Jeffery (Geoffrey) Jones
1637 – 1717
written by Larry Mace
Jeffery Jones was born at Concord, Mass. in 1637, some two years after his father, Rev. John Jones arrived in Concord from England. In 1644, while still a boy, Jeffery moved with his father to Fairfield, Fairfield, Conn. Jeffery moved to Long Island, New York for a time. Jeffery Jones and Elizabeth Glover were married at Southold, Long Island, Suffolk, New York on 24 May 1661, according to Southold Town records. That same year, Jeffery Jones acquired a piece of land previously owned by Charles Glover, his wife’s father. It could be assumed this may have been a wedding present from Charles to his daughter and son-in-law. This lot was located near the shipyards owned by Charles Glover. Jeffery arrived in Piscataway, New Jersey in 1665.
Several documented events support Jeffery Jones living in the area of Piscataway, Elizabethtown and Rahway, New Jersey. * From Hatfield's History of Elizabeth, NJ, p 123: "The boundary line between this town and Newark needed adjustment; and John Ogden, sen., Luke Watson, Robert Bond, and Jeffry Jones were deputed to arrange the matter with the commissioners from Newark. They met together for this purpose, May 20, 1668. It appears from an affidavit of Joseph Woodruff of this town, made July 26, 1743, before Judge Joseph Bonnel, also of this town, that, being at Milford, CT, about the year 1699, He heard Gov. Treat say, ...(discusses the original terms of division of land between the two towns)..."
From another source: "At this time whales were abundant on all the coast, and a whaling company was organized at Elizabethtown, which obtained a charter from the Government Feb. 15, 1669, granting to 'John Ogden, senr., Caleb Carwithy, Jacob Moleing [Melyen], Wm. Johnson, and Jeffry Jones, all of Elizabeth Town and their companie consisting of 21 persons 'the exclusive right, for three years, of taking wales along the coast from Barnegat to the eastern part of the province, one twentieth part of the oil, in casks to be given to the Lords Proprietors.
An incident occurred in Elizabethtown, New Jersey on 19 June 1671 involving Jeffery Jones. The incident is described below:
The colonists believed that the right to convene a court belonged to the General Assembly. The breach was made wider when the governor granted a lot to RICHARD MICHELL, who was one of the "menial servants" brought over by him in the ship PHILLIP, in 1665. The governor was well pleased with MICHELL'S course and was willing to reward his faithful services. He took it upon himself without consulting the town or any other than his own pleasure, to make him a grant of land for a house lot which was bordering on the "swamp in common." MICHELL fenced it in and leased a part of the ground to GEORGE PARK for a tobaco crop. On the other part, he built a house covered with clapboard, and laid out a garden. PARK subleased one half of his field to WILLIAM LETTS.
This was all contrary to the fundamental agreement of 1666, made at the town meeting and consented to by the governor. The town was deeply upset by the occurrence and it was the major topic of conversation. The neighbors had occasion to meet at Goodman CARTER'S house and the matter was warmly discussed. They agreed to give PACK warning not to put a plow in the ground. He and LETTS were greatly grieved at their prospective loss, but deemed it best to regard the timely warning. A town meeting was called at which the whole subject was gravely debated. Here is the record:
"June 19th, 1671, it was agreed by the Major Vote that Richard Michhel(l) should not enjoy his lot, given him by the Governeor. Upon information, June 19, 1671, It was agreed that there should some goe the next morning and pull up the said MICHEL(L)'S fence."
The people felt that the governor had to be taught that it was not his right to give away town lots. That right belonged to the people. MICHELL had "never asked the town for it," and therefore could not have the "lott given to him by the Governor." It was "concluded to take the piece of land from him again, because it was not after (a) vote of the town that he had it." What followed was related by GEORGE PACK:
"The next morning after the said town meeting, the said RICHARD MICHEL(L) came to my house, and I went with him up to the said lot, and (on) going * we came to (the said) WM. LETT('S) house, and lighted our pipes, and when we lighted, * people came upon the said ground--Goodman MEAKER, the yooung JOHN OGDEN, JEFFERY JONES, and NICHOLAS CARTER, and we were running down to them at the corner of the said lot, (and) the said RICHARD MICHEL(L) forewarned them of pulling down the said fence, and spake to them of a riot, upon * (which), Goodman MEAKER put (his hand) to it and began (to) pluck down the fence, and then all the rest did the like and left not off till they had plucked down one side and one end."
The fence-pullers were arrested and had to appear in court on March 8, 1672 to hear the indictment and were asked --"Guilty or not guilty?." They made no response and left the court without putting in any plea at all. The governor was determined to support MICHELL, and fined the "rioters". WILLIAM MEAKER, being the leader, was fined five pounds, and the others, including NICHOLAS, three pounds each. The fines were to be collected by distraint. The fines were never paid because the marshal was powerless to collect the fines in the presence of an outraged and indignant people.
A Joseph Marsh was the witness to the will of Jeffery Jones of Elizabethtown, dated December 21, 1717. Son-in-law of Jeffery was Samuel Fitz Randolph and executor Jeremiah Bird. Other witnesses were John Moris, Shobal Smith. Will proved Dec. 31, 1717.