For William Jones Descendants

THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST IS TO ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE, AND BEGIN TO SHARE, AND STUDY THE POSSIBILITIES RAISED IN ATTEMPTING TO MATCH GENETIC GENEALOGY AND TRADITIONAL GENEALOGY RESULTS TO UNDERSTAND OUR JONES FAMILY

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF TRADITIONAL GENEALOGY AND GENETIC GENEALOGY —  Traditional Genealogy relies mostly on a paper trail and personal memories.  The weaknesses and shortfalls of the approach are obvious. 

The problems in tracing a family line through traditional genealogy is greatly increased if the Surname is a common one.  The most common surnames in the US are “Smith, Johnson, Williams, Jones, Brown, Davis, Miller, and Wilson.” The most common given names for men in the U.S. are “James, John, Robert, Michael, William, David.” The problem with common surnames, especially when combined with a common given name, is too many possibilities.  It is obvious that tracing “William Jones,” “Robert Jones,” “James Jones,” or “David Jones” in the 18th and 19th Century South is a real challenge.  For example there are three William Joneses of approximately the same age in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.  Records exist that show both the Tennessee and Georgia William Joneses married to the same Susannah Crawford.  Further, it is clear that three straight generations of William JONESes (Sr., Jr., and III) create many confusions between fathers and sons.  

Teasing out the RIGHT William JONES is always our major problem. 

Genetic Genealogy is still in its infancy.  Most of us are still learning, as are the “professionals” and the companies who sell the tests, collect, and organize the results, and write the software to match information from traditional genealogy to results from genetic genealogy.  

Matching Traditional Trees to Genetic Results — Ancestry is the only company currently attempting such matches, and their results depend on at least two factors:

1. Accuracy and/or agreement between trees (typically multiple trees).  Errors or discrepancies will produce weird results, or no results.

2. Statical probability and numbers of tested individuals — the data bases are limited to those who have been tested.  If an individual or couple has many descendants alive today (hundreds or thousands), there are increased chances that their descendants will find matches among those who have been tested.  On the other hand, if an individual or a couple have only 1, or 2 or 10 or 100 descendants alive today, you may be the only one of their descendants to be tested and therefore no matches will be found in any data base.  

Types of DNA Tests — In tracking our JONES FAMILY the three most common tests have been used. 

1. Y-DNA has been tested with Family Tree DNA in order to trace the Jones branch.  This test was done by a male Jones, directly descended  from Our William Jones.
2. Mt DNA  (mitochondrial DNA) has been tested with Family Tree DNA by a matrilineal descendant of Caroline Jelks Jones.
3. Autosomal DNA tests have been done with both Ancestry and Family Tree DNA.  Over 20 of the descendants of William JONES and Caroline Jelks Jones have already had their autosomal DNA tested.

The Y-DNA test has suggested that “Our William JONES” was possibly not a Jones.  A professional genealogist has hypothesized that our William JONES is descended from a male line whose family name is Hogue or Hogg.  This is called a NPE or Non Paternal Event.  Traditional genealogy cannot detect such events, which can be caused by  a number of factors, including adoption, infidelity, or rape.

The mt DNA has recently had one match within recent history, and this is being followed.  

The Autosomal DNA  tests have resulted in literally hundreds of matches in both data bases.  This POST concentrates on the DNA findings done through Ancestry, and specifically with the TRULINES analyses Ancestry has produced.  

1. We begin this Post by trying to tell the story of OUR WILLIAM JONES from the information in our Traditional Genealogy based Family Tree.
2. Then we summarize and discuss the Genetic Genealogy findings, concentrating on the Autosomal DNA.
3. Finally, we discuss future research.

This Story of WILLIAM JONES (father of the Louisiana Jones Family)  is based on the genealogical records.  This linage for William Jones was originally traced by a professional genealogist hired by his grandson, Gov. Sam Houston Jones of Louisiana.  Until recently, I took this genealogy at face value.  

When I began to scrutinize the information more closely, I reached two conclusions: 

1. All the paper trail of traditional genealogy confirms that the parents of our William Jones (the third of this name) were William Jones (herein called Jr.) and his wife Bersheba Abercrombie.  
2. The preponderance of evidence also links William Jones, Jr. to William Jones (herein called Sr.) whose first wife was Susannah Crawford. 

