Ralph Jones (1623 - 1692)

Born 1623 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Mercy (Fuller) Jones — married 17 Apr 1650 (to about 1652) in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony

Husband of Mary (Fuller) Jones — married about 1653 in Plymouth Colony, New England

Descendants

Died 1692 at about age 69 in Barnstable, Barnstable, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: A Berry [send private message], Joyce Weaver [send private message], and John Giles [send private message]

Biography

Ralph Jones was born about 1623, most likely in England. His first Colonial record is his appearance as the second name on an August 1643 list of Plymouth, Plymouth Colony men capable of bearing arms.^[1] Ralph had to have been at least 16 years old at that time. He was the only Jones surname on the list, which suggests that he arrived without family. In June 1644 Ralph was to be paid 12s from the estate of William Brewster for teaching William's sons to handle firearms.^[2] This paid service implies that Ralph was at least 21 years old in that year, so born no later than 1623.

Much of what has been written regarding Ralph has been based on Amos Otis' 1890 book, Genealogical notes of Barnstable families.^[3] In 2020 Donald Blauvelt wrote an article in the Mayflower Descendant, "Ralph Jones of Barnstable, Massachusetts", that differs from what had previously been accepted as Ralph's marriage records, among other things. In short, Blauvelt posits that Ralph married, first, Mercy Fuller, daughter of Mayflower passengers Dr. Samuel and Bridget (Lee) Fuller. Mercy died, probably as a result of childbirth, and left no issue. Ralph then married Mary Fuller, daughter of Matthew and Frances (Hundsen?) Fuller, about 1653, based on the birth of their first child Shubael on 27 August 1654.^[4]

This interpretation solves several issues. First, there is the gap between the 1650 marriage and the 1654 birth of Shubael. This gap is what probably prompted Otis to (incorrectly) assign Ralph's son Matthew as the first-born son, and the Edward Fuller and His Descendants article in the NYGB Record to assign a 1651 birth year to Ralph's daughter Mehitable.^[5] Second, Mercy Fuller was born about 1629 or 1630 and so was over 18 years old 1650, whereas Mary Fuller was born about 1635, per the Edward Fuller article and also based on the 16 July 1633 marriage of her presumed parents.^[4] A 1653 marriage year is more reasonable for Mary, as she then would have been about 18 years old. Lastly, Mary's last recorded child was born in 1669, and four later children are attributed to her, so she could not have been born much before 1635. Blauvelt notes that many of the inaccuracies in Otis are incorporated by MacGunnigle in his Mayflower Families Through Five Generations...family of Edward Fuller.

Marriages

Based on the above analysis, Ralph married, first, Mercy Fuller, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Bridget (Lee) Fuller, and named in Dr. Fuller's will of 1633, on 17 April 1650, in Plymouth.^[6][7][8] Note that this is where Blauvelt makes his correction, changing the bride from Mary to Mercy Fuller. Most of the references will be found to be incorrect, but are attached here because they reference the correct marriage date. Mercy died without issue, probably due to complications of childbirth.

Ralph married, second, Mary Fuller, daughter of Matthew and Frances (Hundsen?) Fuller, in 1653 or 1654, based on the birth of their first child Shubael on 27 August 1654. Matthew Fuller, in his 1678 will, gives land to "Shubael Jones my Grand Child the Reputed son of Ralph Jones".^[9][10] Blauvelt points out the incongruity of this statement, and suggests that perhaps Mary Fuller was pregnant before her marriage.^[4]

Probably because of his Quaker beliefs, Ralph moved to Barnstable, Barnstable, Plymouth Colony in 1654, following his father-in-law Matthew and uncle Samuel Fuller.^[4] It is possible that the marriage occurred in Barnstable with a Quaker ceremony, as there is no town record for it in Plymouth or Barnstable. Ralph appears on a list of people who became townsmen of Barnstable between 1660 and 1700.^[11]

Children

Ralph and Mary had children, all born in Barnstable, although only five are listed in Barnstable birth records. All the (surviving) children are mentioned in Ralph's will, cited below.^[12][4][3]

1. Shubael (27 Aug 1654) ^[12], probably died unmarried
2. Jedediah (4 Jan 1656/7) ^[12], married Hannah Davis on 18 Mar 1681/2
3. John (14 Aug 1659) ^[12], married Abigail _____ ca 1698
4. Matthew (ca 1644), married first, _____ ca 1689; married second, Mercy Goodspeed on 14 Jan 1694/5
5. Mercy (14 Nov 1666)^[12]
6. Ralph (1 Oct 1669) ^[12], married Deborah Coombs ca 1695
7. Samuel, married Mary Blish on 26 June 1718
8. Ephraim (b. after 1671)
9. Mary
10. Mehitable, married a Fuller

The three daughters are listed in their order of mention Ralph's will, but they may have all been born before Ephraim, who was a minor in 1692.

