Henry Jones

13 thoughts on “Henry Jones”

1. Y-DNA tests indicate that my mother’s family (and myself) descend from Henry Jones, and his father William Jones of Jone Hole Swamp in Sussex, Virginia. One of the descendents of Henry Jones ends up in (I believe western) Tennessee, and marries a Blackburn, and together they have a son, Thomas Jefferson Jones, who migrates to Arkansas. Any insights on this would be appreciated.

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2. Sally and all repliers to the 3 Jones families;
   I’ll touch on this section for Henry, his father William 1647-1712 is the same William who married Elizabeth Blight, sister of Rebecca Blight who married James S Jones. William had another wife, Elizabeth Ledbetter 1652-1723, dau of Henry 1625-1700 and Mary House 1625-1672. I’m unsure which Elizabeth William married first. Also, Robert Jones the son of William is the one who married Hester “Ester” Blight, sister of Rebecca.

   I like the talk of DNA; I’ve had my Ancestry DNA done — link James S Jones is — https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/35541342/person/300185470108/facts
   Click on my user id to get to my profile page on Ancestry to check your Ancestry DNA with mine; or my GEDMatch.com kit # is A834921, and my FTDNA kit # is B251848.

   Yes, I’m working on these Joneses 🙂 I learned some additional info here — so thank you Sally and all your repliers!!! Awesome work
   Jim Jones

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3. I have recently submitted DNA on my Jones line. My ancestor was Elias William Jones b. abt 1800 GA. He was in Macon co Alabama in 1840, bought land with Darling A Jones. He’s enumerated on the 1840 Macon co Alabama census living next to Darling A Jones. Was this his father? Or brother? Anxiously awaiting the DNA
   results.

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4. I like the information you have provided. I’m not clear on William Dennis’ generation, but I think he is Robert’s son and his brothers are Edward, Nathaniel and Charles. You will find references to them in tithe lists of Surry County, Southwark and Lawnes Creek Parishes. The other parties mentioned are contained there too.

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5. Sally, I’ve done quite a bit of research on this line of Jones, especially Henry Jones Sr who died in 1739. His will was either honestly lost or deliberately hidden for many years. By the time it was finally found and recorded (not probated), his estate had already been administered intestate. Henry’s first wife Catherine Judkins died between 1733 and 1739 and Henry Sr remarried to a woman named Martha. This is why there’s a page in his estate file for items that Mrs Martha Jones had taken or used from the estate.

   Bertie County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1724-1739 Book I by Haun, p 107
   13 Nov 1739
   Martha Jones Relect Widow of Henry Jones Senr. deced praying admicon on the sd. Deced. Est Grantd. she giveing Secuty in the Sum of L1000.

   Notice that Henry Jr had already deeded his father’s land to James and Philip 3 months before that in Aug 1739. If the will had been found and probated, these deeds would not have been necessary or even possible. But since the will couldn’t be found, Henry Sr’s estate was administered intestate, and Henry Jr as eldest son and heir at law inherited all according to the law of primogeniture. Martha was granted administration in Nov 1739, but the file for Henry Sr’s estate consistently refers to Henry Jr as the administrator after that, not Martha. It’s not known what happened to Martha. There is nothing in the estate file about any dower land being surveyed off for her and nothing about her support or maintenance – only a page about items taken or used by Mrs Martha Jones and their value. We are very lucky to have the will at all since it was never probated and found too late to be of any value other than to us as researchers. The estate of Henry Jones Sr had been administered intestate many years earlier.

