University of Virginia Library

JONES.

Many persons named Jones have lived in Albemarle.
Orlando Jones appears at the earliest date. In 1760 he bought
four hundred acres from John Scott, and fourteen years later
four hundred more from Joseph Anthony, both tracts being
on the waters of Totier. It was unquestionably at his place
that Major Anbury, and others of the Saratoga prisoners,
were quartered, while in the county; and there is as little question
that it is the same place near Glendower, that was recently
occupied by the late R. J. Lecky. Jones married as his second
wife Elizabeth Clayton, sister of Edith, wife of Rev.
Charles Clay, and daughter or niece of John Clayton, the
celebrated botanist of Virginia. He died in 1793. His
widow was subsequently married to William Walker, and his
son, Lain, succeeded to the homestead, which then went by
the name of Mount Gallant. In 1800 Lain was the bearer of
a challenge from George Carter to James Lewis, and together
with his principal was placed under bonds. He died in
1805, leaving three sons, Orlando, Lain B., and William.
Lain B. in 1825 married Mary, daughter of Captain William
Hopkins. His mode of living led to the incumbering of his
estate, and in 1824 it was sold under a deed of trust to John
Neilson, one of the builders of the University. When after
the death of Neilson the place was sold by Andrew Leitch,
his executor, it was purchased by James Jones, a gentleman
of considerable wealth. He made it his residence until his
death in 1838. He and his wife Margaret had six children,
James, William, Ann, Sarah, Lucy, the wife of a Moseley,

and Virginia. The next year the plantation was sold to
John H. Coleman and Dr. Samuel W. Tompkins.

In 1762 a James Jones bought eight hundred acres from
Joseph Anthony at the northeast corner of Dudley's Mountain.
His home was on the old Lynchburg Road, and Jones's
Still House, and Jones's Branch constantly occur in the
early records as marking the lines of the road precincts.
He had a son, James Jr., who lived on part of the estate.
It is believed that Allen Jones, who resided in the same
vicinity, was also a descendant. Allen married Nancy,
daughter of John Carr. In 1821 he was desirous of removing
South, and advertised his place for sale. He finally
sold in 1833 to John H. Maddox, and presumably accomplished
his purpose.

In 1765, John Jones, of Louisa, bought from Henry Terrell
more than eight hundred acres adjoining Batesville, and
including Castle Mountain. During the next eight years he
purchased from William Garrett upwards of thirteen hundred
in North Garden, on the north side of Tom's Mountain.
He sold in 1778 a thousand and eighty-one acres of that
lying east of Israel's Gap to William Cole, of Charles City,
and a portion of that lying west to Robert Field in 1782.
He died in 1793. His wife's name was Frances, and his son
John in 1806 married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel White.
The son's home was on Beaver Creek, where his grandson,
James Rea, now resides, and he died in 1868. His children
were Nancy, the wife of William Woods, Mary, the wife of
Thomas Grayson, Elizabeth, the wife of Bland Rea, and
Sarah Jane, the wife of John M. Godwin.

Thomas Jones, who commenced his purchase of land in
1767, became the owner of more than twelve hundred acres
on Blue Run, and the Orange line. The most of it was
acquired from Thomas Garth, and his son John. Jones sold
the larger portion of it to Francis Gray. He died in 1799.

Later appeared on the scene John R. Jones, a name well
remembered by many. Perhaps no man in the county ever
led a more energetic and industrious life. He was at first
connected in business with his brother-in-law, Nimrod

Bramham, with whom he subsequently entered into partnership.
This was dissolved in 1821, when Mr. Jones became
a merchant on his own account. In 1819 he was appointed
a magistrate, and was active in performing the duties of
that office. He was constantly called upon to act as trustee,
or administrator, in managing the affairs of others. Particularly
as trustee of Edmund Anderson, he took charge of
his property in this county in 1829, and sold off the remaining
lots in Anderson's Addition to Charlottesville. He was
the first President of the Branch of the Farmers' Bank of
Virginia established in Albemarle. In 1814 he purchased
the square west of the Baptist Church, and built the brick
mansion which was some time his residence. In his latter
years he was embarrassed by financial troubles, and died in
1868. His wife was Gilly Marshall, and his children
William, the father of Rev. J. William Jones, Dr. James L.,
Gen. John M., who fell in 1864 at Spotsylvania C. H.,
Thomas, Mary, the wife of James M. Daniel, Ariadne, the
wife of T. T. Hill, Georgiana and Gilly.

Still later Dr. Basil Jones, the father of James D. and
Major Horace, was for a time a citizen of Charlottesville.