B. before about 1725 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland1
M. before about 1754 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland2
Wife: Temperance Hardy
D. after 11 Jun 1793 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware3
In the heart of the Mid-Atlantic colonies, was a region of small tobacco plantations bordered by water on both sides. This was where Mathias Jones made his home.
Few records survive from the 17th-century Delmarva Peninsula, so it’s impossible to connect Mathias to his family. It can be estimated that he was born before 1725; it’s more certain that he was from Somerset County, Maryland.1
Mathias was likely closely related to a man named Finch Jones because their names both appear in the will of a man named William Evins dated January 28, 1750.4 Mathias was named as primary beneficiary of Evins, receiving a plantation of 150 acres. He also left 50 acres to “William Jones, son of Finch Jones,” and “a young heifer, iron pots and pewter plates” to “Rebecca Jones, daughter of Finch Jones.” We also see that the year before the will, Mathias was listed as a dependent of William Evans.5
Was Mathias the child of Finch Jones? Maybe, but it seems odd that he wasn’t mentioned that way and two other people were. More likely perhaps was that he was a nephew or cousin. Finch (with his unusual name) appeared in several civic records. In 1730, he was taken to court for not paying a woman for some silk handkerchiefs and linens he had purchased,6 and in 1735, he was cited for not burning his tobacco crop, as “he was obliged to burn.”7 A property appraisal dated November 11, 1732 mentions that Finch Jones was “exceedingly poor with wife and small children.”8
One interesting thing that may also tie Mathias to Finch was that each was once described as a bricklayer. For Finch, it was in the 1730 court record, and for Mathias, it was on an 1786 deed.9 Could this reinforce a connection between the two men? Maybe. It’s also to be noted that there were records of what appears to be another Mathias Jones living in Somerset County at the same time; this man seems younger as he was listed as a dependent to a brother named Levin in 1756.10 Facts related to the other Mathias points to him not being the man in this biography.11
Mathias married sometime before about 1754 to a woman named Temperance Hardy,2 and they had at least four children. At some point, the family moved to Sussex County, Delaware, where on March 24, 1776, Mathias had a survey done for 212 acres he was purchasing. The tract was located “south of Green Branch,” and was called “Jones’ Choice.”12
In 1784, Mathias took on the role of guardian for his wife’s niece, whose parents had both died. The record states, “Came unto the court Mathias Jones and made known to the court that Jehu Claypoole, late of Sussex County, deceased, did not in his lifetime appoint a guardian to his daughter Sarah Claypoole, a minor under fourteen years of age, and prayed the court to appoint some person to be guardian to said minor’s personal estate during her minority.”13 The court then gave the job to Mathias; whether or not he took her into his household or just looked after her finances isn’t clear from the record.
Two land deeds involving Mathias are dated May 3, 1786, one where he sold his 200 acres,9 and another where he bought 161 acres of adjacent land.14 We learn from the deeds that he lived in Nanticoke Hundred, the designation of an area of Sussex County. Mathias’ son Isaac Hardy Jones mentioned his father in his will written on March 22, 1790, leaving his “moveable estate” to be divided between Mathias and Isaac’s wife Sarah; the will was in probate as of April 2, 1790.15
The last known document of showing Mathias still alive was a note promising to pay a man named Thomas Marvel the sum of 6£ 3s 3p.3 It was dated June 11, 1793 and signed by Mathias with his mark. Witnesses were Robert Barr, Sally Conaway and James Jones (presumably his son). It isn’t known when Mathias’ wife Temperance died.
Children:
1. William Jones — B. before 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 7 Aug 1792 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware17
2. James Jones — B. before 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 1812,(possibly) Vincennes, Indiana;18 M. UNKNOWN, before about 1785, Sussex County, Delaware19
3. Isaac Hardy Jones — B. after 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 22 Mar 1790 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware;15 M. Sarah ______15
4. Traney Jones — B. after 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 22 Mar 179015
Sources:
1 Estimated birth year is based on being roughly the same age as his wife, who is known to have been born in 1725.
2 Estimated marriage year is based on the fact that the will of Temperance’s father, dated 1756, mentioned their sons William and James, and so their marriage was at least two years before that date.
3 Note in probate file of Thomas Marvel, Sussex, Delaware, Probate Estate Case Files, 1700-1956, FamilySearch.org
4 Will of William Evins, Maryland, Wills, 1746-1754
5 1749 tax list for Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland.gov
6 Somerset County Judicial Records, 1730-1733, Archives of Maryland Online
7 Somerset County Judicial Records, 1735-1737, Archives of Maryland Online
8 Whittington King listing in Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia’s Northern Neck Counties
9 1786 deed between Mathias Jones and Abraham Adams, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
10 1756 tax list for Somerset County, Maryland
11 The second Mathias was a dependent in 1756, a time when our Mathias already had three sons. Also the members of related families like Hardy are tied to Nanticoke Hundred, and the other Mathias lived in Monie Hundred.
12 1776 land deed of Mathias Jones, Sussex County, Delaware Land Records, 1680-1968, FamilySearch.org
13 Court appearance of Mathias Jones, Orphans’ Court Dockets, Sussex, Delaware, 1770-1796, FamilySearch.org
14 1786 deed between Thomas Marvel and Mathias Jones, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
15 Isaac Hardy Jones’ will, Sussex, Delaware Probate Estate Case files 1680-1925, FamilySearch.org
16 James Hardy’s will dated 26 May 1756 which mentions grandchildren William and James, but not Isaac or Traney, FamilySearch.org
17 Land deed between William Jones and Barnaby Conneway, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
18 James Jones as resident of Knox County, Indiana Territory in 1812, Indiana, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, Ancestry.com
19 1850 U.S. Census, Knox County, Indiana showing James’ daughter Naomi Hunter as being 65-years-old.
