| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The book "History of Hartland, the 69th Town in the Colony of Connecticut," comp. by Stanley A. Ransom, 1961, CT. Hist. Soc., p. 127 lists John Jones as part of the Hartland men who fought in the French and Indian Wars. It also indicates that he also fought in the War of the Revolution. Listed with him are also Asa Jones (fought both wars) and Israel Jones (fought F/I war only.) The list was prepared by the Town Clerk and Historian for Hartland. Also noted as men serving in the Old Continental Army of the Revolutionary War:
Israel Jones, Jr. as the highest ranking officer of Colonel.
Israel Jones Sr. was a Captain (BEH 35-36)
Samuel Jones was a Lieutenant (BEH 36)
Asa Jones was a Sergeant (BPM)
Privates:
Asahel Jones (BPM)
Asa Jones (BPM)
Benoni Jones (BPM)
Charles Jones (EH 195)
John Jones (EH 107)
Thomas Jones (BEH 36)
2. Censuses:
1790 US: Not in Hebron, CT. There is a Jonathan Jones as well as several other Jones.
1800 US: Hartland, Hartford, Connecticut, all Jones (they live next to each other):
Charles Jones, males: 1 under 10, 1@26-44; females: 2@10-15, 1@45+.
John Jones, males: 1@45+; females: 1@45+.
Tim'y Jones, males: 2 under 10, 1@26-44; females: 2@10-15, 1@26-44.
1810 US: Hartland, Hartford, Connecticut:
Samuel Jones, males: 3 under 10, 1@26-44; females: 2 under 10, 1@26-44.
Timothy Jones (21 families away from Samuel), males: 1 under 10, 1@10-15, 1@16-25, 1@26-44; females: 1@10-15, 1@16-25, 1@26-44.
John Jones (next door to Timothy), males: 1@45+; females: 1@45+.
Charles Jones (next door to Timothy), males: 4 under 10, 1@45+; females: 2@10-15, 1@16-25, 1@26-45.
3. The origin of John Jones has not yet been solved by the many researchers who have studied this line. Clearly John lived in Hebron where there are records of his marriage as well as the birth of most of his children. The Jones family was prominent early in the earliest history of Hebron and there is still to this day many Jones in the area. There is a road and cemetery named after the Jones Family.
The early vital records of Hebron are generally quite extensive, but not necessarily comprehensive, in regards to births, marriages, and deaths. In the period of time from the establishment of Hebron circa 1704 to about 1760, there are only three Jones families that show up in the "Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records" for Hebron. One family is that of Samuel Jones and Rachel Dibell. Another is Samuel's brother Daniel Jones. The third is our family John Jones. John is a generation younger than Samuel and Daniel. The Hebron records show the births of most of the children of each of the three Jones families.
I have ruled out the possibility of John being a son of either Samuel or Daniel. Daniel had 9 children born every two years from 1718 to 1734 per the vital records. Samuel had 8 children from 1720 to 1731 born also every two years with the exception of a three year gap between 1728 and 1731. John was born ca. 1729 per his age as reported with his death and could have been a child that would have filled the gap in Samuel's children except that Samuel's probate from 1735 clearly indicates he is not among the minor children who are listed with his wife Rachel. John also is not mentioned among the children in the 1760 probate of Daniel.
The ancestry and families of Daniel and Samuel are well detailed in the book "Thomas Jones of Guilford, Connecticut, and Some of his Ancestors," by Janet Jones Carr, 2000, FHL film 1440420. The book is also available digitally at BYU Online Collections at the website <http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/search.php> as of 26 Sep 2007. This Thomas Jones emigrated from England in 1639 and has other descendants whose lines are not fully developed. There is a possibility that John may have descend from one of these other lines from Thomas; however, this thorough book does not show any such John. Samuel and Daniel descend from Thomas through his son Samuel who died in Saybrook in April 1746 and whose wife, Deborah Sanford, died in April 1746. Samuel and Deborah's children include Deborah (1691-1695), Samuel (1694-1735) who married Rachel Dibble, Daniel (1697-1760) who married Hannah Stannard, Gideon (1699-1703), Cornelius (1701-1765), and Nathaniel (1704-1782) who married Sarah Wittelesey. The book only follows the descendancy of Samuel, Daniel, and Nathaniel, but not the other son Cornelius. Cornelius could be a candidate for the father of John. Cornelius may have married Margaret Cooper, but Internet sources show that he may not have married until the 1740s which would be too late for John's birth.
