JONES Glamorgan 1515

The JONES surname appears in Wales over a period of some 100 years.  Of course, the surname starts its course in English records, not Welsh records. [Records written in English, not Welsh!]

The English legal records of Wales begin 1273, under the rule of Edward I.  As Wales became "more and more" under English control, the system of English surnames became the norm.  Their appearance in the county (legal) records give indirectly a history of this phenomena.  South Wales seems to start the JONES surname.  This most likely reflects the fact that South Wales came under control of Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman control much easier (geographically) than other parts of this western land.

Glamorgan is the first Welsh county to show a JONES surname.  In the legal records 1515-1518, the name John Jones appears.  [File 421/ folio 72]  The map to the right shows the location of this Welsh county in relationship to the other Welsh counties since the Act of Union 1536.  Of course it had to be a John Jones.   Glamorgan was also the first county to have a JONES surname appear in 1496.

The next several post will show the chronology of the appearance of the JONES surname for Wales from around 1500 - 1700.   South Wales begins the story.

Rev. War Pension Applications For JONES (part II)

A total of 460 Jones surnames were listed in the index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications.  Four hundred and fifty six (456) provided enough information to be included in this study. [99%]  Over all, 219 of the pension applicants migrated from the state that they had enlisted. [48%]  Thus, 52 % of the pension applicants remained in the state from which they had enlisted.  The applicants were organized by the state from which they enlisted.  Regional geography was used to classify the "northern" states, compared to the "southern" states.  They were then listed by highest migration rates (ratios) to the lowest.

The figure to the right shows the migration ratios for the northern regions.  Two hundred thirty three applicants were from the northern states outlined. [51% of the total]  Of these, 113 left their state to move to another state. [48%]  Only 6 of the 113 [5%] left a northern state to migrate to a southern state.  This would suggest that those who moved from their original state, chose to stay in the northern regions.  Very few migrated from the north to the south following the Revolutionary War.

Massachusetts had the highest number of JONES (77), followed by Connecticut (61), New York (34), and Pennsylvania (26).  It would seem that the folks in New York wanted to stay in New York.

The "south" is yet to come.

This study is taken from The Jones Genealogist, Vol.VIII, No.4, Nov/Dec, 1996, p. 1-7.  The data set is located in The Jones Genealogist, research notebook, #67.

Rev. War Pension Applications for JONES (part I)

Revolutionary War records are an important resource for the Jones tree climber.  A beginning point for many researchers is the Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications, published by the National Genealogical Society, Washington, D.C.  On page 610 of this index, the Jones surname begins.  It is noted : "For Revolutionary pension applications filed for military service for soldiers who had the surname "Jones", more details than usually included in this Index are being printed as an illustration of the amount of non-military vital statistics which are to be found in Revolutionary War pension applications...".  It is the use of this non-military vital statistics that are most helpful for Jones tree climbers!

The following series of posts uses this reference to analyze the Jones surname for Revolutionary War pensioners.  Its purpose is to evaluate the numbers and migration patterns for the surname JONES, "state by state".  The questions it seeks to answer are: 1) Is there a pattern of Jones migration from one state to the next following the revolution?, 2) How many Jones from one state actually moved to another state?, 3) Which state(s) had the most Jones surnames recorded?, and 4) Will the patterns identified be helpful in my own genealogical searches?.

An example of the information provided in the index is copied exactly as it appears on page 610:

        "Ambrose, Cont. (Va.), Martha, W9083, b. 8/10/1756, enlisted in Augusta Co., Va.  In 1821 res. Floyd Co., KY, d. 6/12/1833  (see Quarterly, Sept. '46, p.104)."

This information was analyzed and abstracted for its content including the following items: 1) name , 2) state of identity, 3)  wife's name, 4) date of birth, 5) location by state of enlistment, 6) location of resident when applying for pension, and 7) the date of death.  This information became the bases for the analysis, organized by state, and evaluated for location at the time of pension application.  It assumes that the applicant was originally from the state identified by the index, and was living in the state of reference when he applied for the pension.  In the example above, this would suggest that Ambrose Jones, service record W9083, was from VA and migrated to KY before 1821.   Each entry for the JONES surname was analyzed and coded.  The results of this analysis will be presented.   More to come.

This research was published in The Jones Genealogist, Vol. VIII, No. 4, Nov./Dec., 1996. pp. 1-7.  Date set is located The Jones Genealogist Research Notebook # 67, The Joseph Wheeler Jones Memorial Library, Danville, KY.  The "Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications" published by National Genealogical Society, Washington, D.C., 1966.

Under Every Rock

Over the years (now 52 of them doing genealogy) I have seen a lot of libraries, archives, books, and looks. When I have told folks that I am researching the JONES surname, there is usually a look that says "Good luck with that!", or "Here is another one that will not get very far out the family tree". "Oh well, let me give it a shot"... I would often think.

Perhaps there are others who have reached a fork in their JONES genealogy tree climbing. How many rocks do I have to keep turning over? What am I looking for anyway? Enough of this!... on and on it might go. Sometimes it helps to take a break and go fishing, or what ever else it is that gives the spirit an "oh boy". Perhaps it is helpful to talk to another who has done some tree climbing of their own. At any rate, getting a hold of the beast from a different angle will often give a refreshing view of the genealogy world. Starting with what you know is the beginning to the branches further out the tree. Clearly defining the questions one is wishing to answer will help focus the search. Keep climbing and keep going in that JONES surname family tree. There is always another branch to step out... and another JONES under every rock!

Jones Surname in Virginia Company 1609

On the 23 May 1609, a grant was made entitled: "Treasurer and Company of Adventures, and Planters of the City of London, for the first Colony of Virginia." Robert, Earl of Salisbury headed the list followed by Thomas, Earl of Suffolk; Henry, Earl of Southampton; William, Earl of Pembroke; and Henry, Earl of Lincoln. This was followed by 28 pages of incorporation, naming Henry, Earl of Southampton to head the "Council for the Company", and Sir Thomas Smith, to be "Treasurer".

There were 721 individuals and companies listed as members of this incorporation. Numbering them 1 - 721 as they appeared in the listings gave a "big picture" of the interest in this new undertaking. Henry, Earl of Southampton #1 to Robert Chening, yeoman #721 was analyzed. Since lists and social status were important to those keeping these records, the numbers would suggest the "social" rank of the individuals being listed. A Zachary Jones was listed at #189, and a "John Jones, merchant" almost bring up the bottom at #706. [The name Zachary being an unusual first name for a JONES.] Anyone with any knowledge about these two JONES please post.

The research was taken from The Jones Genealogist, research notebook #27, Joseph Wheeler Jones Memorial Library.

Jones Journeys

Researching the JONES surname can be a problem for many genealogist. Having references which deal with this surname can be a real help. The following pictures show the cover of such a help called "JONES JOURNEYS".

It was started May 1973 by Mrs. Darla M. Jones, of Rialto, California. Volume 1, No. 1 begins with "Jones Deaths of Mercer Co., Ky. 1852 - 1858" p.4, and ends with Volume 19, Summer, 1991. Lots and lots of JONES family information in between!

Finding this reference can also be difficult. A complete set can be found in The Joseph Wheeler Jones Memorial Library, Danville, Ky. Anyone know additional locations please post.

Picture above is of volume 2, May 1974. The cover of volume 1 was in very poor shape.

The publication changed cover and appearance over time. The final issues were printed by Van Volumes, Ltd., P.O. Box 567, 400 High St., Thorndike, MA 01079. Anyone know if this group still exists?

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.