The discovery of William Jones, Sr.’s, Will supports the lineage in some respects, but also raises interesting questions. Notes from this Will, are given as a footnote to this document (for those who hang in there to the bloody end).  

The 2 most significant findings in the Will of William JONES, Sr. are:

1. William Sr. apparently had a second wife (Lucy) who was the mother of William’s daughter (Lucy)  and lived for a year after William died.
2. The witnesses to William Sr.’s Will included Peter CRAWFORD and William CRAWFORD.  I hypothesized that these Crawford men were related to William’s first Wife Susannah Crawford, either her brothers or nephews.  I was correct.  Peter CRAWFORD was Susannah’s brother.  It is unclear whether William Crawford is Susannah’s brother or nephew (there are multiple William Crawfords).  This discovery has allowed us to trace the Crawford linage. I am awaiting potential Ancestry matches from the Crawford Family.

In the following discussion of the LIFE OF WILLIAM JONES III, we use these genealogical records for his parents and grandparents.

For ease in consideration we have divided Our William Jones’ life into the following five segments:

1805-1822 (Birth until Death of His father.). 17 years — Ages 0-17 (Probably in

Georgia)

1822-1836 (Death of his Father until Death of his Mother) 14 years. — Ages 17-31 

(Possibly in Georgia )

1836-1844 (Death of his Mother until his Marriage)  8 years — Ages 31-39 (Whereabouts 

Unknown until Marriage in Mississippi)

1844-1860  (Marriage until Move to Louisiana) 16 years — Ages 39-55 (Mississippi then

  Arkansas) — Do not know when he arrived in Arkansas, but he was there before

        1850.

1860-1865 (Move to Louisiana until Death)  5 years — Ages 55-60 (Louisiana)

1805-1822 (Birth until Death of His father.). 17 years — Ages 0-17 (Probably in

Georgia)

When William Jones, III, was born in 1805, his parents William, Sr. and Beersheba Abercrombie had been married 5 years.  His father was 26 and his mother was 28.  William III, had a sister, Nancy, who was 3 years older.  After taking 5 years to have 2 children, William Sr. and Bersheba had three sons in 3 years.  William III in 1805, James Randall in 1806, and Wliey E. In 1807.  Some records show William and James Randall both as being born in 1805 (so called “Irish twins”).  With 3 sons born in slightly over 2 years, the household was certainly a lively one, and the boys may have been competitive rivals.  It should be noted that William Jr. named his first son William III (for himself and the boy’s paternal grandfather).  It seems unlikely that this name would have been used if paternity was in doubt.

No additional children were born for 5 years.   Then in 1812, a second daughter, Susan (presumably named for her Jones grandmother) was born.  Almost 6 years later, in 1818, twin sons, Iverson H. And Robert Abercrombie were born.  Robert Abercrombie Jones was named for his maternal grandfather, clinching this genealogical link.  The third daughter, 8th and last child was born (according to the records) less than a year later.  She was named Elizabeth S.  (probably Elizabeth Sarah).

The two long gaps between children are worthy of consideration.  Miscarriages or stillbirths may have occurred during these periods, leaving no records.  Alternatively, poor health for Bersheba or William, or estrangement may have played a role.  In any event, the marriage between William and Bersheba lasted 22 years and produced 8 living children.  It ended with William’s death in 1822 at the age of 43.  His 45 year old widow was left with 8 children ages: 19, 17, 16, 15, 10, 5, 5, and 4.  

A copy of William Jr.’s Will would be extremely enlightening as to relationships within the family and between father and mother, and father and sons.  We found William Sr.’s Will, but have not located Jr.’s.  We do have the 1820 Census for Clinton, Jones County, GA, showing William Jones, Jr. and family, and we have his death record.

1822-1836 (Death of his Father until Death of his Mother) 14 years. — Ages 17-31 (Possibly Georgia )

The years immediately following William Sr.’s death were difficult for the family.  Less than a year after her father’s death (1823), the middle daughter Susan Jones died at age 11.  In the following year, 1824, the grandfather, William Sr. passed away; and in 1825, William Sr.’s widow died.  William Sr. left 400 acres and slaves to his widow, to be divided equally among his children after her death. The widow, who must have been William Sr.’s second wife, was named Lucy, and was not Susannah Crawford, the mother of the two Jones sons — William III and James.  Two Crawford men were among the five witnesses to the Will and probate, clearly demonstrating a close connection between the Jones and Crawford families.

