Life's Challenges

Life has a number of built-in challenges. At birth, for a full-term infant, regaining their birth weight by 10 days of age is usual. Birth weight doubles by 5 months of age, and triples by 1 year of age.

Growth increases by 10-12 inches in the first year of life.

Subcutaneous tissue (fat) reaches its peak at around 9 months of age.

The head is slightly larger than the chest at birth [needed to open the door], but the chest size increases to match the head size by the end of the first year.

Teeth erupt in most infants between 5 and 9 months of age. By one year of age most children have 6-8 teeth.

Challenge after challenge face us.

The picture to the right shows me at one 8-9 month challenge...to assume a sitting position without help and to be able to maintain it with the back straight. My arms are extended [already talking with my hands before I could talk with my lips], fingers spread, and a sheepish grin upon my face. My back certainly appears straight. Legs are flexed, and it almost looks as though I could jump up and walk away. One of life's challenges caught on film. However most of the time, life does not always provide a camera.

Shorts and Nothing Else

The summer months in Kentucky were spent in a variety of ways. Usual dress was shorts and...well nothing else. It was common to have the summer days interrupted by a photographer pulling a small horse, house to house, yard to yard, asking folks if they wanted their children's picture taken. Can you imagine the excitement that getting on a horse in the middle of the summer would produce. [Not that horses were anything special in the Bluegrass of Kentucky!]

The picture to the right shows my brother and me in such a pose. [I was 4 years and my brother was 6 years of age.] Danny was the name. A horse called Danny and us in the summer of 1955. We had just moved into our new house at 25 Vine Street. Our summer attire was spotless and our smiles expectant. My older brother Henry was a little more reserved, but he was sitting on the back edge of the saddle. My face certainly showed the excitement and joy that I was experiencing on Danny. Holding the reigns...ready to go...getty up! But where?

Snap, the picture was taken. Down we came. Back into the summer of 1955 and our new neighborhood. Only the picture remains.

Virginia Land Laws (Part VII) Surveyor's fees

The surveyor's fees were to be paid in tobacco, collected by the sheriff, if necessary. For every survey made, plainly bounded as the directs, and for a plat of such survey, after the delivery of such plat, where the survey was not more than one thousand acres of land, cost 500 pounds of tobacco. For every one hundred acres contained in one survey above the first thousand acres would earn an additional 50 pounds of tobacco. For surveying a lot in town would cost 20 pounds. For a survey when hindered or stopped before completing the survey, to be paid by the party requesting the survey 250 pounds tobacco. For running every dividing line between parties cost 250 pounds. For surveying an acre of land for a mill was 100 pounds of tobacco. For land formerly patented and required to be resurveyed, the same fee as for land not before surveyed was charged. For an inclusive survey, as second fee was not paid for the part previously surveyed, but only for the new part. For an inclusive survey of several adjacent tracts previously surveyed the plat was made for ten shillings. For lands surveyed for one party and assigned to another, the assignee shall pay, if the other did not. For the benefit of the public, the tables of fees (costs) were to be set up in the secretary's office and in the courthouse of each county.

Indians were not allowed to alienate their lands to any but some of their own nation. All conveyances from them were declared void and heavy penalties were imposed on those who should purchase or procure conveyances from them. (the Indians) But, encouragement was given to those who would cultivate trade with the Indians.

These land laws were in force until 1713.

Virginia Land Laws (Part VI) The Surveyors

Surveyors were commissioned by the master of William and Mary College, which was founded 1693 under royal charter by King William III and Queen Mary II. The government confirmed only such surveys as had been made by surveyors so commissioned. Both surveyors and chain carriers were required to be sworn before the county court. Surveyors were required to see that every tract surveyed should be plainly bounded, either by natural bounds, marked trees or other artificial landmarks. These surveyors were to deliver plats of surveys to those for whom they were made within six months after the survey was made. They were not to deliver such plats to any other person till six months had elapsed. They were also required to enter every plat and survey in a book to be furnished him for that purpose within two months after the survey was made, The entries were to include all streams crossed in the course, and the boundaries and adjacent plantations. In June of each year, the surveyors were to return to the county clerk's office to be recorded there lists of all surveys, specifying for whom made, the quantities surveyed, and where situated.

A penalty was imposed on the surveyor for refusing to survey. It was provided that all entries should stand good till the surveyor gave notice that he was ready to survey. If the party [the one requesting the survey] failed to attend the surveyor within a month after such notice, his entry should be void. The county court might appoint inspectors of the surveyors' books to report on their condition and take care of them in case of the death or removal of the surveyor.

Christmas Decorations

Three to four inches of snow on Christmas eve made this the first white Christmas for our Jones family in about 10 years. Things were much quieter this year because only eight family members could join us. The snow, work, and the other sides of the family made us a very small group, compared to the 15 - 20 that usually joined in the family get together. Mom was unable to put up her usual "decorated to the hilt" tree this year, and many of the decorations remained in the boxes that my wife and middle daughter discovered. For several hours my wife, middle daughter, and Mom made a trip through our family history using the containers of decorations:

This one we put on the Christmas tree on Vine Street. [That would have been around 1955!] This one was taken to school by your Dad [that's me] every Christmas to help decorate the Christmas tree at school. [My intials were still on the bottom.] This one your Dad [that's me] made in Cub Scouts, which still showed the word "DAD" [for my Dad] in brightly colored letters on the large styrofoam ball. This one we got in Germany. This one I just liked. On and on our family Christmans was told through a box of decorations. My wife and daughter were excited when Mom told them to take what they wanted. This would probably be the last Christmas that she would be able to get all the decorations out and up around the house. My middle daughter loved it! Mother still wanted to keep the ones that my bother and I took to school every season. My Dad still wanted to keep the hand made one [from me] that proudly stated "DAD". We love you Mom. Thanks for the years you decorated the tree and your house with all the things you loved. May they continue to decorate our family home for generations to come.

Virginia Land Laws (Part V) The Processioning

Every fourth year the county court was to direct its vestry to lay off its parish into precincts. The appointed time for this process (a procession) was to be between the last days of September and March. Two freeholders (land owners) were to check each "procession" and were to return a report to the vestry. These reports were then directed to be registered by the clerk of each county court. Three processionings settled the bounds of lands unalterably, provided they were made with the consent of the owners and saving the cases of infants, women and persons of unsound mind. In this manner, perminent boundries were set by "precincts" for each county and vestry in Virginia following the land law changes of 1704/1705.

Virginia Land Laws (Part IV) Escheated Lands

Titles to lands previously granted [before 1704] were confirmed, whether duly recorded or not, but after that time all patents and the rights on which they were founded were required to be recorded. Patentees were required to seat [settle] and plant the granted lands within three years. Seating and planting meant the building of one acre. A failure to so seat and plant a grant within the prescribed three years meant a forfeiture of the grant and of the right on which it was founded. Time was extended to three more years in case of the death of the grantee. If lands were forfeited (escheated), they might not be patented to another for three years after the date of the first patent, and not then without an order of the general court. If any patented tract was found to contain more than the patent expressed, the patentee might obtain a patent for the surplus.

Every form (patent) contained a reservation of a fee rent (tax) of one shillings for every fifty acres and a requirement that the premises should be seated and planted within three years from the date of the grant. This fee rent (tax) for each fifty acres was the so-called quit rent. This "rent" was often waived for the benefit of the early settlers into an area which the Governor or Council felt beneficial to the colony. A Rent Roll of Virginia 1704 - 1705 was taken and described as : " A True and Perfect Rent Roll of all the Lands held by her Majesty in...(each county listed)" This account gives the owners and their acres of land patented in each county of Virginia for 1704. This reference is published in a book entitled :

"The Planters of Colonial Virginia", by Thomas Wertenbaker, Princeton University Press, 1922. It is a tax record and land record of all Virginia that had been settled up to this point. This record is an invaluable resource for the genealogist who has reached this date in their family tree climbing.

Escheated lands were forfeited or lapsed lands. This term appears in many of the records during this period.

Virginia Land Laws (Part III) Treasury Rights

On the payment of five shillings for every fifty acres of land, the receiver-general of the revenues of the Colony was directed to deliver to any person desiring to take up vacant lands a certificate. A surveyor was then to lay off for the claimant the quantity expressed in such treasury warrants. The survey was then returned to the secretary's office so that a patent might be issued. Each claimant was limited to five hundred acres, unless he owned five or more tithable servants or slaves. In this case, he might take up two acres more for every tithable. [Tithable were the inhabitants of the colony upon whom a tax might be levied. In early Virginia a tax was usually imposed upon every male person over sixteen years of age. All white male servants and all imported slaves were included. The rule varied. Each county was divided into several tax precincts and a special commissioner was appointed in each to draw up an accurate list of the resident tithables.] Grants for more than four thousand acres in any one tract were prohibited, except in entries before made for larger quantities. Swamps, marshes and low grounds adjacent to patented high lands could not be taken up till one year after notice, in the presence of two witnesses, to the patentee of the highlands.

