Stephen Jones Esquire (1739 - 1825)

Born 29 Jan 1739 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Died 6 Oct 1825 at age 86 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Judge Stephen Jones was born at Falmouth, Maine, in that part later set off as Portland, 29 Jan 1738/39, the son of Capt. Stephen Jones and Lydia Jones; ^[1] died at Boston, Massachusetts, 6 Oct 1825, and is buried there in the Granary Burying Ground. ^[2]

Lived at Machias, Maine. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

From Bangor Historical Magazine: ^[7]

After the death of his father, Stephen Jones, the son, went to live with his mother's father at Weston, living there for some years. He went to Worcester to learn the carpenter's trade with his uncle, Noah Jones. In February, 1757, he enlisted in the regiment of Col. Joseph Frye, to serve in the French War. He was at Ticonderoga, Fort Edward and Lake Champlain. and served through the campaign of 1757-58. Where he was during the next few years I do not learn. His uncle, Ichabod Jones, was merchant in Boston, and interested in trading to the eastward. In March, 1764 or 65, he went with his uncle to Machias River on a trading expedition. There he concluded to settle. In 1766, he made his residence in Machias. He and others built a mill in 1765.

In 1769, he heads the petition to the General Court for grant of land. He was the first Justice of the Peace, I think, appointed east of the Penobscot River, ^[8] and as the higher courts were then at Pownalborough, his office was of great importance. When the Revolutionary War broke out, he did not hesitate, but espoused the cause of the colonies with all his abilities and influence. Several of his relatives took the other side, which made it harder for him. No town in the State was more patriotic than Machias, and this, too, with but little protection from the United States. Several remarkable papers relative to this crisis are recorded on the records of the town, nearly all of which were written by Mr. Jones. The Hon. George F. Talbot, in his speech at the Machias Centennial, said that "Judge Jones' papers in the town records show him to be a master of the political style in which Jefferson was adept."

At the first town meeting held after the incorporation of the town of Machias, June 23, 1784, he was elected Moderator and continued to be elected every year until his advancing age prevented. He held many town offices. He was authority in all matters of business, politics or religion. Upon the incorporation of Washington County, June 25, 1789, which took effect May, 1790, Mr. Jones was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and Judge of Probate for the new County, which offices he filled for many years with great acceptance.

In religion he was of the "standing order," a Puritan in faith and practice. He believed that the minister and the school master were both necessary to build up a State, in all the elements of greatness. His house was open to all, his hospitality unbounded. No man of any consideration thought of going by Machias Bay without going up to Machias to see Judge Jones. Among those who partook of his hospitality were Albert Gallatin upon his first arrival in this country, in 1780; Gen. Rufus Putnam, his old compatriot in the French War, on his way to survey Moose Island and other towns in 1784; Rev. Seth Noble, an old friend, the first minister of Bangor, on his way to St. John River in July, 1791; Talleyrand, the great French minister, in 1793; Gen. David Cobb, of Gouldsborough, in 1797-8, who drove his horse and sleigh through the old horseback road from Jonesborough to Machias, being the only man who ever went through that ancient path with a horse except on horseback.

He was the most conspicuous and eminent citizen of his town and county for nearly forty years. At a public dinner, he was once toasted as "the first man in the county." in July, 1822, he removed to Boston, where he died in 1826 (?). He married Sarah Barnard. She died in Machias and was buried in the old burying ground in the rear of the town house, where, almost covered with weeds and bushes, may be seen her grave stone, "In memory of Sarah Jones, wife of Hon. Stephen Jones, Esquire, died May 24, 1820, aged 78."

Their children, per Bangor Historical Magazine, ^[9] births all recorded in the Machias vital records: ^[10]

1. Stephen, b April 15, 1775; merchant in Boston
2. Sally, b July 4, 1779; d prior to 1810
3. Polly, b Jan. 5, 1781; d prior to 1810
4. Sukey Coffin, b Feb. 3, 1783; m. John Richards, merchant in Boston. Children: John, Henry, Frances, Maria.

Sources

1. ↑ William Willis, Journals of the Rev. Thomas Smith, and the Rev. Samuel Deane, Pastors of the First Church in Portland (Portland, Maine, Joseph S. Bailey, 1849, 483 pages), p. 127, footnote 1.
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 04 June 2020), memorial page for Stephen Jones (29 Jan 1738–6 Oct 1825), Find A Grave: Memorial #21042785, citing Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Jon Colcord (contributor 49371076) .
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKK-11Q : accessed 5 June 2020), Stephen Jones, Machias, Washington, Maine, United States; citing p. 163, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 2; FHL microfilm 568,142.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRS-R4F : accessed 5 June 2020), Stephens Jones, Machias, Washington, Maine, United States; citing p. 619, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 8; FHL microfilm 218,678.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH24-HDH : accessed 5 June 2020), Stephen Jones, Eastport, Washington, Maine, United States; citing p. 646, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 12; FHL microfilm 218,683.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG9-V4D : accessed 5 June 2020), Stephen Jones, Machias, Washington, Maine, United States; citing p. 296, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 37; FHL microfilm 281,241.
7. ↑ Bangor Historical Magazine, Vol. 4 (Jul 1888 - Jun 1889), pp. 55-57.
8. ↑ But see George W. Drisko, Narrative of the Town of Machias, The Old and the New, The Early and the Late' (Press of The Republican, Machias, Maine, 1904, 575 pages), p. 19, where it is explicitly noted that Jonathan Longfellow "was this year [1768] appointed a Justice of the Peace, being the first civil officer commissioned East of the Penobscot River."
9. ↑ Bangor Historical Magazine, Vol. 4 (Jul 1888 - Jun 1889), p. 57.
10. ↑ Mrs. Beulah G. Jackman, Earliest Records of Machias, Maine (1767-1827) (Concord, NH, 1937?, 55 pages), p. 2