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The Jones family was one of the first families of Wilson County TN.
Goodspeed's history of Wilson County lists Ambrose Jones as one of the men that were granted land in what later became Wilson County between 1790 and 1800 by the State of North Carolina as pay for their service during the Revolutionary War. He received a grant of 640 acres.
John Jones is listed by Goodspeed as one of the first settlers of Wilson County, settling in the area of Spring Creek. James Drake's earlier history of Wilson County (1876) lists both John and Josiah Jones as the early settlers of Spring Creek.
The Hon. James C. Jones, from Wilson County, served in the House of Representatives from 1839-1841, and as governor of the State from 1841 to 1845.
In 1810, a member of the Jones family was commanding one of the militia companies of Wilson County. Thomas and Calvin Jones were members of a company of soldiers that Wilson County sent to the war with Mexico in 1846.
The Jones family achieved notariety through less auspicious means as well; in 1837 Aaron F. Jones and James Lively were each sent to the penitentiary for horse stealing, and in 1845 Garland Brown and John Jones, on charge of larceny, were sent to prison for two and six years.
Goodspeed's biographies offers the following information about Calvin Jones:
CALVIN JONES, an enterprising farmer of Cherry Valley, Tenn., was born in Wilson County, November 23, 1819, being one of eight children of William and Lucy (Wamack) Jones, natives of Virginia, born in 1791 and 1798 respectively. The father came to Tennessee when a boy, and was married September 25, 1816. He was a farmer by occupation, and died December 7, 1848, and the mother in 1835. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and received his education in the schools near his home. June 18. 1846, he was married to Miss Susanna, daughter of Ethelrid and Nancy Barby. Mrs. Jones was born November 3, 1824, and has borne her husband two children: Nancy A. (wife of George Donnel) and Mandy (widow of John H. Berry). At an early day Mr. Jones learned the blacksmith's trade, and after his marriage worked at that business for twenty-two years. After his father's death he and his brother Alfred purchased about 170 acres of the home farm and discontinued smithing. He has devoted his time to farming, but spent a few years in operating a saw-mill. He now owns 211 acres of land, on which he erected a fine dwelling house. Mr. Jones is noted for his honesty, and is much esteemed by a large circle of friends and relatives.
Our Elizabeth Jones was also born in the late 1700's in Virginia. Perhaps she was a part of this same family.
For further research, Marriages of Wilson County has the following marriages between a man with a surname Jones and a woman with the given name of Elizabeth, prior to Hannah's birth in 1827:
Edmund Jones m. Elizabeth Stapleton 6/13/1817 by Wm. Seawell, 6/14/1817. Emanuel Scot, BM
John C. Jones m. Elizabeth Lane, March 24, 1817, by James Richmond, JP. 3/25/1817 Edward Jones BM
Richard Jones m. Elizabeth Norman 4/4/1823 by John McMinn, JP. 4/5/1823
Thomas Jones m. Elizabeth Compton, Aug 5, 1824 Joseph L. Green, BM
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U.S. Census - 1880
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U.S. Census - 1850
© 2005 John Scott , 305 Murphy Court , Macon , GA 31216 , jsscott@tennesseeheritage.com. Permission is granted to copy portions of this document for personal use only. May not be published in paper form, electronically, or by any other means without permission.