You've spent dozens of hours as John Marston. You hunted down Bill Williamson in the dust of Mercer Station, crossed the river into Mexico to chase Javier Escuella, and finally cornered Dutch van der Linde on a snowy cliffside. Then, the rug gets pulled out. The Bureau of Investigation betrays you, and John goes down in a hail of gunfire at Beecher’s Hope.
It's one of the most gut-wrenching endings in gaming history.
But then the screen fades back in. You aren't John anymore. You’re Jack. He’s older, his voice is deeper, and he’s wearing his father’s hat. The immediate question most players have while standing over those three graves on the hill is: exactly when does RDR1 take place as Jack?
The Year is 1914
Basically, the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption starts in 1914.
If you remember the main bulk of John Marston’s story, that all went down in 1911. After John is killed by Edgar Ross and his men, there is a three-year time jump. We know this for a fact because of the grave markers at Beecher’s Hope.
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John’s tombstone reads 1873–1911.
Uncle’s says 1849–1911.
But the third grave? That’s Abigail Marston. Her marker says 1877–1914.
This means Jack stayed on the ranch with his mother for three years after his father's death. When Abigail passed away (likely from illness or the sheer toll of a broken heart), Jack was left completely alone. That is the moment the game hands you back the reins.
Why the 1914 Setting Matters
1914 isn't just a random number Rockstar picked out of a hat. It’s a massive turning point in world history.
If you walk into Blackwater as Jack and buy a newspaper, you’ll see headlines about "War in Europe." This is the start of World War I. While Jack is out in the desert hunting down a retired federal agent, the entire world is literally catching fire.
The Wild West wasn't just "dying" anymore—it was dead. Buried.
You can feel it in the atmosphere. When you play as John in 1911, there’s still a lingering sense of the frontier. By 1914, cars are becoming more common in the streets of Blackwater. The government has expanded its reach. The era of the gunslinger has been replaced by the era of the bureaucrat.
How Old is Jack Marston in the Epilogue?
Honestly, Jack looks a lot older than he actually is. Some players guess he’s in his mid-20s because of the mustache and the gravelly voice, but he’s actually just 19 years old.
Think about that for a second.
- In 1899 (Red Dead Redemption 2), Jack is 4 years old.
- In 1907 (The RDR2 Epilogue), he is 12.
- In 1911 (The main story of RDR1), he is 16.
- In 1914 (The final showdown with Ross), he is 19.
He’s a teenager carrying the weight of a 40-year-old man. He’s spent his entire life watching the people he loves get killed or chased away by the "civilized" world. By the time he tracks down Edgar Ross at the San Luis River, he isn't a kid anymore. He’s a product of the very violence his father tried to shield him from.
Tracking the Timeline: From John’s Death to Jack’s Revenge
The transition from 1911 to 1914 isn't just about a change in character model. It’s about the total loss of innocence.
In 1911, John dies thinking he bought his son a "clean" life. He sacrificed himself so Jack wouldn't have to be a killer. But the 1914 epilogue proves that you can't just outrun the past.
The Final Mission: "Remember My Family"
When you take control of Jack in 1914, the only "real" story mission left is a Stranger mission called Remember My Family.
You start in Blackwater. You ask around about Edgar Ross. You find out the man who killed your father didn't go to jail or face justice—he retired. He got a medal. He moved to a nice cabin by the lake to hunt ducks.
The juxtaposition is sickening.
Jack travels south to find him. He talks to Ross’s wife, then his brother. Finally, he finds the old man himself on the banks of the San Luis River. The year 1914 marks the final "redemption" of the title, though it’s a dark one. Jack wins the duel. He kills Ross.
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But as the credits roll and the title card "RED DEAD REDEMPTION" slams onto the screen, you realize the tragedy. Jack Marston, the boy who loved books and wanted to be a writer, has officially become an outlaw in a world that no longer has room for them.
Could There Be More to Jack’s Story?
Because 1914 is so close to the start of the Great War, fans have speculated for years about what happens next.
Some think Jack gets drafted into WWI. Others believe he flees to Mexico to live a quiet life. There’s even a fun easter egg in Grand Theft Auto V where you can find a book titled "Red Dead" written by a "J. Marston."
Maybe he did eventually become that writer after all.
But within the confines of RDR1, the story ends exactly where it started: with a Marston and a gun. 1914 isn't just the end of the game; it’s the final nail in the coffin of the American Frontier.
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Take Action: What to Do in the 1914 Epilogue
If you’ve just reached the 1914 segment as Jack, don't rush straight to the ending.
- Check the Newspapers: Read every single one. They provide incredible context about the looming world war and how the United States is changing.
- Visit Bonnie MacFarlane: You can go back to MacFarlane’s Ranch. The dialogue is sparse, but the feeling of returning to where John started is heavy.
- Finish the Challenges: You can still complete all the ambient challenges (Hunting, Sharpshooter, etc.) as Jack to get the Legend of the West outfit.
- Complete "Remember My Family": Head to the Blackwater train station to trigger the final quest. It’s the only way to see the "true" ending and the credits.
The 1914 setting is a somber, lonely place. It’s supposed to feel that way. You’re playing as a ghost of a bygone era, finishing a story that was written in blood long before you were born.