Joseph Wheeler Jones (JAB-1)

"Jay" by his sisters..."Wheeler" by his wife...and "Pap paw" by me he was called.  Born July 5, 1898 in Clark Co., KY, he lived his life in and around Winchester.   Gertrude Patterson Monroe "Mam maw" was born the same 1904 and died March 17, 1989.  I often heard her friends call her "Gertie".

 Here they stand holding my father in their arms.  Many of my summers were spent in their home on Jackson street.  Say hello to the origins of my family stories.   [See my family stories at my blog
 http://thejonesgenealogist.blogspot.com]  They both still reside in my memories.

Edward Turner Jones (JAA-3)

The mouth of Red River joined three counties.  Estill, Madison, and Clark counties connected here.  All three of these counties played a role in the life of Edward Turner Jones.  He was born in Madison (Science Hill), married a gal from Estill (just across the river), and moved to Clark County. (Just across the river on the other side.)  This location was just "up river" from that place called Boonesborough were Ellen Dorcas Henderson had her roots from that fellow named Col. Richard Henderson.

Here they are.  My grandfather must have been in the oven when this picture was taken because his older sister Nona Lee was just about the right age of his birth.

A saddle bag can be seen lying on the porch behind.  Say hello to Edward Turner and Ellen Doras early in their married years near the mouth of Red River. 

William Carter Jones (JZ-5)

W.C. was the name that he was called during my growing up years.  It was some twenty years before the W.C. was found to be William Carter.  He was born in Clark Co., KY (1826), and in the 1850 census found to be living with his father-in-law. [A problem to get straighten out among the Jones surname tree climbing!]  He with his wife, Elizabeth Isabell Adams, were the first of the family to have their picture taken.

Here they are.  Stern and serious looking they were.  It took a good while to find his burial place at the mouth of Red River, but here is a picture of his grave.   From the mountains of Wales to the mouth of Red River, that Y-chromosome did come.

My research can be found in RN #147.

Thomas Jones (JY-6)

Thomas Jones was born VA in 1796.   He came with his family to Kentucky in 1811.  He married Sally Chism 20 December 1823 and settled the family (finally) in Clark Co., KY.

He is found in the 1830 - 1860 census.  In the 1850 census he is listed as "Farmer". [54 yrs. of age]  On the waters of Four Mile Creek seemed to be the place.  His story and record can be found in my research notebook (RN) number 148.  Say hello to Thomas Jones and Sally (nee Chism) along the water of Four Mile Creek.

A complete listing of my genealogical research can be found at tjgresearchnotebooks.blogspot.com .

Nicholas Jones (JX-33)

Nicholas Jones was born November 14, 1762 in Caroline County, Virginia.  He was the fifth generation to have lived in this area of Virginia since 1673.  The county names had changed several times, but the family resided in the same geographic area.

He moved the family to the state of Kentucky in 1811.  My favorite document of all times is the signature of Nicholas appearing on original court document dated the 26th of July 1832.  This was to place him on the Revolutionary War pension roll of the state of Kentucky.  A copy of this signature is shown below.

What a deal!  A life lived some one hundred and eighty-one years ago coming through the pages of history.  Hello Nicholas Jones, thanks for bring us to this Bluegrass State.

My complete genealogical information can be found in my research notebooks RN #147, and RN #147A

Griffin Jones, Jr. (JW-81)

Griffin Jones, Jr. (JW-81) was born and raised in Caroline Co., VA.   This was along the waters of Peumansend Creek where his father [Griffin Sr. (JV-162)], grandfather [John (JU-145)], and great grandfather [Cadwallader (JT-143)] had resided since Cadwallader (JT-143) had settled the area beginning 1673.

The court records of Caroline Co. continues to record some of Griffin's activities beginning 1756.  He became involved in a fairly lengthy case which came to the Virginia assembly to get settled. [See: Laws of Virginia, Oct. 1778-3d of Commonwealth, Chap. XXXIV, beginning p. 573]  The family had all that Welsh fighting blood which seemed to get them in all kinds of trouble.

My research into Griffin Jones, Jr. (JW-89) can be found in RN #146.  This series of research notebooks can be seen at tjgresearchnotebooks.blogspot.com.  They can be searched using the "search this blog" space on the page.

Griffin Jones, Senr. (JV-162)

The next Jones grandfather in the family tree was Griffin Jones, Senr. (JV-162).  The family had already been in the same geographic area since 1673, but the names of the counties had changed several times.  It was now Caroline County; formed 1728 out parts of Essex Co. [also parts of King and Queen and King William Co.s], which was formed 1692 out of (Old) Rappahannock Co., which was formed out of Lancaster Co. in 1656.  Lancaster Co. was formed 1651 out of Northumberland and York Co.s .  Northumberland was founded 1648 as a hideout for those folks from England who had been run out of the homeland at the close of the English Civil War. [ 1642 - 1649].  My Richard Jones (JS-165) was the first to land 1648.

