DNA Testing My Paternal Uncle Uncovered a Number of New Jones Family Ancestors— And I Don’t Know Who They Are.
Oh, the can of worms that a DNA test can open….
Recently, I had a paternal uncle who has the surname of Jones Y-67 marker DNA tested with FamilyTreeDNA.
Looking at his results, I saw that he had two “cousins” who shared the surname Jones and at the 67 marker level had a genetic distance of 0 to him (Genetic Distance is defined at the end of this article). These two persons listed the following two ancestors as Most Distant Ancestors (MDA) for themselves: James William Jones b 12/09/1850 GA and James Jones, d 1823, Franklin Co, NC.
Well, there’s a problem with that: In my family tree of almost 5,000 persons, I didn’t have either of these two Most Distant Ancestors. And this is a paper trail tree that I thought to be fairly well researched and fairly accurate. Even at the Genetic Distance of 3 there were persons listed I wasn’t fully sure of. Like a “cousin” with an MDA of Adam Jones, b 1759 and d 1826, VA and GA. I didn’t recognize this Adam Jones.
Oh dear- DNA doesn’t lie.
Somewhere, somehow we are related to some Joneses that I wasn’t aware of. Even Joneses from Franklin, North Carolina. I didn’t have anyone in my tree closely related to the Jones family listed from Franklin.
Let the games begin.
First, I added the James William Jones b 1850, Georgia and the James Jones who died in 1823 in Franklin Co, North Carolina into my tree as unrelated persons. Doing so allows me to trace their line and, hopefully, eventually connect them to the rest of my tree.
My work on James William Jones ended fairly quickly with a father found of a Thomas Jones but no known parents for said Thomas. Thomas was, as well, from Georgia but could have been from any county, making it virtually difficult to trace his lineage.
On to our “Franklin Co, NC James Jones.” I worked hard and, at first, thought that I had better success with him. I traced him back to John Jones of Isle of Wight, Virginia and even forward in time to the known cousin match. All of MY known Joneses (and I trace from two Jones lines), including a few John Joneses, began their presence in America in Isle of Wight, Virginia. So there’s a start. Just maybe our John Joneses connect (of course, I have almost 20 men named John Jones in my tree, most having lived around Isle of Wight County in the early years of our country). But, then, I realized that my John Joneses DIDN’T connect to the James Jones of Franklin Co, NC. Ugh.
Then, I switched to THIS issue—
Adam Jones.
On my uncle’s DNA match list, at a Genetic Distance of 3, there is a “cousin” named Rick Jones with an MDA of Adam Jones b 1759 in Amelia, Virginia and d 13 Nov 1826 in Columbia, Co, Georgia. Prior to working on this puzzle, the only Adam Jones that I knowingly directly descended from is an Adam Jones born 1805 in Bulloch Co, Georgia and died 1879, and who married Mary Ann “Polly” Jones (yes, a Jones married a Jones).
The administrator of the account told me in a string of emails that her “Adam Jones is the other Adam Jones who lived in Georgia. He lived in Columbia County, Georgia and was married to Nancy Harrison” and “I haven’t been able to find the parents of my Adam Jones.” Her Adam Jones isn’t the same person as my Adam Jones, though their birth and death dates are similar. She noted, “The two Adam Joneses are different people. Everybody gets them confused since they lived relatively close to each other in Georgia. One was a minister of a Baptist church and the other was a farmer and Justice of Peace.” Her Adam was the farmer and Justice of Peace; my Adam was the Baptist minister. She added, “I have no doubt that the two Adam Joneses are related, but I haven’t researched too much in Virginia, yet, to find their common ancestor.”
Okay, start searching.
I began with adding this new “Adam Jones from Columbia Co, GA m Nancy Harrison” to my tree as an unattached, unrelated person. No luck– I couldn’t find his parents either.
I then started studying the other Adam Joneses in my tree. While doing so, I found that I likely direct descend from a SECOND Adam Jones. I thought the Adam Jones of b1805-d1879 was my only direct ancestor.
It began with researching a Thomas Jones in my tree. I had found that many researchers believe the parents of Thomas Jones, my 4th great grandfather, to be William Jones and Elizabeth Cosby. Definitive proof doesn’t seem to exist that these could be his correct parents. Scouring and studying available records allowed me to feel reasonably confident that this supposed parentage is wrong—that the parents of Thomas Jones are actually the Rev. Adam Jones and, likely, his second of three wives, Susannah Denmark.
So why is the fact that I descend from Rev. Adam Jones important? Because the father of Rev. Adam Jones is believed to be a Benjamin Jones, from Bute County, which is part of the current Franklin County, North Carolina. And Benjamin’s father is very likely, but not proven, to be a John Jones, thought to have died in Surry County, Virginia, the neighboring county to Isle of Wight County, Virginia. All these Joneses are actually beginning to connect. (Note: I must give tremendous credit to John Norvill Jones for his many years of dedication to the study of this family.)
