History of New York During the Revolutionary War; And of the Leading Events in the Other Colonies at That Period Volume 1
(This historic book may have numerous typos and missing te...)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: ... Lieutenant-Governor Colden to the Earl of Dartmouth. New York, ist June, 1774. The Act of Parliament shutting up the Port of Boston, was brought to this Place by a Merch' Vessell, a few Days before I received it from your Lordship's Office. The Act was immediately publish'd in all our News Papers, and was the subject of all Conversation. I knew that People universally in this Colony had received such Ideas of being taxed at the Pleasure of Parliament, that I was particularly anxious, upon this occasion, to discover the Sentiments of those who might have most Influence over others, and was assured by the Gentlemen of the Council, and others of weight in the City, that no means would be omitted, to prevent the hot headed People takeing any measures that might endanger the Peace and Quiet of the Colony. The Men who at that time call'd themselves the Committee--who dictated, and acted in the name of the People, were many of them, of the lower Rank and all, the warmest zealots of those call'd the Sons of Liberty.'--The more considerable Merchants & Citizens seldom or never appeared among them; but I believe were not displeased with the Clamour and Opposition that was shewn against internal Taxation by Parliament.--The Principal Inhabitants being now afraid that these hot headed men might run the City into dangerous measures, appealed in a considerable body, at the first Meeting of the People after the Boston Port Act was publish'd here.--They dissolved the former Committee, and appointed a new one of 51 Persons, in which care was taken to have a number of the most prudent and considerate People of the Place, some of them have not before join'd in the Public proceedings of the Opposition, and were induced to appear in what they are...
Thomas Jones was an American lawyer and politician of colonial New York. He reached the fame serving at the Provincial Supreme Court and held the office until the end of the colonial administration.
Background
The younger Thomas was born on April 30, 1731 at Fort Neck, South Oyster Bay, Long Island, United States, where his grandfather, Thomas, the first of the family in America, had acquired about six thousand acres of land. The younger Thomas, first cousin of Samuel Jones, 1734-1819, was the son of David and Anna (Willet) Jones. His father was a man of influence in the province, long member of the Assembly from Queens County, and justice of the supreme court.
Education
Thomas was graduated in 1750 from Yale College, an institution which he looked upon later as "a nursery of sedition, of faction, and republicanism". He probably studied law with his father and with Joseph Murray of New York City.
Career
Jones was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas of Queens County, February 8, 1757. His contacts with various officials in 1778 as executor of the will of Joseph Murray, who bequeathed his library to King's College, later Columbia, led to his employment as attorney for that institution and later to membership on its board of governors.
From 1769 to 1773 he served as recorder for New York City. When in the latter year his father resigned as supreme court justice, Thomas was appointed to succeed him. He presided at the last court under the Crown at White Plains in 1776. At this stage of his career he had attained to a position of honor and influence in his profession, his life was cast amid surroundings that for the time were luxurious, and his friends and associates were prominent in the affairs of the government.
With the outbreak of the Revolution, however, his position in the service of the Crown and his other affiliations laid him open to the suspicions of the patriots and led to his arrest at Fort Neck, June 27, 1776. He was released upon parole to appear before the committee of the New York Provincial Congress upon reasonable notice. That body, on August 11, voided such parole and the same day Jones was surprised, captured, and as a prisoner of the colonial army was soon sent to Connecticut.
After four months he was paroled by Governor Trumbull and for about three years remained undisturbed at Fort Neck. During this period of inactivity he busied himself recording events with comments. This manuscript, edited by Edward F. de Lancey, was published over a hundred years later under the title, History of New York during the Revolutionary War, and of the Leading Events of the other Colonies at the Period (2 vols. , 1879).
Jones's parole was again disregarded, November 6, 1779, and he was stealthily conveyed to Newfield (now Bridgeport), Connecticut, and held there to serve as an exchange for Gen. G. S. Silliman who had been captured by the Loyalists. The exchange of the men, formerly fellow students at Yale, was not effected until April 1780.
In 1781 Jones and his family sailed for Europe, and since he was named in the Act of Attainder which became effective at the close of the war, he was prevented from returning to the United States under penalty of death. Such of his American estates as were not entailed were confiscated. In compensation for these losses the British government paid him $5, 447, probably less than half their value.
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Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Thomas was characterized: "Extremely social and hospitable polite in manner, dignified in bearing, naturally commanded respect".
Connections
On December 9, 1762 he married to Anne de Lancey, daughter of Chief Justice James de Lancey. He and his wife had no children of their own but adopted Mrs. Jones's niece, Anne Charlotte de Lancey, who became the second wife of John Loudon McAdam, engineer and road-builder.
Three years later he built a fine residence, "Mount Pitt, " on the highest point in lower Manhattan. J. F. D. Smyth, in A Tour in the United States of America, speaks of it as one of the three or four "uncommonly beautiful" seats on the island. Five years later his father built for him a magnificent country place at Fort Neck.