Free State of Jones

Quick Facts: Who was Free State of Jones?

Subject:

Free State of Jones

Known for:

Mississippi county known for its role in the Civil War and the Free State of Jones rebellion.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Jones County is in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,246. Its county seats are Laurel and Ellisville. Jones County is part of the Laurel micropolitan area. Less than a decade after Mississippi became the country's 20th state, settlers organized this area of 700 sq mi (1,800 km2) of pine forests and swamps for a new county in 1826.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

They named it Jones County after John Paul Jones, the early American Naval hero who rose from humble Scottish origin to military success during the American Revolution. Ellisville, the county seat, was named for Powhatan Ellis, a member of the Mississippi Legislature who claimed to be a direct descendant of Pocahontas. During the economic hard times in the 1830s and 1840s, there was an exodus of population from Southeast Mississippi, both to western Mississippi and Louisiana in regions opened to white settlement after Indian Removal, and to Texas. The slogan "GTT" ("Gone to Texas") became widely used. Jones County was in an area of mostly yeomen farmers and lumbermen, as the pine forests, swamp and soil were not easily cultivated for cotton.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1860, the majority of white residents were not slaveholders. Slaves made up only 12% of the total population in Jones County in 1860, the smallest percentage of any county in the state. Soon after the election of Abraham Lincoln as United States president in November 1860, slave-owning planters led Mississippi to join South Carolina and secede from the Union. These were the two states with the largest holdings of slaves. On November 29, 1860, the Mississippi state legislature called for a "Convention of the people of Mississippi" to be held to "adopt such measures for vindicating the sovereignty of the State as shall appear to them to be demanded." The Convention convened on January 7, 1861, and the elected representatives from the various counties of Mississippi voted 83–15 to secede from the Union.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1826: 1826 Milestone — Less than a decade after Mississippi became the country's 20th state, settlers organized this area of 700 sq mi (1,800 km2) of pine forests and swamps for a new county in 1826.
2. 1860: 1860 Milestone — In 1860, the majority of white residents were not slaveholders.
3. 1861: 1861 Milestone — " The Convention convened on January 7, 1861, and the elected representatives from the various counties of Mississippi voted 83–15 to secede from the Union.
4. 2020: 2020 Milestone — As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,246.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Free State of Jones

True or False: “The initial name change from Jones County to Davis County occurred immediately after the end of the Civil War in 1865.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The county changed its name to Davis County on November 30, 1865, but kept that name until four years later.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Bernhard Riemann — Historical peer (Born in 1826) (1826): Pioneering mathematician whose work shaped modern analysis, geometry, and number theory.
• Carl Maria von Weber — Historical peer (Died in 1826) (1826): Pioneering German composer, central to the development of German Romantic opera.
• Aleksey Khomyakov — Historical peer (Died in 1860) (1860): Founding theoretician of the Slavophile movement in Russian philosophy.
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• Abdülmecid I — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions about Free State of Jones