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| Rebelmen, Monument Park, Fort Lee, NJ, c.1908 |
STEPHEN JONES (1763-1842) of ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY
This post chronicles the life of Stephen Jones of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, who served in the New Jersey Militia during the American Revolution. He married Keziah Strawn of Washington County, Pennsylvania, daughter of John and Keziah (nee Dennis) Strawn and they produced at least a dozen children. Stephen is later found in Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois.
Because of Stephen Jones' extraordinary connections to history through the American Revolution, and later the early growth of the LDS church, it has been possible to find a number of historical records which refer to him. In addition, 2 precious letters written by him to his children have been carefully preserved by his descendants. I have attempted here to provide details of his life with proof, as much as possible. References to the Latter Day Saints Church is historical only. Additional proof is needed for some of Stephen's children. I would be happy share research. Please email me.
1780-1781 AMERICAN REVOLUTION
In his pension request based on the Congressional Act of 7 Jun 1832, Stephen Jones gives a description of his service during the Revolutionary War. Following is my transcription of his testimony before the court:
"That in June 1780, on an alarm of the near approach of the British troop, commanded by Gen. Knyphausen, in Essex county New Jersey, he entered the militia >as a private< under Capt. Thomas Williams, Maj. Samuel Hayes – does not recollect the names of any other officers – That on the first day of the alarm was in several smart skirmishes – in the evening the Enemey [sic] retired to Elizabethtown-point; at which place they remained awhile – They then marched out to Springfield, burned Springfield meeting house, and were met by Col. Spencer who commanded the American Troops, a battle was fought, in which he was engaged, the enemy were co-f?ented and retired again to Elizabeth Town point ??. The Troops under Col. Spencer were Regular Troops. He continued in the service until the British retired from New Jersey. He thinks the expedition was from two to four weeks – does not particularly recollect. He then was dismissed and went home, to Newark, Essex county, N. Jersey.
On the last of June or first of July, 1780, he enlisted in the Service, as a private sol-dier, for six months, under Capt. Thomas Blanch, Lieutenant Anthony Brown, and Major John M. Gotchew [Goetschius]. The Sargeant Major’s name was Nathan Pennington. He joined his company at Closter, New Jersey, then marched to Closter landing on the Hudson River. He was marched from the last named place to Hackensack – and was kept during the time of his enlistment, with his battalion, between the American and British Armies. Some time in the same fall he was engaged on Newark Marsh, in a skirmish with the Enemy. In the forepart of January, 1781, when his term of service expired, he was dismissed, and some time after was in-formed that he must appear at Hackensack, to receive his discharge and Certificate for his pay, which he did, signed by Lieutenant Anthony Brown- His certificate, he sold to a John Burnet, in New-ark.He deems it proper to mention that while out on the alarm occasioned by the invasion of New Jersey by Knyphausen, he was made by a Lieutenant, and twenty four men to guard Gen. Washington while he reviewed the British camp from a high eminence some distance off." [Revolutionary War Pension Files Roll: 1445 Image: M804 File S15,903; Heritage Quest]
Stephen Jones was a 17-1/2 year-old youth when he left home to first respond to the militia alarm. Private Jones was under the command of Captain Thomas Williams and Major Samuel Hayes. The militia skirmished several times during the first day, then the enemy retreated to Elizabethtown. Jones served from between two to four weeks, during which time he fought in the battles at Elizabethtown and Springfield (the largest battle in the North). During this enlistment he was assigned with a group of 24 men to guard General George Washington as he reviewed the British encampment.
He reenlisted for six months under the militia command of Major John Mauritius Goetchschius of Bergen County, a Dutch-American, whose "skill as a guerrilla tactician and leader of men was unsurpassed. Stephen stated he "was marched from Closter to Hackensack, and spent half a year positioned between the Continental and British armies. At his release in Hackensack he received a certificate of pay, which he immediately sold and left for home. [Marina; The Dutch-American Guerillas of the American Revolution]
1781-1802 GREENE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The reasons for Stephen Jones' decision to leave New Jersey and head west into Pennsylvania are unknown. There is no evidence that he moved with a 'FAN Club' (Friends, Associates & Neighbors) to Washington County, nor that he was acquainted with anyone from the area prior to his arrival.
At some point prior to 1794 Stephen Jones arrived in the Tenmile Creek area in Morgan Township, Washington County, became acquainted with the John Strawn family, and married one of John and Keziah's daughters. This is borne out by John Strawn's will (see John Strawn's will 1781-1802 Greene County below). [Endowment House Records, LDS Church, Salt Lake City, UT; Will of John Strawn, Greene County, Pennsylvania, Will Book 1, p 71-72, Will #114]]
Stephen is listed on page 4 of the 1800 census for Morgan Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania. On 4 Aug 1800 his household consisted of 2 males under the age of 10, 1 male age 26 to 44, 2 females under 10, and 1 female age 16 to 25. Arguably the older male and female are Stephen and his wife. At this point the household had four children under the age of 10. John Strawn, both Senior and Junior, are also living in the same township in 1800. [1800 Federal Census Pennsylvania,Greene p. 7 l. 13]
Four children by 1800 does not completely agree with what we hypothesize about Stephen's children: a son John was born about 1795 in probably Washington County, a son Hiram about 1796, daughter Lydia about 1797, daughter Rachel on 1 Jul 1798, the last three claiming to be in Greene County. Additionally, a son Moses, was born 4 Jul 1799 and a daughter Hannah on 6 Jun 1800, both claimed in Washington County. By this count there are six children, not four. It is known that Stephen's son John died before 1844, and daughter Lydia before 1876, based on church records of those dates. Could these two have died early in childhood, making the configuration Hiram, Moses, Rachel and Hannah? [Endowment House Records, LDS Church, Salt Lake City, UT]
Following the 1800 census, another daughter, Elizabeth, was born to Stephen and his wife in probably Greene County in 1801.
In explanation of the mixed Pennsylvania counties reported as birth places for Stephen's children, Greene was formed on 9 Feb 1796 from part of Washington County. It is likely that the Strawn family lived along Tenmile Creek in an area that was once Washington County, but became Greene County when it was formed. There was likely some confusion in later recordings of birth dates and places that did not take the formation date into consideration.
The will of John Strawn, attesting Stephen's relationship as John's son-in-law, suggests that Stephen is living in Greene County in 1801.
"In the Name of God Amen--I John Strawn being weak and sick in body not expecting to continue in this world long, but of perfect mind and memory; and the earthly estate where with the Lord has given me I wish to dispose in the following--(viz.) first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body to buried in a plain decent manner and 2nd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Kiziah all my property land and money or property of any description whatsoever and first I request her to make a ____? to get a sufficiency to discharge my Debts and as much more as she shall think proper, and the whole be in her possession as long as she continues my Widow, only one hundred and fifty pounds to be kept for my Daughter Milly who is lame and she at the age of fifteen is to have it or if she had rather live with her mother, her mother to have the use of it till she calls for it, to be paid annually the interest of the whole till she is twenty one years old and then the whole to be paid off. I do therefore appoint Jacob Strawn my brother and Stephen Jones my Son in Law my lawful executors of my estate and I do there fore say this is my last Will and Testament revoking and disannulling all others of prior dates as Witness my hand and seal this nineteenth day of August one thousand eight hundred and one. Witnesses: Jas. Heaton, Nathaniel Luse, his mark Samuel Clarke. Signed John Strawn." [Will of John Strawn, Greene County, Pennsylvania, Will Book 1, p 71-72, Will #114]
Stephen then appears to have returned to Greene County for the period 1805 to 1806, where [daughter Permelia and] son Benjamin were born. However, by the time John Strawn's will was probated in 1808, court records document that Stephen Jones had removed from Pennsylvania.