Well here is Griffin, Sr.! (JV-162)

He is found the court order books of Caroline Co. beginning 1736.  Like most of us in the family, trouble seemed to be around every corner.  It took more than 20 years to tract this fellow down...you rascal you... but 162 fellows later I finally got you.

John Jones (JU-145)

Identifying the children of Cadwallader Jones (JT-143) has always been a serious, serious, "brick wall" for the many genealogist who have tried to climb this family tree.  Early, folks believed that he had no children.  Then a daughter was discovered in records dating from early Kentucky.   Several genealogist felt that the records which record a son of Cadwallader Jones (JT-143) was really a "step-son" and not really a Y-chromosome son.  There is even a court document which list a "Cadwallader, Jr.", but no one seems to have researched this case.   After many, many, years of tree climbing, there are at least four biological children of Cadwallader Jones (JT-143)!  My line come through John Jones (JU-145).

As you might expect, being the 145th Jones investigated for this generation, it was a great relief to clear all the leaves and branches.  Much more will be given regarding this generation!

Cadwallader Jones (JT-143)

Born around 1650, Cadwallader Jones (JT-143) was the first of the family to grow up in Virginia.  His father, Richard Jones (JR-165) died very soon after his birth.  Raised by a step-father, poor Cadwallader had to pretty much make his own way in this world.  He has become a very controversial figure throughout many genealogist family trees, and is much confused in most discussions of his life. 


Over the years, I have collected just about every historical document pertaining to the record of his life.  The blog cadwalladerjones.blogspot.com gives this record, "document by document".  He has become my favorite great....great....grandfather.  The first record of his life is found in Volume II, Cavaliers and Pioneers, p. 138.  This record begins November 5, 1673.  Check it out...it is a story worth telling.

Richard Jones (JS-165) To Virginia 1649

Richard Jones (JS-165) was the first of my JONES family to move across the great pond, never to return to the Island.  The move was not his first choice, since he was part of that group forced to leave England after the close of the English Civil War. [ It seems that the family always managed to come down on the wrong side of the fence!]

He is recorded in Gray's Inn Admissions, p.116, folio 609, 1608 as "one of sons of Thomas Jones, of Llanvayer, Co. Denbigh".  [Thomas Jones (JR-180)]  Of course there is a great deal of history to this time in the family tree, and it took a good bit of tree climbing to put things all together.

It was the 13th of March, 1649 that he arrived to the shores of Virginia.  The story is yet to be told.

Thomas Jones (JR-180)

Thomas Jones (JR-180) of Llanfair is next in line among the leaves of this JONES surname family tree.

As you might expect, being number JR-180 means that there were 179 other folks examined before this Thomas was identified as the next branch! 

It was St. Asaph, created 1143 AD, that helped me get around this brick wall.  It seems that many family members were involved from the earliest days, including Llewelyn ap Ynyr (Leolinus de Bromfied) 1293 AD,  Davydd ap Bleddyn (Bletliyn) 1314 AD, John Trevor (I) 1352 AD, and John Trevor (II) 1395 AD. 

It was John Hanmer (Bishop of St. Asaph) 1576, and my Thomas Jones (JR-180) Chancellor of St. Asaph 1576, who made the connections to this branch come alive.  There is much recorded in my research notebooks that document this period of my JONES surname family tree.

Richard Jones (JQ-95) The First JONES

Richard ap John = Richard Jones, the first of my Welsh descent to take the surname JONES. 

His code number is JQ-95, which means it took me quite a while to get to this connecting point.  In  Chancery Proceeding (series II), Vol. I, AD 1558-1579, Bundle 104/ no. 165, is the document which identifies this Richard as being of "Llanfair".  Llanfiar - Dyffryn Clwyd is the place of  Llyn-onn where the JONES side of the family would come to reside.  Making this "bridge" connection was one of the most difficult branches to my tree climbing.  What a deal! 

JOHN (JP-1) The Jones Surname Bridge

John (JP-1) ap Robert (JO-1) is the next in line among the branches of my JONES family tree.  To become a JONES one must have a JOHN among the branches.  It was this JOHN (JP-1) of Llynn-Onn who was the one for my family.  His wife was Jane Almer (JP-1) who has a distinct family tree of her own.

It was during the period that Wales was placed completely under the laws of England (Act of Union, 1536 and additions of 1542) that the Welsh naming system [ name "ap" name "ap" name "ap", etc.] was truncated to the English "surname" system [first name then surname].  It was a matter of what the English "ear" heard when a Welshmen gave his "name ap JOHN" that was to become the surname JONES.

Robert (JO-1)

Robert ap Edward also married a Margaret.  She was Margaret Eyton (JO-2) of Rhuabon, Co. Denbigh.  He is given as "of Llywn-Onn" and continues the family story of balancing the fence along the border land between Wales and those folks from the other side of the Island.