   Notice that when Henry Jr made the deeds for his father’s land, he made a change. He may or may not have known what his father’s wishes were. The will said son John was to get the 230 acres and son Philip was to get the overseas business, but Henry Jr deeded the 230 acres to Philip and John got no land. I suspect Philip and John decided to swap and Henry Jr agreed. If so, John would have taken over the overseas business. Maybe this is why son John and his son John Jr were in Norfolk – a port. I suspect they were buying out Henry Jones Jr’s goods or interest in the business. However Henry’s son John Sr turned up again later in the Edgecombe/Halifax records with second wife Elizabeth who survived him. John died in 1760 leaving a will that was mentioned in records but never recorded. He had a number of children by both wives including John Jr above, Dolling Jones who moved to SC (probably named for Capt Samuel Dolling of New Hampshire who shipped goods to England and frequently appeared in records with the sons of Henry Sr – probably involved in the Jones’ overseas trade. Capt Samuel Dolling owned land on the N side of the Roanoke River adj the land that Henry Jones Sr had deeded to son Francis prior to his death. SC descendants of Dolling Jones used the spelling Darling), Lucy Jones named in the will of David Crawley, James Jones, another John Jones Jr, Penelope Jones. John Jones d 1760 son of Henry Sr should not be confused with John Jones, brother of Henry Jones Sr, who appeared in the Surry records with second with Elizabeth Judkins prior to his move to Edgecombe Co where he left his will dated 1757. .

   Francis Jones married Elizabeth Huckaby, lived in Edgecombe for a while, and briefly lived in Cumberland Co (the part that’s now Harnett) arriving there when it was still considered Bladen Co. In March 1764, Francis Jones’ first cousin, Drury Dunn of SC (son of Thomas Dunn Sr d 1772 Surry Co, VA and wife Elizabeth Judkins), petitioned for 12,000 acres in GA naming his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and in the case of Francis Jones, his cousin, and their families who intended to settle in GA with him. “Francis Jones a Wife three Children and five Negroes, Five hundred acres” Drury Dunn later withdrew his petition and none of the Dunns moved to GA,, but Francis Jones did. He left his will in St Matthews Parish, GA dated 1774.

   James Jones held land on Swift Creek in Johnston Co (later Wake) by 1751. His first wife Frances died at some point and James married again to Mary — who appears in the Johnston Co deeds. I have not been able to find a record that proves his children, but I believe there were several sons who lived in the southern part of Wake Co on Middle Creek and Buckhorn Creek. A Nathaniel Jones b in Wake Co according to his 1833 Rev War pension application. He stated he was 80 years old or upwards – so b by 1753. His descendants’ DNA is a perfect match to other descendants of Henry Jones Sr. His application states he had a brother (unnamed) living in Wake Co. When he wrote his will 1846 Kershaw District, SC, he didn’t mention his brother but did mention a nephew Richard Jones of NC. Records at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/2449702/person/-1837200331?ssrc= Fortunately the name Richard Jones was uncommon in Wake Co at that time and there was only one. The brother can be identified as Richard Jones Sr who left his will in Wake Co 1836 naming son Richard Jr and others. He owned land on Utley’s Creek and Middle Creek just south of Swift Creek. The only Jones desc from Henry Jones Sr or his father William Jones Sr living in Wake Co as early as 1753 was James Jones, so he would almost have to be their father. The Jones associated with Richard Jones Sr in Wake who were POSSIBLY older brothers to Richard Jones Sr included Lewis Jones Sr (his son Nathaniel Jones of Middle Creek sold Richard Jones land on Cattail Branch, a branch Middle Creek), William Jones of Buckhorn Creek d 1800 (his son Young Jones wit several deeds with Richard Jones), David Jones of Buckhorn (had a son named Lewis), and Elkin Jones of Buckhorn Creek. More research needs to be done to try to solidly prove this family.

   Philip Jones was also granted land on Swift Creek adj his brother James. He wrote his will in 1760 leaving his land to brother James to pay his debts. making James extr. and authorized James to sell the rest of his estate if necessary to pay his debts. His children are proven by Rebecca Jones’ marriage contract prior to her marriage to John Rench 4 yrs later and also by by Rebecca Rench’s later will. The marriage contract provided for Rebecca’s children and also ensured that a large part of John Rench’s land would go to Rebecca if he were to die first. John Rench had a son John Jr by a previous marriage who was also guaranteed land. James Jones did not sell off any of Philip’s land until after this contract was made. Some of Philip’s children were closely associated with the Jones from southern Wake Co who were probably James Jones’ descendants.

   Son William Jones and wife Sarah are easily confused with Robert Jones’ son William Jones and second wife Sarah who moved to Edgecombe from Surry. Each of these William Jones owned a mill which makes it even more confusing.

