Rosamond (Jones) Bourne (1750 - abt. 1821)

Born 14 Feb 1750 in Knob Fork, Grayson, Virginia

Ancestors

Wife of William Thomas Bourne Sr — married 1765 in Virginia

Descendants

Died about 16 Mar 1821 at about age 71 in Grayson, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Linda Banner [send private message] and Jayne Pyle [send private message]

Biography

One can often read: "Rosa Jones was a descendant of James Jones, brother of Admiral Paul Jones," === but this isn't true because John Paul Jones was NOT a Jones. ===. He was born John Paul in Scotland and later added the last names of Jones as a disguise to keep from being arrested by the English for killing the leader of a mutinied crew at sea. This information has been related over and over and handed down through many generations, but needs to stop. Source: Just "google" John Paul Jones and you can read his history. -Jayne Peace Pyle

My family genealogy, kept for about 200 years, says that Rosamond Jones (1750-1821) was the first born child of Minitree Jones (1723-1808) and Mary Elizabeth Spottswood (1732-1791). She had three younger brothers: Minitree Thomas Jones Jr (1752-1821), Spottswood Jones (1754-1826); and Churchill Jones (1756-1827). If this is wrong, I want to get it straight as soon as possible and I'm working on it. ---Jayne Peace Pyle

Rosamond, or Rosa as she was often called, was born 14 Feb 1750 in Grayson County, VA. In 1765, she married William Bourne in Hanover County, Virginia, near Richmond.

After their first child, Patience, was born in 1770, they left the old colonial home and moved out into the wilderness of New-River, which was then Botetourt and Washington district, but now Grayson county."On their move they came as far as Fort Chiswell in wagons, and from there they packed their baggage on horses across Iron Mountain to Knob Fork, and settled on the waters of New River, and commenced to open up this country. At that time there were but eight settlers in this part of the country.

"They built cabins and other temporary buildings and cleared out the best portion of the land. Soon after they came here, they discovered iron ore and in addition to his other work, Wm. Bourne began to work the ore in a crude way and finally developed the mineral. He built forges, and also a furnace for moulding castings at the fall of Peach Bottom Creek, near what is now Independence.

There are marks where the old furnace stood. There is now at this place an electric plant and the electricity is used to run the mills and light the town of Independence. Nuckolls, p. 18-19

THE OLD BOURNE CLOCK This clock was brought to what is now Grayson county, about the year 1770. This was the first clock that was brought to this upper part of the New River Valley and was the property of William Bourne and his wife, Rosa Jones. After the death of William Bourne and his wife (1836) it passed into the hands of Stephen Bourne, their son; from him to his son, Martin Bourne; from him to his son, Montgomery Bourne; from him to Benj. Floyd Nuckolls, great grandson of William Bourne and wife, and from him to Ruth Nuckolls Johnston, Cleveland, Tenn. The clock is running and keeping correct time, in this the year of 1913. It is all made of the best material, and the case and works show the ingenuity and taste of an honest workman.

The case of the clock is made of mahogany, and stands eight feet, three inches from the floor to the tip of the central brass knob on top of the clock. The trimmings areof brass, and there are rows of different colored blocks of wood inlaid around the case.

The wheels and pendulum are of brass, and the weights are cast iron. It is an eight-day clock, and is wound with a brass key.

There is no date on the clock but it was brought to Grayson county about the year 1770. The following is copied from a card that was tacked inside the case when the clock arrived in Grayson.:

Common House Clocks, Table Spring Clocks. Time Pieces of different Conftructions. Made By AARON WILLARD Boston Directions for fitting up the clock: First, plumb up the cafe and hang on the pendulum and weights observing that the heaviest weight be put on the pulley marked "S". Wind up the lines on the barrels, taking care that they run regularly in the grooves, then put the pendulum in motion. To make it go faster, screw the pendulum up; slower, screw down. On the face of the clock is the following: Warranted for MR. BENJN. STETSON. YARON WILLARD, Boston. The clock is now in the possession of Ruth Frances Nuckolls Johnston, who was named "Frances" for her great-grandmother, Frances Bourne. She is the fifth generation from William Bourne and she says this old clock, which must be one hundred and fifty years old, is the best time-keeper in the house. Nuckolls, p. 21-22