"On the twenty ninth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, before me John Boreman Register for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the said County, personally came Samuel Clarke one of the subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing and annxed Instrument of writing and on his oath did depose and say that he was present and saw and heard John Strawn the Testator within named, sign, seal, and publish, pronounce and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, and that at the time of doing there of , he was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, to the best of his knowledge, observation and belief, and that he also saw James Heaton and Nathaniel Luse the other Witnesses subscribe their names thereto. Signed his mark, Samuel Clarke."
"Sworn and Subscribed the day above written before me, John Boreman Register. Registered the 29 August 1808, and Letters Testamentary granted to Jacob Strawn Executor, (the other Executor, Stephen Jones, having removed out the State) the same day.Letters Administration for the residue and remainder of the Goods unadministered by Jacob Strawn (since deceased) granted to Jacob Strawn the 16th December 180_.
Administration Account passed the 28th November 1810, and the balance of $55.44 in the hands of the Administrators of Jacob Strawn deceased, the executor above named, having first been paid over to Jacob Strawn Administrator de bonis, now of the above named John Strawn deceased." [Probate of John Strawn, Greene County, Pennsylvania, Will Book 1, p 71-72, Will #114]
The remaining three children attributed to Stephen and his wife are said to have been born in Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, north-east of Cincinnati: Stephen Jr. born about 1802, Phoebe born about 1803, and Harriet, born about 1804. [Endowment House Records, LDS Church, Salt Lake City, UT]
1830-1831 DELAWARE COUNTY, INDIANA
Stephen Jones reported to the court during his pension hearing that on 7 Jun 1832 he had resided in a remote area of Indiana. In the 1830 Federal Census he is
found in Liberty Township, Delaware County, in that state. In the household
are one male age 50-60, 1 male age 60-70, and one female age 40-50. Born in 1763, Stephen
fits the age 60-70 category, and the female is presumably his wife. The
identity of the male age 50-60 is unknown. [1830 Federal Census Indiana Delaware Liberty p. 1, l. 13]
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| Subpoena for Stephen Jones and wife, Delaware County, Indiana |
Indiana, as witnesses in the case of State vs. Shappell. [Subpoenas Muncie Public Library Local History and Genealogy Resources Muncie/Delaware County Digital Resource Library]
Positive verification is provided by a letter written by Stephen Jones on 28
Dec 1831 in Delaware County, Indiana. The letter, carefully preserved underneath tissue paper by the widow of William Eugene Jones, grandson of Stephen, was
discovered by his great-granddaughters, Fanny Myrtle (nee Jones) Leasure and Mary
Susan "Mamie" (nee Jones) Shafer after their mother's death. The letter had been kept
in the bottom of Elizabeth Hannah (nee Uhl) Jones' trunk, which she brought with her when she moved to
the home of her daughter, Mamie, in Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana. The
trunk remained in Mamie's possession after her mother's death in 1955.
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| Stephen Jones' 1831 Letter p.1 |
Addressed to Moses Jones in Grass Creek, (then Indian Lands, now Fulton County), Indiana, Stephen
begins with the salutation "Dear children." He lists individuals presumed to be his sons, daughter, and son-in-law: "Moses, Hiram, Benjamin & Stephen Jones Jr., George Carr, and all my daughters." Benjamin is instructed in the letter, to "see to Mary Ann," and Stephen writes he has sent word by Job Strawn [presumed to be his brother-in-law], to have her [Mary Ann] "chose [sic] you [Benjamin] her guardian...as she had no parents in the state."
Stephen describes where he is living as 'on the Misisin---a [Mississinewa] river, 20 miles from Winchester, and 11 from Muncy [Muncie] town.' He asks his children to direct letters sent to him to the Winchester Post Office. In the body of the letter Stephen refers to his children's step-mother, and signs the letter "Stephen Jones" and "Mary."
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Stephen Jones' 1831 Letter p.2 |
The news Stephen Jones wanted to share with his children when he had written from Delaware County on 2 Dec 1831 was that he had obtained a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he stated was "now in the family." Stephen speaks of his understanding and belief in the "revelation," and encourages his children to obtain a copy, and to ask God to manifest the truth to them.
The 1831 letter was found in the mid-1950's in an old trunk in the Rochester, Indiana home of Mary Susan (nee Jones) Shafer, a great-granddaughter of Stephen's. The trunk had belonged to Mamie's mother, Elizabeth Hannah (nee Uhl) Jones, who had lived with her daughter prior to her death in 1955. Mary and her sister, Fanny (nee Jones) Leasure, were sorting the contents of their deceased mother's trunk and found the 1831 letter. About 1958 through Fanny's daughter-in-law the original letter came to be shared with the LDS church. Copies of this letter have been shared with researchers, first via mail, then via Internet, including an edited version which removed all references to the LDS church. [Letter of Stephen Jones dated 2 Dec 1831; Stephen Jones collected research by L.S. Eliason]
Stephen Jones' home on the Mississinewa would have been located located in the mid-north-east of Indiana. The Mississinewa River is located in the top right of the map. Muncie is on the White River where the distance narrows between it and the Mississinewa. Stephen is living 11 miles from Muncie and 20 miles from Winchester, the post office where he collects his mail. It is about 23 miles from Muncie to Winchester, indicating Stephen Jones probably lives somewhere north-east of Muncie, and closer to Muncie than Winchester.
Confirming Stephen's statement are the writings of Levi W. Hancock from his
journal describing his mission to Jackson County, Missouri. Hancock writes that in the summer of 1831 that he
and his fellow missionary, Zebedee Coltrin...
"then went to Winchester in Randolph County, Indiana and stopped at the county seat, on the head waters of the White River. We saw there a school master and introduced the Gospel to him. He was so well pleased with the message that he spread the news as fast as possible and called a meeting...This was in the fore part of July. We continued to preach here in the region and around about, until we had raised a large branch of the Church. We were sent forth from the Ward township. We went there and in a short time we had in both places about one hundred members. Among them, was a man by the name of Jones and his wife. He told me that he went through the Revolutionary War, that he was a life guard once for General Washington. He told me many things about the war, which was very interesting. I told him my message and we discussed the Gospel for some time. Then he asked for baptism and I baptized him. Afterwards, he said he had something for me. He had saved a watermelon on purpose for me, so he now went and picked it.
He was so grateful to me, it appeared to do him good to see me enjoying the watermelon, as if he were feeding an angel. He was so thankful to be baptized and felt the spirit of the Lord with him. I had no Elder with me at this time.
Soon after this, we thought we should leave here, as we had done all we could in Winchester...It is now the month of August that I made this last account. Mr. Jones showed me his cornfield and cut down one stalk that measured one rod (17 ft). It was the tallest corn I had ever seen. I think there was none in the field any longer. This was on a branch, he says, of the head waters of the Wabash." [Salt Lake City. Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 46-104; Levi Hancock Autobiography Book of Abraham Project, Hugh W. Nibley]
Levi Hancock's "man named Jones," who served during the Revolutionary War, who lived
in the area near Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana in 1831 was baptized into the Church of the Latter Day Saints in the
summer of that year. Read together with the letter, it is clear that Levi Hancock is talking about the same Stephen Jones.
1833-1839 JACKSON, CLAY & CALDWELL COUNTIES, MISSOURI
Stephen Jones left Indiana to join the Mormon community in Missouri. The facts presented here relating to the Mormon enterprise in Missouri between 1831 and 1839 provide historical context to Stephen Jones' experiences while he lived in the area of Jackson, Clay, and Caldwell counties, Missouri.
