About Me

My photo
Just to tell you a little about myself, my name is Vickie and I was born and raised in Kentucky. The majority of my ancestors have been in Kentucky since the 1790’s. I have always loved history, a good mystery and puzzles and that is what Family History Research is all about. As a child we would take day trips on Saturdays and head down some dirt road looking for old cemeteries. A lot of the time we weren't looking for anyone in particular, we just like to read the epitaphs. We would have a picnic lunch packed and have lunch at whatever cemetery we were at. If the weather was bad my Dad and I would go to a courthouse and dig through old records in musty old basements looking for our ancestors. So as you can see I have had an interest in Family History for quite some time.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Elias Jones

The ancestor I will be telling you about this week is my 4th great-grandfather on my mother’s side whose name was Elias Jones.  Elias was born in about 1799 in North Carolina and had moved to the White County, Tennessee area before 1821.  I believe Elias was a son of Lazarus Jones, but I have yet to find his mother’s name.   I also believe that Elias may have had siblings named: Amassa Jones ca. 1795 – after 1840; James Jones ca. 1801 – before 1880, married to Ann; Byram Jones ca. 1803 – after 1880, married to Jane Malone; John Jones ca. 1805 – after 1850, married to Lucinda Roberson; Claiborne Jones ca. 1808 – after 1880, married to Frances Keeling; Susannah M. Jones 15 Dec 1810 – after 1860, married to William Billingsley and Nancy Marinda Jones ca. 1812 – after 1880, married to Samuel Johnson.

All of these people lived in the same area of Jackson County, Tennessee and sometimes are on the same land or court records, so I believe there is definitely some kind of relationship between all of them, but as of yet I can’t find anything that says for certain, only circumstantial evidence so far.  Family stories also say that Elias’s father, Lazarus Jones came from Wales to North Carolina and then to Tennessee where he died before 1860.

Elias was married in about 1821 to Parthena Ellis, possibly in the White or Jackson County, Tennessee areas, but again I have not found a marriage record to say for certain when their marriage occurred.  Parthena was a daughter of Elijah Ellis and Margaret Madden.

Elias Jones and Lazarus Jones both purchased land in Jackson County, Tennessee in 1827, 1832 & 1840 for a total of 150 acres each.

Elias and Parthena had at least twelve children together, and they were the following: Three sons, names unknown at this time that were all born before 1830, but with the surname of Jones I don’t know if they died young or if they married and I just haven’t found the right boys yet.  The rest of the children that I know of for certain are: James William Jones 1828-1903, married to Lucinda Billingsley; Thomas Reece Jones 1833-1920, married to Malitia Jane Lemmons; Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Jones 1834-1909, married to Labon Lafayette Loftis (My 3rd great-grandparents), then to Nathan H. Huff then to a Mr. Keens; William E. Jones 1835 - after 1900, married to Susan J.; Rebecca Isabel Jones ca. 1837 - after 1901, married to Asa Meeks Denson then to R. W. Norton; Elijah Jones ca. 1841 - before 1880, married to Mary A. Swearingain; George Washington Jones 1843-1928, married to Sarah Emmaline Shane then to Sarah Margaret Elizabeth Sheehanee; John Anderson Jones 1845 after 1910, married to Mary J. then to Mary Ann Frances Curnel and Alexander A. Jones 1847-1923, married to Harriet Swearingain.

I do have a couple of pictures of some of the children of Elias and Parthena and they are the following.  The first is of James William Jones, his wife Lucinda Billingsley and some of their grandchildren, possibly.  Next is of my 3rd great-grandmother Mary Ann ‘Polly’ Jones Loftis and another one of her with her youngest daughter Elvira Huff, son-in-law Robert Pogue and their 3 children: William, Lelia & Melma Pogue. 





I had thought that Elias Jones had died before 1850, because his wife and children were listed on the 1850 census, but he was not listed with them.  I knew he was still alive in 1848 though, because I found him in some court records for that year.   I finally found out that he had died intestate before August of 1852, but still didn’t have a death date for him.   I then received an e-mail from Mitzi Freeman in January of 2000, she had received some microfilm from the Jackson County, Tennessee loose court records in the court case of James Draper vs. James Jones et al.  In the case Carroll A. Jones was deposed and he was asked if he knew whether Elias Jones was dead.  He answered yes that he saw him buried, and he had died in Union County, Illinois on September 24, 1850 but the record did not say what the cause of death may have been or what Elias was doing up there. 

Carroll Anderson Jones was a son of Amassa Jones and if Amassa was indeed Elias Jones brother, then that would mean that Carroll was Elias’ nephew.  I have always wondered what Elias was doing up in Illinois, maybe looking for land for the family to move too, I guess I will never know the answer to that question though.   

