William Jones, Pvt
It is no secret that I am fairly addicted to genealogy research with a special emphasis on our ancestors from rural Appalachia. It is true that these ancestors were among some of the earliest settlers of this country. In my quest to connect our lineage back to one of our known Patriot ancestral grandfather, Isaac Anglin, there was a missing document that officially connected Isaac to his son William, Sr. Oh, we know who we are and how we are connected, but with my application to the Daughters of the American Revolution, documented proof was needed. It took a team of researchers but yet another ancestral grandfather who served in the American Revolution, William Jones, was found. This led to my acceptance to the DAR. And I have since found several other Patriot ancestors and a few Loyalists too!So what do we know about Pvt William Jones? Oh my! What a task it has been to research a man who lived over 200 years ago and who had a name so common that it made my head spin! Thankfully, I uncovered a an affidavit for a Revolutionary War solider's pension that shed a wonderful amount of light onto the life of our ancestral grandfather, William Jones!
William was born in 1760 in Henrico County, VA. I would love to be able to list the names of his parents, but with the very common name of William Jones, I am coming up with conflicting information and I am not yet confident in my research or that of the other researcher who have associated parent names with William. The connections just do not seem right to me to go with the general consensus.
William worked as a brick and stone mason in Richmond, VA until he enlisted with the 5th VA regiment on August 21, 1777 for a 3 year term. He joined the men from Henrico County, VA under the command of Colonel Josiah Parker (April 1,1777 – July 12, 1778) and then Colonel William Russell September 14, 1778 – May 12, 1779. This regiment saw action in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and the Siege of Charleston to name a few. The 5th & 11th VA regiments were consolidated in early 1778 and then joined to the 3rd VA regiment on May 12 1778. Most of William's regiment was captured during the Siege of Charleston as this battle resulted in the biggest loss of troops suffered to the Revolutionary Army. What we do not yet know is whether William was captured and released or if he escaped or perhaps was on a mission apart from the main regiment.
"That it was during his father's services and marches that he formed some acquaintance with the lands in North Carolina in consequence of which (he said) he afterwards determined and did move to said State of North Carolina where he bought land and settled for life. He further declares that not of great while before his father's death a man by the name of Thomas Gardner came to his father and informed him that he could get his Pension and was about to undertake it, when the cancer of which he was afflicted became suddenly worse and he soon after died the matter entirely stopped and that at that time they did not know the widow could draw for her husband's services, nor did the widow know it for several years afterwards. That his Mother was old and very infirm for a long time before her death and her children much scattered over the Country, and those that were near her were poor men and all possessing but little general information about the Pension Laws, and men who served with the old man being in Virginia, and it also being a long ways to where they might be found to prove the service, that it was a good while before the widow finally determined to make application, and that after so determining the Agent she employed did not get the papers all sworn to before she took sick and died, and that since her death the present declarant has been getting all the information he could from the older children & who were with his father more, about the service the old man said he rendered that he might be enabled to detail it in this application. He further declares that he does not possess any record evidence of the service nor does not know where any can be found, but supposes there may be some persons in Virginia that may know something of said service."
“Sworn to and subscribed before me, Jno. Hensley on the day and year first above written, and I do certify that Nancy Phillips is a woman of good character a member of good standing [(word missing?)] the Baptist church, and that theose who know her put implicit confidence in her statements.
“I further certify that from her general appearance, I have no doubt of her being of the age above stated in this is [sic[] affidavit which was read to her before signing the same.
“I further certify that I am in no wise concerned in the prosecution of this claim, nor have any interest in it, of any kind; In testimony whereof, I have set my hand. [witnessed; signed] Jno. Hensley JP [Justice of the Peace]
JONES, WILLIAM, Pvt
Birth: CIRCA 1760 HENRICO CO VIRGINIA
Death: 1-1-1835 YANCEY CO NORTH CAROLINA
Pension Number: R5698
Service Source: NARA, M881, COMP MIL SERV RECS, ROLL #981; NARA, M246, REV WAR ROLLS 1775-1783, ROLL #135
Service Description:
1) CAPT RALPH FALKNER, COL WILLIAM RUSSELL; 5TH VA REGT
But backpedaling a bit to a little earlier in the war, we find William Jones on the muster rolls among the enlisted men during the infamous Winter at Valley Forge, beginning in December of 1777 and lasting six months. The 5th VA Regiment entered Valley Forge with 357 assigned, but only 98 men were considered fit for duty. In all, more than 2,000 soldiers died during the time in Valley Forge from starvation and diseases such as typhus and smallpox. Lack of protection from the elements not only in the form of shelter, but they were also lacking basic clothing and shoes were also contributing factors to the death of many. The loss of these 2,000 soldiers during those 6 months is more than any loss of lives on any battlefield. But also during these months, Washington's troops regrouped and strengthened themselves as an army. You can click to watch a short video about VALLEY FORGE and learn more about the time spent there.
