Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-06
NO. s3.
Written for the Journal.
BLACK JONES OF HALL0WELL, THE
TORY SURVEYOR.
BY GEORGE j. vARNEY.

New England communities generally do
not at the present time apprehend the fierce
contest waged in their own vcinities, at the
period of the Revolution between the pa
triots and the adherents of the British king.
Here in Maine the marauding of the Tory
Rangers, the Picaroon boats and Shaving Mills
has been forgotten in the tales of the Cow
boys of New York, and the Rickaree Boys Of
regions southwark. The traditions of them
have died out with our grandfathers, and few
data remain on record, to be cleaned by the
most pains-takng historian &; yet the subject
has value both curious and instructive and
each incident and individual holds peculiar
interest for their respective localities.
Not the least among the foes of her own
household, with whom our forefathers had to
contend, was one well known on the Kenne-
bee, two generations ago, as "Black Jones'
1t is term well suited to figure as the cog
nomen of Tory marauder, and doubtless
also served convenient purpose in the
domestic circle, when convivally disposed
husbands desired to linger at the grocery, or
passionate babies disturbed the household
peace. Yet Black Jones had been light
hearted and kindly -natured boy, as harmless
to his fellows as his cold ashes have now
been for many year. Our first record of
him Tin the local annals) is his arrival in
Hallowell in l77l in the employ of the
Plymouth Company, in the capacity of sur
veyor. He was at this time young man of
twenty-eight, and came from Concord, Mass,
which it appears was his native place. The
town, despite the reputation for patriotism
1t has since achieved, seems to have held
some Tory elements. Young Jones' first
work was the survey and plan of lots "east
ward of Sheepscot river; !" and in 1773, says
North, "we find him surveying and plotting
lots in Canaan. In the spring Of IVA, he
made plans of Vassalborough, embracing
Sidney y also, "Twelve Mile Pond" now
Unity and "Jones' Plantation - now China
plymouth Company Records Becoming
proprietor of Number Ten in Hallowell, (now
Augusta,) through which Bonds brook flows,
he in l773, erected a saw-mill at Bridges
lower dam on that stream. rHoward's Acct.
Book.
The people of the Colonies were at this
time greatly agitated by political affairs, and
beginning to take sides definitely upon the
measures which brought on the Revolution.
We have an indication of the party tendency
and the political influence of Jones in the
record OF the annual town meeting in E73,
held on the west side, when he was elected
one Of the two constables. The meeting ad-
journed to meet on the east side of the river
ON the nexttday when the vote choosing
| constables was reconsidered The meeting
then proceeded to new vote, by which an
other person was elected in Jones place. His
sympathy with the government was more
| than suspected, hence this action,-which,
evidently, his friends were not looking for
In October, IVA, Jones was at Gardeners
town, where he had business with DR.. Syl-
vester Gardiner, agent for the Plymouth
Company. About midnight some hundred or
more men-who had constituted themselves
the political regulators Of the region--fully
armed with guns and other weapons, sur
| rounded DR.. Gardeners house. That gen.
| tleman had heard of their coming, and
was well on the road to Boston. The
intruders insisted upon searching for
tea. They appear not to have been sue
cessful in this but they found Mr.. Jones,
and demanded that he should sign the cove
nant and league against the King. on which
the names of the patriots were already
enrolled. According to the account of Rev.
Jacob Bailey, another loyalist, Jones replied
to this demand by stripping open his bosom,
and telling them that they might stab him to
the heart, bat nothing should induce him to
sign that accursed instrument. They seized
him with violence and threw him headlong
into the river, and then dragged him about
until he was almost torn in pieces, but all to
no purpose.
Not many months after, the patriots desired
that the town should senda delegate to a revo-
lutionary convention to be held at Falmouth
fearing that Jones' friends might out-number
the few who were ready for decisive action
against the King, and should rally to tho
polls and elect that tory, and thus defeat
their whole purpose in the matter,-they re-
sorted to an ingenious device. 1t was moved
that committee of five be elected, Of whom
one should 60 to Falmouth, and that the
town should pay the expenses Of the one who
went. As was expected, Jones was elected,
by good majority, one of the committee
but as three of the others were patriots,
Jones easily became one Of those elecscd 10
stay at home. No town meeting occurred
again until July II, l777, when the tide Of
Revolution had made such progress that, BY
the call, the meeting was "to proceed agree
al 10 m, N - of Al. Ct~tn nrk.t1>I to