The book indicates that Captain Samuel Jones, the son of Thomas the immigrant, of Saybrook, was a legatee of 4000 acres of land from Joshua Uncas, Sachem of the Niantics. When Captain Samuel Jones died he willed on thousand acres of this land to each of his sons, Samuel, Caleb and Thomas. Caleb settled in Hebron as early as 1704 and he was the only one of the three brothers to settle there; however, his nephews Daniel and Cornelius, sons of his brother Samuel Jones. [There are no vital records for Cornelius or his children in the Barbour Collection of Hebron Vital Records - not sure if the author is incorrect and that it was Samuel and not Cornelius that was there early.] Caleb was married to Rachel Clark and died in 1712 long before our John was born. The children of Caleb and their children are shown and there is no John among them.
There is another good book telling of the Jones family in Hebron. It provides an alternate ancestry for Samuel Jones. It is entitled "History of Tolland County, CT," J.R. Cole, 1888. Pages 916 and 917 trace the ancestry of the same Samuel noted above back to Colonel John Jones. It reads:
"The Jones family traces their ancestors back to Colonel John Jones, one of the twelve judges that pronounced sentence against Charles I, king of England, who was executed January 30th, 1649. On the ascensions of Charles II to the throne in 1660 Colonel John Jones, with nine other judges, were condemned and executed October 17th, 1660. [I believe it was by being drawn and quartered.] The two remaining judges were reprieved. He married Henrietta, second sister of Oliver Cromwell. His son, Hon. William Jones, survived him, and lone year before his father's death married Hannah Eaton, daughter of Theophilus Eaton, of the parish of St. Andrews, Holborn, England, and first governor of the colony of New Haven. They came to America together. He was deputy governor for several years before dying in 1706. He and his wife are buried under the same stone with Governor Eaton of New Haven. Isaac, the son of William, died in Saybrook in 1741, aged 70 years. He left 10 sons and five daughters, and was one of the commissioners that confiscated the estate of Benedict Arnold. Samuel Jones, his son, was born in Saybrook, Nov. 19th, 1695, and settled in Hebron, where he died Oct. 13th, 1735. Rachel, his wife, born Feb. 3d, 1700, died Feb. 3d, 1765. They were married March 24th, 1719, and had eight children." [The children are already reported above in the other book].
Art Sikes per the note in this database thinks Nathaniel Jones, son of Samuel and grandson of Thomas noted above, and Sarah Whittelsey may be candidates as parents of John Jones, but he states it is conjecture at this point. The book "Thomas Jones of Guilford, Connecticut, and Some of his Ancestors," as referenced above, has the following notes on this couple: "Nathaniel Jones (Samuel-3, Samuel-2, Thomas-1), son of Samuel and Deborah (Sanford) Jones, was born on 8 March 1703 in Saybrook, Middlesex County, CT, and died before 1782, the date of the probate of estate. he married probably in Saybrook, Connecticut, Sarah Whittlesey, possibly the daughter of Stephen and Rebecca (Whitehouse) Whittlesey, born in Saybrook, Connecticut, 31 Aug. 1704. [Book footnotes the birth date references for both Nath. and Sarah with 'Plimpton, Saybrook VR.] Children... born in Saybrook, CT [unfortunately no mention of a John in this record]:
A. Ezekiel Jones, m. Hannah Chapman.
B. Anna Jones, m. William Waterhouse.
C. Lydia Jones.
D. Samuel Jones, b. 1743, Saybrook, CT; d. 24 May 1831, Tinmouth, VT; m. (1) abt. 1768, Sarah ___, m. (2) Rachel (___) Tisdale.
E. Nathaniel Jones, b. 25 Mar 1744; m. Louisa Buckingham, 27 Dec 1668, Saybrook, CT, dau. Capt. Joseph and Sary (Tully) Buckingham, b. 5 April 1749, no children.
4. Art Sikes, 1175 River Blvd, Suffield, CT 06078, 860-668-0414, ArtSikes@aol.com. 29 Sep 2007: "I have not made much progress in finding John Jones family. ...I have him in my database today with his parents as Nathaniel & Sarah Jones, I have placed John as son of Nathaniel because this is the best fit at this time, I have no proof. The probate record of Nathaniel mentioned only Ezekiel Jones. His grandfather & father owned land in Hebron, CT. His father may have lived there early after his marriage. Other members of this Jones family ended up in Hebron... My line connects from Roderick Jones to Martha Jones & George Gaines.
The wills of John Jones & Ama Jones are recorded next to each other in the Simsbury Probate record, the probate district for Hartland at that time, they are dated 1811. In the wills the following children are mentioned: Samuel Townsend Jones, Thomas Phelps Jones, Charles Phelps Jones, granddaughters namely Anna Jones, and Sarah Jones, the last two being the daughters of Timothy Jones, none of his daughters are mentioned in the will.
The Hartland town history, 1961 said that John fought in both the French & Indian War and the Revolutionary War, his gravestone has "Revolutionary War, Capt. Hall's Company."
[Art references the following for documentation: (1) "The Phelps Family of America," by Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps, 1899, CT Hist. Soc. Library in Hartford, (2) Connecticut Church Records, Hartland-First Congregational 1768-1913, Conn. State Library, Hartford.]
When doing Jones family research in East Hartland it is very much complicated by having two families there. I have included what I know about the second Jones family. They lived in Barkhamested, CT an adjoining town but went to church in East Hartland. The family was the Israel Jones family from Enfield, CT. [Kerry's note: Art has done a multi-generational chart of this family which I have printed and have in the hard file.]
John Jones, b. ca. 1729; d. 1 Apr 1821, Hartland, Ct, ae. 92 yrs.; bur. East Hartland Cem., East Hartland, CT; son of Nathaniel Jones & Sarah Whittelsey; m. 24 Mar 1747, Hebron, Ct, Amy Phelps; dau. of Charles Phelps & Hepzibah Stiles; b. 11 Nov 1726, Hebron, Ct; d. 15 May 1814, Hartland, Ct, ae. 87 yrs.; bur. East Hartland Cem., East Hartland, Ct.
Children:
1. Mary Jones, b. 7 Feb 1747/48, Hebron, Ct; m. Thomas Gillett.
2. Samuel Townsend Jones, b. Hebron, Ct; m. Irene M. Church.
3. John Jones, b. 5 Jun 1752, Hebron, Ct.
4. Thomas Phelps Jones, b. 6 Apr 1756, Hebron, Ct.
5. Hepzibah Jones, b. 20 Oct 1758, Hebron, Ct; m. Samuel Clark.
6. Charles Phelps Jones, b. 27 Nov 1760, Hebron, Ct; m. Hannah Reed.
7. Timothy Jones, b. ca. 1767; m. Sarah ____."
5. LDS IGI reports a member submitted additional child named David Jones b. ca 1754 with absolutely no other information. I have found no other reference to a David in any other record. I suspect that the estimated date of 1754 for the unproven David was selected by the contributor since it fell into a gap between known birth dates of 1752 and 1756. If one accepts Eunice as a daughter of John and Amey as do I in 1750, then the known child Samuel Jones only fits in with a birth of 1754 [the Hebron records do not have his birth recorded like the other children.] All the other Hebron records have children born from 1748 to 1760 in two year increments with no entry for 1754. There is a possibility Samuel was born from 1762 to 1765 since there is also a big gap from known children's births of 1760 and 1767.
6. From the book "Our Town's Heritage, 1708-1958, Hebron, Connecticut," by John Sibun, 1975, Connecticut State Historical Society:
"The first white men to settle in town were Timothy Phelps and William Shipman, who arrived in Hebron from Windsor in June 1704. The area, then a wilderness, was used by the Indians as a hunting ground, and the few white men who knew of its existence passed through to other locations. The first two houses were located along Route 85 south of today's center. Approximately on what is now the Hilding driveway, Shipman built his homestead and Phelps constructed his home across the road on the land now owned by the Porter family. It is possible they worked on their property during the summer months only for the first two years, and returned to their families in Windsor when winter set in.
The settlers had some prior knowledge of what to expect before they arrived, as the land had been scouted years before but never occupied. Like so much territory on which Connecticut towns were founded, Hebron's land was owned originally by the Indians. However, in the case of Hebron, it was obtained not by seizure or conquest, but legally, in the form of a legacy drawn up by Joshua, Sachem of the Western Nehantics…
…Hebron became an incorporated town in May 1708 with nine families living within its boundaries.
