Benjamin Jones

GEDCOM Note

When Benjamin Jones came to North Carolina the area where he settled was wilderness, no towns as such and only widely scattered homesteads. The lure of cheap, fertile land through land ggrants brought many adventurers down from Virginia including a number of Jones families. The land Benjamin chose was part of Bertie Co. from 1722-1740; Edgecombe Co., 1741-1744, Granville Co., 1746-1763 and became Bute Co. in 1764.

His farm was located in the Hawtree Creek section of North Central Bute Co.. After the Revolution began the residents rejected the politics of Lord Bute by dividing the county in half. The southern half became Franklin Co., for Benjamin, and the Northern half Warren Co., for Dr. Warren a hero of Bunker Hill.

On a current map of Warren Co. the Hawtree District would be located as follows: The East border would be near Robinson Ferry Road, the West border West of St. Tarmany Road near Malone's Creek, the north border the Virginia line and the south border the railroad running East and West through the county.

Genealogical research in old Granville/Bute Co. is made difficult by the presense in the county of so many Jones with the same first names. In general, it seems that the more properous Jones families lived in the Southern part of Bute Co. where there were Thomas, William, James, Elizabeth and other Jones.

The first record of a Benjamin here is the 1758 tax list for then Granville Co. taken by Thomas Person. It lists a Benja. Jones" along with others who, according to subsequent land records, were neighbors of our Benjamin Jones. These were David Young, who became Benjamin's son-in-law, and John King Rosser. 1 May 1762, a Benjamin Jones was a "chain carrier" in a survey near Hawtree Creek in (then) Granville, Co.

In the Hawtree area where Benjamin Jones settled there were these Jones', Adam, John, Godfree and another Benjamin.

In August 1765, Benjamin became the owner of 490 acres of land on Ashley's Branch, probably a tributary of Hawtree Creek. In the months before he bought the property, it went through the hands of several owners.

-On 7 Aug 1764, William Young and his wife "Betey" sold to Adam Jones of "Virginnney", for 150 pounds Virginia money, 490 acres on Ashley's Branch. The land also bordered on the Mill Branch and adjoining landowners were Phillip Hawkins and Porter. The deed was witnessed by Daniel Ford, James Young, John Pope and Thomas Jones (Bute Couty, North Carolina -A, p. 13). From this deed, it appears that Adam Jones, son of Benjamin Jones, came to Granville/Bute Co. from Virginia sometime before Aug. 1764, perhaps New Kent Co. where John Jones came from.

Next, on 26 Jan 1765, Adam Jones sold this same 490 acres, plus one Negro, livestock and furniture, John Jones for 200 pounds. Since the land alone was sold for 150 pounds several months before this means that, on the surface, the slave, livestock and furniture were valued at only 50 pounds. It appears that there may have been a gift between relatives here or a side transaction of some type involved. The deed was witnessed by Samuel Croxton, Jeremiah Ellis and John Herndon (Bute Co., NC -A, pg. 89).

Three months later, on 12 April 1765, John Jones sold this 490 acres, along with a Negro man named "Jack", ten head of cattle, eleven hogs, eight sheep, one horse and a feather bed and furniture to Samuel Croxton for 200 pounds, the same amount he paid for the lot. The deed was witnessed by Jeremiah Ellis, Adam Jones and Godfree Jones (Bute Co. -A, pg. 209).

Four months later, on 20 Aug 1765, this same tract of land was sold by Samuel Croxton to our Benjamin Jones for 130 pounds Virginia money. So Samuel Croxton got the Negro man, Jack, the livestock and the furniture for what looks like a bargain price of only 70 pounds. The deed from Croxton was witnessed by John Herndon, Adam Jones and John Jones and proved by John Jones in the January 1766 court of Bute Co. (Warren Co., NC -1, p 43-45).

Later, Benjamin Jones, his daughter Jane DArnall and David Young were witnesses for Charles Darnall in a suit he brought against the estate of Samuel Croxton from whom Benjamin had bought the land. The basis for the suite is not known.

Deeds show that Benjamin Jones' neighbors included Phil Hawkins, Porter, Mrs. Pattyshall, Hardaway Davis, Henry Dickens, John Ellington, Ed Davis, Henry Sturdivans and James Jones.-

Another series of land transfer for a tract of land in the Hawtree area that took place around this time may help relationship between the various Jones' living there.

David Young and his wife Ann, on 29 Sept 1764, sold 192 acres "where I now live" to John Jones of New Kent Co., Virignia for 150 pounds. This land had been bought by David Young from George Tillman and was located on the East Side of Hawtree Creek adjoining the Old (Indian) Trading Path (Bute Co., NC -A, p. 88). Witnesses were Joshua Gray, Thomas Jones, William Archer and Godfree Jones, son of the buyer. Ann Young was a daughter of Benjamin Jones and sister to the Adam Jones above.

