The name "Jones" has been around much longer than Georgia, or for that matter, the United States. It goes all the way back to England, where the first documented recording of Jones as a last name appeared in 1279 when Mathilda Jones was listed in the "Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire."
Over the next 300 years, portions of Wales were placed under English rule. The Acts of Union (1536 & 1542) prohibited the use of the Welsh language. Therefore, in Wales, the wealthier classes began to take surnames (or last names) as well.
William “John” Thomas of Treowen, Monmouthshire was the first recorded Welshman to take a last name, becoming William “Jones.” William’s eldest son, John Jones, assumed his father’s place at Treowen. Another son, Philip, became the Minister of Parliament for Monmouth.
The Bulloch Jones’: Drury and Bridger Descendents
There are two distinct Jones family lines in Bulloch County. One started with Thomas Jones in Henrico County, Virginia, and the other started with John Jones of Isle of Wight County in Virginia.
Drury Jones Senior Line
Drury Jones’ first American ancestor was Thomas Jones, who was born sometime after 1614 in Henrico County, Virginia. He married Mary Repps sometime around 1655. The birth and marriage dates are vague because whom Thomas’ parents are is uncertain.
They had had four children before he died. They were Thomas Junior, who married Martha Tanner; Repp (or Repps) Jones, who married Lucretia (or Lucrecary); Elizabeth Jones, who married Philip Turpin; and Martha Jones, who married Thomas Osborne.
Thomas Jones’ name first appears in American records concerning his acquisition of 420 acres in Henrico County in exchange for having paid the cost of bringing nine people to the colony. They lived in the “Bermuda Hundred” near “Powell’s Creek.”
On August 9, 1684, Mary and Thomas Junior divided Thomas Jones Seniors land. At the same time, Thomas Junior sold 100 acres to his brother Repp. Thomas, Thomas’ wife Martha, and his mother Mary all signed the deed.
Repp and Lucretia Jones had a number of children, including Drury in 1751.
Drury married Sarah Lanier. Together they had a number of children.
Drury and Sarah passed through South Carolina, settling in what first became part of Screven, and then part of Bulloch County, Georgia sometime after 1770. Drury was also a supporter of the Methodist Society, which eventually built Mount Carmel Church (later renamed Paynes Chapel.
Bridger Jones Senior Line
The first American ancestor of Bridger Jones Senior was John Jones Senior, who was born in Gloucester, England. His birth and marriage dates are uncertain because of a lack of information about their parents.
He married Anne Applewhaite and they settled in Isle of Wight County in Virginia and had several children, including James Jones in 1710. He later married Mary Rebecca Bridger.
James and Mary Rebecca had two children: a daughter Sarah; and a son Bridger (also spelled as Brigger). They then left Isle of Wight in Virginia, settling in Swansboro in Onslow County, N.C.
Bridger was born on August 11, 1759 (or possibly 1753). He married Rachel Barry in 1783 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. Most records indicate they had nine children: six sons and three daughters.
In June of 1804 Bridger moved his family to Georgia, eventually settling on Lotts Creek and Watering Hole Branch in lower Bulloch County. In 1815 he moved again, this time to the area between Ten Mile and Fifteen Mile Creeks along the Canoochie River in what is now Candler County.
Over the next 300 years, portions of Wales were placed under English rule. The Acts of Union (1536 & 1542) prohibited the use of the Welsh language. Therefore, in Wales, the wealthier classes began to take surnames (or last names) as well.
William “John” Thomas of Treowen, Monmouthshire was the first recorded Welshman to take a last name, becoming William “Jones.” William’s eldest son, John Jones, assumed his father’s place at Treowen. Another son, Philip, became the Minister of Parliament for Monmouth.
The Bulloch Jones’: Drury and Bridger Descendents
There are two distinct Jones family lines in Bulloch County. One started with Thomas Jones in Henrico County, Virginia, and the other started with John Jones of Isle of Wight County in Virginia.
Drury Jones Senior Line
Drury Jones’ first American ancestor was Thomas Jones, who was born sometime after 1614 in Henrico County, Virginia. He married Mary Repps sometime around 1655. The birth and marriage dates are vague because whom Thomas’ parents are is uncertain.
They had had four children before he died. They were Thomas Junior, who married Martha Tanner; Repp (or Repps) Jones, who married Lucretia (or Lucrecary); Elizabeth Jones, who married Philip Turpin; and Martha Jones, who married Thomas Osborne.
Thomas Jones’ name first appears in American records concerning his acquisition of 420 acres in Henrico County in exchange for having paid the cost of bringing nine people to the colony. They lived in the “Bermuda Hundred” near “Powell’s Creek.”
On August 9, 1684, Mary and Thomas Junior divided Thomas Jones Seniors land. At the same time, Thomas Junior sold 100 acres to his brother Repp. Thomas, Thomas’ wife Martha, and his mother Mary all signed the deed.
Repp and Lucretia Jones had a number of children, including Drury in 1751.
Drury married Sarah Lanier. Together they had a number of children.
Drury and Sarah passed through South Carolina, settling in what first became part of Screven, and then part of Bulloch County, Georgia sometime after 1770. Drury was also a supporter of the Methodist Society, which eventually built Mount Carmel Church (later renamed Paynes Chapel.
Bridger Jones Senior Line
The first American ancestor of Bridger Jones Senior was John Jones Senior, who was born in Gloucester, England. His birth and marriage dates are uncertain because of a lack of information about their parents.
He married Anne Applewhaite and they settled in Isle of Wight County in Virginia and had several children, including James Jones in 1710. He later married Mary Rebecca Bridger.
James and Mary Rebecca had two children: a daughter Sarah; and a son Bridger (also spelled as Brigger). They then left Isle of Wight in Virginia, settling in Swansboro in Onslow County, N.C.
Bridger was born on August 11, 1759 (or possibly 1753). He married Rachel Barry in 1783 in New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina. Most records indicate they had nine children: six sons and three daughters.
In June of 1804 Bridger moved his family to Georgia, eventually settling on Lotts Creek and Watering Hole Branch in lower Bulloch County. In 1815 he moved again, this time to the area between Ten Mile and Fifteen Mile Creeks along the Canoochie River in what is now Candler County.