Almost Certainly a Relative: William Jones of Fall Creek

The deaths of William and Sarah Jones, parents of Darling Jones, were recorded in the family bible of William Jones and the two  families lived close to each other in Rutherford County.  But what was their exact relationship?  With only a sixteen year difference in age, it's unlikely that Matthew was William's father; but they could easily have been brothers.  Alternatively, it's possible that Sarah and William were brother and sister.  In 1802, a Matthew Jones married a Sarah Jones in Wake County, NC, with a Darling Jones acting as bondsman.

If you have information on this Jones family, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com.  

There is a FamilyTree DNA Jones Project.  Any male carrying the surname who is a direct descendant of this William Jones is encouraged to participate.

19 Feb 1786: William Jones was born in NC.[1]

3 Apr 1790: Isabella Smith was born in Guilford County, NC, the daughter of Robert Smith.

26 Jul 1808: A copy of an original patent dated 17 Nov 1790 apparently originally granted to John Jones was entered into the Rutherford records, the grant being 1,000 acres from the state of North Carolina to William Jones "on one of the water courses . . . West Fork of Stone's River".  William was age 22.  Or does the location indicate another Jones family altogether since Fall Creek was supposedly on an eastern fork of Stones River?[2]

He wasn't listed on the 1810 Census, but a William Jones reportedly appeared on the Tax List that year and son Albert was supposedly born in TN on 6 Mar 1810.

22 Aug 1811: A William Jones was commissioned Lieutenant in the Rutherford County Militia.[3]

5 Jul 1813: Along with Hans Hamilton, William was security for James Jones as constable.[4]  But was this our William, or another located on the West Fork?  (There was a Hance Hamilton in Guilford County, NC in 1790.   Isabella Smith Jones, William's wife, was born in Guilford County.)

7 Jul 1813: William Jones versus William Mankin.  Suit dropped.[5]

12 Mar 1814: He purchased 85 acres and 128 poles on the east side of Stones River and the south side of Fawling Creek adjoining Henry McPeak from William Nash for $160.[6]  Witnesses: Robert Smith and John Nash.  Does this deed actually document the arrival of our William in Rutherford, with all mentions before this date referring to another, West Fork William?  Robert Smith was probably Isabella's brother.

24 Nov 1817: When a grant from the state of Tennessee to John Coffee for 100 acres on the east fork of Stones River was entered into the deed book, it was described as adjoining William Jones.  Another grant was entered on 9 May 1818 for two other tracts, both lying in the 1st District on the east fork of Stones River adjoining William Jones.  One also adjoined Sheldon Crossthwait.[7]

1820 Census, Rutherford County, TN: 3 males under 10, 1 10-16, 1 26-45; 0 females.  If there were two Williams, where's the other one in this census? 

7 Apr 1821: An estate sale was held for Nathaniel Jones.  William Jones was the administrator, making the settlement on 22 Oct 1822.[8] The only reference to Nathaniel Jones in Rutherford County is the 1820 Census: 2 males under 10, 1 26-45; 1 female under 10, 1 16-25, 1 26-45.  Who or what was Nathaniel Jones to William?  He was not entered in the Jones Family Bible, but was that because his death date was forgotten by the time of the first bible entries?

6 Sep 1821: He sold 60 acres on the waters of the east fork of Stones River adjoining Col. Gibson and Dr. Bedford to Matthew Nelson for $150.  Witnesses: Robert Smith and Thomas Blankenship.[9]

6 Mar 1822: He purchased 60 acres from Ezekiel Ward on the south side of Fall Creek.  Witnesses: William and Robert Smith.[10]  William was either Isabella's brother or cousin.

2 Dec 1825: He bought 160 acres on Falling Creek from Robert Warnick for $1,400.  The property adjoined William Major and Cunningham Smith.  Witnesses: William Major and William Arnold.[11]  Cunningham Smith was Isabella's cousin.  He would later marry Sarah Jones, the widow of Matthew Jones and the mother of our Darling Jones.

27 Feb 1829: William bought 52 1/2 acres on Falling Creek, an eastern branch of Stones River adjoining Jones' own land from John McPeak for $105.  Witnesses: William Arnold Senior and Albert Jones.[12]  William's son Albert was 18 years old.

15 Dec 1829: Along with Thomas Donnell, he was named executor of the will of father-in-law Robert Smith, who was residing in Princeton, Caldwell County, KY.  In it, besides Smiths, Robert mentioned daughter Margaret Warnick, daughter Elander Donnell, and daughter Isabel Jones.  Among the witnesses was Albert Jones.[13]

1830 Census, Rutherford County, TN: 1 male under 5, 2 5-10, 2 10-15, 1 15-20, 1 20-30, 1 40-50; 1 female 10-15, 1 40-50  The family was enumerated next to John and Henry McPeak, close to Martha Miller, Cunningham Smith, John Drenon, and Margaret Drenon. 

4 Jul 1835: Isabelle Smith Jones died and was buried in Charlton Ford Cemetery.  On her tombstone: "Age 45 yrs, 3 mo, 1 d".[14]

28 Jan 1836: Along with [Isabella's brother-in-law] Thomas Donnell, William turned in a list of property sold for the Robert Smith estate.  Their accounts were approved on 28 Nov 1836.[15]

1840 Census, Rutherford County, TN: 1 male 10-15, 2 15-20, 3 20-30, 1 50-60; 0 females  They were enumerated between Robert Hunter and Cunningham Smith, close to Henry Miller and Albert Jones.

2 Dec 1840: Along with William Arnold Senior and Thomas Donnell, William witnessed the will of Cunningham Smith.  Cunningham's widow was our Sarah Jones.

7 Jan 1841: William was among the buyers at the estate sale of Cunningham Smith.  William purchased a scraper, a "shovel plow", 5 reap hooks, one oven,  a tablecloth, two tubs of ____, 2 other tubs, 2 dishes, 6 iron spoons,  one lot of dishes, another dish, 2 lots of books, a stand of p____, one tray, and 2 meal bags.  Other buyers included Darling, Henry, and John Jones, Sarah Smith, John McPeak, William Arnold, Robert and James Hunter, Hiram A. Drennan, Albert, Anderson, and Robert Jones, and Margaret Miller.[16]  Buyer John Jones was most probably William's son John C. Jones.

13 Feb 1841: He purchased slave Joseph, age 8 years, from Robert Hunter for $320.  Witnesses: Darling Jones and Albon Smith.  Albon Smith was the son of Cunningham Smith.[17]

6 Sep 1850 Census, Fall Creek District, Rutherford County, TN: Farmer age 64, born in NC; carpenter Anderson age 35, born TN; carpenter William E. 29; farmer Samuel P. 23.  They were listed close to James C. and Elizabeth Arnold Miller.[18]

29 Oct 1850: William signed his will.  Administrators: Eldest sons John and Albert Jones.  Witnesses: John M. Peyton and Andrew J. Malone.  He mentioned "six sons" - but did not name them individually -  and daughter Peggy.  

28 Feb 1859: William died and was buried in Charlton Ford Cemetery[19].  On the tombstone: "Died 28 Feb 1859,  "Age 72 years, 11 months, 16 days".  The cemetery is located in the "Gladeville Quadrangle" on Fall Creek.  There are only 26 graves named therein.  Four are Jones, six are early Smiths.

The will was proved 7 Mar 1859; the administration was granted 9 Mar 1859.[20]

Among the buyers at the estate sale were: R. S. [son Robert S.], A. M. [Albert's son Andrew M.], W.E. [most probably William Edwin], John L. [Albert's son John Linsey], William E., Albert, Anderson, Andrew [once again Albert's son], and William Jones; and J. H. and Daniel Miller.  Among the notes and receipts were the names John Miller and Thomas Miller.[21]

Children (and Some Descendants) of William Jones: Since we don't know the marriage date of William Jones and Isabella Smith, we can't be absolutely certain that she was the mother of all his children.  However, it's highly probable that she was.

Albert Jones (6 Mar 1810, TN - 11 Sep 1873; m. Nancy _______)

John C. Jones (8 Mar 1813, TN -     m. 1st Rachel Barber 11 Feb 1835, m. 2nd Lucy A. Richardson 28 Oct 1851)

Anderson Jones (21 Sep 1814 - 6 May 1888)

Robert S. Jones (28 Dec 1815 -     ; m. Mary Elizabeth Harris 28 Mar 1848)

Margaret Ann "Peggy" Jones (21 Dec 1818 -     ; m. Thomas Thorn 5 Nov 1838)

William E. Jones (12 Apr 1821 -     ; m. Elizabeth Wade 5 Sep 1855)

Enoch J. Jones (10 Mar 1824 - 21 Oct 1847)

Samuel Paschal Jones (7 Oct 1826 -     ; m. Martha H. Berry)

 

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