In October of 1830 Mormon missionaries left Ohio and undertook a mission to western Missouri to preach the Book of Mormon to the descendants of the Lamanites (Native Americans); in January 1831 three missionaries crossed the state boundary into Indian Territory; on their return, the missionaries stayed and preached to white settlers in Jackson County, Missouri. This mission ultimately brought Joseph Smith to Jackson County. In June of 1833 Joseph Smith sent a plan for the building up of "Zion" in Jackson County. (Sometime later Smith is reported to have told Brigham Young that Jackson County, Missouri had been the location of the Garden of Eden [Joseph Smith, Doctrines & Covenant 57], and he named Adam-ondi-Ahman, an area in Daviess County, was the area where Adam and Eve lived after being expelled from Eden. [Joseph Smith, Doctrines & Covenant 116]) Mormons then began settling in Jackson, Clay, and Daviess counties, claiming land through preemption rights.
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| Mormon Settlements in Missouri and Illinois |
Joseph Smith, writing in Times
and Seasons, indicated that Stephen Jones had settled near Independence, Jackson
County, Missouri sometime before 24 Dec 1833.
Earlier settlers looked on the Mormons as 'clannish' and 'fanatics.' In April
of 1833 three thousand original settlers of Jackson County met to plan the
removal of the Mormons. On 26 October 1833 a mob attacked a number of Mormon
families recently arrived from Indiana; on 31 October mobs destroyed homes and
drove women and children into the wilderness. Attacks continued around
Independence on November 1st, culminating on November 4th, with a confrontation between
Mormons and a mob that ended in several deaths. Between November 6th and 13th,
groups of Mormons fled from the mobs in Jackson into Clay County, Missouri. The
mobs then warned away any Mormons remaining in Jackson County. [Joseph Smith Papers p.119]
Joseph Smith wrote in Times and Seasons (pages 960, 961): "On the night of the 24th of December, four aged families living near the village of Independence, whose penury and infirmities incident to old age forbade a speedy removal, were driven from their houses by a party of the mob, who tore down their chimneys, broke down their doors and windows, and hurled large rocks into their houses, by which the life of old Mr. Miller, in particular, was greatly endangered. Mr. Miller is aged sixty-five years, being the youngest man in the four families. Some of these men have toiled and bled in the defense of their country; and old Mr. Jones, one of the sufferers, served as lifeguard to General George Washington, in the Revolution. Well may the sol-dier of Seventy-Six contemplate with horror the scenes which surround him at this day in Jackson County, where liberty, law, and equal rights are trodden under foot.” [History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1805-1835; written and compiled by President Joseph Smith and Apostle Herman C. Smith of the Reorganized Church; Vol. 1, 9th Edition; Lamoni, Iowa 1917; pg. 393; www.google.com/ Google Books] (church leader Newel Knight reports this event as having taken place in 'midwinter' 1838/39, and the families having fled to Clay County, Missouri.) ["Newel Knight's Journal," Classic Experiences and Adventures (Salt Lake City. Bookcraft, 1969), pp. 46-104; Book of Abraham Project; Hugh W. Nibley]
(One will recall that the anecdotal story of Stephen Jones serving as
lifeguard to George Washington has been previously noted by both Levi W.
Hancock in his journal, and also by Stephen Jones, himself, in his testimony
given at his pension hearing. This clearly places Stephen Jones living near
Independence, Jackson County, Missouri before 24 Dec 1833, Joseph Smith's
recounting being more contemporary than Newel Knight's.)
It soon became clear that Mormons and non-Mormons would not be able to co-exist
peacefully in Missouri. In response to a separate-but-equal proposal, the
Missouri legislature established Caldwell County in 1836 as a "Mormon
Reservation," however, mass emigration soon resulted in the Mormon
population continuing to spill over into neighboring counties. [Smith; A LookAt How Viglante Justice Shaped Missouri]
On 30 Sep 1837 in a deposition at Terre Haute, Indiana, Walter Dickerson
identified "Stephen Jones Sr. of Clinton County, Mo., aged about 75
years." [Revolutionary War Pension Files Roll: 1445 Image: M804 File S15,903; Heritage Quest]
It is a matter of record that on 4 Dec 1837 Stephen Jones appeared in the
court convened in Caldwell County, Missouri, and made a statement of his
Revolutionary War service. On the same date Levi W. Hancock and Alfred Lee
appeared in court as witnesses for Stephen Jones. The deposition of Dickerson was entered into Caldwell County Court Records at this time.
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| Stephen Jones' 1838 letter p.1 |
By 1838 some six thousand Saints had settled in western Missouri. The troubles which began for the Mormons in 1833 in Jackson County did not relent, and what became known in Missouri as the "Mormon War" broke out in the summer of 1838. Then, in response when a Mormon group attacked a duly sworn militia, on 27 Oct 1838 Governor Lilburn W.
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| Stephen Jones' 1838 Letter p.2 |
The phrase 'extermination order' was understood at that time to be policy of
expulsion, and had been in use by the Federal Government against groups of
Native Americans, and even in several Missouri counties against the Mormons;
Boggs’ order was reiterating a policy already being enforced by Missouri
counties. On the issue of the order, the Missouri troops surrounded Far West.
Militia leaders used the order to impose four terms upon the conquered Mormons:
take their leaders into custody for trial and punishment; give over their
personal property to repay costs incurred in the 'war;' surrender all arms; and
leave the state immediately under militia escort. The Mormons now recognized
the need to seek safety outside Missouri. Due to their willingness to comply
with the order, and due to early snows, the order was modified to allow the
Mormons remain until spring, but they were warned not to plant any crops.
[Richard L. Anderson, "Clarification of Boggs' 'Order' and Joseph Smith's
Constitutionalism," Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint History:
Missouri, Arnold K. Garr and Clark V. Johnson, eds. (Provo, Utah: Department of
Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University, 19894), 27-83; William G. Hartley: Missouri’s 1838 Extermination Order]
The need to leave became pressing and church members who had resources chose to leave via riverboat down the Missouri to St. Louis and Quincy, Illinois.
Those without resources remained in Missouri, suffering without adequate shelter, with their property surrendered, and no crops, had little or no food. Many
decided not wait for spring, but set out during a short-lived mild turn in the
winter weather. William G. Hartley: Missouri’s 1838 Extermination Order]
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| The Frozen Mississippi, c. 1905 |
"While most Latter-day Saints evacuated individually, using their own
resources, many lacked wagons, teams, resources, and needed assistance."
[William G. Hartley: Missouri's" 1838 Extermination Order and the Mormon's
Forced Removal to Illinois; Mormon Historic Studies; 2001]. By January, the
first wave of Mormons had made the 200-mile trek across Missouri, and were camped at the Mississippi
River in bitter weather, while the wagons returned to Caldwell County to remove
more of the brethren. All told, over 6,000 Latter Day Saints were welcomed at Quincy, and the area around Keokuk, Iowa. [Nelson; Untold difficulties of Quincy and the Mormons in 1839]
As a final note to Stephen Jones' time in Missouri, on 29 Jan 1839 he signed
a resolution, which had been introduced by Brigham Young, to help remove the
poor from the state. The agreement read in part "We, whose names are
here-under written, do each for ourselves individually hereby covenant to stand
by and assist each other, to the utmost of our abilities, in removing from the
State in compliance with the authority of the State...for providing means for
the removing of the poor and destitute...Far West, Missouri, Jan. 29th,
1839," and was signed by both Alfred Lee and Stephen Jones, among others.
[Latter Day Saints Millennial Star No. 46 Vol XVI Saturday, November 18, 1854,
pp. 730-732; Google Books].