Virginia Land Laws (Part II) Importation Rights

Under Queen Anne (1702) the Crown took a new interest in the land laws of the colonies. By 1705, there was completed a general revival of the laws, with three acts passed prescribing the forms of patents.

The first was called "importation rights". Every free immigrant to the Colony, other than transient persons, had an importation right to fifty acres of land. It allowed that every imported servant, after the term of service expired, had the right to fifty acres. Every immigrant, bringing with him a wife and children, to fifty acres for his wife and each child. It clarified that the immigrant only, or those to whom he should assign his rights in the presence of two witnesses, should be entitled to such rights, or certificate. The proof of such importation rights should be made, on oath, before the general or a county court. A certificate was to be produced in the secretary's office; upon which the secretary should grant the claimant a certificate. Based upon this certificate, any surveyor might lay off the quantity expressed, on any vacant land. The survey was then to be returned to the secretary's office, and a patent could be issued.

This first "right" would certainly encourage those to come to the colonies.

Virginia Land Laws: A Chronology (Part I)

Understanding the process by which land was "taken up" in colonial Virginia is often key to recognizing the pattern of migration and settlement that one's family may have experienced. The land laws were specific to the individuals (ancestors) who sought to buy land make a plantation among the wilderness. The following information is abstracted from the work by F.B. Kegley entitled: "Kegley's Virginia Frontier", published by The Southwest Virginia Historical Society, Roanoke, VA, 1938.

The "Land Laws of Virginia" were the laws and customs under which new lands were settled in the first English colony in the new world. In 1606, the 1st Charter of the Virginia Company, the King agreed that he would grant by patent, to such persons and for such estates, as its Council should appoint, all the lands within the territory granted by the charter. These lands were to be held by the Crown, as of the Manor of East Greenwich in Kent in free and common "Socage". [socage = Feudal tenure of land by a tenant, in return for agricultural or other nonmilitary services or for payment of in money.]

The 2nd Charter of the Virginia Company, 1609, authorized and required the lands to be distributed under the Crown's common seal, from time to time, among the adventures and planters, in such proportions as it should appoint and allow. This land distribution required a commission of survey, and the distribution was to be based "...as to the special merit of the grantee".

This beginning changed in 1624, when all rights and powers were resumed by the Crown. It was then provided that private planter's dividends of lands [those in the Virginia Company] would be placed under control of the Colonial Assembly. These lands were to be laid off in "severalty" [a separate and individual right to possession or ownership that is not shared by any other person] The land boundaries were to be recorded by surveyors. Petty differences were to be decided by the surveyors and important ones were to be referred to the Governor and Council.

It was not until 1666 that any changes in these land laws were made. Here, the colony of Virginia was empowered to make grants of waste and inappropriate lands.

Ping-Pong Genealogy

For every genealogist there will come a time when one feels that they have reached the end of their family's trail... or feel like the tree branch they have been climbing has been cut off...or they have smacked their face into the proverbial brick wall. With a surname like JONES this has happened to me multiple times! When this happens, and indeed it will happen, take a deep breath and begin playing what I call "Ping-Pong Genealogy".

The first step is to imagine that the brick wall is actually a table tennis net. You are on one side, and the solution to your brick wall is on the other. Second is to line up all the facts (or assumptions) that you have accumulated up to this point. This may be dates, documents, associated names, maiden names, church membership, social or military records, etc., etc., until you have placed all the pieces on your side of the net. For example, my Griffin Joneses where in Caroline Co., Virginia starting around 1735. They seemed to have dealt with a bunch of people who had distinctive surnames such as Buckner, Thornton, Taliaferro, Roy, McPherson, and many others. Take one surname and serve it over the net to the other side.(a Ping) By this I mean move to the other side of the net historically, geographically, socially, or by documents to a point further back in time. The name Taliaferro spreads dramatically upon the pages of historical documents going all the way back to the 1630s! [Here I started a new notebook on each surname.] Then jump back over the net, a Pong, taking what you have uncovered. Do the same for deeds, wills, court documents, land grants, etc., etc., until you have additional information to add to your family search. Note any connection to your surname. As you bring these pieces together you will find that many brick walls begin to crumble. Ping-Pong anyone?

Unusual Places

Records found in unusual places will often prove to be the way around many of the "brick walls" confronting the genealogist. Digging around all the records that come available will often open doors unknown. At least skimming the index to books and records for the names you are searching, will not take a lot of time, and may prove helpful if your ancestor's name is present. Such is the case for my Griffin Joneses.

The "Laws of Virginia" have been published since the colonial period. [The English loved to keep records!] On the 3rd October, 1778, there was an act passed entitled: "An act to direct the sale of certain lands late the property of John Thornton, esq. deceased, and for purchasing other lands in lieu thereof, and for other purposes." These records can be found in a series of books called "Hening: Statutes at Large" in 13 volumes. This series of documents begin in 1619.

Apparently, John Thornton of Caroline Co., died without a will (intestate) and his estate was left in a mess. So much of a mess, that the legislative body had to make an act to get it all untangled. In this act Griffin Jones is listed as follows:

"...a tract of about one thousand seven hundred acres lying on Mattapony river, purchased of Griffin Jones and the executors of Reuben Thornton, gentlemen, but not conveyed, and of the reversion in fee expectant on the death of Mrs. Betty Thornton, widow of the said Reuben Thornton, of and in another tract of five hundred and thirty acres lying on Mattapony river, in the said county of Caroline, purchased of Francis Thornton, but not conveyed...". Wow, what a mess indeed! This record goes into great detail regarding the estate of John Thornton. Griffin Jones seems to be in the middle of it, but how and why. Pieces of a puzzle in unusual places.

Pioneers to Cavaliers

My family to Kentucky were some of the first to settle in this new territory, thus pioneers. My family to Virginia were some of those who fled England at the close of the English Civil War, thus Cavaliers. [Cavaliers were those who had supported Charles I of England in his struggles with the Puritans and Parliament.]

For the colony of Virginia, one of the best historical record of this time period is called of all things "Cavaliers and Pioneers"! What a deal, my family in reverse! My first book in the series of records was obtained just out of high school, and as I type this post I have the copy in front of me. The publisher's introduction reads:

"The first printing of Cavaliers and Pioneers in 1934, undoubtedly represented one of the greatest contributions ever made to facilitate the study of early Virginia genealogy and history."

The Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland reprinted copies in 1963, and in 1969. My copy is of course the 1969 edition. As time went on, the Virginia State Library, Richmond, started publishing the documents beginning in 1977. What followed was a series of Virginia land patent documents right up to the firing of George III, July 1776! This series has become the root of colonial Virginia tree climbing. The following gives an outline of this remarkable series:

Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants...

Volume I, 1623 - 1666, abstracted and indexed by Nell Marion Nugent, 1934.

Volume II, 1666 - 1695, abstracted and indexed by Nell Marion Nugent, 1977.

[Nell Marion Nugent was the custodian of the Virginia Land Office from 1925 - 1958]

Volume III, 1695 - 1732, abstracted and indexed by Neill Marion Nugent, 1979.

Volume IV, 1732 - 1741, edited by Denis Hudgins, 1994.

Volume V, 1741 - 1749, edited by Denis Hudgins, 1994.

Volume VI, 1749 - 1762, edited by Denis Hudgins, 1998.

Volume VII, 1762 - 1776, edited by Denis Hudgins, 1999.

Standing upon the shoulders of these giants of genealogy, you can begin to explore the history and geography of your ancestors in colonial Virginia.

When Genealogy becomes Geography

The complexity of doing genealogy multiplies as one goes further back in time. As the world changes from what we know and experience, to that of our ancestor's world, understanding their world becomes invaluable. Each generation furthur back in time, becames a new world with new places to examine and learn. How did they live? How did they love? How did they survive? You will reach a point where the ancestor's world will becomae completely different from the world you know and think you understand. There will not be cell phones, computers...then...no regular phones, T.V.s...no radios...no electricity...no cars...no trains...no roads...no world as we know it! At some point, genealogy becomes our new way of understanding our old way. What fun!