We are fortunate to be able to glean more details about William and his life during his service and also as a civilian from an affidavit by William's son Alfred dated February 22, 1855 as he sought to obtain a pension for his father's military service. Alfred reported details that his father shared with his family over his 75 years of life. I have left most of the details as they were in the affidavit for the sake of accuracy.
Alfred testifies that his father served a "term of three years under a Captain Henderson in a Virginia Regiment of State Troops commanded at times by Colonels Williams and Cropper, and is of opinion that it was about the year 1778 or 1779. He further declares that William Jones often stated that his officers (some of them) were changed and others took their places during his period of services and that he heard him mention the names of Captain Fields and Colonel Anderson as being in some way connected with them, or under them during the period that he was in service and that he also mentioned that he was under General Green [presumably Nathanael Greene] a good deal of the time. He further states that while under General Greene (he believes it was) that he was marched into some portions of North and South Carolina that he was in a battle called the Eutaw Springs [September 8, 1781] and another at the Ford of the Catawba [River], and several small skirmishes but has forgotten the names and places as well as dates of these skirmishes and that after they had been in the Carolinas for a considerable length of time they were marched back to Virginia and remained there for the remainder of the war and was principally engaged in hunting of and dispersing gangs of outliers or Tories and British in small gangs who were committing ravages on neighborhoods in the Western part of the State."
"He further declares that said William Jones frequently told about being (in connection with the other soldiers) in a great want of clothing and that on one occasion their provisions also gave out, and their hunger became so great that some of them killed and ate a dog. He states, that he is of opinion that said William Jones said he was at home once during his service is not certain as to that, nor whether more than once or not. That he is not certain about the line to which his father was attached, whether it was in the Continental Line or in the Virginia State Line as on this point the old man spoke frequently of both, and for that reason they are somewhat blended together in his memory, but is of opinion that his father said he was paid for some services by the State of Virginia in what he called old Proc money and that the greater part of what he got for said services was in this kind of money and which soon became so worthless that it would take ten pounds of it (£10) to buy a dinner. He further declares that William Jones stated that he continued in the service to about the close of the war, and that the fighting had almost ceased, (only small skirmishes) and that his term of service had also expired when he was regularly and honorably discharged by his officers and received a written certificate to that effect, which he left with present declarant's grandfather at the time he (said William Jones) emigrated to this date, some years after his marriage and as he did not go back to Virginia anymore he did not know whatever became of it."
"That it was during his father's services and marches that he formed some acquaintance with the lands in North Carolina in consequence of which (he said) he afterwards determined and did move to said State of North Carolina where he bought land and settled for life. He further declares that not of great while before his father's death a man by the name of Thomas Gardner came to his father and informed him that he could get his Pension and was about to undertake it, when the cancer of which he was afflicted became suddenly worse and he soon after died the matter entirely stopped and that at that time they did not know the widow could draw for her husband's services, nor did the widow know it for several years afterwards. That his Mother was old and very infirm for a long time before her death and her children much scattered over the Country, and those that were near her were poor men and all possessing but little general information about the Pension Laws, and men who served with the old man being in Virginia, and it also being a long ways to where they might be found to prove the service, that it was a good while before the widow finally determined to make application, and that after so determining the Agent she employed did not get the papers all sworn to before she took sick and died, and that since her death the present declarant has been getting all the information he could from the older children & who were with his father more, about the service the old man said he rendered that he might be enabled to detail it in this application. He further declares that he does not possess any record evidence of the service nor does not know where any can be found, but supposes there may be some persons in Virginia that may know something of said service." "He further declares that the attached Family Register of the births of his fathers and mothers children which is in the hand writing of his father is all the evidence in relation to said marriage that he now knows of and that it has been in possession of his mother from his father's death to her death and then in that of his sister Dorothy Shepherd until he procured it to put with this declaration. That he believes there was once a record of the marriage also but does not know what has become of it. He further declares that said family register shows the oldest child (Luvisa now dead) to have been born 4th day of June in the year 1789 and as his mother always said she was married precisely eleven months when her first child was born, that from this it appears that the marriage took place on or just about the 4 day of July in the year 1788, in the County of Wythe and State of Virginia and that his mother's maiden name was Dorothy Hampton, and that she was also born and raised in the County of Wythe in the State of Virginia."
"He further avers that said William Jones died of a cancer on the first day of January in the year 1835 in the County of Yancey State of North Carolina and was seventy-five years old at his death. He further states that Dorothy Jones his Mother died in the County of Yancey State of North Carolina on the 28th day of July in the year 1854, all of which will more fully appear by the accompanying testimony here with presented. He further avers that at his Mother's death she left the following children, heirs and issue of said marriage between her and William Jones and who were living the last time heard from, viz., those that are mentioned as being deceased and here mentioned to show their ages, viz.