So, somewhere in Union County Illinois my 4th great-grandfather was buried, probably in an unmarked grave and maybe somewhere along an unknown trail.

Elias’ wife, Parthena Ellis Jones continued living there in Jackson County, Tennessee around the Flynn’s Lick area and sometime after the 1860 census she apparently died, because I have not been able to find her on the 1870 census or any record of her leaving the area.

Elias Jones born in about 1799 in North Carolina, married around 1821 or so in Tennessee and died in Union County, Illinois on September 24, 1850 in an unknown grave.  Not a lot is known about this grandfather of mine, but he left a lot of descendants scatter all across the United States today.

If anyone out there reads this and has more to add to the life of this man I would love to hear from you.

25 comments:

  1. You amaze me with all you get done, Vickie. Is it okay with you if I print off all the "I Dig My Roots" stories and put them in a binder for my own perusal?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great story....I don't remember the circumstances, but I've heard of Parthena Ellis Jones down thru the years. Don't know why, nor do I remember the stories I've heard, but it's been used down thru the years when mom and dad were alive.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Another good one. What different clothes they wore in those days. Sad to think of the unmarked graves. And to think they had 12 children! Can't comprehend that. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My ancestors connected through marriage and blood to Lazarus and Elias Jones lived in southern Illinois, their surnames were Hanner, Webb and Carter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for making contact, I always love to hear from new found cousins.

      Delete
    2. I have the marriage record for Elias and Parthena. They were married Wake, NC on Feb.8, 1821

      Delete
  5. Eliza Jane Jones (daughter of Byrum Jones, son of Lazarus Jones) was married to George Hanner whose son John Hanner moved to Franklin county, IL (close to Union co.) where his wifes uncle named Unknown WEBB lived. Also in Union County , Illinois was a mental Hospital where many people lived. Many elderly people lived there after getting dementia. It is a very large hospital and still in operation today. Also, mental illness runs in the Hanner family either on the Jones side or the Hanner side and has been in every generation that I know of since the birth of Julia Johnson in 1845.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for making contact, I always love to hear from new found cousins.

      Delete
  6. Why is the James Jones family living with the Daniel Pleasant family in the 1860 Jackson Co., Tn Census? I always heard that Lucinda was in fact Lucinda Pleasant and not Lucinda Billingsley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know why they were living there. However, Lucinda's death certificate clearly states her parents were William Billingsley & Fereby Brown.

      Here are my notes for that: State of Tennessee State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death: #453, Place of Death County: Jackson, Civil Dist: 11, Registration District: #44411, Full Name: Lucinda Jones, Sex: female, Color or Race: White, Widowed, Date of Birth: 1/2/1832, Age: 92 years 8 mos 15 days, Occupation: Housewife, Birthplace: Tenn, Name of Father: William Billingsley, Birthplace of Father: Tenn, Maiden Name of Mother: Meuirie Brown [Feriby Brown], Birthplace of Mother: Tenn, Informant: Doc Jones, Address: Gainesboro R. 3. Registrar: L. R. Anderson, Filed: 10/10/1924, Date of Death: 9/17/1924, I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Oct 10, 1923 to 9/15/1924 that I last saw her alive on 9/15/1924 and that death occurred, on the date stated above at 4 am. The cause of death was as follows: mitral regurgitation Contributory: Bronchio Pulm Signed: L. R. Anderson 9/18/1924 Gainesboro, Tenn, Place of Burial or Removal: New Salem Cem, Date of Burial: 9/18/1924 Undertaker: Johnson Spurlock Gainsboro (info from Mitzi Freeman)

      Delete
  7. James Jones had a Son John Simpson Jones (Ancestry has B. 1811*seems wrong: poss 1821 or 1831 D. 1883)who Married Hester Brooks dtr of Matthew Brooks and Mary (Polly) Harrell. John S. Jones had a Son George Haywood Jones whom had a Son John Simpson Jones (M) Lula Foster (MY GREAT GRANDFATHER)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which James Jones are you talking about? Sounds like they could be part of my Jones bunch there in Jackson County, Tennessee.

