L.O.C. for MA (2)

Recall that L.O.C. stands for Library of Congress, MA for Massachusetts, and (2) is the second post in the series for this state.  Let's continue:

"9397  JONES  Family record of the Jones family of Milford, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, with its connections and descendants, together with the ancestry and family of Lorania Carrington Jones, wife of George F. Jones.  Collected, compiled and edited by George Farquhar Jones.  Philadelphia, 1884.  CS71.J76"

"9400  JONES  Col. John Jones of Dedham and his paternal ancestors in America.  By his grandson, Amos Perry...(Boston, 1890?)  CS71.J76"

"9402  JONES  Book of minutes of Col. John Jones of Dedham, Massachusetts; with explanatory notes by his grandson, Amos Perry, of Providence, Rhode Island... Boston, G.E. Littlefield; Providence, Preston & Rounds, 1894.  F74.N2J7"

"9407  JONES  Lewis Jones, of Roxbury and Watertown, Massachusetts, 1640-1684, and some of his descendants in the South.  By A.S. Salley, jr.  (In Southern history association,  Publication,  Washington, D.C., 1904, v. 8, p. (147)-156, (219)-232 )  F206.S73 vol. 8"

9409  JONES  Hugh Jones of Salem, Mass., and his descendants.  By Joseph Gardner Bartlett, Boston, New England historic genealogical society, 1908.  Reprinted from the New England historical and genealogical register vol. 61 and 62.  Register reprints series A. no. 21.  CS71.J76"

9414  JONES  Samuel Minot Jones; the story of an Amherst boy, by Charles S. Walker... Amherst, Mass., 1922.  (On verso of t.-p. ; The Jones library, incorporated, Amherst, Massachusetts.  Publication no. 1, September 1922)  "The Jones library"; p. 87-100.  Z733.A54W "

L.O.C. for MA (1)

Wow...what a title!  L.O.C. is for "Library of Congress", and MA is for Massachusetts.  "(1)" means the beginning of a number of post that list the JONES surname [families] in this library, identified as being from this state.  A little history here might explain why Massachusetts had the highest number of publications.

In America, Family Bible records were the only source of genealogical information prior to 1771.  The first American family genealogy was published this year in Hartford, Connecticut.  However, it was not until 1829 that "A Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England" became the first collected work on genealogy in America.  A decade or so latter, "The Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England" published by James Savage in 1844, became the foundation of genealogy in America. [James Savage was know as "Father of American Genealogy"!]  Of course the citizens of Boston got together and formed the "New England Historical Genealogical Society" getting ahead of the rest of America until 1869, when New York formed "The N.Y. Genealogical and Biographical Society".  By now, it becomes evident that the folks of New England lead the way.  So it would only seem right that the family accounts for the JONES surname from Massachusetts would begin this series of posts.  Let's begin.

"9391  JONES.    Jones records, Nathaniel and Rachel (Bradford) Jones, Ispwich, Mass., and some of their descendants.  A help to a family history.  (By Augustine Caldwell)   (Ipswich?  18- )  CS71.J76"

"9394  JONES.    Some of the descendants of Lewis and Ann Jones of Roxbury, Mass., through their son Josiah and grandson James, comp, for the family, by William Blake Trask.  Boston, Printed for private distribution, 1878.  CS71.J76"

"9396  JONES.    The ancient proprietors of Jones's Hill, Dorchester, including brief sketches of the Jones, Stoughton, Tailer, Wiswall, Moseley, Capen and Holden families, the location and boundaries of their estates, &c.  Comp. by David Clapp.   Boston, Printed for private distribution, 1883   F74.D5C6 "

You get the idea...just beginning.

The history given above is from Sims's Manual For The Genealogist Topographer and Antiquary, by Richard Sims, of the British Museum, published 1856.

Jones Surname Genealogies In The Library of Congress

In 1972 there was published "Genealogies In The Library of Congress A Bibliography", edited by Marion J. Kaminkow.  It was published by Magna Carta Book Company, Baltimore, MD.  Volume I contained the alphabet  "A-J" and it is this text that the following analysis was taken. [p.866 - 871 and in the supplement p.135]

Massachusetts had the highest number of genealogies for the surname JONES at 15.  There were also 15 genealogies that could not be placed clearly as coming from a specific location.  There were 4 family genealogies from Wales, 1 from Ireland, and 1 from Bermuda. The following is my attempt to summarize the number and site of origin :

MA = 15
NY =  5
NH =  2
NJ  =  2
RI  =  2
CT =  2
    sum: 28 from the Northeast [ 44% - 28/64]

VA =  3
KY = 2
SC  = 2
GA = 1
FL  = 1
     sum: 9 from the South [ 14% ]

PA = 3
OH= 1
WI= 1
MD=1
     sum: 6 from the middle [ 9% ]

Wales   = 4
Ireland = 1
Bermuda = 1
     sum : 6 from out of US [9%]

Uncertain origin = 15 [ 23%]

Hope to list these genealogies by their title and grouped by location in future posts.

