The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-05-18
John Paul and the JOneSes.

Richmond Times-Dispatch.
We have received, through the
courtesy of Colonel William H. S.
Burgwvn, of Weldon, n. c., a copy OF
"The North Carolina Booklet con-
tanning an article by him, in which
statements are made concerning j Ohm
Paul Jones, which are at variance
with other statements recently made
by correspondents Of the Times-Dis-
patch.
"The Groves,' now Il dilapidated
mansion in the suburbs of the town
OF Halifax, \. c., was once the proud
home of Willie Jones, a distinguished
citizen of the Old North State in the
early days OF the republic. 1t is said
OF him that he was to North Caro-
lima what Thomas Jefferson was to
Virginia. and he and Mr.. Jefferson
were we'll acquainted. Mr.. Jones was
the leader of the ma jorityin the Con-
stitutional Convention which met i'll
Hillsborough July p, 1888, for the
purpose OF deliberating and determ-
| ming on the proposed plan OF FEEDER
al government" There is a tradition,
says Colonel Burgwyn, that before
the convention met Mr.. Jefferson
wrote an autograph letter to Mr..
Jones, requesting him to use his in
fiuence to prevent the ratification by
| North Carolina of the Federal Con-
stitutiOn. AS the story goes, MIR.
Jones read the letter privately to
every member OF the convention
known to be disciple of Mr.. Jeffer-
son, and converted from opposition
to ratification Others who were i'll
| doubt, so that the convention voted
against ratification by an OverWhelm-
ing majority. Colonel Burgwyn furth-
er declares that from that time Willie
Jones was the most popular polltlca
| leader in the State, and that by this
act his friendship for and with the
great Jefferson was strengthened. In
after years the families were united
by the marriage of Mr.. Jones daugh
ter, Martha, to Judge John W. Eppes
of Buckingham county, whose first
wife had been Thomas Jefferson
daughter.
With this introduction, we come tC
the point in the story, and present il
in Colonel Burgwyn' s exact language
He says:
a narrative of this family and thei
home would not be ecomplete without tn
statement that it was here the young
Scotchman. John Paul, found home IL
his wanderings, and from grateful recog
milton of kindness shown him adopted
the name he afterwards made so amOus
Winston Churchill, in his book, Rich
ard Carvel, as Others have done, claim
that John Paul Jones got his name from
Virginia planter Mr.. Cyrus T. Brady
in his biography OF his favorite herOe
contained in his Great COmmand Series
SAYS that he adopted the name in affec
tionate regard for the Hon. Willie Jone
and his beautiful and charming wife VIII
had both been very kind to him in hi
} days of obscurity.
He adds that it was Willie Jones on
of the leading attorneys and politician
in his native State. who afterwards sc
cured for Paul a command in the Unite
States navy. He likewise surmises that
as the Jones family were the first peopl
of refinement and education with whol
young Paul ever associated, it was t
them that were primarily due the polls
and cultivation which later admitted tn
J gardeners son to the highest circles i
American and French society. The in
preston made upon young John Paul b
the privilege of association with thes
friends. who had raised him from
tramp to a welcome guest for an indet
mite time. was of the deepest, and he gay
: to them, especially to Mrs. Jones, a war;
hearted affection and devotion amOun
iDp to yeneratiOn'