By now, the spring of 2025, it would seem probable that the multiple folks visiting this blog spot from the different places around the world might have some comments, questions, corrections or, suggestions regarding all this genealogy stuff about my Jones surname ancestors. Who would have guessed that all these countries including France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Russia, Israel, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Türkiye and 35 others including the old U.S. of A., would have paid a visit to this "old" genealogist's part of the world!
At any rate, allow me a chance to say "hello" and suggest this post starts a platform for discussion to all those who still might be interested in the genealogy of the JONES surname. A few basic suggestions: 1) the language used to be in English, 2) unclear terms involved be defined using Webster's dictionary [post 25 November 2024] and, 3) the goal being a mutual understanding.
For example, never did my well-known ancestor, Inigo Jones (1573-1652), from my earliest days of genealogy tree climbing, not be considered Welsh [multiple posts but, most recent 15 December 2012, 25 December 2021, and 20 August 2024]. However, my most respected and frequently utilized Welsh text by John Davies [post of 16 November 2022] states on p. 256 "...Inigo Jones was the first Englishman (all efforts to make a Welshman of him have failed) ...". Say What !!! Not a Welshman???
Well, anyway, would love to discuss with anyone connected to this author's last known teaching location as member of the Department of Welsh History at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. His last activity was completing a history of BBC broadcasting in Wales. Suspect that there still might be some folks around his thought processes that remain to this spring day of 2025. Perhaps some of his associates could join in a discussion. Please post using the comment location at the end of this post under "post a comment".
A second point of discussion! Voltaire (Francois Marie Arouet de) (1694-1778), French writer, remarked that genealogical memoranda "Heraldic Knowledge" is "the science of fools with long memories". Well...what about that! You could have fooled me all these tree climbing years! Quote taken from "Heraldic Visitations of Wales and part of the Marches" Lewys Dwnn, 1846, introduction remarks p. ix. Vol. 1. Got a comment?
ReplyDeleteA third point of discussion is a comment by Goethe (Wilhelm Wolfgang Goethe) 1749-1832, German poet, when he wrote: "A little ring, Encompasses our lives, And many generations, Link the rings of theirs, Thus forming a chain, That is without end." Without end...hum what a thought...one of my favorites comments when climbing out the many branches of my Jones surname family tree. First posted on 20 July 2010.
ReplyDeleteA fourth point of discussion by Thomas Nicholas 1872 written in volume II, p. 536 in his book "Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales" states..."Visions of the days departed, shadowy phantoms fill the brain; They who live in history only, seem to walk the earth again." Constructed by the imagination indeed he writes! Got some?
ReplyDeleteFifth point of discussion- Anthony Wagner states 1960 in his book "English Genealogy", p. 1, "Curiosity about one's ancestors, a wish to know who and what and where they were, seems to him an obvious and elementary form of curiosity, which no one about him is likely to lack, unless his circumstances or upbringing have smothered it." [Oxford University Press]
ReplyDeleteA sixth point of discussion - "A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, With Special American Instances" by Charles Wareing Bardsley, Oxford University Press, 1901, p.434 under the heading "Jones, Joneson" writes: "Bapt. 'the son of John (?), or 'Johan' or 'Jone' as at first written and pronounced, both masculine and feminine. In the 13th and 14th centuries Johan stood for both Johanes and Johanna. This being awkward, the masculine took the form of John (Jon), the feminine of Joan (Jone). But it is quite clear from evidence that for a time the sound Jone represented both." With this statement follows a listing of the "Poll Tax, 1379, co. Yorks (p.43) including my introduction to "Matilda Jones, co. Hunts, 1273. A". Well, what about all this information? Hum...cover sheet states "Revised For The Press By His Widow". It list him as "Late Vicar of Ulverston, Lancs.," and "Honorary Canon of Carlisle Cathedral". Wow! Since 1901 a lot explored and discovered regarding the JONES surname. See https://thejonessurname.blogspot.com/ started July 31, 2010.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion number seven it would be: Cicero (Marcus Tullius) [106 - 43 BC] a Roman orator and philosopher writes: "To be ignorant of what has happened before your birth is to remain always a child. For what is the meaning of a man's life unless it is intertwined with that of our ancestors by history." (Orator 120) This quote is taken from the introduction page of the text by Ronald Mellor "The Historians Of Ancient Rome" as shown in post April 30, 2022. Always a child? Hum...not a bad idea for this old stack of bones!
ReplyDelete