Part 2: JONES Ancestors

Part 2: Ancestors

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Early generations and descriptions of families are here.  Later, there will be descendent charts. 

Ancestry – Jones

Benjamin JONES: When William M. Jones married his second wife in 1860, Marriage Book B, page 9 shows that he gave his parents names as Benjamin¹ & Anna, and stated that he was born in Monongalia County.  Deed Book 1; page 387 shows that on September 11, 1798, Benjamin Jones purchased 140 acres from John Evans for $100.  The marriage Banns show that on December 30, 1815, Abigail Jones, daughter of Benjamin who gave his written consent, married David Lewellen.  John Jones was Surety.  On August 18, 1819, Jane Jones, daughter of Benjamin, married George Smith, and on August 25, 1819, Anna McMullan Jones, widow of Benjamin¹, married Gawan Eddy.

The Census record for 1810 shows two Benjamin Jones families in Monongalia County:  One had three sons, two of them under 10 and four daughters, one under 10, t he other with six sons, one under 10, and five daughters, three of them under 10.  Both listed parents between the ages of 26 and 45.  The 1820 Census shows one Benjamin Jones family, with three sons under 10, one 10-16, two over 16, three daughters, one under 10, one 10-16, and one over 16.  The 1800 Census for Monongalia County is not known to exist. 

It seems improbable that both Benjamin Jones’ had wives named Anna.  There is strong probability that William M. Jones’  father died before 1819 and his mother remarried Gawan Eddy.  He and his siblings were raised as Gawan Eddy’s stepchildren.  In the absence of more data further conclusions seem unwarranted.

The Census record for 1782 of Monongalia County, VA, the following Jones’ appear as heads of families of the sizes given: John 5, Jacob 12, Benjamin 6, Ezekiel 9.

The 1790 Census of VA was burned by the British when they took Washington DC in 1814.  In Fayette County, PA, immediately north of Monongalia County, two Benjamin Jones’ were Revolutionary War soldiers.  One was living in OH in 1830 and is established as a DAR ancestor.

There was a Benjamin Jones in the 1790 Census of PA living in Washington Township, Fayette County, with one female and no other males in the household.  So far, no connection between the Benjamin who was WM Jones’ father and any of these has been established.

In 1926, Charles C. Jones was 30 when his grandfather died, wrote: “His (WM Jones) father came to VA near Morgantown early in the last century (1800’s).  The family lived in PA before that, coming from NJ.  They originated in Wales.  I suppose the trip from NJ to VA covered a period of 50 years.”

In Montgomery’s “Historical & Biographical annals of Berks County, PA” (1909)[i], page 354, there is an account of a Jones family which might conceivably fit the above sketchy description, but if so, there is at least a generation missing.  Except for the Welsh origin, the description is similar to that given in “Miller & Maxwell” for the Fetty’s, and its attribution to the Jones instead may be a trick of memory.

ANNA MCMULLEN or McMillan: According to “West VA & Its People,” by Miller & Maxwell (1913)[ii] page 565, Volume 2, William M. Jones³’ parents were William and Jennie McMullen Jones. We know the first names are wrong.  According to Nellie Maude Lazzell (d/o Josephus), granddaughter of WM Jones, his mother’s name was Anna McMullen.  Thus there is a probability that her name was something like McMillan.  Otherwise, we have no knowledge of her, except that her name was Anna and she married 2^nd Gawan Eddy.

William M. JONES born: January 4, 1808 in Monongalia County, VA, a farmer and blacksmith living at Laurel Point on the west side of the Monongalia River, about 5 miles above Morgantown, on the road to Fairmont. He died: April 12, 1896 aged 88 years, 3 months and 8 days.  Apparently he had been quite prosperous, as his will indicates that he advanced various children substantial sums, totaling over $10,000 and still had money, his farm, and equipment.  William, Edith, and Jane are all buried under a common headstone in the Laurel Point Methodist Churchyard. 

He married 1^st Edith FETTY on February 21, 1860 in Morgantown, VA; born June 14, 1809, died April 24, 1859.  She was the mother of all of his children.  While the marriages Banns list her as Edy, daughter of William, she was really the daughter of John Fetty, as his will clearly indicates.  The Marriage Banns show John as surety, and probably her father and brother (or uncle) signed in the wrong places.  She was the mother of nine (or perhaps 10) children and died at the age of 49 years, 10 months, and 10 days, when her youngest son Benjamin was 6.  Their children:

                            

Sarah                     b)                      married Albert A. Gould,                      d) before 1895

Oliver Shirtliff         b) April 3, 1836 married Lucy May Pierpoint                 d) October 30, 1910

William Henry        b) 1839                                                                          d) before 1895

                             Predeceased his father, leaving one daughter and three sons, all

                             minors in 1895 when his father’s will was written.  He served as

                             Quarter Master Sergeant in Company A, 1^st WV Cavalry during the Civil War

Serilda Ann          b) March 12, 1838     married Sylvenus Pierpoint          d) January 22, 1865

                             Sylvenus was 30 and the son of John J. & Sarah Smell Pierpoint

                             He was brother of Lucy May who married Oliver Shirtliff Jones

Virgil S               b) 1843 Served as a private in Company A, 1^st WV Cavalry during the Civil War

Daniel Webster   b) 1845                                              Died in a Veteran’s home in the 1920’s

                             Served as a private in Company 1, 14^{th t} WV Cavalry during the Civil War.

Virginia             b) 1848     married Strother Vandervort                     d) April 8, 1943

Strother was 21 he married Virginia (his sister Laura Emma married Josephus, Virginia’s brother).  Son of John & Jane Pierpoin¹ Vandervort, Jane was WM Jones’ 3^rd wife.

Josephus       b) 17 Sept 1850        married Laura Emma VANDERVORT     

                        d) 12 June 1922

Laura was 18 when they married (see note under Strother for parents).  Josephus inherited his father’s farm and lived on it until his death.  Laura outlived him.

Benjamin A     b) 1853                   married Laura E. Weaver                       

                             Laura was 22 when they married, the daughter of George & Margaret Weaver

George         Given in one source, but not in WM Jones’ will, may have been another son who died young or moved away and lost touch

William M. Jones married 2^nd Sebre M. Johnson on July 21, 1860.  She was 45, single and the daughter of Hadley and Rachel Ramsey Johnson.  When she died or where she is buried is unknown.

William M. Jones married 3^rd Jane PIERPOINT VANDERVORT (marriage date is after 1862), widow of John Vandervort, granddaughter of Zackquill Pierpoint (page 4) and Dorcus Ridgeway Pierpoint.  Died December 2, 1889, aged 69 years, 10 months, and 2 days.  Two of Jane’s children; Strother and Laura, married two of William’s children; Jennie (Virginia) and Josephus.

Family following the funeral of Josephus Jones JUNE 1922

 

                                                                                Flavious Josephus & Laura Emma Vandervort JONES

[i] Miller & Maxwell: “West Virginia and its people” 1913 pg 565; https://archive.org/details/westvirginiaitsp02mill

[ii] Montgomery’s “Historical & Biographical annals of Berks County, PA” (1909), page 354

https://archive.org/details/cu31924097286300

Part 1: A time in West Virginia History

Some West Virginia Genealogy

Compiled by: A.B. Stickney, A grandchild of Lucy & Oliver

By blogging this AB Stickney’s basic story remains.  I’m revising it specific to the family of William Oren (1880-1968) and Etta Jane (Morris) (1884-1975) JONES and descendants.  2016, BjF Duncan. 

A foreword by A.B. Stickney:

This book as an account of my grandparents, Oliver Shirtliff & Lucy May (PIERPOINT) JONES, of Monongalia County and Parkersburg, West Virginia, their ancestors and descendants.  Since I have known most of the descendants all my life or theirs, I have been able to provide rather full and detailed stories about them.

When the work was well along, I decided to include the descendants of Lucy’s brother and sisters, or “siblings.”  I do not know any of them personally, and have had to gather information from various sources, by correspondence.  As a result, the stories vary from moderately full accounts to mere lists of names or even less, according to what I could get in the limited time available. 

