Jesse was born on August 9th, 1841 and her baptism took place on August 29th, 1841 in Grahamstown. Jesse's father was John Phillip Camm and her mother was Charlotte Frances Lucas. Her paternal grandfather was Peter Camm and her paternal grandmother is <Unknown>. She had three brothers and three sisters, named William, John, Charles, Isabella, Charlotte and Sarah. She was the third youngest of the seven children.