1. Luvisa who is dead,
2. Laban Jones,
3. Viney wife of Elijah Shepherd,
4. Malindy wife of James Runion all of whom live in Macon County North Carolina,
5. Susannah wife of Gabriel Madcap lives in Madison County North Carolina,
6. Thursee who is dead but was the wife of Julius Roberson of Kentucky,
7. Dorothy wife of John Sheppard lives in this County,
8. Preston Jones now living in Kentucky,
9. Alfred Jones the present declarant;
10. William B Jones who lives in Washington County Tennessee
– eight now living and two died. He further avers that his father and Mother were not married [before] he left the service above described but that it took place before the first day of January 1794 viz. at the time heretofore mentioned, and that his mother continued a widow from the day of her husband's death to that of her own in the year 1854.
S/ Alfred Jones, X his mark"
From this affidavit, we also can read the testimony from some friends and family members who knew our William Jones quite well. William had a good friend and fellow soldier named Redmond McMahan's. His son, James McMahan, who was 80 at the time, gave testimony on August 6, 1855 in Yancey County NC. James stated that, his "father was a Virginia Continental soldier; that his father and William Jones were intimate friends and often conversed together on the Revolution and their services in it; that his father spoke of William Jones as a true and faithful soldier; that the affiant and his father moved from Virginia to North Carolina, Buncombe County (now Yancy) about the year 1795; that the Jones family settled near the deponent; that Dorothy Jones' maiden name was Dorothy Hampton."
Dorothy's sister, Nancy Phipps, also served as a witness in this instance. From her testimony we come upon William's sense of humor and learn of his musical abilities. We also learn that Dorothy's parents we not too keen on William being a suitor for their daughter and how William and Dorothy got around it. This scenario is something that we see in modern times. “On this 15 day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and fiftyfive [sic; 1855], personally appeared before me Ino. Hensley the undersigned one of the acting justices of the Peace in and for said county and state, Nancy Phipps, aged sevntysevn [sic; 77] years, a resident of said county, who being first duly sworn according to Law says on oath that she was born and partly raised in the county of Wythe and state of Virginia and that when she was about ten years old she became acquainted with a man by the name of William Jones, who about that time began to court her sister Dorothy, who was about ten years older than herself. – that her father and mother were both opposed to the marriage and finally endervored [sic; endeavored], by prohibiting said William Jones from coming about the house, to prevent it, but they continued their courting secretly, and were, that summer she thinks in the month of July in the year seventeen hundred hundred and eighty Eight [1788] in said county of Wythe, state of Virginia, married at her father’s house.
“Deponent further avers that there were two circumstances the recollection of which very much aids her memory in calling to mind these facts and dates: First a short time before the said marriage, her sister Dorothy was engaged weaving in a small house in the field some distance from the main dwelling, and that this witness had occasion to go out there, where she found said Jones and her sister both crying. Her mother came in and after some short words, said Jones told this witness’ mother that they must not oppose it, for he intended to marry Dorothy, her daughter, and shortly afterwards left the house, That soon after this, the parents became reconciled to the match, and Jones and her sister were married, but that the difficulty above mentioned made quite an impression upon her mind.
“She further states, that soon after this marriage, – before said Jones and her sister had gone to housekeeping, the father and mother of this witness went to North Carolina to see their relatives, and Jones and his wife Dorothy were left to keep house and mind the children, – that said Jones was fiddling, and one day, while he was sitting in the door, playing his fiddle, a severe thunder-storm came up, and struck a tree in the yard, and that Jones stopped for a moment, and remarked that that was a damned hard clap, and then very unconcernedly played on again, and that being very much frightened by the storm, the unusual (to her) profanity of Jones, and the absence of her parents from home for some time, and there being a record of her own age, and knowing that she was ten years of age when her sister was married, all which occurrences taken together enables her to recollect all things connected therewith, as well as or better, than many things that have taken place l[?] since. And these things being frequently talked of by the family, still keeps it fresh in her memory. She further states that it was always her understanding and she thinks it was believed by the community both here and in Virginia, that said William Jones was a revolutionary soldier, and that she has heard him tell of being in the service in Virginia and in North carolina; and as well as her recolection [sic] serves her, he always said he enlisted for the term of three years and served out his time.
“Deponent further states that said Jones was a brick and stone mason, and was a man of truth. That many years ago, this witness and her relatives moved to this section of N. Carolina to which William Jones and his wife above mentioned also moved, and settled in Buncombe county, now Yancey, where they both died, leaving Alfred Jones and other living children. She further avers that she has no interest in the final issue of this matter, nor ever expects to be benefitted in the least by its allowance."