My data is in many places sketchy and incomplete, and there is room for much additional inquiry.  However, this would be true no matter how far the inquiry was carried.  Each answer found poses several new questions.  Also, it is improbable that all my data is accurate.  I will welcome additions and corrections, and if it seems warranted at some time in the future, will issue a supplement.

The spelling of family names has varied over the generations.  A glance at PEIRPOINT or SMELL in the index will show the extent.  The use of PIERPOINT, was the general usage a century ago (rather than Pierpoint or Pierpont which are used today or Pairpoint which was used still earlier) is arbitrary on my part.  It was chosen to distinguish the West Virginia family from the Pierpoints of New England, New York, and from the Quaker family of Pierpoint’s in Maryland and Virginia.

Many members of the family, and others, have supplied information, and in general these sources are acknowledged in the text, under “sources” or “references.”  To single some out for special reference here for lead to insidious comparisons.  Mention should be made, however, of Miss Marion Tapp, a genealogist of Morgantown, who has been most helpful in obtaining data both from the Monongalia County records and from individuals.  And without the benefit of Miss Willa Brand’s knowledge of the family, the sections on “siblings” could not have been undertaken.

A.B. Stickney; Pittsburgh, PA, March 1, 1953

Notes on Arrangement

Editors note: This document is being edited for the descendants of JOSEPHUS & LAURA EMMA VANDERVORT JONES, brother and sister-in-law of Oliver.  Therefore, many features and names listed in the forward by A.B. Stickney will not be present.

Part 1: A Time in West Virginia History (Lucy & Oliver)

This presents a brief account of the Civil War period in northwestern Virginia.  It will also discuss the formation of West Virginia and an account of life for the Jones family at the time.

Josephus brother, Oliver (the oldest son) was mustered out of the Union Army on August 13,1864 after more than three years’ service in the Civil War and had returned to his father’s farm.  All nine Jones children were born before the war.  The oldest sons, Oliver, William Henry, Virgil, and Daniel Webster served in the Union army.

On April 27, 1865 at Morgantown, WV, Oliver, aged 29 and Lucy May Pierpoint, age 21were married by Rev. Benjamin Ison.  Both were natives and the children of natives of Monongalia County, VA, of which Morgantown was the county seat.

The Jones’ grew up in the atmosphere of tension which continually increased during the decades preceding and which culminated in the war.  Nowhere was the tension greater than in northwestern Virginia, which was geographically and economically closer to Ohio and western Pennsylvania.  The area was settled by Pennsylvania German and Scotch-Irish stock, but was politically part of Virginia.

Virginia, east of the mountains was historically and traditionally, a land of plantations, worked by Negro slaves, and was dominated politically by the “Slaves Power,” although the vast majority of their white population were not slave owners.  Northwestern Virginia was a land of steep mountains, narrow valleys, entirely unsuited to this type of economy.  It was developing as a land of small farms, worked by the owners, primitive industry, and mining operations.

Aside from the slavery and tariff questions, which were national issues, northwestern Virginia had long felt that it paid more than its share of state taxes and got less than its share of state expenditures.  This was due to slaves being assessed at a nominal value while property was assessed at full value, and to the domination by the eastern section in the legislature.  There had been much talk of separate statehood as the only way the northwestern section could develop.

In 1858, Abraham Lincoln, an obscure Illinois lawyer and politician, member of the new (and radical) Republican Party, managed split the dominant Democratic Party in a series of debates with one of their leaders, Stephen A. Douglas[i].  Douglas was forced to declare himself on the slavery issue, on which northern and southern democrats differed.  Oliver, then 22, while visiting his Campbell cousins in Paris, Illinois, supposedly heard one or more of the debates.  The debates thrust Lincoln into the limelight and he became the Republican nominee for President in 1860.  The Democrats split and ran two candidates, Douglas and Breckenridge.  Lincoln, with a minority of the total vote, was elected. 