   WILLIAM JONES – 3 Jan. 1758 – June Ct. 1759
   son WILLIAM JONES land now in his possession, negro etc. son HENRY JONES 300 acres, negro etc. son BRITTAIN JONES land and Plantation joining my mill, negro etc. son SIMON JONES 500 acres with the mill, negro etc. daughters SARAH JONES, WINEFRED JONES, AMEY JONES, ELIZABETH JONES and SILVA JONES one negro each wife SARAH JONES use of negroes and all parts of my estate and at her death the same to be divided among my children
   Wit: AUGUSTINE BATE, NICHOLAS KILLINGSWORTH, SOLOMON HAWKINS
   Extrs: my wife and my eldest son WILLIAM

   Augustine Bate is mentioned in records as the extr of the lost will of John Jones d 1760, William’s brother.

   I have never seen a record that proves the name of Henry’s daughter, the mother of Mary Roberson. Edward Robertson bought at the estate sale and appeared on a number lf records with Henry’s sons. He was probably the father of grdau Mary Roberson. Since Henry did not leave anything to his daughter or to her husband, the daughter was probably deceased by 1733.

   The name Darling Jones associated with land in southern Wake Co and northern Cumberland Co (now Harnett) is particularly interesting since we know the name Dolling was used in the children of John Jones, son of Henry Jones Sr and the sons of Henry Sr were closely associated with Capt Samuel Dolling.

   A Darling Jones appeared as a witness for the sale of land on Buckhorn Creek by the sons of William Jones (d 1800) in 1800 and again in 1818. However, this Darling Jones does not appear on the 1790 or 1800 censuses. (1810 and 1820 were lost) Perhaps the name Darling came down in the descendants of James Jones too. In an 1845 Cumberland Co deed, John Jones Sr of Wake Co and wife Sarah gifted 540 acres on Neill’s Creek in Cumberland Co to son Darling Jones wit by John Jones Jr. Also in 1845 John Jones Sr of Wake deeded 2 Negroes to son Willis Jones, also wit by John Jones Jr. In 1845 John Jones Sr of Wake wrote his will naming only wife Sarah, witnessed by Darling Jones. After his death, Sarah Jones of Wake Co gifted 540 acres on Neill’s Creek in Cumberland to son Darling Jones. (Same land? More land?) John Jones d 1845 could not be John Jones Jr of the Norfolk record since that record proves he was an adult in 1753 and could not have lived until 1845. The 1850 census lists a Darling Jones age 45 in the Northern District of Cumberland Co which would include land on Neill’s Creek in present Harnett Co. So Darling Jones from the 1800 and 1818 records must have been an earlier Darling Jones who probably lived on Buckhorn Creek near the land of William Jones d 1800 whose land was being sold by his sons. It is not safe to assume that John Jones d 1845 was a son of the earlier Darling Jones. The early Jones in southern Wake Co frequently named sons for their brothers. For the unusual name Darling to appear again in these Wake Co records is significant.

   There are also records for a Philip Jones in Johnston Co who was clearly not Henry’s son Philip who died in 1760. This Philip was the sheriff of Johnston Co in the 1769, 1770 1773.

   Governor’s Summons to Appear. 4 November 1769. a Council at New Bern, a summons was issued by Governor William Tryon based upon a complaint by William Taylor against Philip Jones, Sheriff of Johnston County, for a misdemeanor in office summons issued to William Taylor, Philip Jones, Richard Aycock, and Samuel Smith to appear on 15 December 1769. [SOURCE: THE COLONIAL RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, Volume VIII, page 149]

   A 1772 deed by John Rogers, Sheriff of Johnston Co, to Robert Mims involved land that was sold for debt and referred to “the goods & Chattels Lands and Tenements of Philip Jones Dyonsasus Wright Richard Aycock and James Jones Senr”. However, the remainder of the deed seems to indicate that only the land of Philip Jones was sold at auction. The land was described as 100 acres begining a William Easons corner runing down the black Creek to a branch thence up the said Branch to Jesse Pages line thence on his line to his last corner thence down a branch to William Easons line thence on that line to the first station. The description matches a tract of 100 acres on the north side of Black Creek beginning at William Eason’s corner sold to Philip Jones by William Smith in 1767 witnessed by Robert Mims and David Mims

   William Aycock, his son Richard Aycock, and his son-in-law Jesse Lane witnessed quite a few of James Jones’ deeds in Johnston Co. Richard Aycock and Jesse Lane also witnessed the marriage agreement between Rebecca Jones, widow of Philip Jones, and John Rench.