The National Archives

Rummaging around my stack of references, the following was found among the shelves. 

Well worn and frequently check, it was first published in 1964.  Guides are always helpful, and this source outlines the various records held in The National Archives felt to be of interest to the genealogist.  Thought it might still be helpful to outline these materials as contained in this guide.

The following materials are given in outline form:
      I.    Population and mortality census schedule...for yrs. 1790 - 1890.
      II.   Passenger arrival lists...for cities- Baltimore, Boston, Mobile, New Bedford,
                 New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia
      III.   United State military records from Revolutionary War
      IV.   United States naval and marine records
      V.    Records of veterans' benefits
      VI.  Records concerning the Confederate States of America
      VII. Land-entry records for the public-land States
      VIII.Other records of genealogical value...including Lists relating to Indian removal.

Wow...lots of stuff here.  I am sure there must be a more up to date publication.  Will next try to list those references involving the JONES surname in the next series of posts.

Q & A

With a surname like JONES, the genealogical questions are many.  Who, what, when, where, and why are a few good ones to start.  Anyway, after many years of tree climbing, I have asked a few questions along the way. [ See blog: http://thebrickwallprotocol.blogspot.com ]  Thoughts are that there may be those still tree climbing who might have a few questions of their own. 

This post seeks to offer any support that this old tree climber might still have floating around the cobwebs.  The "comment" section offers a place where a question can be ask.  Then anyone can place their suggestions [or answers] to the question one comment at a time.  If any thoughts come my way, I will try to answer each question.  I thought it might be of interest to those who have been reading the blogs over the last six or so years.  This "Q & A" post might lead to some interesting questions...and answers!  Any tree climbers facing questions out there?  Fire away.

Jones Surname Occurrence by English Monarchs

The chronological appearance of the JONES surname 1485-1714 is shown in the figure below.  The table is organized by 1) the reigning Monarch, 2) the total years of their reign, 3) the number of those with the surname JONES appearing in the legal records of England [Public Records Office] during each reign, and 4) a ratio calculated for each Monarch =  # Jones/yrs. of reign.  An interesting table it is.

Starting with Henry VII [1st Welsh Y-chromosome to English Throne] produced a ration < 1 per year for his 24 years of reign.  Henry VIII brought the Act of Union 1536-1542 which almost tripled those involved in the legal records of his day.  From Edward VI to the end of the Tudor reign under Elizabeth I showed a fairly constant increase reaching its apex at roughly 9 cases per year during the long reign of Elizabeth.  Under the Stuarts [starting James I] the ratio continues from 4 cases to a high of almost 9 cases per year under William III.  It would seem that those with the JONES surname could not stay out of trouble.

Other Surnames

As one seeks to climb out their JONES surname family tree, it quickly becomes evident that this is not going to be a easy task.  Nowadays, many folks have turned to that DNA stuff that is supposed to clarify all that JONES surname confusion.  In some cases it certainly helps, but in many others it adds another layer of brick walls.  Very often, one finds that those with other surnames are a closer Y-DNA match than all those other JONES.  Say what!

The following table gives a list of surnames that have matched to those seeking their Y-DNA.  This is for the R1b1a2  haplogroup which is my personal Y-chromosome marker. [male descent]  Roughly 75 % of us with JONES surname carry the R1b haplogroup marker, and one would expect that your Y-DNA would match other JONES.   For my personal Y-chromosome these other surname folks share this same match.

"Phonetic not genetic" I have come to recognize.  A product of languages through the pages of history.  Scroll back to the beginning of this blog to read the story.  For those who might like more on the JONES surname DNA, go to https://thejonessurnamedna.blogspot.com .  Say hello to these folks with other surnames that may actually be closer to your JONES family Y-DNA then those other JONES.

The posts discussing this can be found "Phonetic not Genetic"; Monday, June 6, 2011 and "Genetic Bowel of Spaghtti"; Friday, June 20, 2011.