Richard Jones was most likely born in Madison County, Kentucky, son of Clayborn Jones and Elizabeth Giles. Clayborn Jones is on a Tax List in Madison County in 1799 and 1800 - by 1810 he was living in Cumberland County, Kentucky.

Richard married Dorothy Amos Poindexter about 1821 in Monroe County, Kentucky, which had been formed from Cumberland in 1820. One researcher had a date of 7 Jul 1821 for the marriage but no source was provided and the Monroe County marriages are lost for the time period.

By 1824, Richard Jones was on a Voter List, Indian Creek Precinct, Morgan County, Illinois. He is found in Morgan County in the 1830 census. He purchased land in Sangamon County, Illinois, 20 Oct 1830.

Richard Jones served as a private and color bearer in Capt. Abraham Lincoln's Company, 4th Regiment of Whiteside's Brigade, Mounted Volunteers of the Illinois Militia in the Black Hawk War. He entered service 21 Apr 1832 at Richland, Illinois, and was mustered out at the mouth of Fox River, 27 May 1832. He had been promoted to color bearer on May 2nd.

On 21 Dec 1833, Richard purchased a tract of land in St. Francois County, Missouri, from Thomas E. Burnham - he sold the same in April of 1837. It isn't known exactly when he became a Baptist minister but he was authorized to perform marriages in St. Francois County and several of the marriage records cite his name. The family was in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri for the 1840 census. Probably some of his several moves were prompted by the churches he was called to serve.

Dorothy died 24 Nov 1846 in Pulaski County, Missouri. Before the 1850 census in that county, Richard had married again - to Hannah L., surname unknown. After Richard's death, Hannah married William J. Hawkins, 19 Sep 1867, Phelps County, Missouri (Phelps was formed from Pulaski in 1757)

Here is a transcript of his will:
Will dated 16 Feb 1853.
Know all whom it may concern that I, Richard Jones, being in my right mind, and in fear of the Lord, witness since of my soon having to depart this life do on this sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty three, make this as my last will and testiment as follows, to wit: I do first will and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Hannah, my mansion house and farm attached thereto as long as she lives and remains my widow, and I do further will that she have six or eight head of milk cows as she thinks best to choose. And that she have as many slaughter hogs as shall be necessary for own use and the family and her ___ and further that she have five head of horses for the use of the family and herself to work and farm with. And I do further will that all of my remaining portions of my personal property estate be sold at twelve months credit at public sale to the highest bidder except my beef cattle that I am now feeding. I wish them to be taken and sold in the St. Louis market as soon as circumstance will admit, all except seven or eight of them which request to be kept and fed untill they get in good market ____ and then to be taken and sold at St. Louis and proceeds of my cattle as well as the proceeds of my other personal property be applied first to the payment of my just debts, secondly, that the remainder of the proceeds be equally divided among all my legal heirs, except that the four oldest children, to wit: Rebecca P., Elizabeth, Claybourn, and T. F. Jones, shall be subject to a deduction of fifty dollars each of their part of legacy for property already received. And I do further will that at the execution of the will in ____time to wit the death or marriage of my said widow, that the land and other property be sold and an equal distribution of the proceeds be made among all my legal heirs. And I do appoint T. F. Jones as my executor to carry into effect this, my last will and testament, all of which I do declare to be my last will and testiment in the testimony whereof I here unto set my hand and seal, this day and year above written.
Signed: Richard Jones
Witnesses: W. C. York, Napoleon Wilson

Richard and Dorothy had 13 children. There were none by Hannah.
...Rebekah Poindexter Jones, b. 4 Nov 1822,d. 10 Feb 1912, married Murphy Brown, 29 Jun 1836.
...Elizabeth Jones, b. 11 Sep 1824, d. before 1865, married John Reed, 7 May 1839.
...Claybourne Jones, b. 6 Sep 1826, d. 1859, married Nancy Ann Brown about 1845 (she was of no kin to Murphy Brown)
...Thomas Fleming Jones, b. 17 Apr 1828, d. 6 Apr 1862, married Mary Margret Duncan in January of 1855.
...Ally M. Jones, b. 15 Apr 1830, died between 1840 and 1850.
...Sarah Jones, b. 29 Jan 1832, died between 1840 and 1850.
...Polly J. Jones, b. 28 Jul 1833, married Thomas Fleming Dabbs.
...Francis M. Jones, b. 8 May 1835. He died before 1840.
...Robert Jones, b. 9 Jan 1837, d. 14 Apr 1923, married Martha Duncan, 18 Oct 1855. Martha was a sister to Mary Margaret Duncan, above.
...Lucy Avon Jones, b. 7 Oct 1838, died before 1840.
...Richard Polk Jones, b. 10 May 1840, died 11 Jan 1920, married Henrietta Ellen Fulbright, 5 Feb 1874.
...Zadoc Wright Jones, b. 6 Apr 1843, died 9 Jan 1905,married (1) Martha E. Hart, 19 Apr 1866. He married (2) Mary Lavina Elizabeth Fulbright, 20 Nov 1868. She was a sister to Henrietta.
...Dorothy A. Jones, b. 18 Mar 1845, died 23 Dec 1908, married Henry Burger about 1869.