Hugh Jones

Background

Hugh Jones was born around 1670 in England and came to Virginia in 1716.

Education

Jones was probably one of the several graduates of Oxford by that name.

Career

In 1717 Hugh Jones was appointed to the chair of mathematics in the College of William and Mary upon the recommendation of the Bishop of London; during the next few years he served at the same time as chaplain to the House of Burgesses, minister of Jamestown, and "lecturer" in Bruton Church, Williamsburg.

Meanwhile he found opportunity to support Governor Spotswood in his controversy with Commissary Blair and to compose an "Accidence to Christianity, " an "Accidence to the Mathematicks, " and A Short English Grammar. An Accidence to the English Tongue, the first English grammar written in America.

Late in 1721 he left the colony for England, and three years afterward brought out in London both The Present State of Virginia and the grammar. The former was intended to supplement existing histories of Virginia and to promote the colony's interests.

It is further interesting for its advanced ideas upon education, including Jones's advocacy of a distinct chair of history and a school of administration at William and Mary. Returning to America he resumed parochial work in St. Stephen's Parish, King and Queen County, Virginia, but early in 1726 removed with his family to Charles County, Maryland, where for five years he served as minister of William and Mary Parish, eking out his salary with school teaching.

On October 2, 1731, through Governor Calvert, he became rector of St. Stephen's (North Sassafras) Parish, Cecil County. Here he continued until his resignation a few months before his death, building up an estate, proving an efficient partisan of Lord Baltimore in the proprietary's contest with the heirs of William Penn, warring against Popery and Jesuitism, and guiding St. Stephen's to the highest degree of prosperity that it ever attained as an Episcopal parish.

Achievements

• Hugh Jones's major achievement was in his written works that intended to supplement existing histories of Virginia and to promote the colony's interests. Written largely out of the author's observation, in direct and sprightly style, it shows remarkable perspicacity and has proved invaluable to subsequent local historians for its information concerning social, economic, and ecclesiastical matters in the colony during the early eighteenth century. He is the most famous work is titled "The Present State of Virginia, and a short view of Maryland and North Carolina".

Works

More photos

• book

  • The present state of Virginia;: From whence is inferred a short view of Maryland and North Carolina

Religion

In his religious denomination Hugh Jones was an Anglican.

Views

Jones was a loyal Hanoverian and a most zealous churchman. The testimonials of his parishioners bear witness to his sober and exemplary life. Hardly less revealing is the desire, expressed in his will, to be buried with his feet to the westward. "He wished, " he said, "to be facing his people as they arose from their graves. He was not ashamed of them. "

Personality

In his personality Hugh Jones was learned, fearless, aristocratic, and intellectually vigorous.

Quotes from others about the person

• Nearly a century after his death the Reverend Ethan Allen, D. D. would write: "Mr. Jones was a man of very considerable learning and he gained strong friendships wherever he went. His piety was earnest and his morals unexceptionable. He had a clear, vigorous mind and wrote in a style once lucid and chaste. His published works do credit to his memory. "

Connections

Friend:

Ethan Allen

Reverend

References

• The College of William and Mary: A Contribution to the History of Higher Education
• Annals of the American Pulpit, Vol. 2: Or Commemorative Notices of Distinguished American Clergymen of Various Denominations, From the Settlement of ... Hundred and Fifty-Five (Classic Reprint)