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There has been a persistent tradition in the Jones family for 250 years that Lewis and Ann Jones were of Welsh origin. The surname is Welsh, and it was often, after the Welsh manner, spelled "Jons" in the early records, but we know of no evidence of the origins of Lewis and Ann Jones beyond that. Elbert Smith, in his history of the Jones family, traces their early history in New England. He says,
"Lewis Jones, and his wife Ann, the first of our Jones ancestors who came to America, are positively known to have been in Roxbury, Mass., now a part of the city of Boston, in 1640. How long before this date they actually arrived in America, it is now impossible certainly to ascertain. But in 1640 Lewis Jones and Ann Jones, his wife, were members in good standing of the church of John Eliot, the famous Indian apostle and Bible translator. The list of the members of his church made out in 1640 by Eliot himself, in his own handwriting, is still in existence and contains their names. They may have joined the church that year."1
About 1640, a subscription paper was circulated for the purpose of raising funds for the support of a free school. Lewis Jones was an original donor, pledging himself to pay the sum of 4 shillings annually toward the salary of a school-master.2
"This, together with the fact that they were members of the first church, would seem to indicate that they were settled residents of Roxbury in 1640. Every year after 1640 their movements are accounted for; before that there is much uncertainty. The theory has been advanced that Lewis Jones came over with his pastor, John Eliot, in 1635, but there is no tangible proof that this was so.1
"It is of interest, … that the name of Lewis Jones appears in a "List of Emigrants to America" from 1600 to 1700, prepared by James Camden Hotten. The age of this Lewis Jones was given as 20 years, and he embarked at London, October 13, 1635, on the ship "Amitie" bound for St. Christopher, in the West Indies. Many immigrants took this route to America at that time. There is a bare possibility that this was the same Lewis Jones that was in Roxbury in 1640.1
"A historical sketch of Wethersfield, Hartford County, Conn., says that "In 1635 there was a considerable accession to the new settlement." On the list of names of persons coming from Watertown and vicinity in 1635 and 1636, was that of Lewis Jones. It is possible that this was our Lewis Jones: that he arrived in Watertown late in 1635, that he shortly afterward went to the new settlement at Wethersfield, but returned to the vicinity from which he came and settled in Roxbury before 1640."1
We don’t know when or where Lewis and Ann met and were married. The oldest child we know of was a daughter, Julia's ancestor, Lydia Jones, who was probably born sometime between 1632 and 1640, based on the date of her marriage. We don’t know if she was born in England or in New England. Some sources show a daughter, Anne, but we have found no documentation for this. The Jones had a son, Capt. Josiah Jones born in Roxbury in 1643,4 who served as the first deacon of Weston, Massachusetts.5 A daughter, Phebe, was born in 21 January 1645/46 in Roxbury.4 The large gaps in the birth dates of the children may be an indication that there were other children who died, or that Anne Jones had difficulty bearing children, which must have made it all the more heartbreaking when 4-year-old Phebe died. The Roxbury Vital Records say, "Phebe Jones, died of a scald on 6: 5 m: 1650."4
In 1650, shortly after Phebe’s death, Lewis and Ann moved to Watertown, a settlement a short distance west of Boston. They had a small farm of ten acres, and Lewis had various business transactions some of which are matters of public record. Doctor Bond, a well-known Watertown historian, fixes the place of the "home of Lewis Jones as the North West corner of Belmont and Grove Streets, in what is now the town of Belmont."1
On 1 July 1651, a son, Shubael Jones, was born to Lewis and Anne.6 Based on his father’s will, Shubael was apparently handicapped in some way.
The Jones family had lived in Watertown for another 27 years when Lewis wrote his will. It shows his love, tenderness and concern for his wife and children.
"In the Name of God, Amen. I, Lewis Jones, in Watertown, in New England, being at this present of perfect understanding and memory, though weak in body, committing my soul into the hands of almighty Good, and my body to decent burial, in hope of a resurrection unto eternal life through the merits and power of Jesus Christ my most gracious Saviour and Redeemer; do thus dispose of that estate which God hath graciously given unto me: Considering the weak and helpless condition of my dear wife Ann Jones and my son Shubael Jones, my will and pleasure is, that the whole of my estate, (after the discharge of my debts and my burial,) be improved for their supply, the benefit of it, and also, the principal, if they stand in need thereof. And further, my will and pleasure is that when the Lord shall please to remove either of them by death, that then that which remaineth shall be wholly entitled to the use of the other so long as either of them shall live; and if the Lord shall so dispose that anything remaineth after their death, that then what remaineth be divided, two parts to my daughter Lydia Whitney, if she be then living, and one to my son Josiah; but if Lydia be dead, that then what remaineth be divided equally to my son Josiah, if living, or such of his children as shall be living, and the children of my daughter Lydia that shall be then living. And of this my last will, I do constitute my son Josiah Jones, my sole Executor, and do earnestly desire my loving friend and brother John Stone to be overseer to assist my son in the managing of the estate so as may be best for the comfort of my poor wife and child aforesaid. And in confirmation hereof, I have set hereunto my hand and seal.
