John J.'Jack' English was born in Washington Co GA in 1810 the firstborn son of Rev. Sampson J. English and mother (unknown). He married in Houston Co in 1829 to Lavinia Wilkins b 1814 GA, moved to Houston (now Crawford) County by 1830. Likely moved to Marion (now Macon) Co in 1831 when his father did; he migrated by 1843 to Alabama, bought land in Coffee Co AL in 1848 where the family would remain to work the "English Farm". Wife Lavinia died Feb 1850 in Coffee county at age 36 after being ill for 6 days leaving John to raise thier children, he did not remarry.