When Lincoln took office on March 4, 1861, the secession of the slave state was well advanced.  On December 20, 1860, in accordance with its announced intention during the campaign (should Lincoln win), South Carolina seceded from the Union, and on February 4, 1861, six other states joined her in forming the Confederate States of America.  Virginia called a convention, which met on February 13 to decide on a course of action.  On April 17, by a vote of 88 to 55, this convention adopted Ordinance of Secession[ii], to be voted on in the regular May 23 election.  Without waiting for the results, the Virginia government joined the Confederacy on April 25, 1861.

Northwestern Virginia was not unanimously against secession.  The vote of the 47 delegates from the region is probably representative of the sentiment: 32 against, 11 in favor, and 4 abstaining.  In the May 23 election, the vote from NW Virginia (which was never counted) was reliably estimated at 44,000 against and 4,000 in favor of secession.  A mass meeting in Clarksburg (home of Stonewall Jackson, a leading Confederate General), on April 22 called a convention in Wheeling for May 13, which in turn, called a general convention there on June 11, 1861.

This convention, June 19, 1861 passed “An Ordinance for the Re-Organization of the State Government of Virginia[iii].”  It established the Restored Government of Virginia headquartered in Wheeling.  It elected Francis Harrison Pierpoint[iv], Governor (nephew of Zackquill Pierpoint, 2^nd cousin of Laura Emma VanderVort Jones) and one of the leaders of the mass meeting and convention.  On June 21, Governor Pierpoint petitioned Lincoln for military aid in putting down the rebellion and four days later, Lincoln, acting through Secretary of War Cameron, in effect, recognized the Restored Government of VA by communicating with Pierpoint as the Governor of Virginia.  In July, the Senators and Representatives of the new Virginia government were admitted into Congress.

Governor Pierpoint proceeded to raise troops and commission officers for them, in the Union Army.  Among these was Company A, 3^rd VA Infantry, which was mustered in at Clarksburg on June 25, 1861.  Oliver S. Jones went in as Sergeant.  Three of his brothers also served: William Henry, Quarter Master, Virgil S., and Daniel Webster, both Privates in Company A, 1^st West VA Cavalry.  Josephus was 11 years old.

Through the war years, NW Virginia, and later, West Virginia, was the scene of fighting and confederate raids.  Fighting reached Morgantown, Fairmont, and nearly to Parkersburg.  The Confederates, for a brief time in 1861 held Charleston and the Kanawha Valley.[v]

The October 24 ballot elected November 26, 1861 as the date for a Representative Convention.  The purpose of this Convention was to adopt a constitution for a new state to be formed by the partition of NW Virginia from the rest of the state.  This Convention deliberated until February 18, 1862.  A special session of the Restored Government of VA legislature from May 6 – 18, 1862 petitioned the US Congress to partition the state.  The petition was presented to the Senate May 29, 1862.

Meanwhile, on May 22, an election was held at which the people of VA chose Pierpoint as Governor.  It was not until December 1862 when Congress acted on the partition petition.  The petition was approved, subject to change, providing for the gradual abolition of slavery, which was permitted under the proposed Constitution as submitted to Congress.  This proposed Constitution forbade the bringing in of more slaves, or coming in of free persons of color to live.

Another Convention met February 12, 1863 and accepted the change, which was accepted by the people in an election April 17 by a vote of 27,749 to 572.  On April 20, Lincoln proclaimed the new state, and on May 28, 1863 an unopposed slate of candidates composed of an equal number of former Democrats and Whigs was elected.  The Governor of the new state was Arthur I. Boreman of Parkersburg[vi] (his wife, by a former marriage, is the mother of John Bullock who later married Florence, the oldest daughter of Oliver and Lucy – Josephus⁴’ 1^st cousin.

After installing these officers of the new state, Pierpoint moved his seat of government to Alexandria and after the war, to Richmond.  He remained Governor of VA until 1868.  His statue, placed there by WV as its representative, is in the US Capitol Statuary Hall in Washington, DC.

