The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-23
JOHN PAUL JONES.
New Hampshire Testimony of His Get
ting His Last Name From Will
lie Jones'
(New York Times Book Review.)

(New York Times Book Review.)
In 1875 The Baltimore Sun printed
a letter from a correspondent resid-
ing in Buckingham county, Virginia,
containing some interesting statements
connected with the career of the naval
hero of the Revolution. John Paul
Jones, and especially explaining the
addition of the name of Jones to his
original name, John Paul. The COM
munication, which would seem to cor
roborate the claim put forth by the
Rev. Cyrus T. Brady in a recent mag
azine article, reads substantially as
follows:
1t appears that John Paul before
permanently settling in Virginia-to
which State he had been called by the
death of a brother, whose heir he
was-mOved by the restlessness of his
old seafaring life, wandered about the
country, finally straying to North Car
DINA. There he became acquainted
with two brothers, Willie and Allen
Jones' They were both leaders in their
day, and wise and honOred in their
generation. Allen Jones was an orator
and silver tongued, Willie Jones the
foremost man of his State. and one
of the most remarkable of his time,
Educated abroad. a profound and ele
CANT scholar, he was thinker and ac-
lOl TdlHeE tndH SpedheI. ne SeINSu
as Governor in 1875, refusing compen-
sation; was in the Continental Con-
gress of 17S0'81, and in fact filled
every office in the gift of the State.
Willie JoneSs home, The Grove, was
near Halifax, and was not only tAe re-
sort of the cultivated and refined, but
was also the home of the homeless,
Mrs. Jones sometimes having twenty
orphan girls under her charge. II
Ia Il f,ar
John Paul was first touched by those
gentler and purer influences which
changed not only his name but him
self from the rough and reckless man
ner into the polished man of society,
who was the companion of Kings and
the pet of Partisan salons. The love
and reverence awakened in his hither~
to untamed nature by the generous
kindness of the brothers Jones found
expression in his adoption of their
name
The truth of this account is not only
attested by the descendants of Willie
Jones, but by the nephew and repre-
sentative of Paul Jones, Mr.. London,
of Charleston, S. c. This gentleman,
in 1916. was in Washington awaiting
the passage of a bill by Congress
awarding him the land claim of his
distinguished uncle which had been
allowed by the Executive of Virginia
The Hon. f. w. Hubbard, then a mem
Der of Congress from Virginia, had
i'm 1914 prepared a report on Virginia
land claims, in which the committee
Endorsed that of Paul Jones. This nat
urally attracted Mr.. Loudon to him,
and learning that Mrs. Hubbard was
descendant of Willie Jones he re-
peated to both Col. Hubbard and her
self the cause of his uncles change of
name, and added that among his pic
lures hung a portrait of Allen Jones
Mr.. Loudon was cultivated and in
telligent gentleman, but in exceeding
w defeats health, and the suspense
and anxiety of his long waiting on the
action of Congress no doubt fastened
his death, which occurred before he
had received the reward to which the
splendid genius of his uncle had en-
| titled him.
CHARLES F. ADAMS.
Concord N H July g. 1905.