UFN : Abishai Jones

The Bible wins again as the source of this unusual first name.  The name presents itself initially in the  book of  I Samuel, and occurs a fair number of times associated with the life of David.  Used as a first name with the surname JONES it appears in Northumberland County, Virginia Births, 1661 - 1810.  It is recorded that on the 20th February 1772 that "Abishai Jones the son of Winnefrit Hudson A Bastard son was Born".  An interesting account with the mother's maiden name given as Hudson, and the child born is recorded with the surname JONES.  The father of the child is not listed.  According to Meade, in the year 1776, Mr. John Leland and the Rev. Benjamin Sebastion were ministers in the county.  Perhaps, it was one of these fellows who selected the name.

Caroline Cunningham, Vol. III, p. 2.

Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, by Bishop William Meade, Vol. II, p.132.  This two volume reference was first published in 1857.

UFN : Abington Jones

Often a family surname is taken as a first name.  This is usually from the maternal side of the family tree.  In this case, most likely, the name comes from the geographic location from which this family originated.   The name "Abington Jones" appears in the Southampton County, Virginia marriages.  On the 19th of February 1770, Abington was married to Mary Simmon "widow".

The parish Abington is given in "A Topographical Dictionary of England" by Samuel Lewis, p. 5.  It was located in the county of Northampton.  There was also a "Abington in the Clay", "Abington (GREAT)", and "Abington (LITTLE).  These were all parishes in the county of Cambridge. [Lewis p. 6.]  This would certainly give the genealogist a possible lead to the origins of this name.  Unusual   first names as maternal family surnames...interesting.

Caroline Cunningham, Vol. I, p. 1.

UFN : Abijah Jones

Another name from the Bible is Abijah.  (a-bi-jah)  Interestingly, this name appears more frequently among the books and chapters with some 21 references.  Caroline Cunningham's work gives only one.  His name appears in the deeds of Surry County, NC, 1806.  Here on April 18,  Abijah Jones deeds to Mark Shelton 100 acres on both sides of Millers Creek.  Hum...Shelton, Miller, and Jones connected in some way, all of Surry County, NC, 1806.  These folks must have known how to read, have a Bible to search around for a first name, and some reason to select a name from the Bible.  Perhaps a religious group of folks lived here?  Anyone with additional information please comment.

Caroline Cunningham, Vol. IV, p. 8.          

  [For those who might be interested Abijah first appears in I Kings 14:1]

UFN : Ab(b)igail Jones

Found spelled with a single "b" or two "b", the name Abigail is the next unusual first name.  It is again taken from the Bible. [The story can be found starting I Samuel 25 verse 9, and the name appears verse 14.]  The name seems to mean "joy".

Caroline Cunningham Collection gives only three folks given this name.  The first Abigail is recorded in the 1755 Tax List of Granville County, NC. [Vol. I, p.1]  This appears to be the same individual found in the 1763 Marriages of Granville County, NC.  Here she marries Thomas Cook, 10 August, and she is listed as "widow". [Vol. II, p.1 and Vol. IV,  pages not numbered but arranged alphabetically.]

The second spelled with two "b" is recorded in the 1790 Census, 96 District, Edgefield County, SC.  She must be the head of household since she is listed with 2 males under 16, and 5 females.  Hum...seven kids...which means she would have to be married for roughly 14 years. [Vol. III, p.1]

The third Abigail is found in the Charlotte County, Virginia Marriages where on 12 June 1794 she marries Charles Tate.  Her maiden name is Jones. [Vol. II, p. 1]

UFN : Abi Jones

It would seem that some folks went to great length to find a first name that was from the Bible, but only occurred rarely.  To have occurred only once among the thousands of names found among the pages would certainly be unusual in itself.  Such is the name Abi.

A mother's name it is.  Found in the book written about the kings of Israel and Judah [II Kings 18: 2] it is simply  stated  "His mother's name was Abi....".  According to Strong's extensive work it is a Hebrew name meaning "father (source) of joy".  Having three daughters myself, each are certainly a  source of joy.

The name "Abi Jones" was recorded by Caroline Cummingham [Vol.I p.1] to have appeared in the 1790 Census, Currituck County, NC.  Assuming it was used as a female first name, she would have been the head of household.  The household is listed as  "3 free persons other than white".  This would suggest it was an African-American [most likely freed slaves] living together.   Are there any other folks out there that might be able to shed light on this Abi Jones?

Source: Abingdon's Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible,  Copyright 1890 by James Strong, Madison, NJ.  It was copyrighted by Abingdon Press, 1980, and the "Forty-second Printing " [my copy] was published 1983.

UFN : Abel Jones

During my childhood church going days [1950s early 1960s] the name "Abel" was tossed about fairly frequently.  Every Sunday school class, and every pulpit discussed his name several times a year presenting the eternal question : "Am I my brothers keeper?".  Well...anyway, I do not remember a single individual actually using the name Abel as a first name.  For that matter, even today, recalling a single individual being named Abel escapes my memory.

Caroline Cunningham listed a few with :

               1) an Abel Jones being found in the 1782 tax list, Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.  He is
                    recorded as having "4 whites" and "6 blacks"

               2) an Abel Jones found in the 1800 tax census of Buncombe County, NC

               3) an Abel Jones found in the marriage list of Loudoun County Virginia 1831 when 
                   on February 14 he joined with Julian Vanpelt (Cyrus Burson her guardian) .

So there you have it.  Does anyone recall meeting an individual with the first name Abel?

These folks are recorded in Caroline Cunningham Collection: Vol.I p.1, Vol.II p.1, and Vol.III p.1.

              

UFN : Abbridgston Jones

The first unusual first name [from here abbreviated "UFN"] is Abbridgston.  Suspect it was spoken like Ab-bridgs-ton.  Most likely it came from another surname or maybe from a geographic location.  The name appears in the 1790 Census of Wake County, NC.  He was listed as "head of household" with 1 male over 16, 2 males under 16, 2 females, and 1 slave.  This would place him born around 1770 given his oldest was over 16 , and next two sons were under 16.  [Based upon marriage age was started 18-21 years for males.]  Anyone have this name in their family tree?

Source: Caroline Cunningham was a genealogist very interested in the JONES surname.  Her focus was on JONES families from Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. Her goal was "...to record in print some of the records found in the various archives of the United States in such a way that the tracing of Jones families is made easier."  She published her work from Raleigh, North Carolina, August 1964.  Presently, this work can be found in East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J.Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.  It is titled: Caroline Cunningham Collection, Collection No 56.  This first name appears on page 1, Vol.II.  Would like to have thanked her in person, but her work stands alone in the Jones Surname Family Tree.