“[signed] Nancey her X mark Phipps (seal)
“Deponent further avers that there were two circumstances the recollection of which very much aids her memory in calling to mind these facts and dates: First a short time before the said marriage, her sister Dorothy was engaged weaving in a small house in the field some distance from the main dwelling, and that this witness had occasion to go out there, where she found said Jones and her sister both crying. Her mother came in and after some short words, said Jones told this witness’ mother that they must not oppose it, for he intended to marry Dorothy, her daughter, and shortly afterwards left the house, That soon after this, the parents became reconciled to the match, and Jones and her sister were married, but that the difficulty above mentioned made quite an impression upon her mind.
“She further states, that soon after this marriage, – before said Jones and her sister had gone to housekeeping, the father and mother of this witness went to North Carolina to see their relatives, and Jones and his wife Dorothy were left to keep house and mind the children, – that said Jones was fiddling, and one day, while he was sitting in the door, playing his fiddle, a severe thunder-storm came up, and struck a tree in the yard, and that Jones stopped for a moment, and remarked that that was a damned hard clap, and then very unconcernedly played on again, and that being very much frightened by the storm, the unusual (to her) profanity of Jones, and the absence of her parents from home for some time, and there being a record of her own age, and knowing that she was ten years of age when her sister was married, all which occurrences taken together enables her to recollect all things connected therewith, as well as or better, than many things that have taken place l[?] since. And these things being frequently talked of by the family, still keeps it fresh in her memory. She further states that it was always her understanding and she thinks it was believed by the community both here and in Virginia, that said William Jones was a revolutionary soldier, and that she has heard him tell of being in the service in Virginia and in North carolina; and as well as her recolection [sic] serves her, he always said he enlisted for the term of three years and served out his time.
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| Archives of Colonial Society of Massachusetts |
“Deponent further states that said Jones was a brick and stone mason, and was a man of truth. That many years ago, this witness and her relatives moved to this section of N. Carolina to which William Jones and his wife above mentioned also moved, and settled in Buncombe county, now Yancey, where they both died, leaving Alfred Jones and other living children. She further avers that she has no interest in the final issue of this matter, nor ever expects to be benefitted in the least by its allowance."
“[signed] Nancey her X mark Phipps (seal)
“I further certify that from her general appearance, I have no doubt of her being of the age above stated in this is [sic[] affidavit which was read to her before signing the same.
“I further certify that I am in no wise concerned in the prosecution of this claim, nor have any interest in it, of any kind; In testimony whereof, I have set my hand. [witnessed; signed] Jno. Hensley JP [Justice of the Peace]
Below are a few additional pieces of information from the affidavit for William Jones' posthumous Revolutionary War pension application.
This is to certify, that it appears from a list in this office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia State Line as settled their accounts and received certificates for the balance of their full pay, according to an act of assembly, passed the November session 1781, directing the Auditors of Public Accounts to settle and adjust the pay and accounts of said Officers and Soldiers from the first January 1777 to 31st December 1781, (see Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. 10, p. 462,) that a settlement was made on the 24th day of April 1783 in the name of William Jones as Soldier Infantry and evidence of the indebtedness of the State to him was £101.1.3, delivered to himself but as the original settlements or copies thereof or not to be found in this office, the term of service embraced therein cannot be stated.
Given under my hand at the First Auditor's Office, Richmond, this
23rd day of February 1855.
S/ G. W. Clutter
[No Seal of Office] Auditor P. Accts.
[p 59: Certificate dated August 24, 1855 from the clerk of court of Wythe County Virginia indicating that he has made diligent search in the records in his office for a marriage bond or license for William Jones to marry Dorothy Hampton and found no such papers.]
[p 61: On August 8, 1855 in Yancey County North Carolina Joseph Shepherd of Burnsville gave testimony that he is 62 years old; that he was acquainted with William Jones; the affiant gave testimony as to his having had conversations with William Jones about Jones' service in the revolutionary war.]
[p. 64: On August 18, 1855 in Yancey County North Carolina, James L. McCurry, 58, gave testimony that his father Malcolm McCurry was an officer in the revolutionary war and took great interest in all the old soldiers of that war; that his father and William Jones had conversations regarding their services.]
Birth: CIRCA 1760 HENRICO CO VIRGINIA
Death: 1-1-1835 YANCEY CO NORTH CAROLINA
Pension Number: R5698
Service Source: NARA, M881, COMP MIL SERV RECS, ROLL #981; NARA, M246, REV WAR ROLLS 1775-1783, ROLL #135
Service Description:
1) CAPT RALPH FALKNER, COL WILLIAM RUSSELL; 5TH VA REGT
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