One key area is geography. Genealogy will often become geography. Understanding the survice of the earth; its land, sea, and air, and how our ancetor's lived within it, will often be the way around many brick walls. This is especially true when one reaches the "frontier" where our ancester's began their lives. For me, it was in Virginia with Griffin Jones, Jr. and Sr. Owning land was the highest social symbol indicating that you had made it. In many places you had to own land to be able to vote and join the political process that ran the place. To control the land and its distribution was one of the most powerful positions. In Virginia this was done by the central government under the control of the monarchy. The central government was the "Kings" government since 13 May 1625, when "A Proclamation For Settling the Plantation of Virginia" was made by James I. This proclamation stated:

"And that our full resolution is, to the end that there may be one uniform course of government in and through our whole monarchy, that the government of the colony of Virginia shall immediatley depend upon ourself...".

A surveyor had already been sent in 1621 to make a survey of the Virginia Companies' land, and to make a map of the country. Making maps is essentially a way to understand the geography. In 1624, all rights and powers to the land were taken by the "Crown". [The Crown meaning the King's Government!] Making surveys became the law of the land. (more will be said about this)

Now the foundational references to understanding of this "land patent" process are a series of books titled: "Cavaliers and Pioneers, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants...". The first book starts 1623 and runs until 1666. It was originally published in 1934, and reprinted in 1963. I obtained my first copy just out of high school, and have used this series of books more than any other! Thank you Nell Marion Nugent. Land surveys, an aid to understanding geography.

Leaves on the Tree

Griffin Jones (Jr.) and his father Griffin Jones (Sr.) appear to have lived most of their lives in Caroline County, VA. Although, the last record of Griffin, Jr. was in Spotsylvania County records dated 5 April 1785, where the family must have moved after the Revolutionary War. The name Griffin gets past along since in 1817, there were two Griffin Joneses listed among the family that were members of the South Elkhorn Baptist Church.

Griffin Jones (Sr.) first appears in the Caroline County records dated 13 August 1736. He seems to have had a lot of trouble in the courts for there is a fairly long series of court cases involving Griffin, Sr.:

1. (1736)Griffin Jones Assignee of Charles Spoe against Joshusa King...[Caroline Co., VA Order BK, 1732-1740, Vol. 1-3, Vol. II, p 54.]

"Judgement is granted the plaintiff for 522 pounds of tobacco"

2. (1737)Action of Debt- Robert Taliaferro against Griffin Jones...[dito: Vol.II, p.112]

"case dismissed"

3. (1737/38) Action of Debt- William Taliaferro, gent. Against Griffin Jones...[dito:Vol III, p.15}

"case dismissed"

On and on it goes...most interesting is 1740/41 Action of trespass, assault, and battery. James Young against Griffin Jones [Caroline Co., VA Order BK 1740-1746, Part I, p. 15]

"Dismissed, it being agreed."

He was also ordered to be surveyor of the road in the room (the place of) Nicholas Ware. [dito: Part I, p. 70]

The eighth court record reveals his wife's name is Mary when 12 August 1743, it states: "Griffin Jones and Mary his wife, acknowledged his deed of lease and release indented to Arch. McPherson, gent." [dito:, Part III, p. 12.]

Let's see now...Spoe, King, Taliaferro, Young, Ware, and McPherson and a bunch of other surnames appear with poor Griffin, Sr. Like working a 5000 piece puzzle, it helps to group associated names together. This becomes more and more helpful as the leaves on the tree branches get thicker.

The Picture on the Box

Family time at 25 Vine Street was often spent around a folding card table. Here we played Rook and put together puzzles. Rook could be done over several hours, but putting a puzzle together often took several days to a week. We would leave the card table standing, and would work together as a family or independently, as we left for school or work, putting in a piece here or there until the job was done. Each day you could tell some progress had been made. It was kind of a family team effort. There was the 500 piece, 1000 piece, and the mother of all puzzles, the 5000 piece puzzle. When finished, everyone had a chance to comment, and then back in the box it went. It was almost as much fun taking it apart as putting it together, but much less of a challenge.

We usually started by dumping the whole puzzle in the middle of the card table. You then spread out all the pieces and placed the color surfaces right side up. You then looked for the pieces that had at least one side straight. These pieces you moved to the edge of the table because they were part of the outside rim of the puzzle. Next you looked at the picture on the box lid to identified the main theme. It might be the sea, sky, mountains, windmills, or any number of things that became the picture you were trying to put together. If sky, you then grouped the color themes blue to blue, green to green, orange to orange. Once grouped, you then started with the edge fitting and matching the colors and shapes. This provided a frame in which to work, sky up, field down, trees to the right, etc., etc. After all this was done, you then tried to fit the pieces together. The outside rim was usually the fastest, and the large expanse of sky, was usually the hardest. Little by little the puzzle would come together.

Doing genealogy is much like working a 5000 piece puzzle, especially with a surname like Jones! All the pieces seem mixed up and jumbled together. Having a plan helps. Start with what you know, is like organizing the out side edge of the puzzle. Grouping the colors together is like placing family names, maiden names, church groups or other common facts that you have discovered. Some times you have to look from different angles and there always seems to be a piece missing. Getting other family members involved often helps, but if you have the genealogy virus, others in the family usually do not. Work around the table, taking turns with different facts and family members, You do not have to have all the pieces put together at once, but each piece becomes part of the picture on the box.

Through my Memories

Almost all of the posts to date have dealt with my family's past generations. This being the 99th post (can you believe it), I thought it would be nice to picture the future generation.

The picture to the right is my youngest grandson Ian. He just had his first birthday party this past Saturday. He is the son of my youngest daughter Ellen, who spent time with me over Thanksgiving visiting many of our family's past locations in Clark County, Kentucky. (Winchester) [see post titled "Mighty Small" on 30 November] Of course her husband Wes had something to do with it also.

Ian is the "youngest" future generation of my family. Happy Birthday Ian, I am sure that one day Ellen will take you on a trip through my memories.

A Road Map

Separating two Griffin Joneses (there were actually three Griffins in the area) was quite a task. The county records did not seem to record which was "Senior" and "Junior" during most of the time period, and if my folks and I had not made a trip to Caroline County we might not have figured it out at all! The key date seemed to be the tax levy of 1755 where one Griffin (Sr.) was exempted from the taxes for being "old" or "infirmed". The next year, Griffin (Jr.) was placed in charge of overseeing the road past his house. With Nicholas Jones (a son of Griffin Jones, Jr.) being born in 1762, it would mean that Griffin (Jr.) would have married before 1762, fitting when he became part of the public community 1756. It is not certain that Nicholas was the oldest, but most likely the oldest male child since he was the one taking the place of his father in the draft of 1780. Given these dates, Griffin (Jr.) would have been born around 1740 (1735-1745) with the earlier dates being more likely since the male became socially active around age 18-20.

The wife of Griffin Jones (Jr.) is Agnes, given in a deed, Deed BK K-1782-1787, p. 387. Griffin was made guardian to William, Joseph, and Griffin Kelly, orphans of Edward Kelly 18 Aug. 1774. This made me wounder if Agnes was not a Kelly?

The most significant finding was that in 1765, George Todd was to be overseer of the road from his house to: a. Mary Buckner's lands, b.Richard Roy's, c. Wm. Plunkett's Sr., d. Eliz. Mcpherson, e. Thomas Jones, f. William Dismukes, g. Griffen Jones, h. Robert Taliferro, Sr.; i. William Buckner's, j. George Holloways, k. Charles Holloways, and l. Reuben Thornton's. [Caroline Co. Court 12 day September 1765, p. 144] Can you believe it! A road map is given. This road map would prove invaluable as the brick walls came tumbling down.

Making a Trip

Griffin Jones was the last of my Jones family to reside in Virginia. His son Nicholas Jones moved to Kentucky in 1811. Griffin was most likely born in Caroline County, VA since our family had settled along the waters of Pneumansend Creek beginning November 1673. This creek has been spelled a variety of ways including "Puamunaremo", "Puamunvein", "Pumansend", "Pewmansend", "Puesmonseen", and "Powmansend" and by legend was named after a Dutch trader "Newman" who met his end along this creek...thus "Newman's End". This area was to become Caroline County in 1728 after it had been Essex County since 1692, and Old Rappahannock County since 1656. Before that it had been part of Lancaster County from 1651, and before that called Northumberland County which was founded in 1648. It was an Indian district called Chickacoan at the beginning. Wow!, all without moving an inch.

As discussed in a previous post, Griffin Jones, in 1756, was ordered to be "overseer" of the road which ran by Mr. Mcpherson's house to the beverdam swamp by the house of Thomas Buckner. The order reads : "...and that he keep the same in repair according to law." [from: Caroline Co., VA Order BK 1755-1758, 9 Dec 1756, p. 246.] The problem was that Griffin Jones was exempt from taxes (Ley fee) for either being "old" or "infirmed" just the year before. [from: Colonial Caroline- A History of Caroline County Virginia, by T.E. Cambell, p. 367.] What the heck? How could Griffin Jones be exempt from taxes, being old or infirmed were the only reasons, the year 1755...then he was ordered to be overseer of road repairs and upkeep the next year? These records did not seem to make sense until Dad, Mom and I made a trip to Caroline County Virginia.

