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Note: James Sidney Jones II 1765-1816 & Ann Walton 1766-1842 of Pitch Lan d i n g, Hertford County, North Carolina
James Sidney Jones II and Ann Walton were married circa 1786 an d m a d e their home at the Jones? Hole, Hertford Co NC.
James Sidney Jones II son of James Sidney Jones I and his wife Amil e s a nt was born at the Jones? Hole, Pitch Landing, Hertford Co NC i n 1 76 5 . He was fond of high living, elaborate dress, and the accumu lati o n o f wealth (Wheeler.) He died 11 May, 1816.
Ann Walton, daughter of William Walton and his wife Rachel Hunt e r w a s born 1766 in what is now known as Gates County NC. Her fath e r die d i n 1771. At the Aug. Ct. 1783, Gates Co, Nancy Walton an d Se lah Wa lto n came into Court and made choice of Timothy Walton a s thei r Guard ian . Ann Walton Jones died 4 Feb 1842.
From Historical Sketches of Hertford County, N. C. by John Wheele r M o o re (Published in the Murfreesboro Inquirer in 1877-78) "In 179 1 al o n g with General Thomas Wynns and Harry Hill of Maney?s Neck, a ppear e d f or the first time, the wealthy and courtly James Jones II , of Pi tc h La nding, in the General Assembly. Mr. Jones was the so n of Colon e l Jame s Jones I and was born in 1765, in the time of Gov ernor Dobb s . The fir st James Jones kept up the old English notion o f primogeni tu re and lef t to him the bulk of his estate. He had ver y much the ta st e and habit s of his father. The old race course stil l resounded wi t h the hoofs o f flying racers, and went smooth and ha ppy in the summ e r when he retur ned year after year from his seat i n the Assembly . H e was a favorite a nd trusted agent of the people u ntil his busine ss c ompelled him to ret ire from the legislature. (Ja mes Jones serve d in t he House from Hertfo rd County 1792 through 180 6.) He waxed ri cher an d richer until 1815 . His dream of greater we alth vanished, fo r heav y purchases brought hi m great losses. He soo n died, his notic e of dea th appearing in a Ralei gh newspaper on Ma y 31, 1816 (statin g his deat h occuring on May 11th).
Mr. Jones had a large family. He married Anne Walton, sister of Col o n e l Isaac, who lived near Nashville, Tennessee, and was dear to t h e he ar ts of Andrew Jackson and John James Audubon. Their oldest so n , Dr W ill iam Jones, removed to Greensboro, Alabama, and accumulat e d a larg e est ate.
No one was more learned in counsel or more adroit in the cond u c t o f a cause than James Sidney Jones, who for many years was on e o f t he b est lawyers of his day. A weak throat and much riches i n hi s latt er da ys, when living in Alabama, prevented his attendanc e upo n the co urts a nd his energies were consumed in the managemen t of hi s plantati ons. Hi s second sister (daughter), Mrs. Elizabet h Delke an d her man y descenda nts are for the most part still reside nts of Hert ford Count y."
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Major John W Moore in his History of North Carolina to illustra t e t h e manners of the day tells of this fashionable wedding;
"Isaac Moore of St Johns, the son of James Moore and grandson of Ca p t a in Arthur Cotton was to wed Miss Polly Jones the oldest child o f J am e s Jones the magnate of the Pitch Landing neighborhood. It wa s a g ra n d affair in the estimation of the participants. Edenton an d Norfo l k as sisted Murfreesboro in furnishing the viands and finer y seen o n t he oc casion. At nightfall of a beautiful October day (i n 1803), c aval cade s of visiting friends poured in from every side . Most of th e comp any c ame in their double gigs; General Wynns wit h his coach an d four . The h ouse swarmed with visitors from Hertfor d and Bertie. Th e Negro es fro m Mr. Jones different farms were well- nigh all on han d showin g the utm ost alacrity in disposing of vehicl es and horses. T he grea t fire-place s in the house blazed with warmt h and welcome t o the inco ming guests . The gracious mistress of th e mansion took cha rge of th e ladies in on e wing of the building, wh ile her courtly hus band presi ded in another . Huge tubs of apple tod dy were there, and s o enticin g was the beverag e that even Parson Wr ight did not disdai n to test it s qualities.
At an early hour in the evening, the bridal party repaired to the d r a w ing room and the holy bands were knit. The wedded couple were re ma rk ab le for their good looks. They were attended by Jesse Cotton M oor e , th e brother of the groom, who waited with the stately and han dso m e Mis s Betsy Jones. Young James Wright Moore, cousin of the gro om w a s partn er with his affianced bride the gay and beautiful Mis s Esth e r Cotton o f Mulberry Grove. Dr. James Walton of Bertie, cous in to t h e bride, att ended with the pretty Mary Sharp. Starkey Sharp , a kins ma n of both par ties with the lovely and gentle Miss Annie O utlaw. Yo un g William Jone s stood up with the gay and sparkling Mis s Sallie As kew . William Walto n and his future wife, Miss Celia Outl aw, complete d th e retinue.
The Negro fiddlers had been discoursing loud if not eloquent musi c d u r ing the progress of the supper. At last came the opening of th e ba l l . Mr James Jones and his brother Colonel William Jones, Gener al Wy n n s and Mr Robert Montgomery all participated in the opening m inuet . A n d then during the entire night with flying feet the reve l rolle d on . T he young people danced and courted, but the more seda te of bo th se xe s retired to different rooms and formed quiet partie s of whis t.
In an out house in the yard the Negroes were having a rival enterta i n m ent. Fiddles and Banjos could be faintly heard mid the clatte r o f re so unding feet. Their fun was fast and furious and plenteou s pers pirat io n attested the depth of their devotion to the charms o f the d ance."
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In the Edenton Gazette 21 July 1808--"On Monday, the 4th of J u l y . . . the citizens of Pitch -Landing and its vicinity, and a gre a t n umber o f respectable citizens from Bertie; with a large collect io n o f respect able Ladies from both counties, met at the house of M rs . Hil l, for th e purpose of celebrating the day; when James Jones , Es q. wa s chosen Pr esident, and Gen. John Scott, Vice-President, t hey s at dow n to an eleg ant Dinner, Prepared for the occasion . . ."
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According to the Major he (James Jones II) was "a member of the leg i s l ature from 1792 to 1806, until his increasing business compelle d h i m t o decline. He waxed richer and richer, until 1815, when he h azar d e d a bold speculation, to wit, he purchased all the naval stor es i n E as tern North Carolina. Peace came, produce fell and he was r uined ." H e d ied 10 May 1816 (see below) and was buried at the Jones ? Hole .
The Raleigh Register Friday 31 May 1816: Jones: Died on the 11t h i n H e rtford County, James Jones, Esq. Clerk of the Superior Cour t o f tha t C ounty.
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