Jacob Jones was born about 1734 probably on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. He was the son of Peter Jones, wife unknown. The Cecil County Maryland Deed Book 7, page 254 has a valuation of  "land, plantation, houses, out houses and orchards belonging to Jacob Jones, orphan and heir at law of Peter Jones late of Cecil County, deceased.  The plantation was 308 acres called None so Fine in Finland, on the north side of the Sassafras River on a neck between the river and Back Creek. 

 Jones were found in both  Kent County Delaware and Cecil County Maryland and they may be connected. The line between Delaware and Maryland is purely a surveyors line. If there were not markers, you could not tell when you crossed from one state to the other. The line was not clearly stated until Mason and Dixon drew it c 1765. 

Jacob Jones  married Augustine Currer Dec 10, 1759 at St. Mary Anne's church,N. Elk Parish in North East, Cecil County, Maryland.  This is stated over and over but I need to see the church records.

The  N. Sassafras Parish   lists births of at least 3 of their children.  North Sassafras parish is St. Stephens church found near Earleville between the Sassafrass and Bohemia Rivers. It is a lovely old church sitting in the middle of cornfields on the Eastern shore of Maryland. – It was just a few miles from their plantation.  Early Anglican Church Records of Cecil County Maryland page 42 by Henry C. Peden Jr. has a compliation of the records of St. Stephen's and St. Mary Anne's Churches
John Currier Jones, born March 20, 1761
Milliscent Jones   born Aug. 14, 1762
Martha Jones born 1764.
    In each case the parents are listed as Jacob and Teney Jones

In the Cecil County Historical Society library Surname File on Currier there is a letter from Mrs. Oliver M. Currier of Havre de Grace, Maryland dated 1975.  In it she describes a Sermon Book given to  Mrs. Loreen Buffum Robinson of Long Beach CA.  The Sermon Book was given to Mrs. Robinson by a 95 year old cousin.  “The Sermon Book is the remains of a book of sermons preached by a Currier preacher in England at the time of Cromwell.  Augustine Currier Jones used this book as a family bible.The birth, death and wedding dates noted above and those of the children of Jacob and Augustine are all found in the Sermon Book. Mrs. Robinson had already sent the genealogical sheets and sermons to the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore in 1975. Cecil County has copies of the family notes made in the Sermon Book.

Children of Jacob and Augustine Jones were:
John Currer Jones born March 30, 1761,
Millicent Currer Jones August 14, 1762, she married Robert Holliday of Duck Creek Delaware
Martha Jones, is in the Sermon Book but date is unreadable.  It is written just after Millicent so assume about 1764.  She married Joseph Greenwood of Kent County Delaware
           and they moved to North Carolina about 1785
Jacob Jones   an unconfirmed source says his birth is recorded in the St. Stephen's Parish records as May 26, 1766 and that he married Isabella McKewen at St. Mary Anne's
          and moved to Illinois, and died there after a second marriage  in 1861.
James Jones
Samuel Jones
Enoch Jones born Oct. 24, 1770 "about 1 o"clock in the afternoon"  The Sermon Book.

Inhabitants of Cecil County 1649 - 1774 by Henry C. Peden lists  Jacob Jones a number of times.
        1.  Jacob Jones Sr. listed on Tax list of 1761 with negroes Marget and Cuff in    West Sassafras Hundred.
        2.  Jacob Jones Jr. owned court costs in 1767 and 1771 - no reason given
        3.  Jacob Jones Sr. was paid for squirrel scalp 1761.                                                     Too many squirrels then also?
        4.  Jacob Jones was in the debt book for   Happy Harbour, Jones Addition   1766.        I don't know what the Debt Book was..
        5.  Jacob Jones Jr. in the debt book for   None So Good, in Finland   1766
              Except for the use of Jr. on #2, they could all refer to our Jacob Jones.

Jacob Jones was an active farmer of his plantation until his wife died a few days after the birth of Enoch.  The Sermon Book states that Augustine Currier Jones died Nov. 4, 1770.  The Cecil County Land Records Vol 13, pg 153 contains an agreement to rent for one year None So Fine in Finland to Alphonso Comegys. It is dated March 9, 1773.
Comegys "shall and will provide at his own expense keep maintain and provide for the said Jacob Jones his seven children and will give them a genteel education suitable to their condition and ages and will send his Eldest son John Jones to the freeschool of Cecil County until he shall be master of the Latin language so far as he or they can during the term of the lease."