I’m making progress.
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That was yesterday’s writings. Here’s today’s update:
Benjamin Jones I believe is the father of my Rev. Adam Jones. Benjamin also had a son named James J. Jones born before 1755 in Granville, North Carolina and died after 1822 (or in 1823) in Franklin, North Carolina. It is THIS James that I am fairly certain is the James Jones of Franklin Co, NC that my uncle has cousin matches with. If this research is correct, then I am definitely making progress in figuring out how my uncle has cousin matches in Franklin County, North Carolina.
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Note: A “Genetic Distance” is the number of mutation “steps” between two individuals. A distance of “0” is considered a perfect match; a distance of “1” would be a one-step mutation, etc. So a match between two men who have taken a 67-marker test and who share a common surname means they share a common male ancestor within a very close genealogical time frame. The more mutations, the longer the probable time period since the most recent common ancestor.
Julie, Did you know that John Norvill Jones passed away a few months ago. Also, how did you come to the conclusion that James Jones of Franklin Co, NC father was John Jones of Isle of Wight. You are meaning James who died in 1823, correct.
Hey cousin– I sent you an email! Thanks for commenting and keeping me accountable. Together we will figure this puzzle out. Julie
Yes, I got your email. Since your blog posted to the Jones Surname group, will they also get the informtion that James Jones of Franklin is not the son of John Jones. Thanks, I hope we will figure it out, I have worked on this so long and gotten no place. I can still remember the day back in the old SASE days when I got a reply that told me When My James J Jones and Patience Jones got married. That was my first real breakthrough that told me where they were from. A Banner day for sure.
Actually, even before correcting my thinking yesterday, I wasn’t stating that the father of your James Jones was John Jones. I apologize for my confusing verbiage but I was attempting to write that I had followed your James Jones BACK to a John Jones, meaning more generations back than father. I had his father as James Sidney Jones and his grandfather as John Jones– but I was incorrect! I’ll keep trying!
Julia
I have tried to look to see if anything of yours fitsinto mine because I have some Jones’ of mine, not proven yet, in Franklin County, North Carolina.
I went to familyaearch.org and did a search RECORDS>James J Jones>b 1750 – 1750, Granville, North Caroline> d 1820 – 1825>Franklin County, North Carolina.
It came up with 80 possibilities, the 1st was the probate file for James J Jones, 1823 Franklin County, North Carolina.
You may have already done this search but if not try it. It has a lot of info. I now need to go over them myself and see if any are related to my line.
Bob Jones
Bob, Is that the Complaint that was filed by his Wife Tamor that you are referring to.
Thanks,
Becky Jones Pacey
Hi Yes it was her complaint. Iy was so long I did not read it until now. Sorry that I led you astray.
My brick wall is Elijah Jones born 1814 in North Carolina. I do not know the county and I can’t find anything on him before his marriage, 1847, in Greene Alabama but one line I am looking at goes to Franklin County. It’s just that I can’t find anything there yet.
Good hunting. Who knows we may be related through this line. Only time will tell
Bob
Here is a link to the handwritten document. I have a transcription if you are interested.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VKJM-JKV
Thanks
I will keep the URL but if you want to send me a transcript I would appreciate it.
Bob
Send me your email and I will send it as a Word Attachment. My email is becky.pacey@gmail.com
The John Norville JONES who helped you a lot is a Y- dna match to mine – along with a cluster of other surname JONES. I have my family tree (vastly expanding hour by hour) on ancestryDNA which you may see by invitation from me, robert julian braxton. From it, I took a tiny hint surname POWELL, Eleanor – married a WRIGHT who is supposed to be ancestor to my paternal grandmother Flossie Emma Wright – any way, wound up in a nest of POWELL and JONES who went to Arkansas / Alabama from Virginia (William) and NC – powells married JONES, JONES married powell, they are descended from each other (one another). One had older brother Richard, younger brother David – his middle name (Furtis?) I found is in Bertie (County) NC from early 1800’s here used as a middle name. How JONES is in my Y-DNA (or the other way around) I do not yet know. I have a Y-111 match in Kentucky, Evan BLAKEY – and both that surname and the JONES (from Wales) surname intersect back in Middlesex County, VA ChristChurch Parish with Churchill Blakey and Susannah GEORGE plus military man Maurice SMITH – a Mr. Davidson is in touch with me about. So I have two sources / matches that wind up that some moment (location and time).
I believe we are related. My older brother had a photo of Rev Jones from bullock county. My grandfather was Mallie C Jones (also a preacher) and son of Adam Jones. My father was Josh C. Jones.
Yes, we must be! I will email you. I would be happy to share records and photos. Thank you for reaching out! Julie
Robert– I apologize that I am just now seeing your comment! Yes, we are related! Are you saying that your grandfather was Malachi Columbus Jones married to Julia A. Phillips? I have six children listed for this couple but a Josh C. Jones isn’t one of them! I’d love to figure out the connection. What photo do you have of Rev Jones, and which Rev. Jones are you referring to?
Julie, The James J Jones you show as son of Benjamin Jones, is supposed to be the son that was born in 1753 and died in 1803 according to John Norvill Jones. He is who I think is our James Jones who died in 1823 Franklin. He had a wife Mary. She was told by the court to inventory his estate. I felt that maybe he disappeared and took another wife Tamor and possibly she had to declare him dead. But he was not dead until 1823. It is said that our James had a first wife and it is said her name was Mary and she was Indian.
Hi Becky! I will go back and check my records. Thank you for stopping in and leaving a comment. I did receive your email regarding the Y111 test that you just had completed on John N. Jones. That was very generous of you! Julie
Julie, One thing we have to remember is that in the complaint that was filed by Tamor about her husbands estate, she said that he had a first wife and a great many children. I have not been able to find names of any of them that I know of. It had to be other children then just the ones mentioned in his will. Allen, David, John K, Sarah, Nancy, and Mary.
I think that it might be that some who are stuck and can not go back further could be some of those “great many children” who are mentioned by Tamor.
HI Julie and Rebecca,
I’m searching for information on a Sebern or Seaborn Jones born in 1800 in a Mill Spring, Polk County North Carolina. I have searched everyone for records on him and his parents and can not find anything. Ancestry has him tied to another family that is not even from NC and I’m not happy with those results till I see something backing it up.
Thank you for any time or help.
Reverend Adam Jones’ 1826 written will (proven 1830 in Warren County, Georgia) bequeaths 250 acres to his son Seaborn Jones. This must be a family name…
Rev. Adam Jones was my 5th Great grandfather. His son, Seaborn, was his last born child and was from wife #2 (of 3). Seaborn was born about 1808.
Seaborn Jones.
Reverend Adam Jones’ 1826 written will (proven 1830 in Warren County, Georgia) bequeaths 250 acres to his son Seaborn Jones. This must be a family name…
Hi Julie,
Someone on the Jones DNA Facebook group posted a link to this site. SInce we last talked, DNA does show the two Adam Joneses that lived in Georgia are related. I just haven’t found the common ancestor.
Just to make sure that we are on the same discussion– which two Adam Joneses are we discussing from Georgia? I have more than two!
My 4x great grandfather, James Laramore was born 1802 in North Carolina. He and his family moved to Tennessee and around 1840-1850 settles in Washington County Missouri. I have been told that his parents names are John and Sarah Renfro Laramore.
I’d welcome what records you have about this family! I don’t have them in my tree.
I don’t have any of these in my tree!
ADAM JONES DILEMNA! My line of Jones is paper documented to Adam Jones who died in Columbia County, Georgia in 1826. My 4x great grandmother is Elizabeth Cook Jones (married to Benjamin W Holladay). I tested my great uncle a year ago (he is 93 years old! allows me 2 gen deeper than my own DNA) – anyway…according to ThruLines, Thru Adam Jones my uncle shows 72 matches…But thru Adam’s wife, Nancy Harrison, he only shows 39 matches. I did a written comp of the names that I have been able to pull from (1) 1826 will of Adam J, and 1816 will of Richard Harrison (father of Nancy), (2) DNA matches to my Uncle and (3) various names from several different “Adam Jones d 1830, AKA Rev Adam J” and found that there are 33 matches to 10 of those DNA ThruLines that report as 1/2 siblings. TEN of the “Various Names (3) are listed as I/2 siblings according to the DNA ThruLines.I feel sure that there must be a plausible explanation. I just haven’t figured that puzzle piece out yet. I would be most interested in sharing details- my Public tree on ancestry.com is REYNOLDS, Alyce Reynolds Finley. I hope to hear from y’all.
I have a DNA match to the Rev. Adam Jones of NC and Warren County, GA. I think he was the son of Benjamin Jones of VA and Bute County, NC. I descend from a William Jones of this extended family of Warren County, GA who have relatives in the early South. Who has some information on this family? Charles S. Miller, malden@islc.net
Hhhmmmm… My Rev. Adam Jones, son of Benjamin Jones (1720 VA – 1777 Bute, NC), was born in 1755 in Virginia. He married three times. Of those three marriages, I don’t have him having a son named William. However, I DO have Benjamin Jones and Johannah Perry having a son named William. He was the brother of Rev. Adam Jones.
Oh my. Keepin up with the Jones’s is hard work I see. Lol how about Louisiana, did any them end up in central Louisiana. I don’t know much about my dad’s side but trying too my great grandfather was William (Bill) Jones. Buried in Belah graveyard. Just outside Jena Louisiana
Hi Connie– Yes, keeping up with the Joneses is hard!! I’m sure there were many who landed in Louisiana but I don’t have them in my tree. Good luck with your search!