Person:Peter Jones (19)

PETER JONES was born in 1634 in Charles City, Henrico County, Virginia.

Gregg's research note: Although I list ancestors of this Peter, I have found many conflicting entries for who his parents are. I think Abram was his brother because of the Batte connection and the fact that Abram's son Peter married his first cousin Mary. (Small choices in the early days of the colony). Richard Jones, sometimes "Reverend" and Anne Jefffries, sometimes "Lady" are used for several Jones lines including the Cadwallader Jones line which is well documented. I will continue to try to assure which Jones is the immigrant of our line.

In 1661 Peter Jones was Captain of a company at the Falls of the Appomattox, and in 1674 he was Major in command of Ft. Henry, succeeding his father-in-law, Abraham Wood. The city of Petersburg founded there is named for his grandson. Peter and Margaret had sons Peter and Abraham, and daughter Mary.

Also claimed to have been born in 1632 in Charles City Co, Virginia

Robert Bolling Batte has this Peter as having married Margaret Cruse and being the son of Peter Jones & Martha Lewellyn. But we know that Martha Lewellyn was the mother of Richard Jones, and we believe his father to be Richard also. He has this Peter as the father of: Daniel Jones Peter Jones who m. Margaret Cruse Richard Jones who m.(1) Amy Batte (2) Rachel Ragsdale We believe these were all sons of the Richard line. - rj

By 1675 Peter Jones, son-in-law of Wood, was operating the prosperous trading post. The growing population referred to the trading post as "Peters's Point". The name for the Town of Petersburg evolved from "Peter's Point".

Augusta B. Fothergill compiled, in 1924, "Peter Jones and Richard Jones - Genealogies", published by Old Dominion Press, Inc. in Richmond, Virginia.

'Peter Jones, the first of the name of which we have any record in Virginia, was living in Charles City County in the year 1657 as on the 11th of June of that year it was ordered that "Capt. Peter Jones have ye conduct and command of ye particular company belonging to Coll. Abraham Wood and certify the same as he have power to command as it is or shall be directed by the laws of ye Country or by ye Collonell." (Charles City Co. Records 1655-1666). Then at a meeting of the Militia held at Merchants Hope, June 24, 1657, it was ordered that "Capt. Peter Jones have ye conduct and command of the particular company belonging to Coll. Abraham Wood, Esq. and exercise the same and the like power and command as is or shall be directed by ye laws of this Country or the said Collonel." (Charles City Rec. 1655-66, p.102). On page 283 of the same volume we find the following:

'"By the Governor and Capt. Generall of Virginia. To all whom there shall concerne, Know ye that I, Francis Moryson, Esq. Govnor & Capt. Genall of Virginia have authorized and emplowered Coll. Abraham Wood, Lt. Coll Thomas Drewe, Major William Harris, Capt. John Epes, Capt. William Farrar, Capt. Peter Jones, Capt. Edd. Hill Jr., and Capt. Francis Gray to be Commanders of ye Regiment of the Trayned bands in the counties of Henrico and Charles City, and Capt. Thomas Stegge to be Commander of all the horse listed in the troope to be raised in the said Counties for the exercise of wch power according to the order made att a meeting of the Councill at James Citty ye 12th of June last this shall be their sufficient power and warrant until a formal and full Comicion be granted to them particularly. Given this fourth of July 1661." (Charles City Rec. 1655-1666).

'"At a meeting of the Militia att Weston July 12, 1661, Coll. Abraham Wood Esq., and above officers present. It is ordered that the severall companies of this Regiment for the present be divided apportioned and distinguished as followeth-- 1, The Collonells companie to be from the Citty Creeke to Bykors Creeke on the South Side of James River. 2, The Lt. Collonells companie to be from Powells Creeke to Wards Creeke on the South Side of the river, and on the North side from Capt. Stegges Creeke to the Lowest extent of the Countie on that side of the river. ... 6, Capt. Peter Jones his companie to be from ye Cittie Creeke to ye falls of Appomattox river on the South side, and from Powells Creeke to the said falls on the North side ...' A number of other mentions of his military service are cited.

'There is no record of Peter Jones earlier than this (1655) to be found in the many papers examined; only record of his military service is preserved to us but if there were more records extant we might have his full history.

'Every circumstantial evidence as well as family knowledge points to the fact that he married Margaret, daughter of Abraham Wood of Fort Henry. His widow married as her second husband, Thomas Cocke of Malvern Hill, Henrico County, who mentioned her son Abraham Jones deceased and her son Peter Jones in his will.' [Note: His wife was the daughter of Abraham Woods' second wife, by her first husband.]

'Fort Henry and the lands nearby remained the property of the Jones family until disposed of by the heirs of General Joseph Jones. He lived at Cedar Grove which was the home of his father Thomas Jones and possibly of his father Abraham Jones before his removal to Amelia County. This land lies on Brickhouse Run which was a boundary line used by all of the Joneses of this line. The continued occupation of this tract ofland, with other tracts on the point and up the river which had belonged to General Wood is of vital importance that the first Peter Jones married his daughter [in-law] Margaret. He certainly left a will as reference is made to his bequest of land to his daughter Mary, wife of Thomas Chamberlayne, in the Henrico records.