Buckingham Notables: Dr. Robert C. Jones
Dr. Robert C. Jones – Hill Winfrey Account, Courtesy Jeremy Winfrey
In 1937, Rosa G. Williams preserved a fragment of the accounts of Dr. Robert C. Jones for the Virginia Historical Inventory. Mrs. Williams located his dwelling on Hwy 20, 1.4 miles north of Ransons, on the east side of the road.
Dr. Jones’ patients included familiar Buckingham residents such as the Winfrey, Scruggs, and Turner families. In August of 1846, his accounts reveal that he consulted with a Dr. Talley.
Like most 19th century doctors in central Virginia, Jones pulled teeth, treated slaves, prescribed medicine, made house calls and night visits.
Unlike many physicians of his era, the 1860 census reveals him to be a wealthy man, owning $25,000 in real estate and $75,000 in personal property, including sixteen slaves.
Can a Slate River Rambling reader offer more details about Dr. Jones, his family, his education, and the source of his wealth?
slate river ramblings . . . . 
any information on Dr. Talley?
Thanks for your question. I don’t know more about Dr. Talley. Perhaps another Slate River Ramblings reader will recognize him. Joanne
any more information on Dr. Talley?
Robert C. Jones is of the Abraham Jones family. I don’t have my notes here, but he is of that family. Dr. David C. Jones was either his father or his son [no notes]. I was surprised that he owned slaves. Abraham Jones, I think, did not. It has seemed before to me that these were professional men that didn’t need farm labor. Maybe that changed. It had also occurred to me that there may have been religious reasons for not owning slaves. ________________________________
John, Thanks for your thoughts about Dr. Jones. If you learn more from your notes, please comment again. Joanne
Joanne, thank you for this post, helpful in illuminating the daily life of the Buckingham physican in 19th centural central Virginia. Reading your posts continues to flesh out this period for me as I am chasing Dr. John (Jack) Spencer of Buckingham County (1786-1845). The census figures tell me that his estate was similar to Dr. Jones, including property brought to his marriage by wife Elizabeth Womack Price. Have you run across references to Dr. Spencer?
Beth, I don’t recognized Dr. Spencer; however, perhaps, another Slate River Ramblings reader will. Thanks for your comment!