While we do not have evidence of where William III was during these years, it is difficult to believe that he would have left his Mother during such difficulties.  I believe he would have remained with his Mother, at least while she coped with the deaths and responsibilities.  A copy of the 1830 Census would give us more information about the family during this period, but this record has not been located.

In 1832, Beresheba’s oldest daughter Nancy died at the age of 30.  I do not have evidence that Nancy  married or had children.  Bersheba outlived her oldest daughter by only 4 years, passing away in 1836 at the age of 59.  Her death spared her further sorrow when her twin sons both died within 3 years.  Robert Abercrombie passed in 1838 (age 20), and Iverson H. in 1839 (age 21).  

By 1840, the only living members of the family were the 3 stair-step sons, William III, James Randall, and Wiley E. (ages 35. 34, and 33), and the baby daughter Elizabeth S. (age 21).  A copy of the 1840 census would be very helpful in locating the sons.  I have no evidence that Susan Jones ever married or had children.  Her death notice in 1858, gives her name as Elizabeth S. Jones (age 39).

The Panic of 1837 — Beersheba Abercrombie Jones’ death also spared her the economic difficulties that began in 1837, and peaked around 1840.  This was one of the first and worst economic down turns (depressions) suffered in this country. 

I cannot tell from the dates whether Bersheba lived to see her first grandchild, a daughter born to James Randall and his wife Ann Catherine Boykins.  Ann Jones, born in 1836, was the first of four daughters born to James Randall and Ann Catherine.  The couple lived their entire lives in Georgia, dying in 1871 (James Randall) and 1886 (Ann Catherine).

Wiley E. Jones married Mary E. Wiggins, and they had a daughter (Elizabeth, who died as an infant in 1840) and a son Wiley E. Jones, Jr.  Wiley Sr. served as a Major in the Civil War, and died in 1872 (age 65).  Mary survived him by 3 years, passing in 1875.  Like James Randall, and Susan, Wiley lived his entire life in Georgia.

1836-1844 (Death of his Mother until his Marriage to Caroline Jelks)  8 years — Ages 31-39 (Whereabouts Unknown until Marriage in Mississippi)

While we have no definitive evidence of when William Jones III left his home in Georgia, my guess is that he remained until after the death of his mother in 1836.  Then sometime between 1836 and 1840 he left Georgia.  His Mother and two of his sisters were dead; his brothers were married and had children.  

THE FAMILY LEGEND — The story passed down in our family (descendants of William Jones III) held that William left Georgia because of a “dispute” in the family about the division of the property.  Specifically, I was told that William was given money to compensate him for his share of the land and slaves. I had always assumed that he left after the death of his Father; however, since the boys were all minors in their teens when their father died, it seems that any dispute was more likely to have occurred between the three brothers after the death of their Mother in 1836.  At this time William was the only unmarried brother.

I believe that sometime between 1836 and 1840, (ages 31-35) William III left Georgia and traveled west to make his fortune and establish a family.  Of course he could have left years earlier, and traveled or tried some enterprise in the years between 1822 and 1844.  Indeed, we really don’t know where William was during the 22 years between 1822 (age 17) and 1844 (age 39).  I am currently working on the assumption that William may have traveled to Mississippi with one of his Crawford cousins.

What we do know is that in 1844 William III was in Mississippi, and that on May 13, in Copiah, he married Caroline Jelks.  At their marriage, the groom was 39 and the bride was 24 (15 years younger).  We do not know what William III’s financial situation was, but the family of the bride was prosperous and well-connected.  

1844-1860  (Marriage until Move to Louisiana) 16 years — Ages 39-55 (Mississippi then

  Arkansas — We do not know when William III and Caroline arrived in Arkansas, but

they were there before 1850.

At some time after their marriage, William III and Caroline left Copiah, Mississippi, and traveled to Pike City, Pike County, Arkansas. What we know about the timing of their travels we derive from the birth places of their children.  Their first child, a daughter, named Sarah Frances, was born on Oct. 13, 1850 in Pike, Arkansas.  We have no definitive information for the 6 years between their marriage in 1844 and the brith of Sarah Frances in 1850.  In those days, (before modern birth control)  it was unusual for a couple to have no children for 6 years after their marriage.  It is possible that Caroline had difficulties maintaining a pregnancy or giving birth.  She may have miscarried or had newborn infants die.  Her mother may have had similar problems, and we know that her second daughter Maria Teresa had pregnancy difficulties and lost 3 children in early infancy.  In any event, another 8 years passed between the birth of Sarah Frances and the birth of her younger sister Maria Teresa in 1858.  William III and Caroline were still living in Arkansas when their second daughter was born.

