Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers now available

By Lori Lockhart

What makes a collection interesting? It is different for every collection that is processed at the Library and Archives. Sometimes, manuscripts surprise you. What you think will be the most exciting items end up being more run of the mill and unexpected materials are found with significant historical value. Take the Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers for instance. Lones was captain of Company C, 1st Tennessee Cavalry, USA. There are extensive military records in his materials. However, they mostly consist of average quartermaster forms and reports. There really is nothing out of the ordinary there. But, the overall collection contains a treasure trove of exciting things like a tiny folding knife.

Small folding knife contained inside a soldier’s housewife, 1860s. The knife is shown with a quarter for scale.
Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

To better understand his collection, we need to know more about Lones’ life. Jacob Kimberlin Lones was born on July 18, 1842, in Knox County, Tennessee. He was the son of Rebecca Johnson (June 16, 1822-Aug. 26, 1863) and Charles Lones (1812-May 24, 1888) and the grandson of Mary Reinhart Kimberlin (Feb. 26, 1801-Jan. 2, 1873) and Jeremiah Crockett Johnson (Feb. 25, 1791-Oct. 11, 1859). Lones enlisted in Co. C of the 4th Tennessee Infantry, USA, (which became the 1st Tennessee Cavalry in Nov., 1862) on April 1, 1862, at the age of nineteen. His brother, Jeremiah J. “Jerry” Lones (Jan. 12, 1844-May 22, 1863) also enlisted in the same company. Jerry was 17 at the time of his enlistment. Jacob was promoted to 2nd lieutenant on Aug. 1, 1862, and to 1st lieutenant on Dec. 16, 1862. Jacob took command of his company and received a promotion to captain when his then captain, Elbert Cannon, was killed at Mossy Creek. He received his official commission to captain on Feb. 1, 1864. Jacob survived the war and mustered out of service on April 4, 1865. Jerry was not so lucky as, according to family lore, he contracted pneumonia during the Second Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) and died in May of 1863. After the war, Jacob married Pauline Sharp (Dec. 19, 1849-Dec. 3, 1939) on Jan. 31, 1871. They had seven children. He died in Knox County on Feb. 7, 1929, and is buried in Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville.

Tintype of Jacob K. Lones with two unidentified members of his company, 1860s.
Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Now, let’s talk about some of the fascinating items in the collection. There is a poignant note to Jacob from his mother, Rebecca Lones. It is dated March 10, 1862. In the missive, Rebecca tells her son that “on earth I never expect to see eny (sic) more.” She also expresses her concern that he and “Jerry” might not return home again. The message is accompanied by two copies of a list of strictures that are not signed but appear to be in the same handwriting and on the same blue stationary as the communication from Lones’ mother. It is probable that Rebecca made each of her sons a list of admonishments to carry with them when they went off to war. The following advice is conveyed in the censures:

1 We want you to place your souls in the hand of Almighty God 
2 Never drink Spirituous liquors unless advised by a doctor 
3 Never go into gaming with cards or other win 
4 Never associate with the druncard (sic) or lude (sic) 
 5 Take care of all you earn and never keep more than $5.00 on hand 
6 Stay together till you return or separated by Death 
 7 If either of you should die or be Killed I want the boddy (sic) put in a metallic coffin by the other and carfully (sic) put a way so that it can be removed home at some future day 

This is our dying request to you

Rebecca died in August 1863 before Jacob returned from the war. She was 41 years old. It is feasible that Rebecca knew she was dying when her sons left for war as evidenced by the language in the note and strictures.

List of strictures probably written by Rebecca Lones to give to her sons, 1862.
Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

A published “History of the First Regiment of Tennessee Cavalry” is included in the collection. The booklet was written by William Thurman and published by Hart and Mapother Printers (Louisville, Ky.) in 1865. (This should not be confused with W. R. Carter’s 1902 publication.) A particularly moving passage conveys information related to the regiment’s part in the abolition of slavery:

“When you entered the service, three years ago, in obedience to your company’s call, a poor servile class of African origin were trembling and laboring under the lash of cruel masters throughout the Southern States, not receiving the smallest compensation for all their toils. You have labored in common with the friends of freedom, to liberate them from that state of brutal bondage, and in so doing you have perpetrated the most noble act of your lives.”

Circular song sheet with words to the ballad “History of the Arrest of William Honeycutt,” after December 1888.
Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Some interesting songs are included in the collection. One is a rare circular song sheet with words to the ballad “History of the Arrest of William Honeycutt.” The tune tells the story of Thomas Goodson (April 10, 1850-Dec. 1, 1888) and the man convicted of his murder. Goodson was a United States deputy marshal who was murdered while trying to serve warrants on moonshiners. According to contemporary newspaper accounts, his body was found approximately 10 days after his death “in a laurel thicket in Carter County, Tenn., near the foot of Roan Mountain.” Honeycutt was a neighbor of Goodson. He was tried for first degree murder with a penalty of death. Honeycutt was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary. After the verdict was read, a mob attempted to lynch Honeycutt but their efforts were thwarted. He appealed his case to the Supreme Court and his case, William Honeycutt v. State, is included in the Tennessee Supreme Court Records. Honeycutt proclaimed his innocence to the end and even sent statements to the newspapers of the time. An article in the October 10, 1889, edition of “The Comet” (Johnson City, Tennessee) details some of Honeycutt’s statements of guiltlessness:

“Now, I wish this published before the public’s eyes for I am a poor innocent man, and I feel satisfied if the killing of Thomas Goodson was looked at in the right light the guilty party would be found out among those who are now thirsting for my blood. All I ask is a fair trial this time, which I hope will be given me by the good people, for God knows I am innocent and don’t wish to be punished for a crime that was committed by someone else.”

Handwritten lyrics to “Pretty Saro,” a well-known American folk song popular during the American Civil War, 1863.
Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

A few handwritten songs are also included. There are lyrics to “Pretty Saro,” a well-known American folk song popular during the American Civil War. The lyrics are dated June 7, 1863, and have the name “John Fields” written at the end of the last verse. Lyrics for “The Absent Lover” are dated April 10, 1864. This is a variation of the song “Susan’s Lamentation” (other regional titles of the song include “The Unfortunate Lady of Kentucky” and “Nancy Wilson”) which was sung to the tune of “Though Far beyond the Mountains.” Perhaps the most notable ballad is “Wheeler’s Raid.” The lyrics are dated April 25, 1864. They are signed “Jacob K. Lones, 1st Tenn Cav” and were written from a “Camp near Cleveland Tenn.” It is noted that the song is to be sung to the tune of “The Bonnie Blue Flag.” The stanzas detail the events of Wheeler’s 1863 raid through southeastern Tennessee during the Civil War. This appears to be an original work as extensive research has turned up no other existent copies. It is likely that the lyrics were written by someone in Company C of the 1st Tennessee Cavalry as they refer to themselves as “Brownlow boys.” While it is not known who authored the words to the song, it is unlikely that it was penned by Jacob K. Lones himself as the other included songs were popular songs of the day copied by Lones. There is also a line missing almost as if Lones was reproducing the song and skipped over a line in his transcription.

Excerpt of first page containing handwritten lyrics to “Wheeler’s Raid,” 1864.
Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

The Jacob Kimberlin Lones Family Papers are now processed and open to the public for research. We welcome you to visit the Tennessee State Library and Archives to explore this rich collection. For more information on the contents of this collection, please see our finding aid here.

To find out more information about William Honeycutt v. State and explore other Supreme Court cases, please see the Tennessee Supreme Court Records online database here.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett