| 2. | John Griffing Jones  (1.John1) was born on 23 Aug 1804 in Natchez, Jefferson Co, Mississippi; died on 1 Oct 1888 in Port Gibson, Claiborne Co, Mississippi. Notes:
Rev. John Griffing Jones was the son of Jonathan Jones and Pheobe Griffing Jones. He married Jane Oliphant Ross Jones and was a Methodist pastor and historian. He authored "A complete history of Methodism as connected with the Mississippi conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South: Written at the unanimous request of the conference." The book chronicles the experiences of the Rev. Tobias Gibson and his successors as they spread the fire of Methodism in the Natchez territory in the late 1700's and early 1800's.
His sermons and journal are kept in the archives of Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Volumes 1 and 2 of his complete history have been published for some time. In recent years, original transcripts of volumes 3 and 4 were found in the papers of a descendant of a historical society member. These volumes will be published in the near future.
Anson West's "History of Methodism in Alabama" contains the following biography (the Mississippi Conference at that time included the state of Alabama):
"The preacher for the Marengo Circuit for 1827 was the Rev. John Griffing Jones. That was his first and last work in Alabama. He did a good work and made a lasting impression on that Circuit. He was born in Jefferson County, Mississippi Territory, August 23, 1804. Just after he had passed seventeen summers he was, as a seeker of religion, admitted into the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in three or four months thereafter he was pardoned of guilt and filled with love imparted by the Holy Ghost; as the days passed peace gave place to doubts, and then doubts subsided and assurance ensued; and subsequently, though in the same year, he obtained a pure heart. By a District Conference at Bethel Camp-ground, in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, October 9, 1824, he was licensed to preach, and was recommended to the Annual Conference for admission on trial. At the session of the Mississippi Conference in Tuskaloosa, Alabama, December 24, 1824, his recommendation was presented and he was admitted. At the session of the Conference at Tuskaloosa, Alabama, beginning December 14, 1826, he was admitted into full connection, and on Sunday, December 17, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Robert R. Roberts; and at the session of the Conference at Tuskaloosa on Sunday, December 28, 1828, in the presence of the conference and the congregation, Bishop Joshua Soule ordained him an elder. He was a delegate to a number of General Conferences of his Church. He read, studied, and wrote much. He knew the Scriptures thoroughly. He was a man of prayer and of piety. He wrote a History of Methodism in the Mississippi Conference which is a very valuable work, and well written. He deserves a monument for that work, and it is a monument itself. He continued as a member of the Mississippi Conference till the close of his earthly pilgrimage. On October 1, 1888, he left these earthly shores and entered into the mansions on high."
(findagrave)
John married Jane Oliphant Ross on 13 Aug 1828 in Jefferson Co, Mississippi. Jane was born about 1810; died after 1840 in of, Natchez, Jefferson Co, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1770 - 1814 (43 years)