The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-07-21


giving an account that is Of deep in
terest. John Paul added the name
Jones to his own out of gratitude for
kindness shown him by the wealthy
Jones family, Mrs. Robertson says.
This in the account given by her:
1T seems strange that while no
revolutionary biography can boast
more public events of vivid and intense
interest than that of John Paul Jones,
none is so bare and meager in personal
detail. He has immortalized name
which was his only by selection and
adoption, and yet the fact is slurred
over in history with the calm state
ment that he changed his name for
unknown reasons AS the reasons
were not known and, although difficult
to obtain later, were then easily ac-
cessible. it appears to have been more
lack of intelligent investigation than
of any suppression of evidence.
"As matter of historical fact the
Scotch sailor, John Paul, took the name
of Jones from two of the most famous
patriots of the revolution-Allen and
Willie Jones. am the great-great-
granddaughter of Allen Jones and
daughter of Col. Cadwallader Jones,
who died in 1898, aged eighty-six years.
/ have often heard my father speak of
the well-known circumstance OF John
Pauls adopting the name of his
great-grandfather, which he had heard
from his great-aunt, Mrs. Willie
Jones. In a family genealogical his
tory which he wrote occurs the follow
ing:
ADOPTED THE NAME OF HIS
GOOD FRIENDS.
" "A recent sketch of the life of Paul
Jones in the Century has revived the
memory of his gallant achievements
and rekindled public interest in this
famous hero. There is much inquiry
as to his reason for adopting the name
of Jones. 1t is not little remarkable
that such an incident in the life of one
so renowned should so soon be forgot
ten. Let me tell you what i know
about this man and how 1 know it.
The public mind needs to be refreshed.
When John Paul came to Virginia,
some three years before the war of the
revolution. looking after an estate
left him by his brother he visited
Halifax, n. c., at that time a place of
considerable repute. Here he made the
acquaintance of those two grand old
patriots, Allen and Willie Jones. He
was a young man, but an old tar, with
a bold, frank sailor bearing that at
tracted their attention. He became a
frequent visitor to their homes, where
he was always welcome. He soon grew
fond of them and as a mark of esteem
and admiration he adopted their name
Why John Paul became John Paul
Jones-it was his fancy?' 7
The two brothers, Willie and Allen
Jones, We're both leaders in their day
and wise and honored in their genera
ton. Allen Jones was an orator and
most man of his state, and one of the
most remarkable of his time. His
home, The Grove near Halifax. was
not only the resort of the cultivated
and refined, but the home of the home
less, Mrs. Jones having sometimes
twenty orphan girls under her charge.
1t was here that the young adventurer,
John Paul, was first touched by those
gentler and purer influences which
changed not only his name, hut him
self, from the rough and reckless mari
ner into the polished man of society.
the companion of kings and the lion
and pet of Partisan salons. John Paul
was thrown more with Mr.. and Mrs
Willie Jones' / think, than with Allen,
as he was more at The Grove the
| residence of Willie Jones, than at
Mount Gallant the residence of Allen
Jones, though he was at both places
great deal.
STATEMENT CORROBORATED.
These statements, which ] heard
| by the history of North Carolina.
Wheeler, in his "reminiscences of North
Carolina, says: The daring and cele-
brated John Paul Jones, whose real
name was John Paul, when quite young
visited Willie Jones at Halifax, and
became so fascinated with him and
his charming wife that he adopted
their family name. Under this name,
John Paul Jones, he offered his SER
vices to Congress, and was made a
lieutenant, December IL, 1875, on the
recommendation of Willie Jones. The
commission was obtained by Joseph
Hewes. one of the signers of the Dec
laration. through letters from Willie
and Allen Jones, who were intimate
friends of his and who had both been
in the first Congress, In the Second
Congress Hewes was the head of the
committee in charge of naval affairs
and was virtually the first Secretary
of the Navy. I have an exact fac
simile of his commission The cores
pondent of the Charlotte Observer for
November, 1899. says:
1.-THE announcement that the re-
mains of that distinguished naval hero.