It was during this trip to the courthouse at Caroline County that we found a court record with writing on the outside reading:

"Mordecai Abram Plt. Agst. Griffin Jones Senr".

[Caroline Co. Order Book 1764-1765, p. 309]

Senior, Junior, that's it. There were two Griffin Joneses. What a deal! The father of Griffin Jones, was Griffin Jones. This explains it. Griffin Jones, Sr. was old and infirmed in 1755, and his son Griffin Jones was place in charge of the tobacco rolling road! Had we not made this trip, we would not have discovered the facts. Making a trip to the courthouse may break down many brick walls.

Mighty Small

This past Thanksgiving my youngest asked if I could drive her around Winchester and show her some of the places that I have been writing about in this blog. She wanted to see the land around 4 Mile Creek and where our Jones family had first come into Clark County (Winchester) some 193 years ago. Well of course I said no, just kidding, and we started our drive, just the two of us. Coming down Boonesborough Avenue where the welcome to Winchester sign had been [see post titled "One of 8,000]was our starting point. We came to the junction of Boone and Main and the Catholic Church still stood proudly. Granny Ewen's house stood just past the Catholic school to the south where I first saw the picture of great-granddad Ewen. [see post "50 Years of Genealogy']

We turned north onto Main Street, passing the church district where several still remained. Hickman Street School was no longer, as well as the Presbyterian church that stood by the alley just up from our church on Main Street. Our little Main Street Church of Christ was now owned by the Baptist. What a hoot, as they say in Alabama.

The Court House still stood with its four sided clock telling the time to all who cared to look. [see post "Ringing the Bell"] The steps to the east did not seem so high as I remembered.

We turned east onto Broadway and toward Vine Street. [see "part of my imagination"] Many of the buildings had changed, but the liquor stores still seem to be pretty much the same. The house where dad grew up, the Winchester Stock Yards, and several other landmarks were gone. How sterile I thought.

Turing onto Vine Street we past at least five new houses that had been built on Old Man Elkin's land. All faced Vine Street and made the yards look very, very small. All the fences were gone. [see the post titled "Fences"] We almost past 25 Vine Street before I recognized it. The shaped was the same, but there was a wooden front porch with wooden stairs that just didn't look right. All the shades were pulled and the house seemed sad and lonely. [see post "25 Vine Street", "Welcome to the Neighborhood", and "Our House in the Middle of the Street"] I wondered if the door markings where my brother and I measured our height every now and then still stood...four foot to five foot ten for me!

We then followed my bicycle riding path which Lenny (my best childhood friend) and I frequently navigated. Leaving Washington Street out Irvine Road we flew down the longest hill to what became the headwaters of 4 Mile Creek. Not much to look at today. My daughter commented "mighty small". I had to explain this was just the beginning and as we pressed on the creek grew until we crossed it on Logan Lick Road. Here we climbed to a ridge that divided the two northern most branches of 4 Mile. It was between these two branches that our Jones family first farmed and raised their children. You could not really see for all the brush and trees had grown. Coming down on the other side of the ridge, we followed the Muddy Creek Road branch that brought us back into Winchester. We totaled some 14 miles. Our Jones family travel these miles for some 193 years. I woundered what Nicholas would have thought. [see post titled "4 Mile Creek"]

Just another Thanksgiving

Just finished another Thanksgiving holiday with my family. It is now more than 60 years that we have had a Jones family get together at this time of the year. Hard to imagine, that my folks are in their 80's, my brother and I are in our 60's, and my youngest daughter, Ellen, just turned 30! The three grandsons certainly kept us hopping, and to see the family smile as our youngest grandson Ian stood for the first time was extra special. Of course this was holding on to the leg of the card table that we were using to play Trivial Pursuit. Ian was under this table lifting himself, being much in the center of our family's activities.

My middle daughter Lesley, presented me with a hard back book of my blogs, The Jones Genealogist. How special this was to receive her love as a gift which required much effort and time. She had arranged the blogs and pictures to capture my words.

My oldest daughter Lisa's son Sam, was a joy. He led the other two grandsons, Will and Ian, in a melody of memories.

Just another Thanksgiving...well not quite.

Being the Baby

It was not always easy being the "baby" of the family. Waiting seemed to be in the job description...no matter what you tried to do. Waiting for the bathroom, waiting for the comic strips on Sundays, waiting for the last pork chop, waiting for the choice of TV programs, waiting to be asked what you wanted for Christmas, on and on it goes. There was nothing like waiting for the inevitable proclamation made by mom that "this is my baby" when ever the topic of family was discussed. I would be brought to the forefront of the group that had assembled,and required to do my duty. I often made faces and crossed my eyes which made everyone laugh.

Now in our neighborhood, being called a baby was fighting words. There was "cry baby", "baby face", "act like a baby", "don't be a baby", and many other forms of the words. From the male perspective, you did not want to be a baby. From a mother's persective it was a place of honour.

I will always be the "baby" of our family. No matter what I try to do.

Road to Caroline Co., VA

Caroline County, VA was formed 1727. It was formed out of land which had been part of Essex Co., King & Queen Co., and King William Co. Essex was formed 1692 out of Old Rappahannock Co., which was formed 1656, out of Lancaster Co., which was formed 1651 out of Northumberland Co., which was formed in 1648. Are you good and confused by now? What a road to Caroline County! My Jones family arrives "to stay" in Virginia 1649. For almost 100 years they lived in what was to become Caroline Co., VA, but it was known by different names along the way. The families' land did not change, but the name of the counties changed. At each point along the way, a family member may have been listed living in different counties, but in reality, they never moved. It was the county name and its boundaries that were changed. These changes would make the genealogist believe that the family sure moved around a lot. Unless care was taken to follow the history and formation of each county, one would loose their family along the way. For Virginia this is especially true. A book entitled Virginia Counties: Those Resulting from Virginia Legislation, by Morgan P. Robinson, has been the most helpful reference in this regard. It was initially published by the Bulletin of the Virginia State Library, Vol. 9, Jan., Apr., July 1916. It has been reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. Identifying the history and chronology of the Virginia county in which your ancestors lived, will often guide you around many "brick walls".

Brick Walls

Griffin Jones was identified as the father of Nicholas Jones in the Revolutionary War Service record S16169. This record also states that Nicholas Jones was born in Caroline Co., VA 1762, so it was only reasonable to suspect that Griffin Jones was from Caroline Co., VA. On a trip to the Caroline Co., VA courthouse, it was discovered that Griffin Jones first appears in the Order Books [1765-1767, p.297] on 12June 1766, where he was placed "...in the room of, William Taliferro.." for the maintenance of the tobacco rolling road along what is now highway 301. Nicholas would have been 4 years of age. This also places Griffin in the area of the Taliferro family that was to prove a key connecting point to prior generations. The Taliferro and Jones family went a long way back in time which helped settle a number of difficult genealogical questions yet to arise. [Some call these brick walls!]

By 7 April 1785, Griffin had moved to Spotsylvania Co., VA where his wife's name Agnes is given. [Agnes is a good Welsh name.] In Deed Book K - 1782 - 1785, p. 387, Thomas Turner leases to Griffin Jones and Agnes his wife, and Joseph Jones his son, 80 acres of land. This gives the Turner connection, through which Edward Turner Jones received his middle name! I suspect that Griffin followed his son Nicholas who had already moved into Spotsylvania Co., VA. This seems to have be a pattern of family organization, where the elderly father, moved to the home of a son.

With Griffin Jones becoming "legally" active around 1765, and his son Nicholas being born 1762, it would be reasonable to place Griffin's birth sometime around 1740 plus or minus 5 years. I have used this dating method, i.e., taking the oldest know child's birth year, counting back 20 years, and giving 5 years error on each side of this calculated date. This has provided a dating method which has proved solid after 50 years of facing many "brick walls".

To Genealogist Everywhere: We are the Chosen

We are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.

Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called, as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us, "Tell our story!" So, we do.

In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before? How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us." How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love for me? I cannot say.

It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish, how they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.

It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggled to give us birth. Without them we could not exist, and so we love each one, as far back as we can reach. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do.

With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are they and they are the sum of who we are. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to the one called in the next generation to answer the call and take my place in the long line of family storytellers.

This is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and restore the memory or greet those whom we have never known before. So we do.