1860-1865 (Move to Louisiana-Death)  5 years — Ages 55-60 (Louisiana)

In the four years between 1858 and 1862, William III and Caroline, and their two daughters moved from Pike, Arkansas to Sugartown, Louisiana.  We know this because they were in Sugartown when their third child, and only son Robert Jones, was born in 1862.  We note that William III named his first son Robert, honoring his maternal Grandfather Robert Abercrombie and his deceased brother, of the same name.  This may or may not reflect on the relationship between William III and his father.  William III was 57 when his only son was born; Caroline was 42.  

HISTORIC EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JONES FAMILY MOVE TO LOUISIANA —

Nov. 6, 1860 — Abraham Lincoln was elected.

Dec. 20 1860 — South Carolina succeeded

Jan. 26, 1861 — Louisiana is the 6th State to Succeed

March 21, 1861 — Louisiana joins the Confederacy

April 12, 1861 — Southern forces fire on Ft. Sumpter

May 6, 1861 — Arkansas succeeded from Union

May 26, 1861 — Union Navy blockades the Mississippi 

July 21, 1861 — Battle of Manassas in Virginia

Aug. 10, 1861 — Arkansas troops participate in Battle of Wilson’s Creek in Missouri

April 24, 1862 — Confederate troops evacuate New Orleans

April 25, 1862 —  Farragut captures New Orleans

May 12, 1862 — Baton Rouge captured

July 1, 1863 — Battle of Gettysburg

July 9, 1863 —  Fall of Vicksburg; Union Forces control the Mississippi

March 10, 1864 — The Red River Campaign begins.

March 17, 1864 — Federal troops capture Alexandria

March 31, 1864 — Federal troops capture Natchitoches

April 9, 1864 — Battles of Pleasant Hill and Mansfield send the Federal Troops back

                                  to Alexandria.

May 13,  1864 — Alexandria is burned by Federal Troops who return to New Orleans

May 18, 1864 — Battle of Yellow Bayou

April 9, 1865 — General Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House

At a time when Arkansas and Louisiana were in political turmoil, William Jones choose to move his family from Pike Arkansas to Sugartown, Louisiana. To reach Sugartown, the family traveled through the rich river lands and large cotton plantations of the more developed portions of the state.  

        When the Jone Family arrived, Sugartown was was still part of Imperial Calcasieu Parish, with the Parish government in Lake Charles.  Prior to 1845, Sugartown was part of an area variously called:  The Neutral Strip; No Man’s Land; or the Free State of Sabine.  In 1860, the law’s of the United States had been enforced in the Sugartown area for less than 15 years. It is also notable that there were very few slaves in the area, and a number of Freedmem, and many of mixed races (White, Black, Native American) often called Red Bones.  There were virtually no cotton plantations in the area.  For over 200 years this disputed strip of land had no organized law enforcement, and was the refuge of outlaws and others seeking to leave a former life behind.  

On the positive side, the area’s recent entry into the United States meant that prime acres were available for “homesteading,” and anyone willing to clear and develop land could acquire a farm.  Further, with homestead land available, land prices were low, and money went a long way in purchasing property.  The primary riches of the area were the virgin forests of long leaf pines and cypress.

On March 17,1864, the day Union forces captured the nearby city of Alexandria, 44 year-old Caroline Jelks Jones gave birth to her fourth and last child, a girl, whom they named Drucilla Harriet Jones.  Before baby Drucilla was 3 months old, the active War was over in Louisiana. 

As the Civil War ended, so did the life of William Jones III.  He died in Sugartown, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.  He was buried in the nearby Old Campground Cemetary, a place his grandson would make a national historic site.  William iii was 60 years old.  He left a widow, age 45, with 3 daughters and 1 son, ages 10, 7, 3, and 1.

What Caroline Jelks Jones accomplished against overwhelming odds should be admired by all, especially by her descendants.  Louisiana was impoverished in the wake of the War.  Many were struggling for survival.  Organized government institutions had broken down, and lawlessness reigned.  Caroline managed not only to raise her children, but to give them a somewhat better education than most.  I don’t know how she accomplished this, but I will always admire her.

