Humphrey Jones and Susannah Gentry

Humphrey Jones and Susannah Gentry

Humphrey Jones was born about 1770 in Virginia, the son of William Jones and Mary Harris. He married Susannah Gentry 7 July 1795 in Madison County, Kentucky. Susannah was born 26 January 1776 in Albemarle County, Virginia and was the daughter of Martin Gentry and Mary Timberlake. We don't know when Susannah died, she was accounted for on the 1840 census, but on 4 June 1846 Humphrey married for a 2nd time to Mrs. Mary Hall. I know virtually nothing about this second marriage. Although Mary appeared with Humphrey on the 1850 census, she was not mentioned in his will which was written originally on 12 June 1845, with codicils on 16 July 1849 and 7 September 1850. I can't identify her on the 1860 census, and there seems to be no evidence of her receiving her dower rights in the settlement. Humphrey's will was probated on the 27th of January 1853 in Madison County:

Last Will and Testament of Humphrey Jones, Sr.

In the name of God, Amen. I, Humphrey Jones of Madison County, Kentucky, do make this my last will and testament. In the first place, I appoint my sons James and Humphrey and William S. Lipscomb, executors to this my last will and testament. In the second place, I will and require that if my son Humphrey should wish to own the eighty-two acres of land I now live on for a residence for himself than he can and may have the same for the sum of fifty-five dollars per acre to go to him and his heirs forever. The price of the land to be divided as my other estate. In the third place, I will and require that after my death my whole estate that I then possess be equally divided between all my children. (To Wit) My sons James and Humphrey and Robert and Richard and my daughters Patsy and Nancy and Susan and Willis F. Jones, and the children of my daughters Polly and Fanny, with the following deductions and restrictions, that my sons Robert and Richard and Willis F. Jones each receive three hundred dollars less than an equal share with the other children. Polly and Fanny's children only to have their mother's part of the estate. I hold a note on William S. Lipscomb for six hundred dollars with interest, to go to the children of my daughter Fanny to remain in the hands of my executors until they marry or arrive to the age of twenty-one, but in no event must any of my estate go into the hands of George C. Winn. I will and require that my slaves Bob and Hannah and Charity and Jane be free at my death, if they can give security for their maintenance, otherwise to live with such of my children as they may choose and to be well treated. I will and require that my other slaves have liberty to choose their masters at their value. If my son Humphrey will not keep my land as stated, my executors must sell the land and convey the same and divide the proceeds. In consideration of faithful services, I will and require that my executors give my slaves Dodson and Spicy two hundred dollars each to be paid out of my estate. To all of which I give my hand and seal. June the 12th, 1845. (Witnesses: C.J. Walker, John Scott, J.M. Shackelford, E.W. White -- February 8th, 1847.)

I make this codicil as part of my will made and signed on the 18th day of June 1845, hereto corrected. I do hereby appoint my son Richard S. Jones one of my executors to serve with those that may qualify appointed in the foregoing will. All the estate I have given to my son Robert in the will herewith connected, I will and require shall be paid to his children by my son Richard when they marry or arrive at the age of 21, except one dollar reserved for said Robert. Given under my hand and seal July 16th, 1849. (Witnesses: C.W. White, John Shackelford)

I make this codicil to my foregoing will dated June 18th, 1845. (To Wit) So much of my said will as appoints my son Humphrey on of my executors, I do hereby revoke and appoint Lemuel D. Bennett in his stead with all the right and power of acting as my other executor and further as much of my said will as gives my son Humphrey the liberty to take and hold the eighty-two acres of land I now live on at fifty-five dollars per acre, I hereby revoke and give him no advantage over my other children. September 7th, 1850. (Witnesses: C.W. White, J.M. Shackelford.)

At a County Court held for said County of the 27th day of January 1853, this instrument of writing was produced in open court and proved to be the last will and testament of Humphrey Jones Sr., decd. by the oaths of Clayburn W. White and James M. Shackelford two witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and the same has been done according.

In the Madison County Court Order Book K, pg 283, Thursday, 20 January 1853, the will was proven.

An instrument of writing, with two codicils thereto attached purporting to be the last will and testament of Humphrey Jones, deceased was this day produced and proven in open court to be such by the oath of Claiborne W. White and James M. Shackelford, two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

--Said White also made proof that James Jones, one of the executors named in said will was dead and that Richard T. Jones, another executor was a non-resident of this state and on the motion of William S. Libscomb and Lemuel D. Bennett the other executor named in said will, a certificate of the probate thereof is granted thereto.

Whereupon the said Lipscomb and Bennett took the necessary oath and with Thomas C. S. Brouston and Milo Baxter their sureties, entered into and acknowledged their bond to the commonwealth of Kentucky as required by law.

And on their further motion it is ordered that Thomas S. Brouston Jr, William Harris and Owen W. Wal.ker or any two of them, who being first sworn, do inventory and appraise the personal estate of said deceased and make report to this Court.

Children of Humphrey Jones and Susannah Gentry

1. James Jones was born 1796 in Madison County. He was apparently alive in 1850 when his father wrote the last codicil to his will, but as attested to by William Libscomb, James died prior to 1853 when his father's will was probated.