Author Unknown

Handwriting from History

Nicholas Jones, my 6th generation grandfather, was born 14 November 1762, in Caroline Co., Virginia. In 1832 he was a resident of Clark Co., Kentucky where he applied for a pension "...in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832." His Revolutionary Service Record is numbered S16169 Virginia Service. This record states that Nicholas Jones entered the company of James Johnson on the 13th day of June 1780 as a substitute for his father Griffin Jones, who had been drafted. This would have made Nicholas 17 years old when he entered the War. The military record gives a detailed account of the service given which includes the battle of Camden, SC, Guildford's Courthouse, NC, and the battle of Yorktown. A certificate of pension was issued the 10th day of December 1832 by the court in Winchester, Kentucky. The record also records that Joseph Jones and John Jones were his bothers, who also appeared in court to serve as witnesses for Nicholas. The record then goes on to document that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Kentucky from "...from where he has lately removed; that he now resides in the state of Indiana and where he intends to remain and live and wishes his pension payable there in the future. The following are his reasons for moving from Kentucky to Indiana. His children and grand children removed from said state of KY to Indiana, and on account of his age and infirmities he was inclined to follow them." At the end of this document is the signature of Nicholas Jones. A copy is shown to the right. Handwriting from the history of my family is part of the treasure that 50 years of genealogy has provided. What a treasure it is.

Baptist

Nicholas Jones, the father of Thomas Jones, was the first to bring our Y-chromosome into Kentucky. He moved from Spotsylvania Co., VA, where he had been living since the close of the Revolutionary War. In 1811, he arrived with a fairly large number of family members (six boys), and settled initially in Fayette Co., KY. He joined with the South Elkhorn Baptist Church located close to the Fayette Co., Jessimine Co., line at the point that Harrodsburg Road now crosses South Elkhorn. This Church was the first congregation, of any kind, organized on the north side of the Kentucky River early in the fall of 1783. It had been gathered by Lewis Craig and constituted principally of members who had belonged to the Upper Spotsylvania Church. Some of our family must have immigrated to KY as part of this congregation since they originated from the same area that Nicholas Jones had lived. South Elkhorn became the "mother" Church of all Baptist Churches north of the Kentucky River. Lewis Craig was assisted by John Shackleford who started his ministry in Caroline Co., VA where our Nicholas was born in 1762. The Shackleford family obtained land on 4 Mile Creek in Clark Co., KY where Nicholas ends up moving to in 1817.

The records of South Elkhorn Baptist Church record that on the 4th Saturday, April 1817, that the following members were "dismissed": Nicholas Jones, Dorothy Jones, Richard Jones, Griffin Jones, William H. Jones, John Jones, Younger Jones, Griffin Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Permelian Jones, and Peggy Jones. Nicholas Jones with wife Dorotha, is recorded in the Clark Co., land patent book [book 15, p. 16], buying 50 acres of land on the waters of 4 Mile Creek. Who would have believed that our family started out Baptist.

Generations

My Y-chromosome in Kentucky comes down to me in the follow way:

Me = The 50's Generation = The Vietnam War Generation

Dad (Henry Edward Jones) = The WW II Generation

Pap paw (Joseph Wheeler Jones) = The WW I Generation

E.T. (Edward Turner Jones) = The Re-construction Generation

W.C. (William Carter Jones) = The Civil War Generation

Thomas Jones = The War of 1812 Generation

Nicholas Jones = The Revolutionary War Generation.

How sad that almost each generation can be grouped by war! What generation are you?

Fences

Fences helped to define our neighborhood at 25 Vine Street. Everywhere you tried to play or wanted to climb a tree, there was a fence. The longest fence ran north to south along the middle of the block between Smith Street and Vine Street. It was generally the tallest with 6 foot wooden post and metal wire fencing material. There were a few placed you could go under or over, but these were kept a secret. In some areas tall trees lined this fence (always on the other side). These trees did provide some shade on our side of the fence on hot summer days.

Perpendicular to this long fence was a series of shorter fences that ran west to the sidewalk on Vine Street. From Broadway northward up Vine Street, the first fence was the one that separated old man Elkin's back yard from the Frazer's side yard. This fence line had all kinds of vines, grapes, two mulberry tress, honey suckle, wild strawberries, red rose bushes and lots of poison ivy. Half way up this fence was the Elkin's chicken yard with chicken coop and hen house. When we played kick ball, from home plate in our yard, to over the chicken coop was a home run. [The Elkins still raised chickens and there was nothing like watching a chicken running around with its head cut off!]

Frazer's, our yard, and the Hill's yard shared a section with no fences between. The only problem here was that the upper third of the Hill's yard was a garden. Mr. Hill planted this garden every summer which just made our "home plate" back up to the garden. Between Mr. Hill's yard and the Rankin's yard was another tall fence which was not easy to climb. I am not sure who placed this fence, but it was a good boundary keeping the Rankin's kids out of Mr. Hill's garden. Immediately next was another fence which separated the Rankin's yard from the Powell's yard. We were never allowed to play in the Powell's yard, and we called Mrs. Powell "witch Hazel" due to here pleasant disposition. She refused to let anyone play in her yard! Of course there was a fence on the other side separating the Powell's yard from the Hatton's yard.

The Hattons, Rankins, Frazers, and Joneses play together most of the time. For the 18years I lived at 25 Vine Street, all the fences remained intact. We got use to them being there. They were part of life. Fences setting boundaries. Part of my growing up was learning to live with fences.

Perfect Attendance

Attending church was a regular part of the 1950s. Each family would dress up, dad in a suit, mom in a dress, and the young-uns did the best they could do. The south end of town was the cluster of churches that became the most active part of town on Sunday mornings. Even finding a place to park a car was difficult, especially if your church faced Main street like ours. It seemed that almost all the families in Winchester attended church. We were no exception.

Dad was the "song leader" (music director), and mom taught one of the children's Sunday School classes. Being the song leader was a key position in our church since there were no organs, pianos, keyboards, drums, guitars, or any sort of musical instruments. Ours was a Church of Christ which did not believe in instrumental music. You sang from the heart using your voice only. Acapella it was called. Getting this started on the right key was a real task.

My perfect attendance pin is shown. Nine years of perfect attandance! Can you imagine, 108 Sundays in a row not being sick. I guess that some needed a little extra help, and I certainly needed it. Not that I was perfect, far from it. But, as to attendance, I didn't do too bad.

Things Back Together

The back is an amazing part of the human anatomy. You tend to take it for granted until it stops working exactly right. A slipped disc certainly throws a wringer in the back's function. I have been "laid up" the last four days with a slipped disk. Just in case you were wondering where I have been not writing on my blogs. Hope to get things back together here shortly. Not much fun at present, but will try to get back on line soon.

Magic Needle

The summer months were freedom. After nine months in the slammer (some called this school), the summer was a joy. On a good day, not storming or too hot, our neighborhood gang would start the day anywhere between eight and ten in the morning. Quaker Oats or a large bowl of
Cheerios's would go a long way into the day. Who ever was the first up and running generally got to pick the activity of the day.

We usually played "army" at least once a day where you divided up into teams and had "seek and destroy missions". It was really like hide and seek only when you found someone on the other side you shot them, or at least shot at them, while you raced between hiding place to hiding place. We always seemed to use the terms "you can't hit a moving target" in order to not get killed, although once you agreed you were killed, you had to sit out until there was only one standing. We all had our favorite guns, and army outfits. Mine of course was the best since uncle Gayle had given me his army belt, army helmet, and army compass. The compass was amazing. It had a way that you could open it up and look down a image finder to direct your path. The needle would move about a circular field of gold colored letters and numbers directing east, northeast, north northeast, and all kinds of places. The gang always loved to watch it spin, and each would take a turn holding the magic needle. Which direction would it point?

I have lost all contact with those guys. I suspect some have died, and most by now are ready to retire. The direction in life for each of us was certainly different, but on those summer days of freedom, the compass pointed us in the right direction.

Make Love Not War

The Civil War years found W.C. Jones in Madison Co., KY having children. Or I should say that Elizabeth Isabel (nee Adams) was having the children, and W.C. was there at each beginning. Children were born 1860 (William Younger Jones), 1862 (Amanda Elizabeth Jones), 1864 (Lorena Isabell Jones), and 1866 (Jacksin Martin Jones). On the other hand, W.C.'s little brother made war.

