Willis Jones (bef 1789-aft 1812) of Brunswick Co., NC

Marty and Karla Grant

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Willis Jones (bef 1789 - aft 1812) of Brunswick Co., NC

[Jones Home] - [Table of Contents] - Willis Jones (bef 1789)

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Willis Jones is a potential ancestor of mine, but I don’t know for certain that I’m even related to him. He could be the father of my ancestor Tabitha Jones Davis (c1810-1860s) but that is far from proven. The main reason I suspect a connection is that he lived in the same section of the county as Tabitha.

Willis Jones was born before ca 1789, assuming he was at least 14 in 1803 when he acted as a witness for a Will. I don’t know where he was born, whether in the Brunswick County region or not. If he’s the same person listed on the 1810 census as W. Jones, then he was born ca 1784/94 per that record, narrowing down his birth to ca 1784/1789.

I suspect Willis Jones and James Jones and Henry Jones are closely related as they lived in the same area and were associated with the same people.

I didn’t find Willis Jones on the 1790 or 1800 census in Brunswick Co., NC.

On 8 May 1803, Willis Jones and Silas F. Clark witnessed the Will of William Keith in Brunswick Co., NC. William Keith was also associated with Henry and James Jones.

The Will above was proven in court in October 1810 by Willis Jones.

On 9 Nov 1805 Willis Jones and David Clark were chain bearers for a survey made for Silas Clark for land in White Oak Swamp, mentioning James Freeman’s corner.

There is a W. Jones on the 1810 census in Brunswick. I’m not sure if this is Willis or not, but he is in the right community.

1810 Census, Brunswick Co., NC

Page

Name

M0-9

M10-15

M16-25

M26-44

M45+

F0-9

F10-15

F16-25

F26-44

F45+

FPC

Slaves

234

W. Jones

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 16-25 (1784/1794) Willis Jones

1m 0-9 (1800/1810) Son?

1f 16-25 (1784/1794) Wife?

As noted earlier, Willis Jones proved the Will of William Keith in court in October 1810.

On 28 Oct 1812 Willis Jones was listed as a juror in Brunswick County Court.

On 1 Dec 1812, Willis Jones and William Braddy witnessed a deed between William Boyd of Cherry Grove to Jonathan Rothwell. (Brunswick Co., NC Deed Book F, p. 154.)

William Boyd was associated with James Jones.

Willis Jones isn’t listed on the 1820 census in Brunswick. There is one in neighboring New Hanover Co., NC. That could be the same man, but I don’t know that for sure.

1820 Census, New Hanover Co., NC

Page

Name

216

Willis Jones

My analysis (who each person *might* be):

1m 26-44 (1775/1794) Willis Jones

1m 0-9 (1810/1820) Son?

1f 26-44 (1775/1794) Wife?

1f 10-15 (1804/1810) Daughter?

1f 0-9 (1810/1820) Daughter?

1m slave 14-25 (1794/1806) Unidentified male slave

The entry for Willis in 1820 New Hanover doesn’t perfectly align with the one for W. Jones in 1810 Brunswick, but it could be the same person. I’m not saying it is though. Unfortunately the 1810 census is lost for New Hanover, so I don’t know if the Willis of 1820 was there back in 1810 as well.

I didn’t find a Willis Jones in 1830 Brunswick or New Hanover.

Children

If W. Jones of the 1810 census is Willis Jones, then he had at least one child a son born between 1800 and 1810. If Willis Jones of 1820 New Hanover is him, that son was no longer home, but he did have a daughter that same age and a younger daughter born 1810/1820 and a son born 1810/1820. I don’t know who any of them are. I do suspect he’s related to my ancestor Tabitha Jones Davis (c1810), and if the one in New Hanover is him, she certainly fits in his 1820 census household.

For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Willis Jones.

Revised: October 1, 2025

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