on Isham's plantation which they had aptly named 'Shadwell', soon after their arrival, Jane Randolph was introduced to Peter Jefferson, whom she married in 1739, their third of ten children, Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743, from the humble beginnings rose the Man to become one of America's greatest of Presidents, his works much lauded to this day. (see below).

By the 17th Century, the district of Stepney had became a centre of industry for marine roperies, tan yards, breweries, wharves, smiths and numerous taverns, by 1674 most of its 8000 inhabitants were mariners, watermen or lightermen. In 1699, Thomas Neale, famous for constructing St Paul's Chapel in 1656, petitioned Parliament for a new Parish to be created, soon after, Shadwell was established as the first Parish since Whitechapel in 1338, and became a Parish of St. Dunstans Stepney.

The small Church interior of St. Paul's in the Highway (left) has changed little since Thomas Jefferson visited there, but the exterior of the Church was extensively re-styled 1817-1821 and a Baroque tower added, compare the pictures of the old Church above with the modern Church today (right). St. Pauls Church is accessed from 'The Highway' E.1 It is a shortwalk from Shadwell Underground Station .
The many Seamen who met there smoked clay pipes, many were uncovered during excavations in the 1980s. Today the Church crypt houses an infant School and its rear a modern conversion of Luxury dwellings, approached via a gate and stairs, which were created during the London's Docklands 'LDDC' development of Shadwell Basin and Wapping which were part of the old 1805 London Docks.

Despite a remarkable history, Parts of Shadwell, although stll suffering from neglect are thankfully the poverty of the past receiving huge investment now, the many visable signs of deprivation are being eradicated through new developments, but Local Authorities have been slow to invest in their old Council Housing Blocks, leaving an eyesore that needs positive attention as soon as possible. The Tower of London is just a few minutes walk from the proud history of Shadwell, a Genealogy centre would be a good idea in this area so that visitors are able to trace their family roots. learn more about Shadwell.

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