John Jones deeded the 192 acres ("where I now live") to his son, Godfree Jones, on 12 April 1765 for 20 pounds (Bute Co., NC -A, p. 163). It listed only Samuel Croxton as an adjoining landowner. The deed was witnessed by Adam Jones, Samuel Croxton and Jeremiah Ellis. On this same date, John Jones sold 490 acres to Samuel Croxton (see above) in what appears to be a relative transaction. It seems that he was divesting himself of his assets and would now live with son Godfree.

Four months later, on 5 Aug 1765, Godfree Jones sold this same tract of 192 acres back to David Young " of Rowan Co." for 150 pounds (Bute Co., NC -1, p. 362). It was described as "all that tract of land where my father John Jones now lives and which my father bought from said David Young." The deed was witnessed by Adam Jones, William Patterhall (Pattershall?) and David King. So less than a year after selling the land where he lived, David Young, son-in-law to Benjamin Jones, bought it back again - for the same amount for which he sold it.

What this rapid turnover of land ownership means is not clear.

Benjamin Jones' will, signed by his "x", is dated 15 Jun 1776 (Bute Co., NC Record Book 2, p.122). The original is in the NC Archives in Raleigh. In it he leaves his farm and household goods to his wife, "Johnnar", for her lifetime until remarriage, the land to be under the control of John Gilreath, co-executor with Johannah of his estate. After her death, the land was to be divided between his sons Willliam and Samuel. After Johannah's death, William and Samuel Jones and John Gilreath were to share equally in his other assetts. His six daughters and the remaining three sons, Thomas, Adam, and James, received one shilling sterling each. The will was witnessed by another Benjamin Jones and Joseph Wright. Benjamin died within a year and the will was recorded in the May 1 term of the Bute Co. Court. John Gilreath filed an inventory of the estate in the February 1778 term of court. Other than his land this was the extent of his property:

16 head of cattle 8 head of hogs 1 horse, bridle and saddle 2 beds and furniture 2 chest 2 jam pots (probably "thunder mugs") 1 cotton wheel & i flax wheel 1 frying pan and 1 earthen poy 6 plates & 1 pewter dish 3 pewter Bassons (?) 2 rope hooks 6 ducks 12 spoons 2 plough hoes, 3 weeding hoes, 1 pair shears 1 ax, 6 rush bottom chairs 1 oak table, 3 "old" bedstead 1 old pair cotton cards 1 knife and fork, 1 old pine pigon (?), 2 wash tubs 1 old weaving loom 765 1/2 pounds of tobacco

John Gilreath did not put a valuation on the inventory. The Benjamin Jones who witnessed our Benjamin Jones' will in 1776 appears on the 1779 list for the Smith's Creek and Hawtree Tax District with taxable assets of 1,600 pounds, 8 shillings.

A number of factors lead to the conclusion that the Benjamin Jones who died in 1 in Bute Co., NC is the father of Thomas Jones who migrated to Wilkes Co., Georgia after the Revolution. Some are:

1. Thomas named a son Benjamin, in honor ,of his father.

2. The Benjamin Jones family were living in the Hawtree Creek area of Bute Co. when he died in 1. None of Benjamin Jones' sons were on the 1781 tax list for the Hawtree District. All had gone elsewhere.

3. In 1778, William, Thomas and James Jones filed land claims in Wilkes Co., NC. They either accompanied William and Alexander Gilreath or followed shortly thereafter. Two years later, Johannah Jones, widow of Benjamin, joined them in Wilkes, coming there with John Gilreath, her son-in-law, and his family.

4. Four of Benjamin's sons, Thomas, Adam, James and Smauel, have the same names as four of the Jones' who settled on Long Creek in Wilkes Co., Georgia in the mid 1780s.

5. Thomas, Adam and Samuel Jones are on the 1786 list of original members of the Long Creek Baptist Church. Charles Darnall, husband of their sister Jane, is also an original member. A Susanna Jones, the name of one of Benjamin's daughters, is also on the list. More likely she was the former Susanna Denmark, now the wife of Adam Jones.

6. The 1790 census for Warren Co., NC does not show the names of any of Benjamin Jones' children except a Susannah Jones (in a household of six females) who may or may not have been his daughter. Also there were no Gilreaths, Youngs, Noles (Knowles), Beards, or Darnalls, the married names of five of Benjamin and Johannah Jones daughter. The Jones' and related families had pulled up stakes. Most have "Gone to Georgia".

By an odd coincidence, the Jones family of Bute/Warren, North Carolina went from there to Wilkes Couty, NC and from there to Wilkes Co., Georgia which, in 1793, became Warren Co., Ga.

More about Benjamin Jones: Court action 1: August 1768, Appointed petit juror Court action 2: 13 May 1768, files for witness fees in suit involving Samuel Croxton abtate Inventory Filed: 9 Feb 1778, filed by John Gilreath Land Sold: 12 April 1765, John Jones sold 490 acres to Samuel Croxton. Property Sale: 20 August 1765, bought 490 acres in Bute Co., NC from Samuel Croxton. Tax list: 1758, List of Thomas Person, old Granville Co., NC Will made: 15 June, Bute Co., NC Will proved: May 1, Bute Co., NC" - These entire notes were taken off the internet...author unknown...titled Descendants of Johannah Perry.

