Anne (Gassaway) Jones (abt. 1665 - bef. 1742)

Born about 1665 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Wife of John Watkins — married 1688 (to 1696) in Anne Arundel, Maryland

Wife of William Burgess — married 13 Aug 1697 (to 1698) in Anne Arundel, Maryland

Wife of Richard Jones — married 28 Jun 1698 in Anne Arundel, Province of Maryland

Descendants

Died before 30 Mar 1742 before about age 77 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

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Biography

Anne Gassaway was born in Anne Arundel County in about 1665 in the area around South River. No birth record for her has been found, but she is proved to be the daughter of Nicholas Gassaway because she is left a legacy in the will of her father as Anne Watkins.

Marriage & Family

Anne was married three times within a rather short time frame. Her first husband was John Watkins who she married around 1688 and was the father of five children; John, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Gassaway & Anne Watkins. He died in JUL 1697. Anne was the mother of four young children and may have been pregnant with Ann Watkins at the time of his death.

She quickly married as her second husband to William Burgess on 13 AUG 1697. He was dead within the year. Two of her children are left a large tract of land in his will. ^[1]

Anne's third husband was Richard Jones. The following births & deaths of the daughters of Richard & Anne Jones were registered in All Hallow's parish:

Anne Jones b. 17 JAN 1700

Jane Jones buried 17 JAN 1700

Jane Jones b. 13 FEB 1702 buried 21 AUG 1704.^[2]

Death

Anne Jones signed her will on 29 JUN 1737. An abstract follows:

I Ann Jones of Ann Arundell County in the Province of Maryland widow aged about 67 years . . .

• to my son John Watkins my negro man called William Bacon.
• to my daughter Elizabeth Smith my negro woman called Clemone and her future increase.
• to my son Gassaway Watkins my negro woman called Case and her future increase.
• to my granddaughter Margaret Watkins one cow & calf and one feather bed & furniture.
• to my daughter-in-law, Mary Watkins my calico gown and petticoat.
• for the rest of my estate my will is that it be equally divided between my four children: John Watkins, Nicholas Watkins, Gassaway Watkins and Elizabeth Smith paying each of them an equal part after my just debts.
• I appoint all of them to be executors.

Signed with a seal & signature by Ann Jones and witnessed by: Stephen Warman, John Watkins, Mary Warman on 29 JUN 1737 and probated 30 MAR 1742. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 6 folio 101 [msa.maryland.gov https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagser/s500/s538/000000/000011/pdf/msa_s538_000011.pdf
2. ↑ Wright, F. Edward. Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1692-1763. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books 1999.
3. ↑ Prerogative Court Wills Liber 22 folio 434 [msa.maryland.gov https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagser/s500/s538/000000/000033/pdf/msa_s538_000033.pdf]

Notes

Famous people related to Anne Gassaway Watkins Jones according to ancestry.com: William Brewster, Mayflower passenger (6th cousin); Gerald Ford, 38th president of the USA (6th cousin 2 times removed); Rutherford Hayes, 19th president of the USA (5th cousin 4 times removed); Roger Sherman, Connecticut representative (6th cousin 2 times removed); Francis Lightfoot Lee, Virginia representative (6th cousin 2 times removed); J.P. Morgan, American banker (5th cousin 5 times removed); Robert Boyle, Irish physicist (7th cousin 1 time removed); Laura Welch Bush, first lady (1st cousin 7 times removed); Elvis Presley, American entertainer (8th great grand nephew)