Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-05-16
EARLY LIFE or PAUL JONES.
he Came to America TO Inherit an Estate
In Virginia.


In Virginia.
There is no record Of his having at
tended any school except that of the
parish Of Kirkbean, but he developed a
truly Scotch passion for reading and
writing. He went to sea when y years
old and made two voyages during his
minority in a SLAYER. but hating the
traffic he left it and the ship too. At 20
he was in command of a fine brigantine.
About this time occurred what he calls,
in letter to Robert Morris, "a great
misfortune, adding, II am under no
concern whatever that this or any other
circumstance Of my past life will sink
me in your opinion. The trouble was
threatened criminal prosecution for
having had carpenter fogged, which
was the usual mode of punishment in
those days The matter was investigat
ed, and Paul Jones was fully acquitted.
1t is worthy of remark that the mag
istrate who inquired into that matter
notes that Paul Jones expressed great
sorrow for having had the man fiogged,
although the charge of cruelty was fully
disproved He returned to Scotland once
after this, and although affectionately
received by his own family his friends
and neighbors seem to have treated him
coldly. The smart from this injustice
turned the Indifference he felt for his
native land into hatred, and ever after
he considered himself quite free from
any responsibility for having been born
and having spent the first - years Of
his life in SO inhospitable country.
In his twenty seventh year a great
and fortunate change occurred to him.
His brother William, who had emigrat-
ed to Virginia and died there, left him
an estate. There is no doubt that Paul
Jones was often afterward in want Of
ready money, but it must be remem-
bered that everybody was in want of
ready money in the eighteenth century.
Certain it is, from his papers preserved
at Washington, that be might be consid-
cred at the beginning Of the war a man
of independent fortune
The two years Of his life in Virginia
are obscure, as might be expected from
a man living the life of provincial
country gentleman, which the records
concerning him prove. At the outbreak
of war with the mother country Paul
Jones hastened to Philadelphia, and
through Mr.. Joseph Hewes, a member
of congress from North Carolina, got
his commission is senior first lieutenant
in the infant navy Of the colonies 1t
was then he made the acquaintance Of
Robert Morris, to whom he felt pas
sionate gratitude and affection, and
whom he named as sole executor in his
will, Mr.. Hewes being then dead. -
Miss Molly Elliot Seawell in Century.
Mrs. @. p. Huntington recently got a
new maid. She instructed her about the
arrangement Of her bath. you will
prepare my bath every morning and
every night. she began Mon Dieul'
exclaimed the new maid. two baths
dayl Why, my last lady took one in
week, and the little children only took
one week too Poor little wretchesr'
exclaimed the new mistress. And she
tells the story In the same spirit. but
she does not tell whom her maid lived
with before she got her. The two baths
q day nre supposed co have an effect In
keeping down her flesh. Philadelphia