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.