The National tribune., 1898-03-24

he retained that name until 1773, when he
was about twenty-eight years old.
| 1t is likewise well known that he then
| took the name of John Paul Jones'" and
that he afterwards dropped the john and
| signed himself simply Paul Jones.
There are eXtant six standard biogra-
| phies of him: five in English and one in
| French. There may be others, but have
| seen only SIX all of which / have. In
Vulnerable sketches of his career have
| been published.
| In all but one of them this change of
| name has been treated as a mystery. .
Even Commodore Slidell Mackenzie and
full and accurate of his biographers, say
| that it occurred "foT some unexplained
| reason
The English author of Famous Sea
| Captains says in his Sketch-which, with
characteristic Coclney brutality he en-
| titles Capt. John Paul, alias Paul Jones"
that this change of name at the
ripe age of 80, and after career of II
| years seafaring, which among other defect
| able adventures included two voyages be-
| tween the Guinea coast and Virginia IN
| the slave trade was doubtless dictated by
desire to obliterate his connection with
some affair within the cOgnizance OF Kings
| Bench!'
| So, between ignorance on the one hand
J and malignity on the other, the general
| reader OF history mas DeSU lSlJ III uOUUt
| to the reason why John Paul became
| John Paul Jones" in 1878, and few years
| later, simply Paul Jones-and Paul Jones
| forever!
Yet the problem was never difficult OF
| solution. Among the patriot heroes OF our
| National history was the Honorable Joseph
Hewes. He signed the Declaration of indie
pendence and was member of the Cont
| mental Congress throughout the Revolution
and during the period of Federation. Mr.:
| HeweS and Paul Jones were acquainted
when the latter settled in Virginia in 1873,
and were afterwards the closest of friends
| through life. In Memorial of the Life
and Public Services Of Joseph Hewes,
| published in 1903, occurs an explanation OF
| the change of name from John Paul. to
Paul Jones'" In substance it is as fol-
lows:
John Paul had an elder brother-17 years
his senior-named Robert Paul. At an
early age before John Paul was born,
Robert Paul was "indentured" to VIZ
ginia planter named William Jones, who
was childleSS.
In those days Colonists like William
Jones frequently requested their factors"
in the old country to obtain and send out to
them likely boys duly bound until ma
iority," etc.
Under such circumstances little Robert
Paul became a member OF the family OF
William Jones, of Rappahannock, Va"
Mr.. Jones was at that time (about 1881
planter on the south bank of the Kappa
hammock River not far below the place now
called Port Royal
For those davs he was rich He adopted
little Robert Paul and called him Robert
Paul Jones. In 1850 William Jones died,
leaving his estate to his adopted son with
the prOviso that in case he, Robert Paul
Jones, should die without issue the property
might descend to his nearest male relative
on condition of assuming the patronymIc
of Jones. This was, and still is, common
transaction under English law, which was
then in force in Virginia.
In 1853, when John Paul was about II
years old, he came to Rappahannock,
Va, as apprentice in n trading ship be-
longing To Mr.. James Younger, of White
haven England and then for the first
time saw his elder brother. Old William
Jones was still living, and took fancy to
the youngSter
So. lust before he passed away, in 1850,
William Jones enioined upon his adopted
son and heir, Robert Paul Jones, as his
last will that in case he should die with
out issue, he should in turn bequeath the
plantation to his younger brother, John
Paul. on condition that the latter adopt
the Jones paronymic and become John
Paul Jones.
BECAME A PLANTER.
In 1873 Robert Paul Jones died without
issue. Then Capt. John Paul succeeded
Jones, in conformity to the will of William
Jones.
Thus it appears that what many eminent
biographers have viewed as a mystery is a
quite simple story after all, and the "un-
explained reason" why John Paul be-
came paul Jones" was the easily expli-
cable one that it was the only means by
which he could become the owner of q |
plantation OF some 1000 acres of fertile |
land and some twenty-five or thirty in |
duStrious negro slaves, with other neces- |
Sary livestock and farm appurtenanceS.
To Paul Jones the sole and unencum-
bered possession of such an estate was
lream. He at once resolved to quit the
sea. In a letter to his friend, Mr. Hewes, |
written at this time, he said:
The greatest of my miSfortunes III loss |
IF my dearest friend and brother Robert |
las at the same time brought me the best
If fortuneS-a place where | can rest from
he tolls Of the sea and minple with the
world at will. Alas, that such a boon
hould have been bought at such price |
But, as you know, | am OF the Calvinist
aith and my cardinal doctrine is that |
yhat is must be. DUST at this moment ] |
m interrupted by an elderly slave woman
amed Martha, who keeps the poultry
ouSe, who asks me If / am like Ole
farse William an Young Marse Robert
bout young chickens fried for brcabfus }
BLESS me, my dear Mr.. Hewes, what a
ueStlon that Is to man who has spent
OF his 30 years at sea! Fried chicken
,r breakfast Does that happen every
ay in this country? Have ! found n
aven OF rest where chicken is not held to
e a luxury Of hOlidays?"
Paul Jones was enchanted with his |
lantation. It's possession made him at
nee a Colonial gentleman OF Virginia. It's
lcome made him, in the frugal style of
nat period, n rich man
Just before the Revolutionary war, say
ON 1853 to 1775, was the period when
life in Tidewater Virginia was