Benjamin Harrison Jones was born in Clark Co., KY 2 Feb. 1838. Ben. was raised on the family farm 4 Mile Creek and according to History of Kentucky Illustrated, Edition 8-B, p.892, he had a common-school education. He lived on the family farm and helped his Dad, Thomas, until 10 Sept. 1862, when he enlisted in the Confederate Army, Roll of Company C, 11th Regiment Cavalry, under Gen. John Hunt Morgan. In the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kentucky-Civil War, Vol. II, Confederatep.82, he is 16th in line, given as "4th Corportal". There are 73 names given, all but seven being from Clark Co. Ky. The captain of this company was Andrew Jackson Bruner. Ben. was captured at Buffington Island following the most famous John Hunt Morgan raid into Indiana and Ohio recorded in great detail inThe Longest Raid of the Civil Warby Hortwitz. Ben. spent twenty-one months as a prisoner of war. He returned to Clark Co., and in 1866 he married Amelia S. Cunningham (nee Donaldson). He is recored to have been a strict Presbyterian and Democrat. The final statement in "Biographical Sketches" records: "He owns 145 acres of fine land, is popular and public-spirited, and enjoys the respect and cofidence of all who fall within the sphere of his acquaintance." Way to go Ben. in spite of making war.

Farmer Jones

The parents of W.C. Jones were Thomas Jones (b.1796 in Virginia) and Sallie Chisolm (Chism)(Chisholm) (b. 1804 in Kentucky) Thomas and Sallie were married 20 Dec. 1823 in Clark Co.,KY by a Baptist minister named Edward Kindred. The Baptist movement had a great deal to do with the early settlement of Kentucky, and many of the pioneer families in central Kentucky were Baptist. Many families came from Virginia because at this time it was against Virginia Law to preach without a minister's licence. Of course the only ministers approved by Virginia were of the Church of England. Therefore, many other "ministers" were arrested and persecuted by the authorities of the correct denomination. A Richard Jones, most likely Thomas' older brother, had married a Nancy Chisolm (23 March 1817) who was the sister of Sallie. Richard had come into Kentucky with a Baptist group headed by William Bush. Their marriage was done by James Quisenberry another Baptist minister.

Thomas and Sallie are found in the 1830 census with two boys and two girls. W.C. was four years old and a male child less than five is given. The 1840 census shows seven children, 4 boys and 3 girls. His farm land was on 4 Mile Creek next to William Adams (father of W.C.'s wife Elizabeth Adams), and William Bledsoe who was the grandfather of Elizabeth and the great grandfather of W.C. The 1850 Census gives his age as 54 and Sally being 46. Five children are still at home, but W.C. had just married and moved into his wife's family home. Thomas is listed as "Farmer".
This census also had Thomas born in Kentucky which was an error. This error cost me about ten years of genealogy research by looking in the wrong state! The 1830, 1840, and 1860 census show Virginia, but I started with the 1850 census which directed me to Kentucky. I went through every other Jones family in Clark County during this time period with no match. This casused me to check the other census which gave the correct State of Virginia. If only I had started with the 1840 census.

The 1860 census is the last to list Thomas and Sally with three children still at home. W.C.'s little brother Benjamin Harrison Jones is given as 22 years and "farm laborer". He must have been helping his Dad (Thomas) on the farm. This Benjamin is soon to join the Confederate Calvary (11th Kentucky) under John Hunt Morgan and spent 22 months as a prisoner of war in Indianapolis, IN, but that's another story.

Otter Creek

The fourth creek to have an impact upon my family's story was Otter Creek. After Richard Henderson was denied his investment into the foundation of Kentucky on 4 November, 1778, he registered surveys for 1400 acres on Otter Creek. This was just a hop, skip, and jump from the fort he established as part of his Transylvania Company. The surveys were dated 9 Feb. 1780 and 23 June 1780. The picture above again shows the Kentucky River (colored blue) and the outline of Otter Creek (colored orange). The little tags naming the rivers are scaled to represent three miles distance. The small pencil dot northwest of the mouth of Otter Creek is the location of fort Boonesborough. He did not move far up stream. The second picture shows a copy made by Richard Henderson himself of the fort he was responsible for building. A copy of his very signature is shown in the middle of the drawing. Henderson's cabin is of course numbered 1 and his kitchen is number 3. The original papers are now in possession of the Wisconsin Historical Library.

So there you have it. The Rivers were the roadways to our families' lands. Henderson on Otter Creek (my great grand mother's line), Jones on 4 Mile Creek (my Dad's family), Ewen on Red River (my Mom's side of the family)and at lot of others in between.

Our House, In the Middle of the Street

My side of Vine street was a little higher than where the cattle trucks parked on stock day. The sewer drain which collected all the rain water run off was in front of our house. This low point was where the asphalt road and sidewalk joined, and a thick metal grill kept you from falling into the drain. It was the lowest point on our side of the street, but the road raised slightly to the middle of the street, so about half the drainage would go to the other side, and half would come to our drain. [I suspected this is also where the water passing through our basement would end up.] You came up a slight incline from Broadway to where Vine Street leveled for a while right in front of our house. It then climbed more sharply, to Washington Street. The top of the hill offered a side walk which could be used to great advantage on a tricycle except, there were several places that were broken apart, and made navigation somewhat difficult. I was ordered not to ride in the street and that was generally a good idea, so I got pretty successful at maneuvering around the broken bits of concrete.

There were seven houses on our side, and five houses on the opposite side. Old man Elkin's house actually faced Broadway, but it was so far back from Broadway, it's back fence ran along the Frazer's house next to our house. Mr. Hill's house was next to ours, followed by the Well's, Powell's, and Hatton's houses. Occasionally there was a trailer placed at the end of the street, and would be tucked behind a 5-6 foot retaining wall that made a perfect spot for throwing snowballs at passing cars during the winter "out of school" days. We would have several days a winter where school was canceled, and this was always a bonus living in Kentucky.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

The neighborhood around our house was a little different than most neighborhoods. This was because the Winchester Stock Yards lived only 1/2 block south. To get there, you had to pass over four sets of railroad tracts that crossed Broadway at the junction of Vine Street. Just across the tracks on the left side of the street, heading into town, stood a large feed store. The front had a wooden stage that extended out to a gravel entrance where trucks could back up and load large bags of feed. There was a narrow gravel drive between the feed store and the side of the two story entrance at the front of the stockyards. This drive was often my entrance to the wonderful world of unusual sounds, all kinds of animals, and all kinds of smells!

The front of the stockyards had a dramatic looking, concrete, driveway, with the structure built around and over it. Two large rooms (I guess offices) stood on each side, with the roof coming to a point some two stories above. Can you imagine, right down the middle of the building, giving the impression you could drive directly into the guts of the place without batting an eye. I don't recall seeing anyone actually drive into this entrance, so I guess it was mostly for show.

The real action took place at the unloading docks which stool next. There must have been at least six fenced stalls where a cattle truck would back up to unload their animal cargo. I always got a laugh at watching the farmers try and get their cows off their trucks. I learned a few colorful terms which were being thrown about during this time.

Stock Day was usually Thursday, and the stock trucks would line up and down Vine Street waiting for their turn to unload. They had to park on the side opposite our house, and at times would line up like aircraft on a busy runway. You had to be careful while playing on that side of the street because you never knew when one of critters had to relieve themselves. Dodge ball was not a good game to play on Thursdays.

25 Vine Street

The house at 25 Vine street was nothing special. Two bedrooms, one bath, living room, kitchen, and dining room all squeezed into 900 square feet. There was a full basement that must have been built over a spring of some sort, for every time it rained there was a constant flow of water from the back side to the front side which exited a small drain at the front of the basement wall. We would get quite a bit of water at heavy rains. It was always a fun place to play during a heavy rain for the back wall had a few places which poured out like a facet and would provide a rapid river for my toy boats. You had to keep your boxes off the ground most of the time for it frequently rain in Kentucky.

The upstairs was of course dry. The living room face the street, and a large picture window stood proudly facing west where the afternoon sun would beam through. Here we placed our Christmas tree year after year. It was always one of those Kentucky cedar trees that smelled like Christmas was supposed to smell. A chimney stood at the south wall with a mantel shelf that held pictures and vases and things untill Christmas time, when it became a winter wounder land of cotton snow, reindeer, green trees, and of course Santa Clause and his sled. Mom loved to decorate for Christmas.

My brother and I shared a bed room and the bathroom stood between our bedroom and Mother and Dad's bedroom. How we managed to share a bathroom for almost 18 years with out killing one another is a miracle in itself. I don't ever remember fighting anyone for access, but being the baby of the family I must have been willing to wait my turn.

The kitchen was always a fun place to play, for cabinets lined the south wall where all kinds of adventures awaited. I would spend time arranging cans, boxes, potatoes sacks, and other food stuffs making forts and places for my army men to fight. Mammouth Cave had nothing over on me.

The dinning room was special, especially on Sundays after church. Mother would cook our Sunday meal and we would share this time as a family. Not that mother would not cook some other meals, but she worked outside the home during the week nights and Dad, my brother, and I had to cook for ourselves during the week nights. After eating a week of our meals, it was so good to get some of that Ewen cooking!