   Some time prior to 1769, James Jones from Bute Co (Sugar Jones line) arrived in Johnston Co, and this perhaps explains the necessity to distinguish between the two James Jones as Sr/Jr, meaning only elder/younger, not father/son.

   When Henry Jones Sr was granted his land in the Oconeechee Neck of the Roanoke River in 1711/12, land was granted on the same date and in the same location to William Jones, Philip Jones, and John Hawthorne. William Jones can be proven as a son of Henry’s older brother Robert Jones. There is no absolute proof, but Philip was almost certainly a son of Robert Jones too. John Hawthorne was a near neighbor in Surry Co. After Hawthorne’s death, Robert Jones bought his land in NC and deeded it to two more of his sons, Robert Jr and Matthew. Philip Jones sold his land in NC and was found later in the Surry records. Philip’s NC land went through several transfers and eventually some of it came into the possession of Henry Jones Sr. This is the 230 acres that Henry Jr deeded to brother Philip Jones. So this land had been owned by two different Philip Jones, apparently first cousins.

   William Dennis was referred to as a “cousin” (AKA nephew) in the will of Henry Jones Sr and bought at the estate sale. He was actually Catherine Judkins Jones’ nephew, the son of her sister, Miss Judkins who married a Mr Dennis. No other Dennis children have been found and he was probably an orphan who lived with the Jones and moved with them to NC in 1725. William Dennis and Henry Jones Jr witnessed the 1727 will of Robert Jones Jr of Bertie Co recorded in Prince George Co, VA. This will named father Robert Jones Sr as extr and directed that his father sell his land in NC. The land had been deeded to Robert Jones Jr by his father Robert Jones Sr in 1725 and had been purchased by Robert Jones Sr from the estate of John Hawthorne. It had been granted to John Hawthorne 1711/12 on the same date and in the same location as the land granted to Henry Jones Sr, Philip Jones (probably son of Robert), and William Jones (son of Robert).

   In 1725 when Henry and Catherine sold their home on Flat Swamp in Surry, they also sold a tract of land that had belonged to Catherine’s father, Samuel Judkins Jr, to Thomas Crews. William Dennis was also included as one of the grantors in this deed. Thomas Crews’ will states that Samuel “Jenkins” [Samuel Judkins III] was involved in the sale of this land, but his name wasn’t included in the deed. From this we know that William Dennis and Catherine Judkins Jones were heirs of Samuel Judkins Jr. Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Dunn Sr was another daughter of Samuel Judkins Jr. This is how Francis Jones and Drury Dunn were first cousins – their mothers were sisters.