      Delete
    2. James s/o Lazarus b. ca 1801 (M) Ann
      Sibling's:
      Amass a
      Byram/Hyrum
      John
      Claiborne
      Susannah
      Nancy Miranda

      Delete
  8. My Family Line: Eldest Relation found:
    Lazarus Jones (b.1763 Geni.com d.1860 Jackson, TN) or (b. 1773 Ancestry.com d.1860 Jackson Co. TN)
    Poss: Married:Unknown or Poss:Kiziah Spears b. 1761 Halifax, Va d. 1839
    Ancestry.com & WikiTree.com & Geni.com
    Possible:
    Jad James Jones b.1801NC OR
    James Jones 1801TN-1880 Jackson,TN OR
    James Jones 1803TN-1880 Poss:White Rock, Franklin, AR Married: Ann______
    6 Children:
    Their Son John Simpson Jones b.(*Poss:1811/21/31) d.1883 Union County IL Married Hester Brooks Daughter of Matthew Brooks b. 1780 d. 1846 & Mary (Polly) Harrell***I have traced the Brooks Family back to Mid 1600's.
    States 4 Children: 3 known
    Their Son: George Haywood Jones b.1858 d.1952 Married Martha Ellen Hudson b.1856 d.1936
    9 Children
    Their Son: John Simpson Jones b.1887 d.1961 Married: Lula Myrtle Foster b.1888 d.1965
    7 Children

    ReplyDelete
  9. Elias & Parthena are my 3rd great grandparents. James William & Lucinda Billingsley had a son named Thomas Reece 1852-1904. Thomas Reece & Margaret Jones had a son named Hermon M. "Hub" Jones who married Paralee/Parlee had a son named Mack Donald Jones. He is my father, he died when I was 4. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yea! Another Cousin!
      If anyone has any info on any my Jones Line (John Simpson b/d? or Hester b/d?:Children Confirmed Whereabouts), please let me know.

      Delete
  10. Yes, we seem to be Cousins Vickie Thompson! Yea!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I believe strongly we are related further back in North Carolina. Would love making contact.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I believe we are strongly related back in North Carolina. Hope we make contact.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Other Sites state Lazarus Jones; Joseph Lazarus Jones.
    Born 1761,1763, 1773, etc...
    Died 1791 (18 yrs),1811-1814, 1860...
    So many sites, so many questions...
    My Family of Jones's are still trying to PROVE who are the REAL Parents of John Simpson Jones b.1831 that Married Hester Brooks ( Daughter of William "Billie" Brooks and Margaret "Peggy" Teel/ Hester was the Grand daughter of Matthew Brooks 1780-1846 died in TN & Mary "Polly" Harrell burial IL.
    We thought John Simpson Jones's Father might have been James Jones or John A. Jones or Other Sites State another John or Joseph Jones: Son of Lazarus & Keziah Spears.
    Anyhow, another Jones;William A. Married another Brooks Daughter of William & "Peggy" Brooks.
    Need a LOT of help from anyone with any PROOF of William A. & John S.Jones Kinship & Whom their Parents really were.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another possibilities; John L. Jones listed as Son of Lazarus & Kiziah.
    John L. Jones had a Son John S. Jones b. 1831.
    And John A. Jones Son of Lazarus Jones had a Son John b. 1831
    If anybody can help...
    OUR John Simpson Jones born 1831 Married Hester Brooks Daughter of Matthew Brooks (1780-1846 d.TN) & Mary "Polly" Harrell d. Union Co. IL

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sharing Info found: Open Public Search My Heritage & Find a Grave

    Only passing on found info: Please feel free to look through other sites for any correct info.& corrections.

    Byram/Byrum/aka Barnes Jones [SENIOR/Sr.]
    B. 1803-1880
    Spouse
    Jane Malone
    B.*****D.*****

    Children:
    Eliza Jane Married George Hanner Res.in IL

    Rev. Henderson Brown Jones 1850 TN-1922 died Union Co. IL.
    Burial: Masonic Cem: Morganfield, KY
    Married Mary Jane Clark died Valier, Franklin Co. IL
    Burial: Masonic & Oddfellows Cem: Benton, IL

    Bashaba/Basheba Rachael "Rachael/Rachel" Jones(M) Samuel Henson She was born ca1831Tn-d. 1919 TN [1850 Resided in IL]*Note Brother Rev. Henson Brown Jones in IL*
    8 Children born: Byram Ranson Henson, James Henson, Jesse's Henson

    Byram Jr. * No current info found with credible proof* [ Poss: Byram/Byron Jones
    b. 1847 TN d. 1922Ky
    (M1) Mariah Allen
    (M2) Martha Jones 2Children:Nannie/Nancy R. Jones +1more

    John J. Jones b .ca 1830-1833

    [Byram Sr's Siblings:
    Allen,
    Polly,
    John A.,
    John L.,
    Elias,
    Amassa,
    Claiborne,
    James,
    Jad James
    Nancy Marinda ( Miranda/Manda/ Nannie),
    Susannah M. Billingsley]

    ReplyDelete