Our Jones family probably originated in Wales. Jones was at one time the most common surname in Wales. Jones is a patronymic surname which was derived from the first name of the ancestor's father. The name Jones means "son of John".
Wales is a small country on the western coast of the island of Great Britain. History relates that the Roman's first invaded Wales during the A. D. 60's. Sometime after 400 A.D., when Angles and Saxons from what is now northern Germany conquered portions of Great Britain, some of the people took refuge in the mountainous region of what is now Wales, refusing to recognize the rule of the conquerors.
When William the Conqueror declared himself Lord of Wales about 1070, he gave the lands along the border between England and Wales to Norman barons, in hopes of keeping the Welch people under control. These barons, called Lords of the Marshes, expanded their holdings and there was much conflict between the Welch and the landowners, or "overlords" as they were called.
In 1284, Edward I issued a decree which placed North Wales directly under English rule. The land was then divided into counties, and placed under English sheriffs. The Welch people revolted against the English many times, and for well over 200 years there was strife between the Welch and the English. Finally, about 1536, the two countries, Wales and England, united under the same system of laws and government.
Early immigration records show hundreds of listings for the Jones surname, beginning about 1613. Among the earliest immigrants to America were William Jones, who was exported to America in 1619; John Jones, a blacksmith, who died in transit to America in September 1619; Captain Thomas Jones, master of the ship Discovery, who was granted permission to fish on the American coast and to trade in furs in Virginia in 1621; and Edward Jones and Thomas Jones who immigrated in 1654.
Our great grandfather, Dockery Berry Giddens Jones, was born March 27, 1849, in Georgia. He migrated to Arkansas prior to 1871, and settled near Mountain View, in what at that time was Izard County and is now Stone County.
Berry Jones married (first) our great grandmother, Julia Ann Hess, on July 6, 1871, probably near Mountain View, in Izard County. Julia Ann Hess was born November 7, 1853, in Independence County, Arkansas, the daughter of Hiram Hess and Sarah (last name unknown).
We believe Berry and Julia settled near Mountain View. We have been told that is where their two children were born.
Berry was a farmer. He was sometimes called "Saddler" Jones, which probably meant he worked with leather, making and repairing saddles, harness and other items.
Julie died at Mountain View on March 8, 1876, probably in childbirth. She was only 23 when she died. Berry was left to care for a daughter less than two years old and a son little more than three.
Records indicate that Julie's mother, Sarah Hess, and Julie's sisters probably helped care for the two children for a time. We believe Julie's daughter, Eliza, may have spent quite a bit of time with her grandmother and aunts.
On October 25, 1876, little more than six months after the death of his wife, Berry Jones married (second) Sarah Jane Edwards at Mount Vernon, in Faulkner County, Arkansas. Sarah Edwards was born November 27, 1854, in Arkansas, the daughter of Mrs. Mary A. Edwards (maiden name unknown), who was born about 1835, in Alabama.
The 1880 Faulkner County, Arkansas census, Muddy Bayou Township, shows Berry, his wife Sarah, their 2-year old daughter, Paralee, and Berry and Julie's son, Edward, age 8 years. Living with the family was Rose A. Price, age 49, born in Tennessee; Mary F. Price, her daughter, age 22, born in Kentucky; Annie Price, age 13 and William H. Price, age 11, both born in Indiana. We do not know if Rose was related to Berry or Sarah, but Berry did name one of his daughter's Rose. The census shows that Rose was either divorced or widowed. Living next door to the Jones family was Sarah's mother, Mary A. Edwards, age 45, and Sarah's sister, Paralee Edwards, age 23. Berry was listed as a farmer on the census. Berry and Julie's daughter, Eliza, was listed on the 1880 Stone County, Arkansas, census with her grandmother, Sarah Hess.
Also appearing on the 1880 Faulkner County, Muddy Bayou Township census, living near Berry and his family, was Thomas F. Jones, age 59 (born about 1821) a shoe and boot maker (worked with leather), born in Georgia (as was Berry) and his wife Martha A., age 50, born in Alabama. John W. Gregory, age 32, born in Virginia, was boarding with them. John worked as a clerk in a store according to the census. We have wondered if Thomas Jones was Berry's father. Berry named his first son Thomas.
We are unsure how many children were born to Berry and Sarah. We have been told some of their children died as infants, or when they were very young. We have record of five children.
Sarah died, probably around 1886. Her youngest child died in August 1886, and we believe she died about the same time. We believe they both died in Faulkner County.
Berry then married (third) Sarah's sister, Samantha Paralee Edwards, who was born April 10, 1858, in Arkansas. They apparently moved to White County, Arkansas, soon after their marriage. Berry assessed taxes in Marion Township of White County in 1889, and in El Paso Township of White County in 1890.
Berry Jones was sometimes called "Saddler" Jones. We believe he acquired the name because he worked with leather, and possibly made or repaired saddles, harness and other leather items.
We are unsure how long Berry's daughter Eliza lived with her grandmother, Sarah Hess, in Stone County. Eliza moved to White County prior to 1893, and lived with her father's family. Eliza married in White County in August 1893.
Sometime between the time of his daughter's marriage in 1893 and early 1900, Berry moved his family to Culpepper Township, in Van Buren County, Arkansas, and settled near Formosa. Listed on the 1900 Van Buren County census with Berry and Paralee are their children Nora, 17; Rosie, 11; and Charles, 8 years old.
On October 11, 1909, a land patent was issued to Berry G. Jones on 80 acres of land in Van Buren County. The legal description is the "north one-half of the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 10 North, Range 14 West".
The 1910 census shows Berry and Paralee in Griggs Township, near Clinton, in Van Buren County. Also listed on the census is their daughter Rosa, age 20; son Charles, age 18, and grandson, Ralph Jones, age 6 years.
Sometime after 1913, Berry and Paralee moved to near Bee Branch, in Bradley Township of Van Buren County.
The 1930 Van Buren County census, Bradley Township, Stell's Chapel area, shows Berry G. Jones, rented his home, 81, married at 18, born in Georgia, father and mother both born in Georgia, a shoe cobbler at his own shop; and Samantha P., wife, 72, first married at 20, born in Alabama, father and mother both born in Alabama. Living nearby was Berry's son James and his family.
Paralee died February 29, 1936, and is buried in the Bee Branch Cemetery. Berry died eight months later on October 23, 1936, and is buried beside Paralee in the Bee Branch Cemetery.
We do not know how many children were born to Berry and Paralee. We have record of only two children. We have been told that Berry and Paralee have a child buried in an unmarked grave near them. As the family apparently did not move to that area until after 1913, we feel it is not their child, but possibly their grandchild, who is buried there.
Children of Berry Jones and Julie Hess
1. James Thomas Edward Jones, b. 1872, Izard Co, AR
2. Eliza Julia Jones, b. 1874, Izard Co, AR; m. Dora Bannon McClure (our line)
Children of Berry Jones and Sarah Edwards
3. George Giddens Jones, b. abt 1877, Faulkner Co, AR; d. Nov 22, 1878
4. Paralee S. Jones, b. abt 1878, Faulkner Co, AR
5. Mattie Izora Jones, b. 1880, Faulkner Co, AR
6. Nora Maria Jones, b. 1882, Faulkner Co, AR
7. Page Cleveland Jones, b. abt 1885, probably Faulkner Co, AR; d. August 18, 1886, probably Faulkner Co. (He and his mother may have died about the same time.)
Children of Berry Jones and Paralee Edwards
8. Rosa Virginia Jones, b. 1888, Faulkner or White Co, AR
9. Charles Leonard Jones, b. 1892, probably White Co, AR
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