York

It was James Peirson and Robert Peirson who where the "Plantiff(s)" against Edward Jones.  The location is listed as "Sedbergh", and the "Bundle" is 102 with the "No." being 31.  The dates of the records are 1558 - 1579.

This record seems to be the only legal case of the JONES surname during the period of study 1327 - 1700.  Not many with the surname JONES in the north counties. {see last post for those with no one recorded with the surname JONES}

Anyone out there know about "Sedbergh"?  Please post a comment...:-).

Zero For JONES

A series of volumes indexing and listing the holdings of the public records office in England can be found. [Great Britain Public Records Office, List and Indexes, New York, Kraus Reprint Corporation, 1966.]  The lists and indexes were abstracted for the surname JONES as part of my tree climbing experiences.  They have served as the documents pertaining to the dates and distribution of the JONES surname in England and Wales given in the posts surrounding this discussion. 

From 1327 to 1714 there are four counties in England that have ZERO with the surname JONES!  These are shown below.

Derby, Durham, Nottingham, and the Isle of Wight are these counties.  Over the years I have suspected that the first three (northern counties) situations are due to the impact of Danish occupation, and "Dane Law".  The Saxons and Danes spent a lot of time struggling to control the legal activities of these counties.  I do not have a good rational for the Isle of Wight.   Not sure why there are no JONES in the legal system, but they must have been of good behavior...:-).  There certainly must be other factors that have a role in this phenomena since every other county in Albion has a JONES from early days.  Is there anyone out there who might have some ideas regarding this? 

The following are the references explored:

1)  Index of Ancient Petitions.  Generally before Edward III (1327 - 1377)
2)  Calender of Close Rolls: AD 1381 - 1499
3)  Calendars of the Close Rolls: From the reign of Edward I - to Edward IV (1272 - 1483)
4)  List of Early Chancery Proceedings, Vol. IV, for dates 1500 - 1515.
5)  List of Early Chancery Proceedings, Vol. V, 1515 - 1529.
6)  List of Early Chancery 1530 - 1538
7)  List of Early Chancery Proceedings, Vol. VIII, 1538 - 1544.
8)  List of Early Chancery Proceedings, Vol. IX, 1544 - 1553.
9)  List of Early Chancery Proceedings, Vol. X , 1553 - 1558.
10)Index of Chancery Proceedings (Series II), Vol. I, 1558 - 1579.
11)Index of Chancery Proceedings ,...for years 1579 - 1600..given as Vol. XXIV
12)Proceedings in the Court of Requests, Vol. 4, James I (1603 - 1625)
13)Index of Chancery Proceedings (Series II), Vol. III, 1621 - 1660
14)Public Record Office, London: Chancery Proceedings, Bridge's Division, 1613 - 1714, Vol. IV.

If anyone has found the JONES surname in these counties before 1714, please post.

Warwick

In the heart of Albion is Warwickshire.  Being in the center of things it had its share of the tough-of-war that has occupied the span of history. 

The first JONES surname belongs to the Philip Jones family starting 1312.  These records are found outside the legal records which are being used to document the surname JONES.  In these legal records, Edward Jones [bundle 1016/no.50-54] is involved in a suit by a Henry Fenton (a smith) for caring for a gelding left to heal after a hurt foot.  These records are dated 1538 - 1544.  It would seem that Edward Jones was yet to pay the bill.

A discussion of the Philip Jones family can be found in the post dated Monday, February 11, 2013.  These records are found in Gregory family of Stivichall [Catalogue Ref. DR10].  These records reveal that Philip Jones was the son of a William Jones.  The location of this William Jones is uncertain, but it may be Warwick.  It is interesting to me that in the heart of the Island a cluster of those with JONES surname begins.