   Catherine’s father, Samuel Judkins Jr died in 1705 leaving a will that was never recorded but mentioned in other records. He was son of Samuel Judkins Sr and wife Lydia. It has long been believed that Lydia was a Gray, but because of some faulty published research, her exact connection had never been proven. She was NOT a daughter of William Gray Sr as suggested by Boddie. She was actually William Gray Sr’s older half sister, daughter of Thomas Gray Sr by his third wife Rebecca. William Dennis did NOT acquire this Gray land by marrying the daughter of John Gray as stated in Purse and Person. John Gray’s will did not leave ANY land to his daughter, but left his land to William Gray Jr, son of his brother William Gray Sr. William Dennis (grandson of Samuel Judkins Jr) and James Judkins (son of Charles Judkins who was the youngest son of Samuel Judkins Sr and Lydia Gray) each made separate deeds to William Gray Jr for their share of an 800 acre tract originally granted to Thomas Gray Sr who left a will that was lost. James Judkins was paid more for his share of the Gray land than William Dennis because Charles Judkins had held a larger share of this tract than Samuel Judkins Jr. William Gray Sr and his brother John Gray had had this 800 acres repatented in their names stating it had been left to them by the will of their father Thomas Gray, but the will was “at large”. They neglected to mention that their younger brother Thomas Gray and the Judkins had also been left shares in this tract. Apparently the descendants of Samuel Judkins Jr and Charles Judkins weren’t willing to give up their share without compensation and William Gray Jr had to buy them out. The descendants of the third son of Samuel Judkins Jr and Lydia Gray, Robert Judkins, apparently weren’t interested in demanding payment for their share. John Jones, brother of Henry Jones Sr and husband of Elizabeth Judkins, daughter of Robert Judkins, witnessed the James Judkins deed to William Gray Jr. William Dennis and James Judkins descended through two different sons of Samuel Judkins and Lydia Gray, so this inherited land had to trace back to Lydia who was born way too early to have been the daughter of any of Thomas Gray’s sons. These records prove that Lydia Gray Judkins (later Pitman) was a daughter of Thomas Gray Sr, immigrant to Jamestown from Stepney, England. The Jamestown Society examined these records, recognized Lydia Gray wife of Samuel Judkins Sr as a previously unproven daughter of Thomas Gray earlier this year, and accepted Colonel Buck Jones, a descendant of Henry Jones Sr’s through son John Jones, as a new member. So all descendants of Henry Jones Sr and Catherine Judkins as well as other Judkins descendants are eligible for membership now.

   Francis Jones of the 1750 Edgecombe will was not related, but quite a few of his descendants did live in Wake Co.

   Common errors you will see claimed again and again on the web… Ann, the wife of Peter Poythress, was NOT a daughter of Henry Jones Sr. The Hopkins abstracts neglected to mention that there were TWO deeds made by Henry Jones and Catherine to Poythress selling their homeplace on Flat Swamp in 1725. The first deed was a deed of lease for a pittance. The second deed was a deed of release for fair market value. Deeds of lease and release were fairly common and involved two deeds usually a day apart. The land was not a “gift”. The will of Henry Jones Sr makes no provision for any Poythress descendants.

   Thomas Gray Sr was NOT the son of Sir Edward Gray of Morpeth Castle in Northumberland. Thomas Gray’s marriage record to Annis Valentine states he was a mariner from Stepney (near London). Sir Edward Gray’s daughter, Elizabeth Gray of Morpeth in Northumberland, left a will dated 1656 in which she mentioned her deceased brother, Thomas Gray of Angerton, and named some of his children. So Sir Edward Gray’s son Thomas Gray lived and died in Angerton and was NOT the same as Thomas Gray Sr of Stepney and later of Jamestown and Surry Co.

   It is my hope that more researchers will take an interest in the Jones records from southern Wake Co, and perhaps the children of Henry’s son James Jones can eventually be solidly proven. You have my permission to share my email address with any researcher who is interested in working on this.

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   1. This is truly a treasure trove of info with which to work! I have worked with a group of 4th cousins discovered via DNA in 2012. We, as a group, are descendants of Nathan & Moses Jones (late 1700 contemporaries) and Levi Jones, likely son of Nathan and all of Bladen, Cumberland & Duplin/Sampson. Nathan, Levi, Henry, John/Jonathan, David are frequently used given names. Additionally we are related to Phillip of Wake/Johnston via Rebecca, his daughter who m Thomas Bedsole and whose granddaughter Eliz Smith m our Levi Jones. For years I have lurked around these earlier Jones sensing a family connection. We would be thrilled to compare DNA and any of our accumulated volume of data.

   2. I was wondering if I could find out more about this article. I found it on line and it turns out I’m related to this William Jones just discovered by DNA. Is there any completed/compiled info on these Jones.

