William JONES was born about 1800.  Family history sources from his daughter, Mary Jane HARKINS, state he was born in England and came to New Jersey at 18 years of age, but his record on the 1850 Alabama Mortality Schedule states he was born in Connecticut.  Sometime in the 1830's, William came to Alabama, largely investing in land and livestock.  About 1837, he married Sarah WINTER, daughter of Mitchell WINTER and Elizabeth MOORE.

About late 1846 or early 1847, Sarah WINTER JONES had died and William had placed a mulatto woman in charge of his household affairs.  His daughter Martha was taken to Tennessee and put in a school in charge of an old friend of his.

William JONES died in October of 1849 of "Brain Fever" according to the 1850 Alabama Mortality Schedule.  The Probate Judge of Fayette Co., Alabama, had taken charge of his estate and appointed an Oliver SHIPP as guardian for his estate and children.  He and his family are listed on the 1850 census of Fayette County with the JONES children [pp. 27a & 27b].  About 1851 or 1852, Oliver SHIPP and his family had run off to Texas, selling William JONES' estate, leaving the children orphaned and homeless.  Afterwards, a James MURRAY was appointed to raise the five children.

Many sources of this information are from the family history of Mary Jane JONES HARKINS, written in 1912 on what she knew of her and her husband's family.

William JONES and Sarah WINTER had the following children:

1. Martha Ann JONES.  Born about 1838. 
    Died about 1853 in Mississippi

2. Smith Ward JONES.  Born about 1839.

3. William Pickney JONES.  Born about 1841. 
    Died in the Civil War.

4. John Thomas JONES.  Born about 1843.
    Died 1877 in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas.  Married Susan LINDSAY. 

5. Mary Jane JONES.  Born January 12, 1845.
    Died June 14, 1915 in Belton, Bell Co., Texas.  Buried in Killeen, Bell Co., Texas.  Married John Thomas HARKINS.