One thing I know is that William and Caroline gave their children was a sense of personal and family pride.  I grew up hearing stories about Grandmother Nolen (Maria Teresa Jones Nolen).  The stories are many and varied, but her character traits are consistent.  She possessed a sense of Noblesse Oblige, a certitude that she was right even when faced with alternative opinions, and a fierce spirit, intent on seeing that Right was done.  I think she must have acquired these traits from her Mother, Caroline.

DNA STUDIES AND RESULTS

Sam Jones has been pursuing Y-DNA studies of our Jones line. These suggest that Our William Jones may not have been a Jones.  This is my interpretation of my autosomal DNA findings, and the extent to which it supports or refutes this hypothesis.

ANCESTRY AUTOSOMAL DNA FOR THE JONES-JELKS LINE

****In interpreting this information it is important to note that there is a discrepancy between my Family Tree and Trulines regarding the names of the 4th and 5th great grandparents on the Jelks line.  This must be resolved, but it does not change the findings in this report.

2nd Great Grandparents

WILLIAM JONES AND CAROLYN JELKS— 24 descendants Matched

Sarah Frances Jones Deramus — 7 total  (Nancy 2; William 3; Jacob 2)

Maria Theresa Jones Nolen — 8 total  (Clora Frances 7; Sarah Delilah 1)

Robert Jones 2 Total  (Sam 1; Varina 1)

Drucilla Harriet Jones Weldon 6 Total  (Franklin Pierce 4; Jefferson Jackson 2)

3rd Great Grandparents —

WILLIAM JONES and BERSHEBA ABERCROMBIE 

No new descendants — that is, the only matches are the descendants of William and Carolyn, as listed above.  This is consistent with this William Jones not being our ancestor. However, William III and Bersheba, this could be a statical problem.  William III had four children who all left descendants.  His four siblings seem to have left only 5 descendants (4 girls and 1 boy).  It is not clear how many of these left descendants.

3rd Great Grandparents

ELDRED JELKS AND ELIZABETH MERRITT

28 related descendants

Narcissus Jelks Spikes — 6 Total  (Willis 1; Narcissa 1; John 4)

Carolyn Jelks Jones 22 as described above.

4th Great Grandparents

WILLIAM JONES AND SUSANNAH CRAWFORD — No descendants except our Jones family.  This is Consistent with our not being descended from this Jones Line..

4th Great Grandparents 

ROBERT ABERCROMBIE AND NANCY HARRIS — No descendants except our Jones Family.  This is Consistent with our not being descended from the Jones Family. It could also indicate a statistical problem with too few other descendants.

***4th or 5th Great Grandparents 

ETHELDRED/WILLIAM JELKS AND PHILLIS ANN HUBBARD

23 descendants matched

ETHELDRED Jelks — 21

William Jelks — 2

(Phillis shows additional descendants)

In addition to our ELDRED Jelks, she shows 7 DNA descendants through Takisha Jelks Underwood.  She does not show relationship to William Jelks’ descendants.). Remember that with each generation half of your DNA comes from each parent, but the DNA from prior generations is not perfectly equal.

5th Great Grandfather

JAMES JONES — Only our family.  Again consistent with no relationship in Jones line.  

5th Great Grandfather

ROBERT ABERCROMBIE AND JANE GRESHAM — BIG SURPRISE

Although our 4th great grand parents (Robert Abercrombie) did not show other descendents related to us, our 5th great grandfather (also Robert Abercrombie) shows descendants related to us through a brother of our Robert (Charles Abercrombie).  We are genetically matched to 7 of Charles Abercrombie’s descendants.  These 7 matches are descended through 4 of Charles’ Abercrombie’s children.THIS IS PRETTY STRONG EVIDENCE OF OUR ABERCROMBIE DESCENT, which would be through Bersheba Abercrombie, who is the MOTHER OF OUR WILLIAM JONES.  I may be jumping the gun, but this suggests that we are descended from Bersheba Abercrombie, but not from her husband, William Jones???

Another possible scenario would be that William and Beersheba Abercrombie Jones adopted William, who was the child of one of Beersheba's close Abercrombie relations.  Within family adoptions were common, especially when it appeared that more natural children might not be born.  In this case, it is possible that Nancy was also adopted.