William Jones was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, around 1803. Little is known about his pre-war life, except that he and his wife Marilda were owned by Newton Craig of Scott County, Kentucky. They had at least four children together: one daughter and three sons, who also served in the Union army. Both William and Marilda ran away from their master on March 11, 1865, and they were arrested by a nightwatchman named James Cannon the next day. Cannon took all of their money and sent them back by armed guard to their master.

William and Marilda successfully escaped soon afterward, and he enlisted in the Union army on March 21, 1865, at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. At the time, the self-described "farmer" stood 5 feet, 1 inch tall and had black hair, black eyes, and a black skin complexion. He mustered in to Company K of the 124th USCT Infantry Regiment in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 23. The regiment spent most of its time on garrison and guard duty around Kentucky. He died at Camp Nelson on April 21, 1865. Army officials, however, listed him as "absent without leave" until June 21, 1865, when they classified him as a deserter. 

Documents: 

Testimony of William Jones