2. Humphrey Jones was born about 1800 in Madison County. He married Emaline Field about 1831 in Woodford County, Kentucky. After her death he married Ophelia Bohannan on 1 March 1839 in Woodford, Kentucky.

A History of Masonry in Madison County, Kentucky 1812-1913, compiled and written by Robert R. Burnam, 1914, pg. 58:

HUMPHREY JONES, JR. Was the son of Col. Humphrey Jones, who came to Madison County from Albemarle County, Virginia, at the close of the eighteenth century. The father was a gentleman of wealth for his day, entering and purchasing large tracts of fine land. He was a farmer and trader and a man of great influence. He represented his county in the State Legislature many times. If the father was a Mason he must have received the degrees before coming to Kentucky, because the records of the Grand Lodge fail to show his name prior to 1824 on the roster of Richmond Lodge, and the name of Humphrey Jones, Jr., appears in 1825 as a Junior Warden.

Humphrey Jones, Jr., was born in Madison County in 1800, one and one-half miles east from Richmond. He was well educated, having received the best advantages afforded by the schools of the community and from private instruction. He was a very successful business man, being for many years a merchant in Richmond. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Field of Woodford County, a sister of General Charles Field of Confederate fame. His second wife was a Miss Bohannon of the same County. He was a soldier in the Mexican War. Before the beginning of the war between the states he removed to Woodford County, where he died in 1870. His memory is still honored by all who knew him as a gentleman of the strictest integrity and highest character. He was made a Mason in 1825, became Master in 1827, after serving a year as Junior Warden. He was a Royal Arch Mason. Became High Priest of his Chapter in 1845 and was reelected in 1846. He was elected Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter in 1851.

2. William Jones was born 7 May 1792 in Madison County. He was not mentioned in his father's will because he died prior to 1845. Humphrey Jones Sr.'s will has often been misread to assume that Willis Field Jones, the son of William Jones, was a son of Humphrey rather than a grandson. William Jones married Elizabeth Field on 20 April 1824 in Woodford County. Elizabeth was the daughter of Willis Field and Isabella Miriam Buck. Willis Field Jones was their only child.

Madison County Order Book H, 3 April 1843, pg. 283

This day came Willis F. Jones, orphan of William Jones deceased and made choice of Richard G. Martin as his guardian, he being over the age of fourteen years and the said Martin being in Court and coveting to act as such. Whereupon the said Richard G. Martin entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of $30000 with Humphrey Jones Jr. for his surety and coveted as the law directs.

On the motion of Humphrey Jones Jr. adm. of Wm Jones, deceased, it is ordered that Thompson Bowman, John Miller, Thomas H. Irwin and Thomas S. Bronston or any three of them who being first sworn do allot to Elizabeth A. Jones, widow and relict of William Jones, deceased, her dower in the Real and Personal estate of said deceased and make report to the Court.

3. Polly Jones was born about 1805 in Madison County. She married William S. Lipscomb on 21 September 1826 in Madison County. William was the son of Nathan Libscomb and Nancy Gentry. Polly and William were first cousins. Polly died after 1841 when her last child was born and before 1845 when her father wrote his will.

4. Nancy Jones was born about 1809 in Madison County. She married Lemuel D. Bennett on the 25th of November 1830 in Madison County. William Turner was the bondsman. The bond date was 23 November 1830.

5. Robert Jones was born about 1810 in Madison County. He married Polly Jane Clemons on 13 July 1831 in Madison County. Robert was an avowed abolitionist. That might be the reason he was cut out of his father's will when Humphrey added the first codicil in 1849. Robert Jones was a colporteur (a peddler of religious books) for John G. Fee, the founder of Berea College. He worked as a representative on the American Missionary Association. Robert was given a permit to sell tracts Jackson County Court Order Book B, 1859. He was an anti-slavery activist and was beaten and harassed on his travels with the Rev. John Fee while proclaiming the evils of slavery to his fellow Kentuckians.

Jackson Co. KY, Court Records - Sept term 1872, Robert Jones Sr on account of old age is exonerated from county levy.

6. Richard S. Jones was born about 1811 in Madison County. He married Lucinda Stepton on 15 September 1831 in Madison County. According to the marriage bond, Lucinda was the daughter of Jesse Stepton. According to William Lipscomb (see above probate) Richard S. Jones was living out of state in 1853.

7. Frances B. Jones was born about 1813 in Madison County. She married George C. Winn in Madison County. According to the book Madison County Kentucky Marriage Records, Vol. 2, 1823-1851 by Bill and Kathy Vockery, the bond was dated the 26th of August, 1829, but the return simply listed July 1829. Both of these can't be correct. They also incorrectly list Humphrey Jones Jr. as the father of the bride. Fanny died before 1845 when her father wrote his will. George C. Winn married 2^nd Mary Evans on 4 November 1848 in Oldham County. Mary had previously been married to Benjamin Evans. If anyone knows what George C. Winn did to make Humphrey Jones Sr. dislike him so much, I would sure appreciate it if they would tell me.

8. Patsy Jones - I know nothing about Patsy Jones, except that she was alive at the time of her father's will.

9. Susan Jones was born about 1823 in Madison County. She married Richard G. Martin on 15 September 1840 in Madison County. Her nephew, Willis F. Jones chose Richard G. Martin to be his guardian in 1843.