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JONES
Thomas Jones was Welsh by heritage, but was born about 1665 in Straubane, County Tyrone, Ulster, Ireland, his family possibly exiled there a generation earlier under Cromwell.  About age 25, he joined the Irish who fought unsuccessfully for the deposed James II against the new British King William III at the Battle of the Boyne 1 July 1690, and at the capitulation of Limerick 3 Oct 1691.  He is usually referred to as "Major Thomas Jones," his rank during these battles. With insurrections in both Ireland and Scotland now successfully put down, King William turned his attention to the French, against whom he would wage war for many years. Jones offered his services to the Crown, and received a "Letter of Marques," which was a license to piracy - as long as it was against the French or Spanish. This was a clever move by the King for two reasons: Not only was commissioning these "privateers" a good way to harass the French, but it was a handy way to get talented but suspect military men out of the country.

Thomas Jones commissioned a ship and was in Jamaica by 7 June 1692, experiencing the "Great Port Royal Earthquake" of that date, according to his journals.  His journals stopped for a time and his activities over the next four years are unclear. He evidently operated out of secluded coves along various islands in the West Indies. He married in Warwick, Rhode Island, about 1695 Freelove Townsend, daughter of Thomas Townsend, and settled in 1696 on a large (6,000 acre) estate in Massapeaqua, on the south coast of Long Island, including the long sandy beach now known as Jones Beach, that Townsend had purchased from the Indians in 1688.  He was accepted into society because of his wealth, the actual source of which was discussed only in whispers about his "shipping interests."  For over a century after his death, there were persistent rumors on Long Island that his "pirate treasure" was buried somewhere on the family estate.  In 1702, he was named Captain of the Militia of Queens, and was promoted to Major in 1706.  He was High Sheriff from 1704 until 1713.

Thomas Jones (1665-13 Dec 1713) m.1695 Freelove Townsend (29 Dec 1674-July 1726) and lived at Massapeaqua, now Fort Neck, Long Island.  She married (2) Major Timothy Bagley.
. . 1. Sarah L Jones (1695-18 Aug 1696)
. . 2. David Jones (16 Sep 1699-11 Oct 1775) m.22 Nov 1722 Anne Willet (1704-1751) married(2)
. . . . Margaret Willet, widow of John Tredwell, and niece of his first wife.
. . 3. Freelove Jones (1700-before 1768) m.1719 Jacob Smith (1690-1757) see below
. . 4. Thomas Jones (1701-13 Nov 1741)
. . 5. Sarah Jones (11 Mar 1703) married 19 Oct 1719 Gerardus Clowes (1699-1752)
. . 6. Margaret Jones (1706-before 1768) m(1) Ezekiel Smith; m(2) John Hill
. . 7. William Jones (25 Apr 1708-29 Aug 1779) m.22 Apr 1731 Phebe Jackson (1715-1800)
. . 8. Elizabeth Jones (1710) m.30 May 1730 Jacomiah Mitchell

  Freelove Jones  (born1700, died before 1768)  married 1719 Jacob Smith (8 Dec 1690-Feb 1757) son of Isaac Smith and Elizabeth Underhill   Jacob was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queens County, New York, and a Warden of St George's Church (Anglican) in Hempstead.
. . 1. Thomas Smith (28 Aug 1720-26 Aug 1795) married about 1743 Phebe Allen (1726) 
. . 2. Isaac Smith (9 Sep 1722-29 May 1795) m.2 Jan 1743/4 Margaret Platt (1728-1791)
. . 3. Elizabeth Smith (c.1724)

Isaac Smith (1722-1795) m.1744 Margaret Platt  (1728-1791)

Mary Smith (1744-1809) m.1762 Maurice Smith (d.1779)

Margaret Smith (1763-1821) m.1780 Morgan Edwards (c1750-1798)

Margaret Edwards (1789-1864) m.1821 Thomas Tate (1775-1838)

Thomas Edwards Tate (1821-1914) m.1845 Mary Vernon Cutrer (1825-1892)

Frances Mary Tate (1852-1881) m.1871 Walter Edwin Tynes (1848-1928)

Jeanne Marie Tynes (1878-1958) m.1913 Carson B Matthews (1874-1948)

Frances Mary Tate Matthews (1917) m.1949 Virgil Raymond Liptrap (1907-1977)

James Matthews Liptrap (1951)


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