William and Rosa had 9 children:

1. Patience (w/o Johnathan Thomas)
2. Millicent (w/o Jesse McKinney)
3. Charity (w/o John Blair)
4. Stephen (h/o Patty Mays)
5. Mary (w/o Martin Dickinson)
6. Elizabeth (w/o Lewis Hale)
7. Frances (w/o Stephen Hale)
8. Celia (w/o Robert Johnson)
9. William (h/o Mary Johnson)

These names and dates of the 9 children and spouses agrees with my family records. Jayne Peace Pyle

Rosa passed away in 1821 at the age of 71 in Knob Fork, Grayson County, VA. She is buried at the William Bourne Family Cemetery in Spring Valley, Grayson County, Virginia, USA. with other family ,members.^[1] "Their graves are marked with large tombstones made by hand of soapstone. These tombstones and the inscriptions were the works of John Blair who married Charity Bourne, daughter of William and Rosa Bourne. Inscribed: Here Rosa Bourne's body laid of whom in truth no harm was said. Her Sovereign will was much obeyed While here with us on Earth she Stayed Because that her deportment made through perfect love, all feel afraid. the Man who wrote these lines to tell of her character knew her well He put these lines upon the Stone To make it to the readers Known, That they like her may do the same, In order to obtain a name And to perpetuate their fame.' Nuckolls, p. 21.

I acquired the Book by B. F. Nuckles in 1970 and had my great aunt Dollie Neal Hale read it. She said it was entertaining - she loved seeing all the names - but "people were going to have a fine time untangling it." She saw mistakes in the book and made me aware of them. But thank God, B.F. cut a path for us to follow, even if it does run us down a rabbit hole once in a while. He saved a lot of valuable info - showed us where to look. I write southwest history and I try my best to "get it right" but sometimes we humans fail. Now that we have such great advantages, such as the internet and Ancestry, it's good to know there are people helping us clean it up. - Jayne Peace Peace

Rosamond was born in 1750. She died in 1821 at the age of 71.

Spouse: William Bourne Sr. 1743 - 1836. Findagrave #57997875

Soon after their marriage William and Rosa Bourne left the old colonial home and moved out into the wilderness of New River and began to open up that part of the country. Rosa Bourne was the first missionary woman of Grayson County Virginia.

Soon after they came to Grayson County they discovered iron ore and in addition to his other work, William Bourne began to work the ore in a crude way and finally developed mineral. He built forges and also a furnace for molding castings near what is now Independence, Virginia.

William Bourne and wife did much to make this "wilderness blossom as the rose". Their descendants have been and are yet found among the foremost men and women of this county.

They raised two sons and seven daughters, all of whom married and settled in this county, raising large famalies who have been representatives in church and state for over 150 years.

The first daughter of William and Rosa Bourne was Patience, who was born 11/18/1770.

William Bourne and his wife lived and died on Knobfork and were buried where he built his first house. Rosa died 16 Mar 1821, age 71 yrs in Grayson Co, VA. William Bourne died 8 June 1836, age 88 years, in Grayson Co, VA.

Their graves are marked with large tombstones made by hand of soapstone. These tombstones were made by John Blair who married Charity Bourne, a daughter of William and Rosa Bourne.

Rosa Bourne's son-in-law, John Blair, a native-born poet and author wrote the following lines on the tombstone of Rosa Bourne:

"Here Rosa Bourne's body laid of whom in truth no harm was said. Her Sovereighn will was much obeyed while here with us on earth she stayed because that her deportment made through perfect love, all feel afraid."

Patience Bourne married Jonathan Thomas. To this union was born Stephen William and a daughter Mary, who Married Robert Pugh. To this union was born four daughters and six sons: David, Jonathan, William, Stephen, James and Robert Pugh Jr.

This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and needs to be edited.