As the resolution was signed in Far West, it appears that Stephen Jones
probably left Caldwell County mid-winter of 1839, traveling eastward across,
and crossing the Mississippi River to Quincy, Illinois with the main body of
the Saints. By February most of the emigrants had crossed the Mississippi and arrived at Quincy, where they were offered aid and refuge.
In an undated petition to the Commissioner of Pensions, Stephen Jones
requests a change of address to pick up his pension payment from St. Louis,
Missouri to Quincy, Illinois, due the fact that he is "one of those People
who have been lately compelled to leave the State of Missouri in conformity to
an Order made by Governor Boggs, and is now a resident, in the City of Quincy,
State of Illinois and has been at considerable trouble, loss of time, and much
expense, by being obliged to go from Quincy to St. Louis to receive his last
payment, in the Month of September last." [Revolutionary War Pension Files Roll: 1445 Image: M804 File S15,903; Heritage Quest]
1839-1842
QUINCY, ILLINOIS
Stephen Jones was
among 6,000 Latter Day Saints who found refuge in Quincy, Illinois after their
expulsion from Missouri. The Saints arrived homeless and without means of
support. Quincy residents expressed indignation at the treatment of the
Mormons, welcoming them and offering protection. At one point refugees
outnumbered residents 3 to 1; still, many Quincy residents took refugees into
their homes, while other refugees camped in makeshift tents in Quincy's
Washington Park. [Quincy: City of
Refuge; Susan Easton Black,
Mormon Historical Studies]
Below is an ad that appeared in a February 1839 edition of the Quincy Daily
Whig.
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Coincidentally, Quincy, Illinois was the city where Stephen's son, Moses, had purchased a lot and house; Moses and his family had been Quincy residents since before 1835. It is a probable assumption that Stephen would have been taken in by his son upon arriving in Quincy. Moses was the only child of Stephen to have joined the Latter-Day Saints church, probably within the year after his father's arrival in Quincy.Joseph Smith had been jailed in Clay County during the Missouri Mormon War. From jail he instructed the Saints to compile affidavits concerning their losses, which were assembled into petitions seeking to recover damages incurred during the war. On 8 May 1839 at Quincy Stephen Jones filed an affidavit claiming his losses, which was included in the first petition. It reads as follows:
"Jones, StephenQuincy, Ill. May 8th 1839A Charge of damages sustained by Stephen Jones in Consequence of being driven at different times by mobs in the state of Missouri the whole amount sumed [sic] together two hundred and fifteen Dollars $215.00I certify the above account to Be Just and true according to the Best of my Knole[dge]Quincy, Ill May 8th 1839 Stephen Jones{sworn to before C.M. Woods, C.C.C., Adams Co., IL, 15 May 1839}"
[FHL US/CAN 6003720 Mormon Redress Petitions]
Stephen Jones' charge of damages at $215.00 would be valued at $5927.39 in today's money, still a small amount in consideration of a lifetime of work.
---------------------------------------------
In October 1840 Stephen Jones was appointed to the Presidency of the newly
organized Quincy stake. In the earliest record yet found, Addenda notes [October -- November 1840, November 1841 in the handwriting of Willard Richards, recording from Joseph Smith's journal: [1840 Oct] "25 Sunday 25. The Committee organized a stake at Quincey. The President & council were Daniel Stanton, Stephen Jones, & Bro. Benson. Bishop & council, B. Crouse Crouse [Bruce], Azariah Dustin & B. Stoddard." <The Joseph Smith Papers; records and writings of Joseph Smith , including records by other early LDS Church leaders]
The record was later re-recorded on 18 Oct 1854 by LDS Church Historian Geo. A. Smith: [18 Oct] 25 Sunday. The Committee organized a Stake at Quincy. Presidency were, Daniel Stanton, Stephen Jones and Ezra T. Benson (who was ordained a High Priest); also Bishop and Council, George W. Crouse, Azariah Dusten and >Sylvester< B. Stoddard." [Smith; History, 1838-1856, Volume C-1 Addenda; 1854; also cited by Roberts in History of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, Part 1, Volume 4 pg. 233; Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints, ; Deseret News, 1908]
There has been confusion regarding the identity
of the individual who was appointed to the council with Daniel Stanton and
Ezra Benson. In his autobiography written in 1846, Ezra Benson wrote "The next day Bro.
Hyrum [Smith, brother of Joseph]...organized the stake by
appointing Daniel Stanton, president, and Father Moses Jones, who was about
seventy years old, his first counsellor [sic]; he also ordained me a High Priest and
appointed me his second counselor, and remarked to the Saints, 'You may think a
little strange of my appointment, but Bro. Jones is an old man and experienced
in the Church, and Bro. Benson, is young and wants to learn.'" [Autobiography of
Ezra T. Benson (1811-1869); Book of Abraham Project, Early Saints]
Jeffrey O'Driscoll, author of Hyrum Smith: A Life of Integrity, in
his devotional address at Brigham Young University/Hawaii on 26 January 2010
entitled "Hyrum Smith: An Example of Faithfulness" seemingly paraphrases Benson's autobiography, "When
[Hyrum] reorganized a stake presidency in 1840, he called Daniel Stanton as
stake president, with an elderly Moses Jones as first counselor and
twenty-nine-year-old Ezra T. Benson as second counselor. 'You may think a
little strange of my appointment,' he explained, 'but Bro. Jones is an old man
and experienced in the Church, and Bro. Benson, is young and wants to
learn.'" ["Hyrum
Smith: An Example of Faithfulness"; Jeffrey O'Driscoll, 2010]
Moses Jones, whose name is recorded along with that of his spouse, Eliza, in
the Quincy Stake records, would have been about 40 years old, and so the age
and description of "Bro. Jones" does not match the son, but does
match the father, Stephen, whose name also appears in those records. It is my
opinion that Ezra Benson misremembered which 'Jones' was appointed counselor, as he was likely to have been acquainted with both, and would have a longer acquaintance with the son, Moses, who journeyed to Utah, where he settled in Utah County. [Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database, 1847-1868; 1856 Utah Statehood Census Index Provo, Utah County p. 984]
Joseph Smith first spoke of of the doctrine of vicarious work for the dead in 1838. It was two years later when the work was put into practice. "The first public affirmation of the ordinance of baptism for the dead
in the Church was in a funeral sermon given by Joseph Smith in Nauvoo in August
1840. The first baptisms for the dead were performed in the Mississippi River
near Nauvoo." [Light Planet:
Baptisms for the Dead; LightPlanet.com; 2010]
Included among the earliest records for Baptisms for the Dead are Stephen Jones for Jefferson, Thos & P.U.S. [President, United States], friend; Lafayette, Genl Marquis De, friend, and Washington, Geo & P.U.S., friend. In the same volume, Moses Jones was baptized for Kissiah Jones, mother. [FHL US/CAN 183376 Baptisms for the Dead 1840-1845 Vol. A, pgs 81, 82, 100, 176] In April of 1844 Moses performed baptisms for additional deceased family members Hiram Jones (brother), Lydia Clark (aunt), Haldah Grant (aunt), and Hannah Harris (aunt).
----------------------------------------
The 1841 Census of Pensioners (Second Ward of Quincy City, Adams County,
Illinois) records a pensioner named Stephen Jones, age 77, residing with Moses
Jones, the head of the household as of 1 Jun 1840. [1841 Census of Pensioners
for Revolutionary or Military Services; Washington, USA; Blair and Rives, 1841]
Moses' household was enumerated on 1 Jun 1840 in the 2nd Ward of Quincy. His
household included 1 male under 5, 1 male between 40 and 50, 1 male between 70
and 80, 2 females under 5, 1 female between 5 and 10, 1 female between 10 and
15, 1 female between 30 and 40, and 1 female between 70 and 80. [1840 U.S.