   3. I have seen it recorded numerous times that Philip Jones’ daughter Rebecca married Thomas Bedsole, but that wouldn’t be possible unless he died much earlier than has been reported. Philip Jones left his will in Johnston Co dated 1760. His widow Rebecca (Bradford) remarried in 1764 to John Wrench. Their marriage agreement named her 6 Jones children including a daughter Rebecca Jr. Rebecca Wrench’s 1804 will in Wake Co named the same 6 children. The daughter Rebecca was named as Rebecca Mathis – probably Matthews. So this marriage would not be possible unless Thomas Bedsole died prior to 1804 and Rebecca had remarried to a Mathis/Matthews. Rebecca has not been found in later records with her Mathis/Matthews husband in the Wake Co area.

   4. I have done more research since my post above and have finally been able to reconstruct the family of Henry Jones Sr’s son, James Jones Sr. It’s now available at http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fcharper/genealogy/JamesJones.html There are more records available concerning the earlier Jones at http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fcharper/genealogy/JonesandWoodwards.html
      This is original research and you will not find it elsewhere. Rootsweb has taken their pages down before, so I suggest you print it out and save it.

      I ordered the 1753 deed between Sarah Jones widow and John Jones Sr and Jr of Norfolk. This is a marriage agreement. It’s not clear whether she was marrying John Sr or John Jr of Norfolk. Both appeared to be from Norfolk. There was no indication that either was Henry’s son John.

      Henry Jones Sr’s son John Jones died in Halifax Co shortly before 1760. His will is mentioned in the records but was not recorded. His older children by a first unknown wife include Dolling, Lucy, James, and John. His last wife/widow was named Elizabeth. His children by Elizabeth included another younger John, Penelope, and Thomas. These all had to be proven by other records. There could be other children who have not yet been proven. His older son John (by his first marriage) moved to the S Wake Co area in 1765 where he married his first cousin, a daughter of his uncle, James Jones Sr. See http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fcharper/genealogy/JohnJonesBuckhorn.html

      Henry Sr’s will intended for son John to receive land and Philip to get the overseas dealings. Henry Sr died in 1739 but his will was not presented/probated until 1757. Before widow Martha (Smith) even requested admin, Henry Jr deeded the tract intended for son John to son Philip. Henry Jr was apparently claiming his father had died intestate and he was oldest son and heir at law to his father’s land. It looks like son John Jones took over the overseas trade business instead of Philip. This seems to have been agreeable to all involved. I have no idea why the will was probated in 1757. By then, the extr Henry Jones Jr was dead and the land had been sold. But the record says that letters were issued. To whom? For what?

      Henry Jones Sr’s son Philip moved to Johnston Co with brother James Jones by 1751. He left his will there in 1760 naming his brother James Jones. Philip’s wife was Rebecca Bradford who later married John Wrench Sr. Her marriage agreement and will both prove her 6 children by Philip Jones. Rebecca’s older sister was Frances Bradford, wife of Philip’s brother, James Jones. Frances and Rebecca were the daughters of John Bradford and Rebecca Pace. Philip Jones’s descendants are well documented.

      Henry Jones Sr’s son Francis Jones and wife Elizabeth Huckaby moved from Cumberland Co to St Mathews Parish, GA where Francis left his will written and probated in 1774. http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/screven/wills/jonesfrancis.txt

      Henry Jones Sr’s son William Jones left his will in Halifax Co dated 3 Jan 1758, pr June court 1759. I have not tried to trace his children. It is very easy to confuse his records with another William Jones whose second wife was also named Sarah (first wife Elizabeth Rives) and who also owned a mill and left his will in Edgecombe dated 1749, pr Aug Court 1750. That William Jones (d 1750) was the son of Henry’s brother, Robert Jones. He was the William Jones who was granted land in Chowan in 1711/12 with Henry Jones and Philip Jones. That Philip was another son of Henry’s brother, Robert Jones. Robert’s son Philip was probably the Philip of the IOW record.

      I found the records to prove that Henry Jones Sr’s wife was Catherine Judkins, daughter of Samuel Judkins Jr and grdau of Samuel Judkins Sr and wife Lydia. I was also able to find the records to prove that Lydia was a previously unknown daughter of Thomas Gray Sr, immigrant to Jamestown by his wife Rebecca. The records to prove Catherine and her ancestry can be found at http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~fcharper/genealogy/LydiaGray.html

   5. Frances Please contact me