He was born in the section of Caswell County that later became Person Co. His family moved to Mecklenburg County, NC around 1800. He was a farmer and hat maker.
He married Margaret Boyd Irvin (179?-1865) in 1810, and they had eleven children. Jonathan's parents were members of, and buried at, the Ramah Presbyterian Church, near Huntersville, NC, but if he is buried there, his grave is unmarked.