Federal Census, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, pg. 7] The male between 70 and
80 is clearly Moses' father, Stephen Jones. It is unclear whether the female
between 70 and 80 was related to Moses or Eliza.
----------------------------------------
On 26(27) Jan 1842 Stephen Jones took his last breath. His
death at Quincy was acknowledged by the Quincy Stake, and he was buried in the
"Potters Field" in Woodlawn Cemetery in Quincy. (Second Quincy
Cemetery, now Madison Park, Pottersfield section, corner Maine and 24th
Streets, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois). The cemetery records
show that there were three distinct sections in the burial ground. The first is
identified simply by lot number and north or south. The second area is called
"Pottersfield," probably used for indigent burials. The third section
is called "Strangers Ground." [Ward, Maurine; Mormon Historical Studies,
Volume 2: The Early Quincy Cemetery and Mormon Burials; 2001; p.
149, 150, 152, 159; ]
A digital image and my transcription of Stephen Jones' obituary from the Quincy Whig are shown below:
 |
| Quincy Whig; 5 Feb 1842; p.3 c.2 |
"A SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION
Died in this city, on the 27th of Jan. 1842, Stephen JONES, aged 79 years. The deceased was a soldier of the Revolution, and served his country with credit and honor in those dark days of trouble. He was buried with military honors by the volunteer companies of the city-the 'Grays' and 'Guards'. Thus has another of those tried patriots faded from earth - death is fast thinning their ranks - but a little time, and there will not be one left of that patriot band. Their glorious deeds, however, will live forever in the minds of their countrymen." [Quincy Whig; 5 Feb 1842 p.3 c.2]
FAN Club
One of the best ways to research an individual is to follow their FAN Club. FAN is an abbreviation for Friends, Associates, and Neighbors. Also known as "cluster" or "collateral" research, this technique looks at the individuals who "cluster" around your ancestor, both physically and metaphorically. They could migrate together, or follow others in migration, sign legal documents together, appear as sponsors or witnesses in church records, or families intermarry.
Stephen Jones FAN Club
|
Friends |
Minos Johnson |
Lived in southern Indiana |
Letter of Stephen Jones dated 1 May 1838 |
|
Associates |
Joseph Smith |
Prophet of LDS Church |
Times & Seasons |
|
|
Hyrum Smith |
Brother of Joseph and LDS Church leader |
Joseph Smith Papers |
|
|
Levi W. Hancock |
LDS Missionary; gave deposition at pension hearing |
Autobiography of Levi W. Hancock |
|
|
Oliver Cowdery |
Charter member of LDS church; acted as Stephen Jones’ attorney in pension dealings |
Stephen Jones Pension File |
|
|
Walter Dickerson |
Served with SJ in NJ Militia |
do |
|
Neighbors |
Alfred Lee |
Neighbor in Delaware County, IN; joined LDS church; gave deposition at SJ pension hearing |
do 1830 census Delaware, IN, subpoena in same |
|
In-Laws |
Nehemiah Blake |
Son-in-law, husband of Rachel; lived in Cincinnati near Hiram Jones |
Baptisms for the Dead records |
|
|
William Van Sickle |
Son-in-law, husband of Rachel |
do |
|
|
Eliza Case |
Daughter-in-law; wife of Moses; d/o Jacob Case & Elizabeth Bell both of NJ; lived in Cincinnati |
Research of K. Kramer |
|
|
Zebediah Ward |
Son-in-law; husband of Harriet; served in NJ Militia; lived Clark Co IN |
Research of V. Klein |
|
|
Aaron Hutton |
Son-in-law; husband of Permelia “Millie”; lived in Hamilton Co OH |
Letter of William Eugene Jones dated 20 Jan 1870 |
|
|
Jane Owens |
Daughter-in-law; wife of Benjamin |
Records of Spring Grove Cemetery |
|
|
George Carr |
Son-in-law; husband of Elizabeth; lived in Cincinnati near Hiram Jones |
Baptisms for the Dead |
|
|
Job Strawn |
Brother-in-law, brother of Keziah Strawn Jones |
Baptisms for the Dead |
|
|
George Trace |
Son-in-law, husband of Mary Ann; lived in Butler Co OH |
Stephen Jones letter dated 1 May 1838 |
Stephen's son Moses Jones and his wives several times performed baptisms for the dead (the LDS Church practice of a living person, acting as proxy, being baptized by immersion on behalf of a deceased person, allowing that deceased person the occasion for entry into the Kingdom of God, who died without opportunity to receive it). A change in church policy by Brigham Young in 1843-44 regarding opposite-gender baptisms, and probably some memory issues caused some individuals to be baptized multiple times. Blue vs. Black in the Stated Relationship column denotes a change in procedure in the way relationships were listed. This list of names has proven most useful in working on both family and FAN club members:
LDS Church Baptism’s For the Dead: 1840, 1844 & 1876
proxy by Moses Jones, Ann Cliff Jones, Ann Palin Jones
|
Date |
By |
For |
Relationship Stated |
Extrapolated Relationship |
|
1840 |
Moses Jones |
Kezziah Jones |
Mother |
Mother |
|
1844 |
|
John Jones |
Brother |
Brother |
|
|
|
Hiram Jones |
Brother |
Brother |
|
|
|
Lydia Clark |
Aunt |
Aunt |
|
|
|
Haldah Grant |
Aunt |
Aunt |
|
|
|
Hannah Harris |
Aunt |
Aunt |
|
1876 |
|
Mr. Jones |
Grandson |
Grandfather |
|
|
|
Moses Jones |
Nephew |
Uncle |
|
|
|
John Jones |
Brother |
Brother |
|
|
|
Hyrum Jones |
Brother |
Brother |
|
|
|
Stephen Jones |
Brother |
Brother |
|
|
|
Abner Strong |
Nephew |
Uncle |
|
|
|
Job Strong |
Nephew |
Uncle |
|
|
|
Jacob Strong |
Nephew |
Uncle |
|
|
|
Jonathan Jennings |
Friend |
for Ann Palin Jones |
|
|
|
Nathaniel Pees |
Friend |
for Ann Palin Jones |
|
|
|
Samuel Clark |
Friend |
Uncle-in-law |
|
|
|
Henry Blake |
Friend |
Brother-in-law |
|
|
|
George Carr |
Friend |
Brother-in-law |
|
|
|
John Taylor |
Friend |
Husband of Moses’ Case sister-in-law |
|
|
|
Benjamin Beeabout |
Friend |
Husband of Moses cousin Rebecca Clark |
|
|
|
William Johns |
Friend |
Husband of Moses’ cousin Mary Clark |
|
|
|
Benjamin Palin |
Friend |
For Ann Palin Jones |
|
|
|
Peter Newton |
Friend |
Unknown |
|
|
|
William Glover |
Friend |
For Ann Palin Jones |
|
|
|
George Newton |
Friend |
Unknown |
|
|
|
John Newton |
Friend |
Unknown |
|
|
|
Joseph Sherratt Jr. |
Friend |
For Ann Palin Jones |
|
|
|
John Clark |
Friend |
Cousin? |
|
|
|
Mr Reed |
Friend |
Unknown |
|
|
Ann Cliff Jones |
Mrs. Jones |
Friend |
Moses Grandmother? |
|
|
|
Mrs. Jacob Strong |
Friend |
Moses’ Aunt? |
|
|
|
Keziah Strong Jones |
Friend |
Moses’ Mother |
|
|
|
Rachel Jones Blake |
Friend |
Moses’ Sister |
|
|
|
Hannah Jones |
Friend |
Moses’ Sister? |
|
|
|
Lydid Jones |
Friend |
Moses Sister? |
|
|
|
Pebe Jones |
Friend |
Moses Sister? |
|
|
|
Elizabeth Jones Carr |
Friend |
Moses Sister |
|
|
|
Harriet Jones |
Friend |
Moses Sister? |
|
|
|
Mary Ann Jones |
Friend |
Moses Sister? |
|
|
|
Jane Evan Jones |
Friend |
Moses’ Sister-in-law |
|
|
|
Elizabeth Clark Strong |
Friend |
Unknown relationship |
|
|
|
Rebecca Case Taylor |
Friend |
Moses’ 1st Wife’s Sister |
|
|
|
Rebecca Strong |
Friend |
Moses’ Aunt or Cousin |
|
|
|
Hannah Strong |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Mary Strong |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Abigail Strong |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Mary Clark |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Clark |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Lydid Strong Clark |
