At the age of eight Franklin Jackes moved with his family to New York City in 1812, however he returned to Europe to serve in the army of the Duke of Wellington as an apprentice baker during the Battle of Waterloo.

[1] In 1825, while walking along the harbour of Toronto Jackes encountered the wealthy miller Benjamin Thorne who was offering to sell his fleet of flour for five pounds, at such a low price because he believed it had sunk in Lake Ontario due to its extreme tardiness.

They remained married until his death and had eleven children, one of whom was Albert G. Jackes, a doctor in the army of William McDougall and member of the Council of Keewatin, in modern-day Manitoba.

[12] Franklin Jackes was a devout Reformer before and during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, and was a supporter and personal friend of William Lyon Mackenzie.

[13] He was a member of the Committee of 1 000 which asked Sir John Colborne to dissolve parliament in 1831,[13] and was elected to Toronto’s first city council to represent St. David's Ward in 1834.

[15] His eldest son, William Jackes, also served on the council of the Township of York and was elected deputy reeve for a total of six terms.