Up until then, Lebanon excepted, towns had been named for their English counterparts and Hebron was the second Biblical name used in Connecticut. No one is certain how or why the name of Hebron came to be used. It may have been named by a scholar of the Bible, for it was apt in that its Hebrew origin meant a settlement created by people coming from diverse directions. There are numerous Hebrons in the United States, and the one in Nova Scotia was founded by people from Hebron, Connecticut, who were Tory "refugees." The original Hebron in Palestine was old in Abraham's day and is believed to be one of the two oldest cities in the world.
The first settlers in Hebron included Shipmans, Roots, Sawyers, Posts, Tillotsons, Palmers, Curtis, and two families of Phelps. Filers, Jones, Youngs, and Trumbulls were also among the very earliest families.
Probably the first spot named in the area was Prophet's Rock in use even before the name of Hebron. Prophet's Rock, located on the Smith property on Burrows Hill Road, is really two pieces of granite which look as though one large mass had been cleaved down the middle. It stands on the brow of the highest point around with one stone slightly larger and higher than the other. Each part of the rock has an overhang where one can huddle snugly from the rain and wind, and a sheltered place where a fire can be lighted. It is easy to see why Indians probably used the rock for refuge and observation when on the trail. When man was not there, it became a natural lair for the hunted animal or one sheltering itself from the noonday sun.
Here in 1706, so legend has it, the wives of Shipman and Phelps came to find their husbands. One evening the two original settlers heard strange sounds echoing across the valley, and an investigation revealed their families standing on the rock calling for them. It is conjecture whether they really could be heard. Be that as it may, the men were overjoyed to be reunited with their families. Martha Crow Phelps thought her place was with her husband and on her own initiative had resolved the situation. Bringing with her the goods that would make life in a virgin area more bearable, she camped along the way as the trip apparently took a few days. It is said she did not hurry, but negotiated the rough going stoically, clutching her Bible to herself as she lay down in the shelter of rocks and rested under fallen trees. Born in Windsor 36 years before, it could not have been an easy decision to make the journey, for Martha's mother had "disappeared" many years before when she had set out on a like journey to seek her husband.
Hebron is the 41st oldest town in the state and its very early origin can be shown by the fact that the Mayflower had arrived at Plymouth a bare 80 years before the first white men came to the region. For many people this magic date, to all intents and purposes, marks the start of the country's history. During the 1600's Plantations were founded in areas such as Saybrook, Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield which were accessible by waterways. It was not until later that inland towns, such as Hebron, came into being.
The 17th century was a time when the Indians in Connecticut chose sides and either fought for, or against, the white man. The Pequot tribe, which alone outnumbered the Englishmen, was one of the biggest and fiercest bands which roamed the countryside and frequently plundered the tiny colonies. Eventually, with the aid of other tribes, notably the Mohegans of Saybrook who hunted up through Hebron, the white man gradually brought lasting peace to the Connecticut countryside.
Before 1704 there was nothing to distinguish Hebron from the rest of this part of New England. Deer and other wild game roamed across a brush wilderness, slept in the caves, and sunned themselves on the great slabs of rock which dotted the countryside. Hunting the game to provide food and clothing, Indians from the local tribes hurried along the trails that had been blazed up from the shore line. Hebron was laced with these paths. The town area, as we know it now, probably did not support a regular large community of Indians, but from time to time, may have had isolated small resident groups.
In addition to hunting, the Indians used the area for a little seasonal farming. Each spring, the tribes would send some of their members to take possession of large inland hillsides suitable for growing corn. To clear the land quickly, vegetation was burned to the ground. Other Indians arrived with seed corn and ground fish porgies for fertilizer, and after the planting was completed, returned to their shore line homes. At the end of the summer the Indians collected their harvest. Some of it was used on the spot for a big celebration feast complete with dances around a corn stalk fire. The festivities over, the Indians headed for the shore with a corn supply which they hoped would last them through the long winter months ahead. Indians still used Burnt Hill, situated next to the Hebron road of that name, for growing corn long after the first white men came, but gradually the settler edged the red man out of his use of this type of land.