Friend |
Moses’ Aunt? |
|
|
|
Huldah Strong |
Friend |
Moses Aunt? |
|
|
|
Keziah Clark |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Tenery Read Clark |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Wyoma Clark |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Ruth Strong |
Friend |
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Clark Strong |
Friend |
|
|
|
Ann Palin Jones |
Mary Palin Skerratt |
Daughter |
Ann’s Mother |
|
|
|
Mary Palin |
Gd. Daughter |
Ann’s Grandmother |
|
|
|
Margaret Glover Palin |
Dist. Relation |
Distant Relative |
|
|
|
Elizabeth Skerratt |
Half-sister |
Ann’s Half-sister |
|
|
|
Eliza Skerratt |
Half-sister |
Ann’s Half Sister |
|
|
|
Sarah Skerratt |
Half-sister |
Ann’s Half-sister |
|
|
|
Jane Glover |
Dist. Relation |
Distant Relative |
|
|
|
Mrs. John Webster |
Dist. Relation |
Distant Relative |
|
|
|
Mrs. Margaret Webster |
Dist. Relation |
Distant Relative |
|
|
|
Sarah Glover |
Dist. Relation |
Distant Relative |
|
|
|
Mrs. Joseph Skerratt Jr. |
Sister-in-law |
Ann’s Sister-in-law |
|
|
|
Hannah Johnson |
Friend |
Friend |
|
|
|
Mrs. Nathaniel Rees |
Friend |
Friend |
|
|
|
Mrs. Jonathan Jennings |
Friend |
Friend |
QUESTIONS & SPECULATION
- 1800 Census -- a Stephen Jones is living in Greene County, Pennsylvania near father-in-law John Strawn. Why does the count of children not match what we expect?
- There is a tax record for a Stephen Jones in 1806-07 in Greene County, Ohio, one county north of Butler. Is this the same person?
- The BLM has a Land Patent dated 29 Aug 1812 for a Stephen Jones of Warren County, Ohio granting a quarter lot in the "land between the Miamis" in Clark County, Ohio granted by the Harrison Land Act...
- Many un-credited sources state that Keziah Jones died in 1844, however, as Stephen was remarried before 1831 to Mary, was she divorced from Stephen? Did he marry again while still married to her? or did she die sometime between 1806 and 1817?
- Due to the length of time between Benjamin's birth in 1806, and the birth of Mary Ann in 1818, is it possible that Mary Ann, born in Butler County, Ohio, was the daughter of Stephen's second wife?
- 1810 Census -- Stephen Jones does not appear in the 1810 Greene or Washington County, Pennsylvania censuses, and the 1810 Ohio censuses were lost. Where was he in 1810?
- A Stephen Jones married Mary Davis Palin on 15 Apr 1813 in Montgomery County, Ohio. Is this the same Stephen and wife Mary of the 1831 letter?
- There has been speculation that Stephen Jones had a wife named Ann Palin Jones. An Ann Palin Jones appears in Salt Lake City with Stephen's son Moses in 1876. If Ann was married to Stephen, she would have had to be a minimum of 20 in 1842 when he died, and likely she was older. That would place her birth before 1822, and mean she would have been a minimum of 54 in 1875, and likely older. Is this Stephen's wife, Moses' step-mother, or is she a third wife of Moses?
- 1820 Census -- There is a Stephen Jones, head of household in 1820 Montgomery County, Ohio, age between 26 and 44. The patriot Stephen Jones would have been 57 that year. His son, Stephen Jr., would have been 18. This Stephen Jones also appears in the 1830 and 1840 censuses. It is not likely that this is the same Stephen Jones.
- 1820 Census -- there is a Kesiah Jones, head of household, in 1820 Montgomery County, Ohio, age between 26 and 44, much closer in age to the 47 years that Stephen's wife would have been. Is it possible that this is Stephen's wife? In the household are 1 male under 10, 2 males 10 to 15, 1 male 16 to 25, 2 females under 10, 1 female 15 to 25, 1 female 26 to 44. This does not fit the family configuration we would expect. The older individuals can be made to fit with Benjamin, Stephen Jr., Permelia and Keziah, but the one male and two females under 10 do not fit, and there is an extra male age 10 to 15. There are also Harriet, Phoebe and Elizabeth unaccounted for, all under 21 and unmarried. Again, did Keziah die before 1817, or in 1844? Were they estranged? Were some of the children with her and some with him?
- 1820 Census -- There is possibly some duplication in the 1820 census of Charlestown Township, Clark County, Indiana: a Stephen Jones is either listed twice, or there are two Stephen Jones listed, one with thirteen individuals, one with ten. The two censuses overlay ages exactly, with the addition of two males 16 to 25 and one female 16 to 25. Listed in the same area with the ten member Jones family is a Minus Johnston, and several individuals with the surname Carr.
- On a side note, if we accept the 1820 Clark County, Indiana census (see QUESTIONS & SPECULATION #11 above) as being the same person as Stephen Jones of Essex, NJ, then we know that he earned his living through agriculture. A statement in his 1838 letter indicates that he may have raised animals as well. In his letter Stephen writes "perhaps you may be desirous to know how I make a living - I can with two--- say that I have a plenty - having been blessed and prospered much in everything I have and---en but horses of them I have lost three since I have been here - but not any discouraged at that." [Letter of Stephen Jones dated 1 May 1838] What was an acceptable loss of horses for a farmer on the western frontier in 1830? I wonder if Stephen Jones traded in horses to a degree that a loss of 3 was acceptable to him.
- A Harriet Jones married in Harrison County, Indiana in 1828, and settled with her husband, Zebediah Ward in Clark County, Indiana. I believe this is Stephen's daughter based on documents later produced by Harriet (nee Jones) Ward Franconi. Since it was unlikely for an unmarried woman, even at 24 years of age, to be living on the frontier on her own it is likely that an adult male family member lived in this area. No other relations are known at this time.
- I found a deed dated 10 Sep 1827 between a Stephen Jones and Icabod Clark regarding a parcel of 360 acres located in the Illinois Grant, AKA Clark Grant, part of the land beginning at the south-west side of lot 222 (highlighted), sold to Clark by Jones for $200.00. (To learn more about Clark's Grant, click here.) Could Stephen have used the money he received for selling his militia pay certificate to purchase this land?
 |
| Illlinois Grant AKA Clark's Grant |
Who were Stephen Jones parents? Here we move into the area of wild speculation, and little proof, but please keep an open mind. In the records of Moses' Jones' baptisms for the dead, he is baptized for his father, Mr. Jones. Ann Cliff Jones is baptized for Mrs. Jones. No help here in ruling anything in, or out. The couple are also baptized for Mr. and Mrs. Moses Jones, Moses identified as uncle to Moses, proving Stephen Jones had a brother named Moses. Aside from the nuclear family of Stephen Jones and his wife/wives, these prove to be the ONLY Jones relative Moses is baptized for. Since it is unlikely that Stephen Jones had only one sibling, what, we can wonder, provided enough separation of a family that a grandson would remember only one uncle, and not the given name of his grandparents?
