Nicholas Jones

Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Jones-145244

Nicholas Jones, step child to "Farmer Smith," was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, on February 21, 1672-3. He was the son of Jael Packard and an uncertain father.[1][2]

Jael's husband, John Smith of "Taunton in the County of Bristol in the Colony of Plymouth," wrote his will on June 3, 1690; probated January 12, 1691-2. In the will he made a bequest to "Nicholas Joanes, my wifs Son." This is undoubtedly the "unidentified" "Nicholas," step child to "Farmer Smith," who was born in Taunton on February 21, 1672-3.[1][3][2]

That Nicholas Jones was the illegitimate son of Jael Smith was highlighted in a Plymouth County Court session held June 3, 1673, where "Nicholas White and Thomas Jones, both of Taunton, appeered according to theire bonds, to make answare to the accusation of Jaell Smith, whoe accused them to haue comitted vncleanes with her. ... Jaell, the wife of John Smith, of Taunton, for comitting fornication, was fined" £10.[4] It is likely that since Jael did not know for sure which of the two men was the father of her child, she named her son using the first name of one and the last name of the other, hence "Nicholas Jones."