Birth

ID: B51EACF9-B09A-47F2-B6C4-2F4B33319517

ID Number: MH:IF3439

Death

ID: 3B00A1A7-96C3-4B7F-B92F-C6DE1275C6C6

ID Number: MH:IF3440

Record ID Number

ID Number: MH:I807

User ID

ID: 693B9BF9-697D-4E41-B565-D39D0CAEC10D

UPD

29 APR 2013 00:48:19 GMT-5

Sources

1. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #57997903 (accessed 5 April 2023)
   Memorial page for Rosamond “Rosa” Jones Bourne (14 Feb 1750-16 Mar 1821), citing William Bourne Family Cemetery, Spring Valley, Grayson County, Virginia, USA (plot: southeast corner); Maintained by BC (contributor 47306211).

Acknowledgements

• Donald Vinson, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Donald and others.
• Jayne Pyle Family Records.

• Rosamond is buried at the William Bourne Family Cemetery in Spring Valley, Grayson County, Virginia, USA. Her page lists and has links to her spouse, 7 children. There is a picture of her headstone. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57997903/rosamond-bourne#add-to-vc

• Rosamond: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/98T2-1NQ Lists her parents, 3 siblings, spouse, 9 children, 17 sources/notes.

• Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virgina. Page 153: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/169844716?p=51872602&returnLabel=Rosamond%20Jones%20(98T2-1NQ)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2F98T2-1NQ

• Book: Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County, Virginia. By Benjamin Floyd Nuckolls. Chapter II is on the Bourne Family. https://www.newrivernotes.com/pioneer-settlers-of-grayson-county-virginia/

• The Bourne Family. "From the account given of the formation and early history of Grayson county, we learn that William Bourne was a manof much force, and has a large share in develping the county.

Following is a copy of the family record of William. Bourne and Rosamond Jones, his wife, in the old Bourne Bible, now the property of Mrs. Elizabeth D. Lundy, widow of Fileden Johnston Lundy, and youngest daughter of Stephen Bourne and wife, Patty Mays: "Stephen Bourne (Grey) was the son of William Bourne and his wife, Rosamond Jones. Rosa Jones, wife of William Bourne, was a duaghter of Minitree Jones, Sr., who married Miss Spottswood. Rosa Jones had three brothers, Minitree, Jr. Spottswood and Churchill, all of Revolutionary fame." https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/136104608?p=51872602&returnLabel=Rosamond%20Jones%20(98T2-1NQ)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2F98T2-1NQ

• From the Jones Family History & The Fulton Line (see also "Pioneer Settlers of Grayson County" pages 17 - 21): "Rosemond Jones, the daughter and eldest child of Minitree Jones and his wife..... Spottswood married William Bourne, in the year 1765, in Hanover county. William Bourne, husband of Rosamond Jones..... was born 23 Aug1743 and died 8 Jun 836. Soon after their marriage they left the old colonial home and moved out into the wilderness of New River, which was then Botetout and Washinton District, but now Grayson County.

At the arrival of Rosamond Jones and her husband, William Bourne, in the wilderness of New River County there were but few settlers in that part of the county. William Bourne built cabins and other temporary buildings and cleared out the best portion of the land. Soon after they came, iron ore was discovered, and in addition to his other work, William Bourne began to work the ore in a crude way and finally developed the mineral. He built forges and also a furnace for moulding castings at the fall of Peach Bottom Creek, near what is now the town of Independence.

Rosemond Jones, the wife of William Bourne, was called "the first Missionary Woman of Grayson County", she was always kind to their negroes and provided will for them. She was their doctor when they were sick, their comfort in time of trouble, a Christian Woman, and ...would go to all her friends and neighbors and help them in time of need.

Rosamond Jones and her husband, William Bourne, lived and died on Knob Fork and are buried where they built their first house." https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/21603653?p=51872602&returnLabel=Rosamond%20Jones%20(98T2-1NQ)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2F98T2-1NQ

• The Farmhouse at Elk Creek: ..."William and Rosamond Bourne came to the Knob Fork area on the New River in 1765. They found eight other families already living here. William Bourne was elected as first Clerk of the County, at the first court session that was held in a log barn located on the Bourne farm, near the present town of Fries."... https://www.thefarmhouseatelkcreek.com/history

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Jennifer Mellen for creating WikiTree profile Jones.-2 through the import of family tree.ged on May 17, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Jennifer and others.