Calvin Jones Family Papers, PC.646

[Identification of item], Calvin Jones Family Papers, PC.646. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A.

The first deposits of the Calvin Jones Family Papers were made in 1963 and relate to Jones of Wake Co. and later of Tennessee, physician, editor, militia general, and speculator in Tennessee lands. Original items include estimate and bill for house built by Raleigh carpenter William Jones for Messrs. Jones and Henderson (1810); account with "Franklin store"; and a prosecution bond (1828). Photocopied letters include one to Jones from Edward Graham, New Bern, about possible prosecution of John Stanly for death of Richard Dobbs Spaight, Sr. (1802); and two from Jones to his son (1844-1845), one describing tour of Paris. Also typed copy of his will and estate inventory (Hardeman Co., Tenn., 1845-1848); and printed material relating to the house bought from Jones for Wake Forest Institute in 1832.

In November 2020, a fifth generation descendant of Jones added a cubic foot of materials, primarily manuscript in nature, but including transcriptions of many letters. This addition to the Calvin Jones papers includes Williams family papers, with mixed materials, 1805-1920, from his wife, Temperance Boddie Williams, Franklin Co. N.C.; letters & materials relating to Thomas Cook Jones, Jr., 1822-1878; letters of Atlas Jones, brother of Calvin, 1804-1841; letters & other materials of son of Calvin, Montezuma Jones, undated, & from ca. 1830-1920; grandsons of Calvin, Calvin C. Jones, Jr., receipts & promissory notes, 1891-1921; W. W. Jones, 1866-1917; granddaughter of Calvin, Frances Irene Jones, letters, poetry, & miscellaneous materials, ca. 1860s-1900s. Papers directly connected with Calvin Jones include legal, business, & land records, 1801-1841; business letters, 1830-1846; family letters from ca. 1830 to the end of Calvin's life, 1846; two journals, one including travel notes & memos, 1815-1816; & one titled "Miscellaneous Pamphlets," including a speech by Jones; & other miscellaneous materials as well as transcriptions of many letters. Quantity of ca. 1 cubic foot, with date range from 1801-1998, with papers that touch on five generations of the family, ending with a personal & historical account by the donor, connecting the family migration from Mass., to Wake Co. N.C., then to Bolivar, Tenn. & beyond, ca. 1998. This account of 28 pages is a candid though positive view of later generations and the complexties of family life, including kin of mixed race lineage. Written by the donor, Louise McAnulty Manhein, the account describes meetings and reunions with African American family that previous generations, for the most part, did not acknowledge.

Chronological and topical

Calvin Jones (1775-1846) was born near Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Ebenezer and Susannah Blackmore Jones. While a teen he apprenticed to a physician and in 1792 passed an examination before the officers of the United Medical Society. He practiced medicine for a few years then moved in 1796 to Smithfield, Johnston Co., North Carolina. In 1799 and 1802 Jones was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons. In 1799 he was among a group of physicians who founded the North Carolina Medical Society. Jones became a trustee of the University of North Carolina (1802-1832), and his younger brother, Atlas was a graduate of the class of 1804. Another brother, Andes Jones (d. 1822) , acted as a business agent for Calvin and may have settled in Rocky Mount, N.C. Another brother, Horace, died in 1828.

In 1803 Calvin Jones relocated to Raleigh, Wake Co., N.C. Previously, Jones had been an officer in the Johnston Militia Company and continued his military involvements, becoming adjutant general in 1808. At the beginning of the War of 1812 Jones was designated as major general of the North Carolina militia, 7th Division. In 1808 Jones began tenure as editor of the Raleigh Star and sold his shares in 1815 to his partner, Thomas Henderson. Jones married in 1819 to Temperance Boddie Williams Jones (1786-1873), a daughter of Major William Williams of Franklin County, N.C. and widow of Dr. Thomas Cook Jones, with whom she had one son, named for his father. Together Calvin and Temperance Jones had several children who survived, Montezuma Jones (1822-1914); Octavia Rowena Jones Polk (1826-1917); and Paul Tudor Jones (1828-1904).

Calvin and Temperance Jones moved in 1820 to northern Wake County, N.C. to what is now Wake Forest, a name he is said to have coined. Their children were born in the home, built circa 1821, that has been restored and survived into the 21st century. (Now a museum for the Wake Forest College Birthplace Society.) In 1823 Jones was active in the creation of the Wake Forest Academy, the Wake Forest School (1831), and the Wake Forest Female School (1831). In 1832 Jones moved his family near Bolivar, Hardeman Co., Tennessee to an estate called Pontine, consisting of some 30,000 acres. By then retired from medicine, Jones focused on building a plantation. He and his daughter Octavia toured Europe in 1844. After his death in 1846, son Montezuma continued to operate the plantation.

Montezuma Jones married Ann Elizabeth Wood (1830-1865), and their children included Temperance Jones Tate (1852-1910); James Wood Jones (1855-1934); Frances Irene Jones (1857-1914); Calvin C. Jones (1860-1923); and Robert Hancock Jones (1862-1936). A daughter of Calvin C. Jones was Louise Jones, who married x McAnulty, also of Bolivar. She and two daughters, Jo McAnulty and Louise McAnulty Manhein worked together to preserve the majority of the papers in this collection. Ms. Manhein wrote a the personal account in the collection, begun when she was a seminary student in 1998.

---

• •  paper
  paper

---

• •  paper
  paper

---

• •  paper
  paper

---

Jones, Calvin

Jones, William

Graham, Edward

Stanly, John

Spaight, Richard Dobbs, Sr.

Henderson, Mr.

Jones family

Wake Forest Institute

Land

Speculation

Framing (Building)

Dwellings

Carpenters

Prosecution

Death

Tours

Store

Physicians

Militia

Generals

Administration of estates

Wake County (N.C.)

Tennessee

Raleigh (N.C.)

New Bern (N.C.)

Paris (France)

Hardeman County (Tenn.)

Photocopied letter, original written in 1802 to Calvin Jones, purchased by State Archives of N.C., 19 Sept. 1962; 2 letters, 1844-1845, photocopied, concerning Calvin Jones travelling abroad, gift of James Craig, Raleigh, N.C., 13 Feb. 1963; 5 items, 1810-1819; 1912, consisting of letter, accounts, specifications, gift of Louise Jones McAnulty, Bolivar, Tenn., 16 February 1963; ca. 1 cubic foot of material, including manuscript letters, journals, land and other materials, gift of Louise McAnulty Manhein, Columbus, MS, November 2020.