Maryland 1637

John Jones, 1637,  was the first to be listed in the land patent records, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.  According to Gust Skordas this is recorded in Book 1, page 19, and is recorded in "Maryland Jones Arrivals", p. 1287, Jones Journeys, Vol. 14.  This is from "The Early Settlers of Maryland (1633 - 1680") compiled by Gust Skordas.  Whew...all that is to say you can get lost in the documents, but it extremely important to record where the records are available.  This documentation is a foundation to genealogy for the serious tree climber.

Above is shown the state quarter for Maryland.  It shows the year that the colony became a state.  The dates I am recording represent the chronology based upon the earliest settlement records that record a JONES surname.

Massachusetts 1631

The court party surrounding James I had all sorts of ideas about how to make money from this relatively new process called "Royal Patents".   The folks from Scotland were invited to "Nova Scotia", the Welsh had their colonial plans [Sir William Vaughan ], and most wanted a piece of this thing called the "Virginia Company".  A "New England" was visualized just north of the lands claimed by the Virginia Company, and it became the location of many with the surname JONES.

The first I have been able to identify is found Jones Journeys, Vol. VI, p. 89.  A Edward Jones is recorded as follows:

"Edward Jones, Charlestown, freeman 18 May 1631, with prefix of resp. was prbably therefore a passenger in the fleet with Winthrop, yet no more is known of him but that he was there in 1636 probably, and by wife Ann, daughter of George Griggs of Boston, had Mary, bapt. 8 Jan 1637; Elizabeth b. 11 May 1643.  His widow married Robert Latimeore."

Massachusetts was formed out of this "New England".  Its quarter is shown below.

There are many, many with the surname JONES abstracted from A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register, Vol. II, by James Savage, Little Brown & Co. (1860), Boston.  Any folks out there who share descent from this early group of JONES?  Let's network!

This abstract can be found in Jones Journeys, Vol. VI, pp. 88 - 94, and pp. 129 - 133.

Virginia 1609

The JONES surname and Virginia go way back.  The records show that in May 1609, the "Third Supply" with nine ships and around 500 men, women, and children left London. [ Six ships were from London, and three from Plymouth.]  A hurricane struck on the way, plague was found aboard some ships, and one ship was lost along the way.  It was August 1609 that 7 of the 9 ships arrived Jamestown.  An Elizabeth Jones [sometimes spelled Joones ] arrived in the Patience "sick, hungry, and travel worm".  She was described as "servant of Thomas Dunthorne".  She becomes known as "an ancient planter", and has a long history of survival among the early years of settlement.

The above shows the reverse side of the state quarter for Virginia.  I thought it might be of interest to show what each state was most proud.  Jamestown 1607 - 2007 declares 400 years of history.  Elizabeth Jones has 398 of them!

Anyone connected out there, or share an interest in this time period?  Please post.  Virginia...the first colony to begin the settlement along the coastal waters.

Bermuda 1639

Juan Bermuder (Spanish 1503-1511) first discovered this island.  The island was included in the third charter of the Virginia Company 1612, and 60 English settlers were sent to colonize.

In 1639, David Jones was described as "of Bermuda, planter".  A George Smith, "Citizen, grocer of London", along with this David Jones, leaves "share in Warwick on South Side, now in occupation of John Walker, on the west, and James Dorsett on the east.  Lots of folks involved here. [Smith and Jones connections go way back!]  Are there any other JONES still on the island?  Let's network...:-).

A post can be found at  http://thejonessurname.blogspot.com on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.

Barbados 1628

The "Triangular Trade" routes of the early colonial period included Barbados.  London merchants had their fingers in just about every pie [competition with Dutch West India Company], and in 1628 sent a ship to begin the settlement on this island.  On July 5th, 1628 the "master" of the ship Marygold arrived Carlisle Bay.  This "master" was John Jones!  Of course it would have to be a "John". 

The following is a reference which is very helpful for those with Barbados connections.

Anyone out there with interest in the JONES surname and Barbados please comment.

This post has several themes including geographic (g.), chronological (ch.), and resources (r.).  Come join in the branches.

A post on this topic can be found http://thejonessurname.blogspot.com , January 6, 2012.

New Zealand

Cook had his job cut out for him in 1770 when charted all of New Zealand.  "Terra Australis" was the goal, and those folks from the Royal Society had much to learn.  In the same manner, I have much to learn about the JONES surname in this part of the world! 

The younger brother of my Grandfather Jones had family members that left old Kentucky for this New Zealand.  I do not know if they were successful here, but are there any JONES families in the Islands that have their roots in old KY?  I would suspect that there are some with the surname.

It was more than eight years ago that the Public Radio Station in New Zealand called me and discussed my work as a genealogist on the surname JONES.   This gave me some sense that there must be an interest in this surname, but have not had any further contact.  Anyone out there with an interest in New Zealand and the JONES surname?  Let's network y'all...:-).

Australia

After the suggestion of Matthew Flinders, the fifth continent to be discovered was named Australia.  The eastern coast came to be named New South Wales, and must of had some folks from Wales during this part history.  I have been unable to identify the first with the surname JONES, and ask if there is anyone out there in genealogy land who might know, please network.  I would guess that there are a few folks with the surname JONES residing down under.

This theme is one of geography, Australia...(g.)...anyone there?