Hertford

Hertford is just north of London.  It would appear that as early as 1515 the surname Jones [spelled Joones in this case] was already active in the legal records.

"Edward Joones" is the name.  He is listed as "of London, brewer". [bundle 421/ no. 52 ]  His case involves a "John Ayleworth of Bristol".  The reason is "detention of deeds, messuage & land in Ridge". London and Bristol were key sea ports for trade through out the rising commerical network.  Why the case is recorded in Hertford is unclear, but I would guess that Edward Joones' family must be from this county.  A "brewer" indeed he is...cheers.

Bedford

Martin Jones is the only individual identify for the county Bedford.  It not an usual first name for a JONES, but perhaps a related family surname.

The date is 1603 - 1625.  The Bundle is 399 with the No. being 52.  This would make me think that old Martin was closer to 1620 or so.  The location and name of plaintiff is not listed in the index.  It would seem that as one moved closer to the London area [Middlesex] fewer individuals resided with the surname JONES.  Anyone know of this Martin Jones?

JONES Surname London 1695

An index of the inhabitants (within the Walls) of London for the year 1695 was analyzed for the surname JONES. At this time, the "occupiers" of every house in each parish were noted including the householder, his wife and family, apprentices, servants and lodgers. This record was compiled between May and June 1695 for the purpose of a "surtax" on those who had real estate of the value 50 pounds per year or personal estate of the value of 600 pounds or upward. A publication by D.V. Glass, "London Inhabitants Within The Walls 1695", London Record Society, 1966, was used to organize and analyze the JONES surname. There were 97 parishes listed with parishes numbered 82-97 having missing records. Of the 81 parishes having records, 10 did not show anyone with the surname JONES. Thus, within the walls of London, 71 out of 81 or 88% had someone living with the surname JONES! A total of 376 individuals were recorded within these parishes. St. Dunstan-In-The-East had the largest numbers at 17 individuals. This was followed by St. Anne, Blackfriars [13 individuals], Allhallows Barking [11 individuals], and Christ Church [ 8 individuals] to make the top five parishes.

Of course the most common first name was JOHN (#32) for males, and MARY (#36) for females. For the males, this was followed by William (#19), Thomas (#15), Robert (#9), Richard (#8), and Edward (#7). James, Joseph, and David had 5 individuals each. For females it was Elizabeth (#31 - a close second to Mary), Anne (#12), Margaret (#11), Sarah (#10), and Katherine (#5).

Wow, those JONES got around! This index can be used as a census of London for 1695.

This research completed by The Jones Genealogist, 1980 - 1992, notebook 26, Joseph Wheeler Jones Memorial Library.

First JONES Westminster 1382

Thorney Island was noted as a place of some importance from a very early date. The only ford for a considerable distance gave passage over the Thames to the road leading from Chester to London. Here a Roman fort was positioned. It was stones from this Roman fort that were used to begin the foundations of Westminster. It is recorded that a Saxon monastic church, dating from 750 AD occupied some of the present site. It was not until 1065 AD that the Norman church, which had been some ten years in the making, was consecrated.

It is in the Calendar of Close Rolls that the first JONES is identified. [Reign of Edward I (1272-1307) to Edward IV (1461-1470) p.212.] A Richard Jones along with a John Tererd is given as witness dated 10 March 5 Richard II. John Tererd is identified as "the elder of Esstances". It is dated July 29, 1382, Westminster.

Interestingly, it was during the year 1386 that the downfall of Richard II began. [See: British Kings & Queens, by Mike Ashley, pp.606-607.]

A helpful reference is: The New Guide to Westminster Abbey, by H.F. Westlake, 1916.