One couple has emerged to be considered for the parents of Stephen Jones (there may be many others): John Jones, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (nee Morris), born 15 Aug 1736 in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, and his wife, Abigail, daughter of Deacon Joseph and Jemima (nee Lindsley) Peck, born about 1743 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. John Jones was also a Patriot of the American Revolution; As part of his SAR Application in 1902, Charles W. Tufts states " [John Jones] was a private in Capt Abraham Lyons Co. of Essex Co. N.J. Militia. His cows were taken by the British who left as pay Continental money still in this family. He died a pensioner I think, at Amsterdam or Haaman's Mills N.Y." This writer located an abstract of John Jones' will on the Montgomery County Wills and Deeds Message Board:Abstract of Will of John Jones dated 7 Mar 1807 Montgomery County, New York; probated 1 May 1807; Oldest son Stephen £10; 2nd son Moses £10; 3rd son Isaac £6; 4th son Joseph £5; 5th son John £200; Oldest daughter Hannah £5; 2nd daughter Rachal £5; 3d daughter Achsa £5; Wife Abbe Interest of the remainder of all my real & personal estate; sons John and Samuel, executors; witness John Thompson Jr., Samuel Jones, Abial Jones.
The argument for John Jones: That this John Jones had sons named Stephen and Moses is proved by his will. The fact that he named his third and fourth sons executors indicates that his elder sons are likely removed from the area where he has moved in upstate New York. Is it possible that this Stephen is our LDS Moses' father and John's son Moses his uncle?
One fact niggles at the connection. John's daughter Achsa became the wife of Eleazer Willes. This Eleazer and Achsa (nee Jones) Willes were baptized into the LDS Church in Apr 1831 at Tompkins, Albany County, New York. Eleazer subsequently was elected Priest in Orange County, New York. Two of Eleazer and Achsa's sons, Ira Jones Willes and William Sidney Smith Willes followed their parents into the church and were actually in Nauvoo in 1841. Is it possible that Stephen Jones was closely related to another early church family, and both we and the church would be unaware of it?
CHILDREN OF STEPHEN JONES
Stephen Jones died apparently leaving no will, as one has not been found to date. Records of his wives and children have come from varying and sometimes unreliable sources. Ancestral File v.4 19 at FamilySearch.org credits Stephen and Keziah (nee Strawn)
Jones with twelve children, but no sources are cited in the Ancestral File. I actually believe there may have been thirteen children. Below is a listing of these
children, *proven* and *unproven*; note child #13, not included in the ancestral file.
1. John Jones *proven* b. ca 1795
Washington Co. PA
d. prob. bef. 1800, when Stephen Jones is enumerated with two sons (Hiram
and Moses, both proven), and two daughters. It is clear from
documented church records that Stephen Jones did have a son named John, who
clearly died before 8 Apr 1844. Research on John will continue.
2. Hiram Jones *proven* b.
ca 1796 Washington Co. PA
Hiram is mentioned by name in Stephen Jones' letter of 2 Dec 1831. On 8 Apr
1844 Moses Jones was baptized for his deceased brother, Hiram Jones. Hiram is
listed in the Cincinnati Directory as working in a type foundry. His name
appears 3 times in the 1830 Census in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH: 1830
Census OH Hamilton No. Liberties of Cincinnati Hiram Jones 1m 5-9, 1m 30-39, 2f
u5, 1f 20-29 1830 Census OH Hamilton Cincinnati 2WD P 3 Hiram Jones 1m 30-39,
1m 50-59, 1f u5, 1f 20-29 George Carr 2m u5, 1m 30-39, 1f 20-29 1830 Census OH
Hamilton Cincinnati 5WD p.51 744 Hiram Jones 1m 20-29, 1m 60-69, 1f u5, 1f
30-39 Nehemiah Blake 1m 5-u10, 2m 10-14, 1m 30-39, 1f u5, 1f 5-9, 1f 30-39
Hiram's age in this last record, enumerated just before Nehemiah Blake, is not
correct, but the family make-up is the same as that of the Hiram who was
enumerated just before George Carr. Are these the same Hiram Jones? Who is the
first Hiram? According to the book Index of Death Notices and Marriage Notices
Appearing in the Cincinnati Daily Gazette, 1827-1881, Part 1 (Jeffrey
G. Herbert; Heritage Books; 2007), a
Hiram Jones died 24 Oct 1832 in Cincinnati; more research is needed to verify
this is Stephen Jones' son, Hiram.
3. Lydia Jones *unproven* b. ca 1797
Washington, PA d. bef. 1876; m. Samuel Clark
Church records suggest that Stephen Jones had a daughter
named Lydia, born in PA, and died before 26 Apr 1876. I feel it unlikely that
she married a Samuel Clark, based on the fact that Keziah (nee Strawn) Jones had
a sister, Lydia, who appears to have married a Samuel Clark. Research
continues, to try to identify Lydia as an adult.
4. Rachel Jones *unproven* b. 1 Jul 1798
Washington PA m. Henry Blake
Church records suggest that Stephen had a daughter named
Rachel, b. 1 Jul 1798 in PA and died before 26 Apr 1876; married a BLAKE.
Research continues to positively identify the wife of Nehemiah Blake as the
same Rachel Jones, daughter of Stephen Jones.
It is possible that this is the Rachel Jones who m. 1) William Van Sickle in
Cincinnati on 29 Jan 1818 (their son, Stephen Van Sickle b. ca 1820 Cincinnati
OH) and m. 2) Nehemiah Blake in Hamilton Co. OH ca 1830 (their daughter,
Permelia Ann Blake b. 31 Mar 1831 Cincinnati OH). Note that Rachel named a son Stephen;
I believe the daughter's name, Permelia, is also a family name. The Rachel Vansickle found in the 1820 census, living in Madison, Butler County,
OH (U.S. Census OH Butler Madison p.5) is not believed to be the same Rachel.
A Stephen Vansickle is found in Wapello, Louisa County, IA in 1850 and
following. Iowa state census record indicate he moved to Iowa about 1848. A
Nehemiah Blake is found in Louisa County, IA as early as the 1847 Iowa State
Census; in that census the household includes 1 male over 21, 2 females under
21, and 1 female over 21 (on the same page appears his son, Henry Clay Blake,
with presumably a wife, and a son under age 21). Thanks to Jeannie M. for
Stephen Van Sickle's obit:
"Columbus
Gazette, May 18, 1893: Stephen Vansickle died at his home in Wapello, May
15...He was a step-son of the eccentric Nehemiah Blake, who died a number of
years since at Morning Sun,"
and Permelia (nee
Blake) Wilson's obit:
"Mrs. Permelia
(Blake) Wilson was born in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, in March 1831. With
her parents, she removed in 1832 to the vicinity of Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio.
In 1847, the family removed to near Morning Sun, Iowa."
Nehemiah Blake,
Stephen Van Sickle, and Permelia (nee Blake) Wilson are all buried in
Brown/Rice Cemetery in Morning Sun, Louisa county, IA. No record of Rachel's
death or burial has been found; no wife is found in Nehemiah's household in the
1850 census.
5. Moses Jones *proven* b.
4 Jul 1799 Washington, Washington PA d. 10 Mar 1879 Provo, Utah, UT bur. 12 Mar
1879 Provo, Utah, UT m. 1) Eliza Case 2) Ann Cliff ??3) Ann Palin??
Moses is mentioned in Stephen Jones' letters dated 2 Dec 1831 and 1 May 1838.
Stephen Jones writes of his son, Moses, purchasing a lot and house in Quincy.