We do not know when Benjamin Jones migrated from Virginia to northern North Carolina. The land he settled was located in the Hawtree Creek area in the North central part of the area that in 1764 became Bute Co.. Bute Co. had a short life. Fifteen years after its' founding in 1764, Bute Co. was divided in two, the southern half became Franklin Co., for Benjamin Franklin, and the Northern half Warren Co., named for Dr. Warren a hero of Bunker Hill.When Benjamin Jones moved to North Carolina the area where he settled was wilderness with no towns and widely scattered homesteads. The lure of cheap, fertile land through land grants brought many adventurers down from Virginia including a number of Jones families. Our Benjamin Jones' will is dated June 15, 1776 and in it he leaves his farm and household goods to his wife, Johannar, for her lifetime or until remarriage, the land to be under the control of John Gilreath, a co-executor with Johannar of his estate. After her death, the land was to be divided between his sons William and Samuel. After Johannar's death, William and Samuel Jones and John Gilreath were to share equally in his other assets. His six daughters and the remaining three sons, Thomas, Adam and James, received one shilling sterling each. The will was witnessed by another Benjamin Jones and Joseph Wright. Benjamin died within a year because the will was recorded in the May 1 term of the Bute Co. court. John Gilreath filed an inventory of the estate in the February 1778 term of court. We do not know what disposition was made of this land after Johannar's death.

Prince William County, Virginia Deeds {Antient Press}: Liber I; 1745 - 1746; pp 190-193

• THIS INDENTURE made the twenty fifth day of April in the nineteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second and in the year of our Lord one thousd, seven hundred & forty six Between ROBERT JONES SNR, of the County of BRUNSWICK & Colo of Virga, gent of one part and BRERETON JONES Son of the aforesd ROBT JONES of the other part Witnesseth that the said ROBT. JONES as well for the natural love & affection which he beareth unto said BRERETON JONES his Son as allso for the better maintanance and preferment of. sd BRERETON JONES hath given unto the said BRERETON JONES all that tenement being in Prince William County lying on the Branches of TOWN RUN & DEEP RUN and is bounded as followeth Viz it being all that parcel of land whereon I formerly lived containing three hundred & sixty five acres adjoyning the land of BLAGGROE HOPPER and is bound as by PATENT which I obtained from the PROPRIETORS OFFICE bearing date the eighteenth day of November in the year one thousd seven hd twenty five & also that part of one other PATENT granted to said ROBT JONES containing Three hundred and sixty three acres for which he obtained a PATENT from the PROPRIETORS OFFICE bearing date the Twenty six day of Sepr in the year one thousand seven hundd forty three that lyeth below the two nearest Branches to the West side of the Plantation whereon the sd BRERETON JONES now lives the one of the said Branches runing into the TERKEY RUN opposite to BLAGROVE HOPPERs Spring & the other runing down to Capt. JOHN ALLENs corner black Oak thence with his lines North East to the corner white Oak of HACKNEY ALLEN and the sd land containing One hundred & thirty two acres with all appurtenances and all houses and all Estate right of him the said ROBERT JONES to every part concerning the said premises onely now in the hands & custody of the said ROBT. JONES or which he may geet or come by without sute in Law which sd premises are now in the actual possession of him the said BRERETON JONES his assignee or assigns To Have and To Hold unto the said BRERETON JONES his heirs and assigns for ever. In Witness whereof I set my hand and Seal
• in presence of JOS BLACKWELL, RT, JONES, HOWSON KENNER, EDWARD HUMSTON
• At a Court held for the County of Prince William the 25th day of August 1746 This Deed was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto and admitted to record

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Mr. Robert Jones, of Fleet's Bay, Northumberland County, and Some of His Descendants" by by Keach, O. A. The William and Mary Quarterly, Volume 23. Published January 1, 1915 link

11. Robert 3 Jones (Capt. Wm., 2 Robert 1

This Robert Jones m. Elizabeth Brereton prior to 1716

1718, June 18. Petition of Robert Jones and Elizabeth, his wife, for a commission of administration on the estate of Thos. Brereton, the younger, Elizabeth next of kin to Thos. Brereton.

Children (St. Stephen's Parish register)

• Brereton Jones, son to Robert b. Jan. 4, 1716
• Betty Jones, dau. to Robert b. Jan. 9, 1718
• Robert Jones, son to Robert b. Jan. 26, 1721
• Wm. and Thomas Jones, sons to Robert b. Oct. 15, 1723

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• http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I04101...

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Brereton Jones was born Jan 4 1716 in St Stephens Parish, Northumberland Co VA and died testate in 1795 in Fauquier Co VA. Brereton was a prosperous farmer in Fauquier Co recognized for his contributions to the revolution. On Nov 15 1740he married Elizabeth Lettice Warner who was born in Jan 1727 in North Neck VA and died sometime after 1795 probably in Fauquier Co. Brereton's will which appears on LDS film SL0031566 of Warrenton VA Mixed Probate Records vol 1-2, 1759-1796, lists William Primm as his son-in-law and neighbor in Fauquier Co.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: May 30 2020, 6:31:55 UTC