Like I say,there was nothing special about the house at 25 Vine Street except we lived there.

4 Mile Creek

William Carter Jones was the second of ten children. [Those Scottish women sure to how to have youngins!] The parents of W.C. were Thomas Jones (b. 1796) and Sallie (nee Chisholm) b. 1804. Thomas Jones was born in Spotysylvania County, VA where his father Nicholas Jones had moved after the close of the Revolutionary War. It was on 4 Mile Creek that Thomas had settled with his father and brothers. Here he married Sallie Chisholm 20 Dec 1823, and W.C. was born three years later.

It was on 4 Mile Creek that Timothy Ewen had his first land of 50 acres in 1795. Timothy Ewen was my great (x5)grandfather, and Timothy Jones was my great (x4) grandfather. Nicholas Jones who came to Kentucky in 1811 was the first Jones to have land on 4 Mile Creek and was my great (x5) grandfather on the Jones side. So I guess you could say my family started things on 4 Mile Creek! I grew up riding my "Western Flyer" past this land and playing in this creek, but I did not know that this was where it had all began some 200 years before my childhood days were done.

The drawing to the right shows 4 Mile Creek in relation to Red River and Kentucky River. It is colored green and runs northeast into Clark County. It was named 4 Mile Creek because it was four miles from Boonesborough where another grandfather had made his claim in 1774, Col. Richard Henderson my great (x6) grandfather. 4 Mile Creek was the beginning point.

The Mouth of Red River

Finding our Jones Family Cemetery where Mam maw had told me many years before was completing a quest. At the mouth of Red River, she said. The picture to the right is my attempt to show the junction of the Red River to the Kentucky. It is drawn to scale with north being directly to the top of the page. Red River is of course colored red! It runs almost due east into the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Up this river went my Ewen side, to settle along what is today called Ewen Creek. The Kentucky River is colored blue, and you can tell the snake like twists and turns that meander out of the mountains to the east. The distinctive "bend" just at the mouth of Red River is where the Jones family cemetery is located. This is called Maupin Bend on Kentucky maps of today, but it was Jones land at the start. The drawing also shows the relationship of the three counties that make the junction of Red River to the Kentucky River. North is Clark County. Southeast is Estill County. Southwest is Madison County. All three counties played a role in uniting many of my family members...Jones (Clark County, Madison County), Henderson (Madison County, Estill County), Ewen (Clark County, now Powell County), and Monroe (Clark County). All where around the mouth of Red River.

E.T. Phoned Home

The picture to the right shows the family of Edward Turner (E.T.) and Ellen (nee) Henderson. From left to right is E.T. and Ellen with Pap paws' older sister Nona. Pap paw would most likely still be in the oven, so the picture would have been taken before 1900. E.T.'s sister Amanda is shown with her family Osborne. She married Filmore Osborn. If you look closely, there is a set of twins with high buttoned coats. The next group is E.T's brother Benjamin Thomas Jones and his wife Susan Kenny. Benjamin certainly believed in beards. Pleasant Burger Poer make up the last family group, with Grandmaw Poer sitting among this group. His wife was Lorene Isabella (nee) Jones, another older sister to E.T. What a group. Twenty six people are in this family picture. No smiles are present, they were not invented yet.

Silent Slumber

It was October 1993, that my Dad and I finally got to stand before the grave of William Carter Jones. We had been trying to find this family cemetery for some twenty years. The mouth of the Red River was not accessible by road, and we had a difficult time trying to find out who owned the land. At the time W.C. lived here, the water was the highway. The Kentucky River and the Red River joined, and at this point, you could put a canoe in the water and head down stream to the Ohio River. The road crossed here, between Clark County and Madison County, and the Kentucky River was shallow enough that you could cross here in a buggy. Today, with the TVA and flood control, the River is damned, leaving the road no place to go but underwater. At the end of state road 977 [called Cain Springs road], at the very last gate to the right, is the access point to the grave yard. You can see a grave yard just inside the fence from the road, but this cemetery is not it. It is known as the Skinner Cemetery. You have to get out of the car and walk about 1/4 mile further around the bend until you see the Jones Cemetery. Half way up a gently slopping hill, facing the Kentucky River, is a 20 ft. by 20 ft. wrought iron fence. There are four graves in this plot.... Robert Allen Jones, b. 27 Feb. 1856, d. 3 Feb. 1894...Charles B. Jones, b. 17 Dec. 1867, d. 24 Oct. 1877...W.C. Jones b. 20 Oct. 1826, d. 4 Feb. 1902. There is also an unmarked headstone. The headstone of W.C. reads : "Peaceful be thy silent slumber"

20 Years Later

W.C. was the only name that Mam maw knew. He lived at the mouth of Red River. He played the fiddle, and loved to play cards. That was about it. All I was told at nine years of age while being sworn to secrecy. Little did I know that it would take some 20 years to find the grave of William Carter Jones, the father of E.T.(Edward Turner). There is of course a lot of story to 20 years of hunting, but just to show his picture with his wife, Elizabeth Isabella Adams is enough for now. He was born 20 Oct 1826 in Clark Co., Kentucky. Eliza was born 18 July 1829. They were married 21 Feb 1850 at Eliza's father's house, William Adams, in Winchester, KY. They were married by Rev. Andy Keith with witnesses being Nancy Jane Watts and Mason Haggard. They had eleven children with the oldest being born ten months later 6 Dec 1850. (No time wasted here.) E.T. was the baby being born some 23 years after his oldest sister. W.C. died 4 Feb 1902 and is buried in our family cemetery Madison Co., KY. Eliza died some years later 26 Feb 1919. She had a home on the corner of Broadway and Buckner Streets that I would pass each day walking to Hickman Street School. There was an iron fence surrounding this house that I would often run my hand down as I walked past. All those years of walking by, I never knew this was great, great, grandmaw's house at the end of her life. I never got it all figured out until some 20 years later. I would have at least waved at her if I had known.

In His Youth

The picture to the right shows the father of Ellen Dorcas Henderson in his youth. Nicknamed "Sonny" he was born 22 October 1843, and married Armilda (Millie) Berryman. Nicknames must have been popular during this period. Sonny is leaning back, hands crossed, and a certain sadness about his face. His legs are crossed and he almost seems resigned to his fate. His hair and beard are well kept, and his coat is buttoned high up the chest. Holding things in I guess. Pictures of life, what stories do they tell? He died 12 April 1908, and is buried next to his wife in the Winchester-Clark County Cemetery. I wish I had been able to ask him some questions about the Henderson Clan.

Clan Henderson The Dreamers

The parents of Ellen Dorcas Henderson were Abraham B. Henderson (called Sonny)b.22 Oct. 1843 in Estill Co., KY, and Armilda Berryman b.12 Jan. 1844. This was Sonny's second marriage and Ellen with her half-sister had been shown. Sonny's Dad, William Henderson had moved to Estill County before the 1830 census. William's Dad, Samuel Henderson was residing in Fayette County 1820 census and died 3 Oct 1844 just after William had married. Samuel's father was Richard Henderson who the younger son of none other than Col. Richard Henderson who bought Kentucky from the Cherokee Indians 17 March 1775. Can you believe it. My Henderson grandfather owned 20 million acres of what was to become Kentucky and Tennessee, before anyone else. Of course, this purchase and government called the Transylvania Company were short lived , but the Wilderness Trail and a fort called Boonesborough were a result of his planning. The colonies of Virginia, North Carolina, had something to say about this upstart from North Carolina. History has written very little about Col. Richard Henderson b. Hanover Co., VA 20 Apr 1735 and died broken hearted Hillborogh, NC, 30 Jan 1785. He sure had big dreams, and almost pulled it off. Our family knew how to have big dreams.

The picture to the right shows the Tartan of the Henderson Clan. The Henderson Clan had several branches in Scotland. Some of these Clan were not related, but carried the same name.

Our Smiles

Four generations later, smiles appear upon the faces. From stiff, not touching (Ellen and her older half-sister), to almost fearful, hold my hand (Pap paw's sisters), to let smiles be your umbrella (Dad, Mom, Henry, and me). The picture to the right was taken 1953. Around 70 years after no smiles, and around 50 years after doubtful smiles, to the 1950s where we all had smiles. My brother, was four years of age, and I was two years old when this picture was taken. Look at our eyes. What hope, what excitement, what anticipation seems to be there. What would the future hold for us. The house on Vine Street was just round the corner. [Literally, we had rented a house on Bucker Street, then Ashland Avenue, both were just around the corner to Vine.] WWII and the Korean War had just passed where guys Dad's age got killed. Mom had entered marriage at age 18 where by this age you had already put things together. This was my family. We loved. We fought. We laughed. We cried. We grew together for 18 years at that house at 25 Vine Street. All smiles...it took all the generations of our family to bring us to this point. Thank you, all the generations that had come before. Our smiles come through you.

