Move to the Rust Belt.

New York to Pennsylvania.

Son John S. was born in Rockland, New York August 5, 1935. From there they moved on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. David Jones does appear in the 1840 census in Pitt, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Though the record only names the head of the house the ages noted of the other occupants seem to match his famliy group.

In the 1850 census the family is found in New Castle, Lawrence, Pennsylvania in dwelling number 97. A series of canals constructed in the city allowed burgeoning manufacturers to transport raw material in and ship products out, at least when the water was not frozen. David, 42, and Mary, 40, lived with their children David, 18 a nailer, John, 16, Mary, 9, Hannah, 7 and our ancestor Elizabeth (Lizzie), 2. The girls were all born in Pennsylvania. Thomas Davis, a roller at the mill, age 34, born in Wales, was also present.

David worked in a mill (likely the Orizaba Iron Works) as a puddler.  This was a skilled job turning pig iron into wrought iron. Their work was done in scorching heat. Metal was heated in a furnace until it reached the right consistency, or had “come to nature;” it was then rolled into puddle balls. Over the course of his 12-hour shift, the puddler and his assistant produced about 1.5 tons of iron. Owing to the fumes and severe temperature, many men never survived into their 40’s.

1860 in Ohio.

The family was not found as a group in the 1860 census making this period somewhat muddier. Evidence suggests they were in Ohio. When the Shenango mill in New Castle closed between 1859 and 1863 many families relocated to find work. Mary D. Jones and son David appear in Youngstown, Mahoning, Ohio in July 1860. This is a distance of about 30 miles from New Castle. Two of daughter Jane's children were born in Ohio in 1861 and 1863 and Jane's husband Henry Spencer is listed in Youngstown at the same address as her sisters Mary, 19, Hannah, 17 and Elizabeth, 11. There is no mention of David senior (though a David Jones was found in the 1860 Federal Census Mortality Schedules).

1870 Back in New Castle.

In the 1870 census Mary, 60, was a widow living with her son David, his wife Phebeanne and their daughter Mary, 4 back in the Shenango Township (New Castle PO), Lawrence, Pennsylvania.

Three of Mary's children were in town: Jane and husband John Henry Spencer (who ultimately had 14 children), John S. Jones and Nancy (nee Dean) had four children reported in the 1870 census and our ancestor Elizabeth who had married John Wolfe. Daughter Mary wed John Thomas and moved to Buffalo where they had two children.

Mary Davis Jones.

Mary's son David lost his wife in 1873. Mary continued to live with him and his daughter and another of her grandchildren, Gomer, son of her daughter Mary. Her son was a nailer and had been out of work five months.

Our ancestor Elizabeth had moved on to Bay View, Wisconsin and Mary and her son soon followed. A rolling mill was operating in town and the promise of employment may have been an inducement for David.

They are found in 1885 Wright's Milwaukee City Directory living at 321 Superior. Though they kept in touch with the folks back in Pennsylvania. A snippet in The Milwaukee Sentinel reports:

Mary died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 76 on October 19, 1886 and is buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee.