Author : Albert Walker

The ancestry of the Jones family of New York can be traced back to when King James the Second ruled Several names appear in every generation, including Thomas, William, Elbert, David, John and Samuel The Irish family of Major Thomas Jones intermarried with a family from Wales Welsh characteristics are very prominent in family members These characteristics include sociable, hospitable, independent, honorable, and a remarkable memory Many of the elder family members have a fondness for genealogies, as well as having local and personal pride

Major Thomas Jones: The Welsh Privateer

Major Thomas Jones was born around 1665 He fought at the Battle of the Boyne and served under William III of England at the capitulation of Limerick Major Thomas Jones was in Rhode Island in 1692, where he met and married Freelove Townsend (born in 1674) Freelove was Thomas Townsend’s daughter Her father gave her and Thomas Jones a tract of land on the south side of Long Island Between 1702 and 1706, Major Thomas Jones was appointed captain of the militia in Queens County, high sheriff of Queens and major of the Queens County regiment He died in 1713, leaving Freelove and seven children behind The tract of land Freelove’s father gave to them, along with land purchased afterwards, is now known as Jones Beach State Park

David Jones

David Jones was the oldest son of Thomas and Freelove Jones and was born in 1699 He married Anna Willet in 1722 and was a member of the General Assembly until 1758 He was the people’s champion against parliamentary encroachment Anna died in 1759, leaving behind David and six children David didn’t follow until 1775

Ella Floyd-Jones Carscallen

Ella was a descendant of Thomas and Freelove Jones, born in 1892 She lived in Long Island and, in 1919, married John Dulmage Carscallen Ella served during World War II as a Gray Lady and member of the Red Cross Motor Corps (Babylon chapter) Both her and her husband were members of New York yacht clubs and were well known for racing their motor boats Races they participated in include the Gold Cup Regattas, the National Sweepstakes at Red Bank, NJ and the President’s Cup Regatta on the Potomac Ella passed away in 1976 after a long illness

Edith Wharton (Edith Newbold Jones)

Edith Wharton was born in New York in 1862 to George Frederic Jones and Lucretia Stevens Rhinelander Edith’s family had such wealth and privilege in New York that they inspired the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses ” She was an American writer, landscape architect and interior designer Edith wrote humorous novels and short stories by combining her knowledge of privileged classes in New York with her natural wit One of her well known novels is “The Age of Innocence ” She married Edward (Teddy) Robbins Wharton in New York in 1885 when she was 23 and he was 35 They got divorced in 1913 after he suffered a nervous breakdown

She moved from New York to France after getting divorced and had a lover by the name of Walter Berry, who was the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris Due to this connection, Edith was allowed to be on the front lines and worked at refugee charitable efforts during the war Once the war was over, Edith came back to the U S only one time in 1923 to receive an honorary doctorate degree from Yale University Edith died in 1937
Albert Walker
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Author : Albert WalkerChevalier/Welsh Privateer Origins of Thomas Jones

The family origins of Thomas Jones it is said were to have originated in either Glamorganshire or Merionethshire Thomas Jones was descended from a noble Irish family, one which intermarried with one of Welsh descent The year of Thomas Jones’ birth is uncertain but is believed to be about 1665

Thomas Jones having served under William III of England and James II of Ireland, served as a Major in the army of the dethroned Monarch He fought at the Battles of the Boyne, Aghrim and Limerick

Thomas Jones served under a "Letter of Marque" from William III of England in 1692, and shortly thereafter arrived in Rhode Island where he married Freelove Townsend, the daughter of a prominent Quaker There issue being 3 sons and 4 daughters Freelove was born December 29, 1674

The family of Freelove Townsend were of vast antiquity, having their lands granted to them from William the Conqueror in 1066

Thomas Townsend the father of Freelove, gave to his daughter and son-in-law a vast tract of land situated on the south shore of Long Island having first offered it to his son John Townsend, but he refused it saying does father want me to go out of this world

This vast tract of land was given by Chief Tackapousa of the Massapequa Indians to twelve Patentees, seven of who were like Thomas Townsend, from Rhode Island

In 1696, Thomas Jones and his wife Freelove built a substantial brick house, and to this vast estate Thomas and his wife settled The dwelling which he erected was for many years the wonder of the age It’s
cognomen being: The Old Brick House

Many strange and weird stories were told relating to it, among others, that after the death of the original owner, strange noises were heard there, and that a small circular window, seen in the gable, could never be closed Sashes, boards, and even bricks and mortar, placed in it were instantly removed by an invisible power, like that of a rapping spirit

Subsequent to Thomas Jones’ settlement to this vast domain he acquired from the Indians and other land holders and inheritance by his wife from her family, various tracts of land which included what was then known as the West Neck and Unqua properties All of which were contiguous and totaled some 6,000 acres

In the year 1710, Governor Hunter of New York commissioned Thomas Jones Ranger General of the Island of Nassau Rangers General, were sworn officers of the Crown, to whom were given by the Sovereign, the Royal rights, franchises, of waifs, estrays, hunting Royal fish, treasure trove, mines, deodands and forfeitures This office gave Thomas Jones, the monopoly of the whale and other fisheries of Long Island

Thomas Jones died December 13, 1713 Freelove died July, 1726 Both were interred at Grace Church Yard, Massapequa, Long Island

In 1929, the vast estate of Thomas Jones which totaled some 6,000 acres through the dedication of Governor Franklin D Roosevelt officially became Jones Beach State Park, part of the New York State Park System

For many years after his death many fictions existed in relation to Thomas Jones This was likely fostered because of his early seafaring life, combined with the many rights granted to him by the Crown These myths were cherished for over a century after his death, which ignorance and superstition did not fail to enhance It is devoutly hoped that the present, as well as future generations, will be more charitable, and not so free to disparage, where cause has in no degree been shown to exist Albert Walker
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