John Jones
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John Jones (abt. 1809 - 1869)

John "Johnny" Jones
Born about in Sydney, New South Wales, Australiamap
Husband of — married 7 Jan 1828 in Sydney N.S.W. Australiamap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 60 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 26 Sep 2014
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Contents

Biography

Notables Project
John Jones is Notable.

Birth

It is generally accepted that John Jones was born in 1809 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [1]
John was born to Thomas Jones and Elizabeth Daily
He was a 'Currency Lad', which was the first generation of native-born white Australians. His father, Tom, a Welshman, was a convict transported for stealing linen. [2]


Youth

John was a street wise child growing up in the convict settled area of The Rocks in Sydney. He had a reactive temper and was predisposed to solving his problems and disputes with his fists. [3] [2]

Marriage

He was married to Sarah Sizemore on 7th January 1828 when he was 19 years old. [4] [3]

Career

Waterman, Whaler, Sealer, Merchant, Pastoralist, Shipping Owner
As a young boy he joined a whaling and sealing ship and learned the skills of harpooning whales and slaughtering seals. [3] John grew strong working for his father rowing boats as a waterman/ferryman.
1830: By this date John Jones had purchased shares in three whaling vessels. In total, John Jones either owned or had shares in over 20 Sydney based ships. [5]
1831 - 1834: Captain of the Henry. June to September 1831, Captain Jones, commander of the Henry delivers stores to Kangaroo Island for Reed’s whaling establishment” (Nunn 1989:45). Norman stated that during this period, Captain Jones in the schooner Henry owned by Henry Reed of Launceston took “whaling parties” and “stores” to Kangaroo Island bringing “back oil.” No tonnage or definitive locations to this date have been stated (Norman 1938:69). On 24 September 1832 Jones arrived at the port of Launceston from Kangaroo Island with “47 casks, 13 tons of oil, 46 bundles of bone” (Cumpston 1974:106; Nicholson 1983:202; Sexton 1990:24). He sets sail on the same day returning to Kangaroo Island (Nicholson 1983:204). In February 1833 Captain Jones on this occasion, sailing once again in the schooner Henry, for “merchant John Griffiths,” supplied whaling gear and provisions for Griffiths’ whaling station at Hog Bay (Cumpston 1974:120; Proceedings of The Royal Geographical Society 1920.Vol 22:73-75; Nicholson 1983:208; Nunn 1989:45). Cumpston and Nunn noted that on this occasion John Jones took with him passengers John Sinclair, John Taylor, and the latter’s wife and child, further stating that, “These could have been the first European women to go to Kangaroo Island” (Cumpston 1974:107, Nunn 1989:45). Records indicated that John Jones during his voyages engaged in sealing expeditions whilst exploring the possibilities of locating good land, soil and water in Spencer’s Gulf (Fysh LMSS49.1972: n.p.). In June 1833 it is stated that he spent time exploring Gulf St Vincent and Cape Jervis (Fysh LMSS49 1972. n.p.; Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society 1920.Vol. 22:73-75). Napier stated that it was during this month and year that Jones “crossed over to Cape Jervis on the south side of which about 8 miles he found a small bay” (Napier 1835:251). It had been noted that this particular bay was not laid down in any chart, affording good shelter and anchorage for vessels of 400 tons with a good stream of water running into it (Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society 1920.Vol 22:73“).[6]
1833, June:
John Jones sailed in the Henry from Launceston to Kangaroo Island, arriving in July.
He met a tribe of natives on Cape Jervis, consisting of ten families. Five of the men worked for him occasionally, and two were with him constantly for near five months. They were very useful, and willing to work for a trifling remuneration. To the two who remained with him long he gave pistols, powder, and shot; to the others slop-clothing. He saw their women and children only at a distance, and saw no other natives on the rest of the coast along Gulf St. Vincent; but their fires were very numerous.
1835: John Jones went into partnership with Edwin Palmer and they purchased a whaling station at Preservation Inlet, New Zealand and a schooner named the Sydney Packet [7] Later, was proprietor of Waikouaiti whaling station, Otago. [8]
1836: Johnny Jones established a Whaling Station near Bluff, New Zealand; operated on his behalf by Captain William Stirling from 1836 to 1844; then operated by Stirling himself. Stirling Point, Bluff is named for William Stirling. [9]

Discovery

1834 John Jones, now a captain of a whaling and sealing vessel, discovered Port Adelaide. [3] [10] [11]

Property

15 Feb 1840 - William Charles Wentworth - Agreement between W.C. Wentworth and John Jones of Sydney with Maori chiefs for purchase of land in New Zealand.
W. C. Wentworth (1790-1872) was a politician, lawyer, writer, and explorer. He founded the Australian Patriotic Association, was a member of N.S.W. Legislative Council (1843-1854, 1861-1862) and President of the Legislative Council (1861-1862). Early in 1840 Wentworth joined Sydney trader and whaler John Jones in an attempt to purchase most of the southern part of New Zealand from Maori chiefs.[12]
Transcription of this document is available online provided by the Mitchell Library NSW. [13]
W.C. Wentworth, the famous explorer from Blaxland, Wentworth & Lawson, the discoverers of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, was a close friend of John Jones. {reference required}
1854: John Jones moved to the property which he owned that was known as Fernhill, located at Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. He rebuilt it for his wife Sarah, who, sadly, did not live to see it's completion. John died just two years after it was built. It was bought by The Dunedin Club in 1874 to house their expanding Gentleman's Club. [14][15]