Will

Ralph "Joans" dated his will 11 May 1692. His Quaker sympathies are clear as he requests "that after my decease my Body be decently buried by ye Advice and Assistance of my dear Friends ye people of God called quackers at their buring place in Sandwich", and further that "forty shillings I order to be disposed of for ye sd service by my friends called quackers in Sandwich". He gives his wife his house and household goods, and the fields around his home lot. He gives land to Shubael, Jedediah, Ralph, and Samuel. He gives son Matthew money. After his wife's decease his son John to possess the house, until his son Ephraim comes of age, when he will possess it. He gives money to daughters Mercy, Mary, and (Me)hittable. Son Shubael sole executor, John Fuller and Edward Perry overseers. The witnesses were Capt. Thomas Fuller, John Isum, and Ralph's daughter Mehitable Fuller, wife of John Fuller, Jr. Ralph signs with his mark, showing that though he might be able to read, he could not write. His daughter Mehitabel also signs “M,” her mark.^[13][14]

Much has been made of the birth order of sons in the will due to the assumed need to have a son born prior to Shubael. Shubael, as the first mentioned son and the sole executor, was clearly the first born son. The sons receiving land are listed in birth order. Matthew is listed separately because he had already been granted 30 acres of land in Barnstable at the time the will was dated, so he received money instead of land. The two remaining sons are listed in birth order; presumably son John and Ephraim were living at home and were expected remain there as long as Ralph's widow Mary was alive. Their eventual inheritance was Mary's estate.

One curiosity regarding the will is that it was clearly dated "ye eleventh day of ye third month, in ye year 1692", yet the will was affirmed in court on 20 April 1692.^[13]

Ralph died in early 1692, in Barnstable, based on the affirmation of his will on 20 April 1692. He was most probably buried in an unmarked grave in the Quaker Spring Hill burying ground in Sandwich. His widow Mary is probably also buried there, although her death year is not known.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. v.4 p.255 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) NEHGS member site
2. ↑ Mayflower Descendant: A Journal of Pilgrim Genealogy and History; v.1 p.5; Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) NEHGS member site
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Otis, Amos, Genealogical notes of Barnstable families:, (1890), v.2 pp.110-111 FamilySearch
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5} Blauvelt, Donald G., "Ralph Jones of Barnstable, Massachusetts", Mayflower Descendant, v.68 (2020), pp.148-156 NEHGS member site
5. ↑ Edward Fuller and His Descendants In: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Vol. 33, p.175; New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, New York, NY, 1902: NYGBS member site
6. ↑ Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850; Plymouth, v.1 p.658 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). NEHGS member site
7. ↑ New England Marriages to 1700. Torrey, v.2 p.869 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. NEHGS member site
   • Text: "JONES, (JAMES wrong), Ralph (-1691/2) & Mary FULLER; 17 Apr 1650 (1655 wrong); Plymouth/Barnstable {MD 13:8, 16:78, 235; NYGBR 33:175; Barnstable Co. Prob. 1:126; Fuller 2:11, 3:12; Reg. 2:145, 9:313; Hamlin 1:399; Blish 295; Smith-Hale 241; Utah Gen. Mag. 20:70; Plymouth (Davis) 162; Bullard Anc. 197}"
8. ↑ Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. v.9 p.313, Plymouth Colony records; Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) NEHGS member site
9. ↑ Mayflower Descendant: A Journal of Pilgrim Genealogy and History. v.13 pp.7-9; citing Plymouth Colony Wills 3:2:127-129; Boston, MA: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1899- . (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2010) NEHGS member site
10. ↑ 'MacConnigle, Bruce C. et al. Matthew Fuller of Plymouth Colony, The American Genealogist. New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1932-. v.61 p.199 (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)NEHGS member site
11. ↑ The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. v.2 p.315 (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2018.) NEHGS member site
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5} Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 Barnstable, v.1 p.41(Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). NEHGS member site
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685-1789.” v.1 pp.69-70; Records of Barnstable, Massachusetts. CD-ROM. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2002. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) NEHGS member site
14. ↑ "Probate records v. 1-3 1686-1747" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YB-N9YM : 17 April 2024), Film# 00770540, Barnstable, Massachusetts, image 43, Vol 1, Page 62.

See also:

• http://capecodquakers.org/earlyquakers.html
• MacGunnigle, Bruce Campbell. Mayflower Families Through Five Generations Descendants of the Pilgrims who Landed at Plymouth, Mass., December 1620 Volume 4, Third Edition, Family of Edward Fuller. Plymouth, MA: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2006. pg 11
• Will as transcribed in the Barnstable Patriot Volume 1, Revised by C F Swift

“I Ralph Jones, of ye town of Barnstable in New England, being aged and weak in body,” [disposes of his estate to his children. He does not mention his wife, and the presumption is she had then deceased.] “My mind and desire is, that after my decease my body be decently buried by ye advice and assistance of my dear Friends ye people of God called Quakers at their burning place in Sandwich.” [he refers to meadow which his father Capt. Matthew Fuller bought off John Freeman. He appoints his son-in-law John Fuller, the younger, and Edward Perry, the Quaker, overseers. The witnesses were Capt. Thomas Fuller, John Isum, and his daughter Mehitabel Fuller, wife of John Fuller, Jr. He signs with his mark, showing that though he might be able to read, he could not write. His daughter Mehitabel also signs “M,” her mark. Matthew Jones, son of Ralph, owned Mr. Nathaniel Bacon’s Great Lot at Cotuit, Oct. 16th, 1690, he exchanged this land for thirty acres on the west of John Dunham’s land near Santuit."

Acknowledgement

This person was created through the import of Samuel Giles- The Deacon.ged on 13 April 2011. The following data was included in the gedcom. You may wish to edit it for readability.