Very little, if any, trouble occurred between the first local Hebron settlers and the Indians. But in the first few decades when there was general unrest in the state, some residents took to sleeping in a Block House which was situated near the site of the old Brick School and what is now the junction of Route 85 and the Old Colchester Road.
In 1705, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized John Pritchard and John Plumb to survey the five mile tract (what is now part of the eastern and southern sides of Lebanon), the boundaries to be marked on convenient rocks. These markers remain; the one in Goshen bears the legend LVMC (for Lebanon Five Mile Corner). Many years ago, Clarence Bissell led a small party to rediscover the Hebron "L Rock." They set off from what is now Archie Green's house and located a flat rock three quarters of a mile from the southwest corner of Amston Lake; the chiseled "L" was still legible.
The "town fathers" also established laws at this time with which to govern the community. The first complete record of Town Officers was made in December 1709 when a town clerk, constable, 3 townsmen, surveyor of highways, and a lister were elected. It was voted that a diamond would be the town brand for cattle, and a certain white oak centrally located, was designated as the town's notice board. Initially, town meetings were held in various private homes. At this time, the primary business at meetings was that of establishing a church.
An early town law stated that no timber, wood, hay, or stone could be transported out of town. This was to ensure that the community did not experience any shortages in its attempt to become self-sufficient. In 1710 the state was petitioned to allow the town the right to tax the land within its boundaries.
There are few details of the first town meeting which was held on September 20, 1708, at which Timothy Phelps was elected Town Clerk. Another Phelps, Nathaniel, was "elected" in 1712 to be the town's first innkeeper. It appears that enough visitors were passing through the village to warrant such action. His tavern was situated near the Colchester line…
…It is very hard to find a time in the town's history when a Jones was not in residence. The oldest family grave- stones go back to 1775, but Joneses were in town long before that time. Many of them were soldiers including Ezekiel Jones who had been a drummer boy in the Revolution. Several towns in the state have a Jones family, and it is safe to say probably in many cases their ancestors came from Hebron many years before. Not only is there a street called after the prolific Jones family in Hebron, but there is a cemetery on that street named for them. For many years, they gathered once a year to put the cemetery grounds in order and at the same time have a picnic where everyone was brought up to date on the news of all branches of the family.
One Hebron Jones, Joel, found that being a principal citizen of the village had its drawbacks. In the late 18th century, he spent some time imprisoned in Tolland jail after the town was unable to pay its county taxes. This was one way the law could be enforced to collect taxes, but paradoxically, a sure way that a person could gain the respect of his fellow citizens…"
[Included with this article is a line drawing depicting "Martha Crow Phelps seeks her husband, with her on the "Prophet's Rock." Also there is a photo of the rock. Also included is a copy of a township map drawn in 1744 by Isaac Pinney with the original in the Connecticut State Library Ecclesiastical Vol. VII. The map lists the following Phelps: Esq. Phelps, Capt. Phelps, N. Phelps, C. Phelps, Noah Phelps, S. Phelps, and Phelps. The Phelpses are generally clustered to the east of the township center and approximately a third of the way up from the bottom of the township. There is only one "Jones" listed and that is on the western edge approximately 2 miles up from the southern border. This was John Jones' residence at which time he would have been a teenager in the household. There is still a Jones Street and Pond at the old location of the Jones. There is also a Jones Cemetery. Also listed are three "Porters" just to the west of the Phelps.]
BIRTH:
1. LDS IGI shows date ranges from about to 1721 to 1726 and birth places as either Hartland, Hartford, Connecticut or Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut. I find no documentation for either one. Hartland was not established until later and is not likely as a birthplace. His reported age at time of death was 92 making a birth ca 1729. His marriage was in Hebron and did not indicate that he was of another place as do many other entries in the Hebron records from that time period.
MARRIAGE:
1. Website 24 Sep 2007 www.douglaslibrary.org/barbour. The Douglas Library in Hebron, Connecticut has "Town of Hebron Vital Records: Barbour Collection 1708-1854," shows: "John Jones m. Ama Phelps, Mar. 24, 1747."
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Per group sheet of Israel Barlow Family Association, 801-298-3687, dated 24 Feb 1999 per Lloyd B. Carr, Genealogist, PO Box 89, Bountiful, Utah, 84011.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1729 - 1821 (~ 92 years)