Death

16 March 1869 at Dunedin, New Zealand. John Jones was 60 years old. [16] [1] Cause of death was kidney failure. [5]

Funeral

Otago Witness 27 March 1869 page 17
FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR.JOHN JONES
A very large number of persons assembled on Saturday at the lower end of Princes street, to witness the mournful spectacle of the funeral procession of the late Mr John Jones. At a few minutes after two o'clock the coffin was placed in the hearse, and the solemn train formed to follow it to the place of interment. As the funeral wound slowly down the slope leading from Fern Hill to the main road, the sight was indeed an impressive one. The funeral, conducted by Messrs Spicer and Murray, consisted of a four-horse glass sided hearse, containing the coffin, followed by two mourning coaches. Immediately following the hearse were Messrs John, Frederick, and William Jones, the three sons of the deceased, and amongst the other chief mourners we noticed Messrs Isaac, John Cargill, E. B. Cargill, G. M'Lean, J. H. Harris, J. S. Mills, Drs Hulme and Eccles, and several servants. Two mourning coaches followed, in the first of which were the daughters of the deceased. Following these came a procession of about 270 gentlemen on foot, comprising nearly all the leading citizens of Dunedin, and a number of gentlemen from Port Chalmers and various parts of the country. Amongst them we noticed the Rev. Mr Stuart, the Rev. Mr Will (Taieri), Messrs W. W. Wilson, Pantlin, M'Dermid, Clmplin, Marsh, Johnson, Da Carle, Driver, Rattray, Howorth, the Rev. Mr Brunton, Messrs J. Burns, J. Douglas, Captain Fraser, G. Cook, Turnbull, W. H. Cutten, J. Bathgate, J. Gillies, St. John Branigan, J. Macassey, His Honour the Superintendent, His Worship the Mayor, Judge Ward, Thoneman, E. M'Glashan, Dr Burns, G. Duncan, Dillon Bell, Hislop, W. H. Reynolds (Speaker of the Council), Capt. Malcolm, E. ff. Ward, the Rev. Mr Scrimueour, the Rev. Mr Dasent, of Waikouaiti, Messrs Wright, Stepbenson, J. Hughes, and the Rev. Mr Grainger. Twelve private carriages followed, in some of which we noticed the Rev. Mr Edwards, Captain Boyd, and Messrs R. B. Martin, Carrick, and Murison. The cortege was brought up by fourteen gentlemen on horseback, amongst whom were Messrs Jas. Smith, Logan, and J. S. Webb. Many places of business were closed in town during the hour of burial all he hotels on the line of road, which the funeral passed, closing their doors as a mark of respect. The cricketers also, who were playing a match, laid down their ba s and suspended play until it had passed. On reaching the cemetery gate the procession was met by the Rev. Mr Edwards, who preceded the body to the family vault, and read the solemn and touching burial service of the Church of England, amid the respectful and silent attention of some thousands of spectators.[16]

Burial

Place: Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, New Zealand
Note: block 2P vault [17]
John and Sarah Jones grave

Further Research

Book: Eccles, Alfred & Reed, Alfred Hamish, 1875-1975 1949, John Jones of Otago : whaler, coloniser, shipowner, merchant, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, N.Z
Whaler at Waikouaiti - Preservation Inlet [3] [1]
schooner Scotia
brig Thomas and Henry

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Web page: Wikipedia contributors. "(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Jones_(pioneer) : accessed on 29 Apr 2019)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopaedia.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web page: (http://www.toituosm.com/collections/smith-gallery/wall-1/john-sarah-jones : Accessed: 2 March 2019)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Type: Book, biography: Author: Harris, Diana. Johnny Jones: A Colonial Saga. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed Pub., 2007.
  4. Web Site Author: Dictionary of N.Z.Biography Title: John Jones URL: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1j4/jones-john Data Changed: Date: 14 SEP 2014*
  5. 5.0 5.1 Book: The Shipping Interests of John Jones. Author: Farquhar, Ian.
  6. “Bound for South Australia” 19th century Van Diemen’s Title: Land Whaling Ships and Entrepreneurs; Author: Firth, Kylli; Flinders University Department of Archeology
  7. Matanaka NZ history. Accessed 2 March 2019
  8. Archaeopedia: Waikouaiti Whaling Station
  9. Wikipedia quoting "Having a whale of a time at the point". The Southland Times. 17 November 2016. p. 12. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  10. Web page: (https://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/didyouknow.htm :Accessed 2 March 2019) South Australian History.
  11. Web page: (https://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/portadelaide.htm :Accessed 2 March 2019) Port Adelaide history.
  12. Web page: (http://archival.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110162863 : 2 March 2019) Agreement between W.C. Wentworth and John Jones of Sydney with Maori chiefs for purchase of land in New Zealand, 15 Feb. 1840. Accessed.
  13. Web page: (http://archival-classic.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2017/D00007/a1345.html : Accessed: 2 March 2019) Transcription of the Agreement between W.C, Wentworth and John Jones with Maori chiefs, 15 Feb. 1840.
  14. Web page: (https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/club-offers-touch-class: Accessed 1 March 2019) Otago Daily Times.
  15. Type: Web page: (http://www.dunedinclub.co.nz : 1 March 2019) The Dunedin Club. Accessed
  16. 16.0 16.1 Type: Web Site Author: New Zealand Government Title: Births, Deaths & Marriages online URL: https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/ Data Changed: Date: 8 SEP 2014
  17. Find A Grave: Memorial #50920987




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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Comments: 2

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William Jones is mentioned as a son in the funeral note, but is missing in the children of.
posted by [Living Reid]
Jones-50314 and Jones-27863 appear to represent the same person because: I believe these are both the same person. All of the family members match up exactly.
posted by Brendan Slade