In 1840/41 Stephen is identified living with Moses Jones in Quincy, IL. Moses
became a member of the LDS Church, and was baptized for his deceased mother,
Kisiah Jones. Moses he and his wife, Eliza are named in the Quincy church
records. They named a son Stephen S. Jones. Moses' first wife, Eliza Case died 29 Oct 1870 in Ogden, Utah. His second wife, Ann Cliff was born in 1819 in England, and appears to have died in 1907. Was Moses married a third time to Ann Palin?
6. Hannah Jones *unproven* b. 1 Jun 1800
Washington, PA
Church records suggest that Stephen had a daughter named
Hannah; no indication of a marriage. Research continues, to try to
identify Hannah as an adult.
7. Elizabeth Jones *needs additional proof* b. ca 1801 Washington, PA m. George Carr
George Carr, is mentioned by name in Stephen Jones' letter of 2 Dec 1831,
although a relationship is not stated. In 1830 George Carr and Hiram Jones are
enumerated sequentially in the census in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co. OH (see #2
Hiram Jones). George and Elizabeth Carr appear in the censuses from 1850 to
1870 in Campbell Co. KY. Their sons include Stephen and Benjamin Carr.
8. Stephen Jones Jr. *proven* b.
ca 1802 Middletown, Butler, OH
Church records indicate that Stephen's son, also named
Stephen, died before 26 Apr 1876. Research continues, to try to identify
Stephen as an adult.
Stephen Jr. is mentioned by name in Stephen Jones' letter of 2 Dec 1831,
and other documents refer to Stephen Jones, Senior, inferring there was a
Stephen Jones Junior. No other information known.
9. Phoebe Jones *unproven* b. ca 1803
Middletown, Butler, OH
Church records suggest that Stephen had a daughter named
Phoebe; no indication of a marriage. Research continues, to try to
identify Phoebe as an adult.
10. Harriet Jones *unproven* b. ca 1804
Middletown, Butler, OH
Church records suggest that Stephen had a daughter named
Harriet; no indication of a marriage. Research continues, to try to
positively identify Harriet as an adult.
The Harriet Jones listed among Stephen Jones' children in the LDS Ancestral
File matches closely to Harriet (nee Jones) Ward Franconi, widow of Zebediah
Ward and Lewis Franconi, b. bet. 1802 and 1804 in Ohio. Confirming evidence are
the affidavit of the witness Jno Lewis, dated 1855 in Cincinnati, OH, which
states that Harriet Franconi's father was Stephen Jones, and the fact that she
was residing at Aaron Hutton, the same person that a son of Benjamin Jones resided
with in 1870, stating in a letter that he was living with his aunt. Harriet
named a son Stephen Benjamin Ward.
11. Mary Ann Jones *needs additional proof* b. ca 1805
Middletown, Butler, OH
Mary Ann is mentioned by name in Stephen Jones' letter of 2 Dec 1831. A marriage
of a Mary Ann Jones to a George Trace is recorded on in Butler Co. OH. Stephen
Jones mentions George Trace in his letter dated 1 May 1838. George and Mary
Trace are found in Hanover, Butler Co. OH in the 1850 census; this Mary Ann was
born ca. 1818, conflicting with the Ancestral File. They named a son Stephen
Trace.
Some progress has been made on proving Mary Ann Trace to
be the same Mary Ann of Stephen Jones' letter. A descendant of Mary Ann
contacted a Stephen Jones researcher, and provided the list of Stephen's
children handed down through her family. An experienced researcher, newly
researching Mary Ann Jones Trace, this person had no prior knowledge of the
work done on Stephen Jones, yet her list of children, with some small
differences, matches that of other researchers. It looks probable Mary Ann,
wife of George Trace, is Stephen Jones daughter.
12. Benjamin V. Jones *proven DAR* b.
1 Apr 1806 Greene, PA. d. 1 Apr 1886 Covington, Kenton, KY. bur. 3 Apr 1886
Spring Grove Cemetery, Hamilton, OH m. 1) Jane Owens and 2) 18 Jan 1852 in
Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH to Mary Ann "Molly" Falkinburg.
Benjamin is mentioned by name in Stephen Jones' letter of 2 Dec 1831. He
confirmed his birth date and place by information he provided to the Cincinnati
Pioneer publication in 1856. An affidavit is found in Stephen Jones' pension
file, recorded in Hamilton Co., OH on 11 Sep 1836 is a statement by Benjamin V.
Jones stating "for the last Twenty Years, [he] frequently heard Stephen
Jones Senior, say that he served as a regular soldier in the War of the
American Revolution." Benjamin and Jane named a daughter Harriet Jones.
Before 1870 Benjamin sent his son, *William Eugene Jones* to live with his
"Aunt Millie," who the census shows to be the wife of Aaron Hutton
(see #10 Harriet Jones); William is found in the household of Aaron and
Parmelia Hutton in Columbia, Hamilton Co. OH in the 1870 census). Letters
written by Stephen Jones were preserved by descendants of Benjamin V. Jones.
13. Permelia Jones (not listed in the Ancestral File) *unproven* b. ca 1805 PA
A marriage for Permelia Jones and Aaron Hutton was recorded on 12 Apr 1832 in
Butler Co. OH. Aaron and Permelia Hutton are found in Hamilton Co. OH in the
1850 through 1870 censuses. It was Aaron and Permelia "Millie" Hutton
that Harriet (nee Jones) Ward Franconi and William Eugene Jones resided with.
Their daughters include Harriet, Elizabeth and Mary A. Hutton.
Permelia Hutton's burial record has been
found at the website for Mt. Washington Cemetery in Hamilton County, Ohio. It spells her name Pamellia Hutton,
and states she was born 1810 in Kentucky. She died 26 Feb 1893. Most important
to this search, her father's name is given as Stephen Jones. [Mt. Washington Original Cemetery Record Books 1855-1928 F-H]
DNA RELATED TO STEPHEN JONES
Current Ancestry.com
DNA connections for the supposed children of Stephen Jones prove one connection
between a descendant of Moses Jones (1799-1879) and a descendant of Benjamin V.
Jones (1806-1886). A second connection has been proven between a descendant of
Rachel Jones, the mother of Stephan VanSickle (no dates, no parents listed),
and a descendant of Harriet Jones (1804-????).
At this point in time, 4 individuals with DNA connections have been identified
by Ancestry.com DNA testing. Two connections have been identified, but no cross
connections, Ancestry does note that as the degree of separation becomes
greater, the accuracy of DNA to predict relationships diminishes:
"For relationships this distant from you, there is greater statistical
variation in our prediction. It’s most likely to be a fourth cousin type of
relationship (which are separated by ten degrees or ten people), but the
relationship could range from six to twelve degrees of separation.
It’s interesting to note that (at this degree of separation) we are accurately
able to predict only about 71% of the possible relatives that are out there—in
other words there is a 29% chance that our DNA analysis can NOT recognize an
actual relative of yours. One way to be more certain that the DNA testing
captures as many relatives as possible is to have multiple members of your
immediate family tested."
In other words, the more descendants are tested, the more certain the
connections are.
Anyone who believes they are descended from one of the children of Stephen
Jones and his wife, Keziah Strawn, please add to the DNA research pools at
Ancestry.com and FamilyTreeDNA. Hopefully additional DNA results will continue to prove the
research which has been done on this family, and will help prove or disprove
the conjectured relationships with unproven children.
Is Stephen Jones your ancestor?
Stephen Jones (DAR Ancestor # A207570) is a Proven Patriot, whose service is acknowledged by the DAR.
Anyone who can prove descent from him is eligible for membership.
Please feel free to contact me if you are descended form this patriot.
I will be happy to share what research I have.
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