A Random Combination

The Jones/Monroe genes and the Ewen/Morton genes came together May 8, 1948. My older brother arrived one year later, and in another 18 months the 23 chromosomes of Dad (the Y-chromosome group) and the 23 chromosomes of Mom (fifty-fifty chance of Ewen group) united. Of all the people who ever lived, this combination of genes is uniquely mine. Just imagine, at the very beginning of life there is a random combination of these chromosomes (genes) at the biochemical level. Unless you are an identical twin (like my wife), this random combination is unique among the human race. My brother seemed to get more of the Jones side, (blue eyes and light brown hair), and I seemed to get more of the Ewen side, (brown eyes and black hair). I did seem to get being left-handed from the Jones/Monroe side, since my Dad is also left-handed. This event, the random combination of genetic material, would certainly provide a way for the human race to present itself "new" each time life begins. New combinations, new life, new opportunities, new beginnings...well new everything. We did not choose the combination of genes that make us, US. At birth we did not choose the color of our eyes or the color of our hair. We have had to make the best of what we got from this random beginning. The future is yet to come. Soon enough, the choices will be ours.

The picture to the right shows Mother and Dad on their wedding day May 8, 1948. The choices they made brought my brother and I to life. Thanks Mom and Dad, I came to like my random combination.

Clan Monroe

Unlike the Clan MacEwen (Ewen) that some have called a lost Clan, the Clan Munro has been front and center of the Scottish Clans. Hot tempered and combative, you learned to stay out of Mam maw's way when she had her dander up. In Gaelic the clan were called "Rothack" and are thought to have taken the name Munro from a place in Northern Ireland where they are thought to have originated. In time of clan warfare, they called the clan together by lighting a single tower on the highest point in their castle. Fighting seemed to be their middle name and warfare was their game. As early as 1369 Munro chiefs were being killed in battles. They became Protestants in the reformation, and remained so for the rest of our families history. Many Munroes became professional soldiers, fighting in Sweden where 27 of the Swedish officers had the name Munro. Fight, fight, fight, what a life. It certainly came in handy in the frontier of Virgina where my Monroe side first arrived. Mam maw use to say we were "kined" to President James Monroe (1758-1831)but I have not been able to establish this story yet. Any Munroes out there?

The picture to the right shows the tartan of the Munro Clan. The standard definition of a tartan is "a kind of wollen cloth woven in stripes of various colours crossing at right angles so as to form a regular pattern". The weave used is called the "twill". Here the threads cross first over two, then under two producing the effect of a diagonal rib on the weaver's loom. A love of bright colors has long been a characteristic of the Scottish Clans.

Ms Blue Racer and Family

The childhood story of my Mom and her encounter with a Blue Racer snake has been part of our family's legacy. [see blog titled "The Blue Racer"] Growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the depression would be hard enough, little lone running into snakes every now and then. The picture to the right shows Mom around eight years of age with her family. This would have been around the time the Blue Racer knocked on the front screen door to their house. My Mom is the dark haired little girl to the right front row with the sweater. She has that determined look about her which housed a tough fighting spirit that only growing up in the hills could have produced. Granny and Granddad Ewen with their slue of kids. Starting from left to right: Granddad Ewen (b.1899), Granny Ewen (b.1899), she is holding Wanda Bernice Ewen (b. 1937), then John Clearnce Ewen (b.1922) [we called J.C.]. Back to the left is Sidney Brent Ewen (b.1924) who took his dad's name so we called him "Junior"...then Cordius Allene Ewen (b.1926), Eva Faye Ewen (b.1928),then little sister Edith Delorese Ewen (b.1934) and finally Mom, Myrna Jean Ewen (b.1930). Two additional little brothers are yet to come. Three older sisters had already died. What a crew this is. This would have been around the time Granddad would have written what I have called "Possum Hollar". Enough to keep you off the streets in Slade, KY, 1937.

Scottish Women

My Jones Y-chromosome seemed to have problems saying no to Scottish women. My Dad married a Ewen (MacEwen). Pap paw Jones, my grandfather, married a Monroe (Munro). My great grandfather, Edward Turner, married a Henderson. My great great great grandfather, Thomas Jones, married a Chisholm. (Chism) All this happened in Kentucky. What's the deal? Scottish women seemed to have their way, along the way.

I suspect that some had to do with the fact that the Welsh and Scots shared a common Celtic ancestry if you go far enough out the family tree. The "phenomes" [hormones that cause sexual attraction] must have been well tuned. The Welsh and Scots also shared a common social identity based upon the family unit. Called a Tribe in Wales, and a Clan in Scotland, this family orientation provided a common bond. The family as a culture would be readily understood and agreed upon. The Welsh and Scots also shared many of the same enemy all the way back to the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Danes, Normans, and finally the English. This certainly helped shape attitudes, prejudices, and cultural biases. Finally, I think it was the frontier that brought these two cultures together. They had to learn how to trust one another since their very survival depended upon covering one another backs so they didn't loose their scalps. Scottish women, who would have guessed.

The picture to the right shows the tartan of the MacEwen Clan. The first Scottish Clan Society formed 1725. Since that time the Clans have given their heritage to a few folks on this side of the great pond. The best book I have read on the subject is titled: "Highland Clans a & Tartans" by of course a Munro, R.W. Munro, Crescent Books, NY, 1977.

Generation to Generation

Generation to generation, what we are is past down to us. We don't have a choice to select our parents or our ancestors. We can only take what we get at the beginning of the union of the chromosomes and try to make the best of it, or the worst of it. It is a rare occurrence to have the opportunity to compare one generation to the next, from childhood to childhood. The last blog shows a picture of the sisters of Pap paw Jones taken around 1903. The picture to the right shows the mother of Pap paw about the same age of her daughters when taken a generation before,around 1885. Wow, I thought. Generation compared to the previous generation at about the same ages. Ellen Dorcas Henderson is shown with her older half-sister Betty. They do not touch. Both are sitting stiffly, hands crossed, and a passive look about them. [Taking pictures at this time must of been worse then by 1903.] They have the same dress, and expect for the ribbons, they share the same hair style and apparent attitude. In all pictures I have of Ellen, she keeps this same hair style. They do not smile, smiling was probably not allowed, but they do not frown. Their mouths are horizontal. Neutral I guess in their expression. What difference does a generation make? Pap paw's sisters seem to need one another at their posing. Ellen and her sister do not seem to touch. Maybe this had to do with Betty being a half-sister, but who will ever know. Generation to generation. I know love was passed down through Ellen, for I have felt it through Pap paw.

Pictures of Life

Life introduces itself to us through our childhood eyes. Light reflects off the objects around us giving a view of the world. The celling, the walls, the floor, the windows all invite their surfaces for us to explore. What we see becomes part of our life experiences. Childhood eyes...they see the first face to hug us, the first face to smile at us, or frown at us. The first blue shy, the first butterfly, the first spider and its web, the first moon and stars are seen.

The picture to the right shows two girls (Pap paw's sisters) who look uncertain about their posing. Both are dress to kill...hair curled, ribbons just right, and hours needed to get ready for this pose. The dresses are laced and pressed. The younger is tightly holding the hands of her older sister. The eyes seem to tell us uncertainty. What is this picture taking anyway? A picture of our life? I am not sure about this, but I trust you anyway. Childhood eyes are trusting. They take the pictures of life.

E.T. phone home

E.T. (Edward Turner) and Ellen Dorcas Henderson were married 20 December 1893 at Ellen's home in Estill Co., KY. Estill County was also north of the Kentucky River and sections bordered on the Kentucky and Red Rivers. E.T. was the baby of 11 children born to his father and mother W.C. Jones and Elizabeth Isabel Adams. [It again amazes me how one generation is the baby of the family and the next generation seems to be the eldest.] The farm land that E.T. grew up on was the land that Mam maw told me about during one of our coffee drinking episodes. She knew it was located at the mouth of Red River, and that it was in Madison County. How we ended up in Madison County is yet to come, for our family had been in Clark County since 1817. The picture to the right shows E.T. and Ellen sitting with their youngest child. Pap paw must be in the oven because it looks as though Nona is about a year or so old. Pap paw is not far behind. Ellen looks serious and must have been carrying the world on her shoulders. Her Henderson side lost almost everything after the Transylvania Company went belly up, and I could see why they might be mad at the world. There is a saddle on the porch so I guess they still road horses when this picture was taken. E.T., if you are on horseback, please call home.