On the formation of WV, the VA troops in the Union Army became WV troops, and Oliver served as Sergeant in Co. A 3^rd Regiment, WV Mounted Infantry[vii].  Oliver’s diary for 1864 is in existence.  It contains a calendar for 1862, marked to show that he fought at McDowal May 8; Harrisonburg June 6 when General Ashby was killed; August 9 battle at Cedar Mountain; August 29 and 30 fought at the 2^nd Battle of Bull Run.  The 1863 activities of his unit could be obtained through the War Department.  The start of 1864 found his regiment moving east by rail to Martinsburg. WV, where they stayed until late April.  The Confederates were a few miles south at Winchester.  They moved to Beverly, WV at the west entrance to the pass through the mountains to Staunton, VA.  Remaining there until August, moving to Wheeling, then the capitol of WV, to be mustered out.  They saw no important action in 1864, although they sent out many scouting or reconnaissance parties, and the enemy was camped not far away. 

Oliver was activing veterinary for his company of mounted infantry.  One February 10, 1864, the recommendation of his appointment as Veterinary Surgeon was forwarded to Washington DC, but never acted upon.  On March 2^nd he received 10 barrels of apples from home and sold them for $30, paid $9 freight.  After moving to Beverly, he was in charge of “drawing rations” for the troops.

Oliver enjoyed visiting with the girls, and carried on an active correspondence with a number of them as well as his sister Serilda.  He exchanged letters with cousins John Campbell and Sophia Vance in Paris, IL.  When he attended church he recorded the preachers name and the chapter and verse of his text.  He was a Methodist and usually attended that church, he sometimes to others.  He kept careful detailed accounts of his expenditures. 

After being mustered out at 2 ½ PM on August 13 at Wheeling, he returned home to Laurel Point and took up life as a farmer.  Late in August he made an expedition of several days buy stock hogs and driving them home.  In September, he threshed and plowed.  Entries in the diary ceased September 18^th except for a few later noting another trip he took. 

Marrying Lucy in 1865, Oliver and Lucy moved to Parkersburg, WV where he established a general store in a residential neighborhood (13^th and Market Streets), selling groceries, meats, yard goods, and other merchandise.  The store prospered, he was well-to-do, but lost considerable money endorsing notes for friends.  He had a farm near town with a dairy herd.

This family lived 1^st in the 1200 block on Market Street, later at 1329 Avery Street.  They were Methodists, Oliver was on the Official Board, and Lucy was active in women’s affairs. He was in the Grand Army of the Republic (Union Veterans of the Civil War.)

Lucy & Oliver had 11 children, 7 grew up and married, 4 died in infancy.  All the children were given first and middle names having the same initial, but 5 changed their names: Fanny Florence and William Wilber dropped their 1^st names; Grace Gladys and Edith Ethel changed their middle names to Pierpont (the accepted spelling of the name at that time); Charles Clarence became Charles Carrington.

Sometime after the turn of the century, Oliver in his late 60’s, gave up the store (later known as Morrison’s), but continued to farm.  In 1910, Oliver was admitted to Dr. Langdon’s Sanatorium in Cincinnati, OH where he died 30 October 1910.  Lucy lived with their daughter Florence and died in August 1925.  They are buried in the Cook Cemetery, Parkersburg, WV.

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[i] Lincoln Douglas Debates: http://www.ushistory.org/us/32b.asp

[ii] The Ordinance of Secession https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinance_of_Secession

[iii] An Ordinance for the Re-Organization of the State Government of Virginia” http://www.wvculture.org/history/statehood/ordinance.html

[iv] C. H. Ambler: “Governor Francis Harrison Pierpont” 1937

Pierpont, Francis Harrison: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-PierpntF.html

[v] Callahan: “Making of Morgantown” 1925: http://www.worldcat.org/title/history-of-the-making-of-morgantown-west-virginia-a-type-study-in-trans-appalachian-local-history/oclc/3510883 History of Morgantown: http://genealogytrails.com/wva/monongalia/index.html

[vi] Parkersburg information from Louisa Bullock and Ida Gerwig Jones

[vii] Hoof Beats and Cold Steel: https://petruzzi.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/the-3rd-west-virginia-cavalry/

Oliver Shirliff Jones Diary, in possession of Gloria Longbotham and AB Stickney