The following figure tries to shown the border established by the Anglo-Saxons some time in the early 700s.  The first fence was called Wat's Dyke which in the Anglo-Saxon means "guard dyke".  It was followed by Offa's Dyke some years later, and became the flash point for more many struggles.  It was along this border that my family live for many generations.

North to south, east to west, the family survived riding the fence.

Edward (JN-1)

Edward ap Howel would be the next in line.  He is identified as "of Llwyn-Onn", and his wife is Margaret Wyle of Bersham.

Bersham was a border area along Wat's Dyke.  Llwyn-Onn of Llanfair was to the west, and Llywn-Onn of Wrexham was to the east.  It must have been along these roads that the family managed to survive both the Anglo-Saxon colonization, and the gradual Norman annexation.

The above figure shows the time analysis for these generations, Howel (JM-1) and Edward (JN-1).  Both the wives were named Margaret, and this name becomes the most common name among my JONES family tree.

Howel (JM-1)

Howel of Llwyn-Onn is the next generation.

His wife is recorded in Nicholas (p.355) as Margaret of Pengwern.  The name "Pengwern" must have been taken from the "capital" [family seat] of the Cornovii, for in Davis [A History of Wales pp.63-65] he discusses this term in the territory of the Cornovii.  Some feel this was originally located at present Shrewsbury, but it is a Welsh name given to several sites. [See A Gazetteer of Welsh Place-Names, p.93]  At any rate, Margaret seems to be from the same lineage of Tudor Trevor, who settles in the Welsh kingdom of Powys.  Powys was formed from the territory of Cornovii.  How about that for "internal consistency" in the old tree climbing experience.

Llewelyn (JL-1)

Llywelyn the Great died on 11th April, 1240 AD.  It is recorded in Lloyd that the Cistercian annalist wrote: "that great Achilles the Second, the lord Llywelyn...whose deeds I am unworthy to recount." [Lloyd p.226-227]   It was around the death of this Llywelyn that the next in my family line was born.

He was the eldest son of Iorwerth (JK-1), and is recorded as being of Llwyn-Onn.  His wife was Gwenlliam (JL-2) of Bersham.  I suspect that his father wanted him named after Llywelyn the Great [Llywelyn ab Iorwerth Drwyndwn] following this period of Welsh history.  The figure below connects father (JK-1) to son (JL-1) showing a rough dating method.

This method would give his birth around 1230 - 1240 AD, placing his marriage ca. 1250 - 1260 AD.  The name Llewelyn becomes a frequent choice among the family tree branches.

[For a more detailed discussion of the spelling and chronology of this name see my post "Spellin' Llewelyn" of  2/24/12.]

Iorwerth (JK-1)

The name "Iorwerth" seems to be picked up by the family around this time in history. [It is the Welsh transliterated into English as Edward.]  He is again recorded as of "Llwyn-Onn".  His wife's name was given as Anne.

The genealogy as recorded by Nicholas demonstrates how Welsh names need to be understood as most likely intended.  The following figure shows the use of the name Iorwerth over three generations.

The grandfather of "Iorwerth" (JK-1) was named "Iorwerth fychan" (JI-1).  Many genealogist use the Welsh term "fychan" to mean "junior" [as the son of...etc..].   In the Welsh of this period it was used to mean "the smaller" or "the younger".  It does not mean that Iorwerth fychan (JI-1) was the son of a Iorwerth [His father was Jeuaf (JH-1).]  It would mean that there was another by the name Iorwerth in the area (or family), and that Iorwerth fychan (JI-1) was the smaller or younger of the two by that name.  Welsh adjectives were often incorporated into the name to separate folks from one another.

Gruffydd (JJ-1)

The next in line is Gruffydd (JJ-1).  This would be Griffith in the English. [dd = th ]  He is also identified as of Llwyn-Onn. 

His wife is recorded as of the last line of the "Prince of Powys".  Margaret (JJ-2) is her name.  The name Margaret becomes one of the most common names among my JONES family.  The next figure place some historical context to this period ca. 1170 - 1180 AD.

Gruffydd (JJ-1) would be born around 1150 AD.  He is shown as the son of Iorwerth fychan (JI-1), and the next in line is given.  A dating method is shown lower right for the generations "J", "K", and "L".  It is a sliding scale over lapping at 50 year intervals.  The name Gryffydd "Griffith" becomes one of those Welsh surnames yet to come.

Iorweth Fychan (JI-1)

The eldest son of Jeuaf (JH-1) was Iorweth Fychan (JI-1).  He is identified as the first of "Llyn onn".  This location is spelled various ways including "Llwyn Onn", "Llwynynn", and others.  There are two locations by this name, one being at Wrexham, and one being at Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd.  Both are connected to my JONES surname.  The figures below show the coding for Iorweth Fychan. [ Edward the younger, smaller.]

The figure below shows the relationship with the branch to the Eytyn (Eyton) family.

A picture of Llwynynn, near Ruthin is shown on p.374 of Nicholas, Vol. I. The name means "Ash Grove" and there is a song by this name.  Say hello to Iorweth Fychan (JI-1).