John Jones, son of William Jones (1563 - 1633) & Elizabeth Morgan (b.1572) was born 22 November 1591 in Northamptonshire, England. A Cambridge graduate and Puritan minister who came to New England aboard the ship DEFENCE of London, Edward Bostock, Master. Defence sailed from London about the end of July 1635 and arrived at Boston 8 October 1635, with about one hundred passengers. Rev. Jones was 44 years old; accompanying him were his wife, Sarah, and children: Sarah 15, John 11, Ruth 7, Theophilus 3, Rebecca 2, & Elizabeth 1/2 [1].
Reverend Jones died 9 February 1665 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony.
Notes
[1] "Planters of the Commonwealth" by Charles Edward Banks, p 171
JOHN JONES
"Concord, came in the Defence from London, arriving at Boston 3 October 1635" [Savage II 562 citing autobiography of Rev. Thomas Shepard.]
"John Jones of Northampton, born c. 1592, matriculated in the University of Cambridge sizar from Queen's College, Michaelmas term 1608; B.A. 1612-13; M.A. 1616; ordained 1613. Probably rector of Abbots Ripton, Hunts, 1619-30, when he was deprived. Emigrated on the Defence with his wife and children and with Thomas Shepard, in 1635. Jones and Peter Bulkeley were leaders in the settlement of Concord, and colleague ministers of the church there. Jones, with a part of the flock, migrated in 1644 to Fairfield, Connecticut, and served as pastor until his death in Janaury 1664-65. Father of John Jones (A.B. Harvard 1643)." Samuel Eliot Morison, "Appendix B: English University Men Who Emigrated To New England Before 1646", The Founding of Harvard College (H.U.P., 1935), p. 385.
Rev. Bulkeley had been ousted from his pulpit in Odell, England (where he had succeeded his father, Rev. Edward Bulkeley, in 1609), in 1634 after several warnings from Bishop Laud and the Church of England that he was not following the dictates of King Charles I. He, along with John Jones, knew full well that he would be removed from his pulpit sooner or later, so, being foresighted, he sent his oldest son Edward and a house builder named Thomas Dane to the colonies to build a house for Peter’s family. Rev. Bulkeley was a wealthy man, and fortunately for him, he was allowed to bring his money with him when he followed his son to the new world a year later. Rev. Jones might have had some wealth also, but he apparently was not permitted to bring it with him and arrived in the colonies with his family penniless, needing to seek immediate employment.
There are many theories about the relationship between these two men. A tenth generation descendant of Peter Bulkeley, Thomas Taylor, has recently written his own essay, offering new thoughts to the discussion. It must have been difficult for two strong-minded men to be leaders of such a small group of settlers. In any case, after eight years of testing the soil and climate and trying to farm in Concord, several of these settlers became dissatisfied with the conditions, and seventeen families chose to leave in 1644. They took Rev. John Jones with them as their leader and settled in what is now Fairfield, Connecticut. Included in the group was Thomas Bulkeley, Peter’s son, who had married Sarah Jones, Rev. Jones’ daughter. ....
"Then, by ourselves again, we found our way to Abbott’s Ripton, about thirty miles west of Odell, where John Jones had served in St. Andrew’s Church. That was another marvelous day. St. Andrew’s still stands, though built in 950 AD by the Saxons and rebuilt in 1246. It was recorded in the Doom’s Day Survey of 1086 by William the Conqueror, and so is now very ancient and honorable. In Abbott’s Ripton, we found Col. William Johns, warden and keeper of the keys, who drove us to St. Andrew’s and showed us through this ancient church. There on the wall, in plain sight, is a long plaque of names of all the ministers who have served that parish. There in the middle it says:"
Johannes Jones 1619 Departed 1630
Upon his departure, Rev. Jones presented his parishioners with a sterling silver Communion flagon, about eighteen inches high. It is now kept in a vault and “only brought out to use when the Bishop comes to bless us,” but we saw a picture of it. This may be an indication of Jones’ financial standing at that time, a man of comfortable wealth.
The location of these two towns, only about thirty miles from each other, and both men being Puritan Ministers and Dissenters, would indicate the possibility that they knew each other before coming to the colonies.
Will
In his will, dated 17 January 1664[/5] and proved 30 June 1665, "John Jones, pastor of the church at Fairfeild," ordered that "seven pounds be taken out of my estate ... & be delivered to the heirs or executors of Captain Cullicke, sometime one of the magistrates in Conecticot jurisdiction being due to him," and "whereas I promised my dear wife Susanna Jones fifty pounds in case I died before her and beside gave her a silver bowl within a little while after that I was married unto her this I do confirm by my last will that these are due unto her, moreover my will is that the said Sussana my wife shall have the use and benefit of my twelve acres of land in the Great Meadows and of my orchard m Fairfeild during her life and after her death that it be divided equally to or amongst my six children John, Ehphalct & my four daughters Sarah Wilso[n] widow, Ruth James. Rebeca Hull & Elizabeth Hill"; "my said wife shall have the remainder of my lot adjoining to the orchard as her own for her and her heirs"; to "my eldest son John Jones pan of my library, to wit the works of Augustin, Chrisostom and of other authors usually called the fathers"; residue "to be equally divided amongst my forcsaid six children, John, Eliphaiet. Sarah, Ruth, Rebeca & Elizabeth"; "my wife Susanna Jones [to be] the sole executrix"; "Mr. Gold & Mr. Pell both of Fairfcild (to be] the overseers" [Fairfield PR 2:5],
Sources
- New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920. Name:Rev. John Jones; Residence Date: 1644; Residence Place: Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; Comments:1644-1664; biography of first minister of Fairfax.
- MY ANCESTOR. The son of WILLIAM JONES, he married SARAH about 1619. They were the parents of RUTH (JONES) JAMES - my ancestor; Sarah (Jones) Bulkley Wilson; John Jones, Jr.; Rebecca (Jones) Hull Hill.
- "'Ye Old BURYING GROUND OF FAIRFIELD, CONN."' by Mrs. Kate Perry, p. 227-228: "He was a native of Wales, was educated and episcopally ordained in England and came, with other nonconforming clergymen of the national church, to this Country in 1635. ...It was he that attended the execution of Goody Knapp who was condemned as a witch, and tendered the poor victum such kindly minitrations as his concience permitted...NO STONE MARKS HIS GRAVE."
- Find-A-Grave. Inscription: In Memory of Rev. John Jones AB MA. Born in Northampton England in 1593 and was a graduate of Queens College Cambridge. A Puritan divine of the Church of England and he was the first Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Fairfield which he faithfully served from 1644 until his death in 1664. A Valliant Leader & Christian Souldier. A Holy Man of God. Burial: Old Burying Ground, Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA.
Links
- http://www.wellswooster.com/tree/getperson.php?personID=I48992&tree=bryant
- http://www.geni.com/people/Rev-John-Jones/6000000001657844202
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