(Signed Simon Stone. John Stone.)
The mark & stamp; seal of Lewis Jones this 7th of the 11th, 1678. (January 7, 1678.)"8
Ann Jones preceded her husband in death on 1 May 1680. She is buried in the Old Burying Place in Watertown. Her gravestone is now the oldest extant in the cemetery. It reads: "Here Lyeth the Body of Ann Jones Aged 78 [pr 72] Years Dyed the 1 of May Upon ye Death of Yt Pious Matron She Lived a Pious Holy Godly Life Being Now Escaped Free From Hate and Strife." 9
After his wife’s death, Lewis annexed a Codicel to the above will, 19.2.1682. (April 19, 1682) "As a further addition to my last will and testament, I do nominate and apoint my assured friends Simon Stone and John Stone, of Watertown, to be guardians unto my son Shubael Jones, to whose wisdom and prudence and wisdom, I do commit and send the government of my said son, and the disposal of all that estate as well real and personal to my said son bequeathed: and I do hereby authorize and empower said guardians or the longest liver of them, to make sale of any part of my house and land, as there shall appear to them needful, for the relief of my said son Shubael Jones.
(his mark, Lewis Jones.)
Lewis Jones died in Watertown, 11 April 1684.6 He was also buried in the Old Burying Ground in Watertown.10 The inventory of his estate, which was appraised April 20, 1684, amounted to 66 pounds and 2 shillings.
"December 29, 1684. By deed of this date, Josiah Jones, executor of the last will and testament of his father, Lewis Jones, late of Watertown, deceased, John Stone, overseer to said will, and Simon Stone and John Stone, guardians to Shubael Jones, as appeareth in the last will of the father of the said Josiah, for valuable consideration sell and convey to Sargeant John Coolidge, of said town of Watertown, a convenient dwelling house, an orchard, and by estimation, ten acres of land, (being estate of said deceased,) bounded south with the county road, west with Deacon Dwight, north with Joseph Mason, and east with a highway."11
We do not know when Shubael died.
Elbert Smith, The Descendants of Joel Jones. The Tuttle Company. Vermont 1925, pp 10-14. This book contains the history and genealogy of the Joel Jones family of Massachusetts.)
History of the First Church in Roxbury Massachusetts 1630-1904 by Thwing Walter Elliot, p 56
"List of Emigrants to America" from 1600 to 1700, prepared by James Camden Hotten (an eminent genealogist), page 135
Roxbury Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850.
Weston, Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850.
Watertown, Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850
N. E. Gen. Register, Vol. 53, p. 346.
Genealogical Notes or Contributions to the Family History of Some of the First Settlers of Connecticut and Massachusetts by Nathaniel Goodwin, p 129
Find A Grave Memorial # 27160466
Find A Grave Memorial 70761807
Middlesex County Land Records, Book 9, page 168
The John Stone mentioned in Lewis Jones will had a sister, Ann Stone, who was born in 1624. Based on Lewis calling John Stone his "brother" in his will, Dr. Bond, the Watertown historian, believed this was the Ann who married Lewis Jones. But further genealogical research has disclosed the fact that Ann Stone probably married John Orne of Salem, Massachusetts, as his second wife.7 Elbert Smith adds,
"As to the date of the birth of Ann Jones, wife of Lewis, the inscription on her gravestone would seem conclusive. About 70 years ago [this was written in 1925] all the inscriptions on the ancient gravestones in the old cemeteries of New England were carefully copied and published. Lewis and Ann Jones were both buried in the old graveyard at Watertown, within half a mile from where they lived. When the inscription on the head stone of Ann Jones was copied, it was then much weatherbeaten, and her age was given as either 72 or 78 years, the worn condition of the stone making it uncertain which reading was correct. The date of her death, May 1, 1680, was clear. This date is also corroborated by town records. This inscription would make the year of her birth as either 1602 or 1608, with 1602 as the more probable. So she could not have been the Ann Stone, sister of John Stone, who was born in 1624."