Jacob Jones then sells the plantation to Comegys on Dec. 6, 1774 and apparently moves his family to Duck Creek, Kent county Delaware.  The sale is in Cecil County Land Records Vol 14, p. 41.    He married Rachel Fields, in Kent County, Delaware.  Jan 1, 1776 was an unconfirmed date for their wedding on genealogytrails website.  Jacob and Rachel Jones  had one son Joseph Jones.

It is possible that Jacob Jones and his children became involved with the very active Methodist movement happening in Delaware about this time.  The Sermon Book was a collection of John Wesley's sermons.  Francis Asbury was a very magnetic circuit rider who visited Cecil County, Kent County and stayed in the home of Augustine's brother. Their son John had many children, one named Wesley and another Asbury. Perhaps this is why Jacob moved to Duck Creek. 

Jacob Jones died in Duck Creek, Delaware in March of 1777.  It is not known where he is buried.  Jacob's will is filed in Delaware, Kent Count.  Calendar of Kent County Delaware Probate Records 1680 - 1800  page 311
        Jones, Jacob. Duck Creek Hd. Admin.  Rachael Jones & Robert Moore. March 28, 1777. Arch. vol. A27, pages 192-194. Reg. of Wills,         Liber L, folio 189. Note:—Arch. vol. A27, page 192 mentions  heirs, John, Jacob, James, Samuel, Enoch,  Joseph  & Millesant Jones & Martha Greenwood, wife of Joseph Greenwood; page 193 shows  that Rachel Jones married Solomon Barnet.

There are two other wills that definitely connects the Currier family with this Jones family.

From Cecil County Will Book EE-5, page 11-13 the Will of William Currier is dated March 7, 1783/4.  In the will he states "I also leave and bequeat unto two daughters of Jacob Jones that he had by his wife Augustine Currer was her name before marriage the sum of fifty pounds each.."  That certainly ties Augustine Currer to Jacob Jones.   William Currier did not name the daughters unfortunately.

I have a copy of a remarkable will that gives relationships of those named, including most of Jacob Jones hiers. Be aware that in Cecil County most land, called Patents were given names.  From Cecil Ct. Will Book EE-5, page 277 the will of John Currer is dated June 28, 1792.  In his will be makes bequests to:
    "niece Martha Greenwood, wife of Joseph Greenwood in Kent County some pounds" I can't read the amount,
    "to niece Millicent Holiday of Duck Creek my four volumes of John Wesley Sermons" Duck Creek is in Kent County Delaware,  This sermon book becomes very important in the story.
    "to Jacob Jones the whole track of land where I now live called Hukill's Purchase"   I believe this is Jacob's son born 1760.
    "to Enoch Jones  brother to Jacob Jones and his wife.....give Currier Addition"  30 odd acres
    he directed that Currier's Lot be sold for debt and then
    "I give and bequeat unto Jacob Jones the remainder of my personal property...including Harry Meadows containing 230 odd acres.The meadows next to the river below the big road that leads from the head of North East to Elk Ferry."
    "the rest to be sold and the income to be divided between John Jones brother to Jacob"
        "and Samuel of Enoch Jones"   I think Samuel is Enoch's son
        "and James Jones"

If you would like a copy of this will   CONTACT US.

 Duck Creek Delaware had the name of the town  changed in the 19th century to Smyrna.   Milliscent Jones married a Holliday.  We found a Robert Holliday who was a prominent citizen of Duck Creek at that time.  In fact the Smyrna Museum is located in the Barracks.  It is a substantial brick 3 story house built by Robert Holliday in late 18th century.  There was an Enoch Jones in Duck Creek, but he was older, married to Lydia with 5 children in 1790.  I do not believe this was the youngest son of Jacob.  However, the name and place implies a relationship. unknown at this time.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please    CONTACT US.

Maier_Associates: © Copyright 2009

Doc; gxjon020
Last Saved on: 3/15/2009