Roger Jones, 8 Nov 1823 - 2 Feb 1896

JONES

Posted By: debra (email)
Date: 11/28/2010 at 14:26:20

Obituary

Roger Jones was born in Ruthin, North Wales, on Nov.8, 1823, and received his early education in the free schools of his native place.

After serving an apprenticeship to a wheelwright, he went to Manchester, England, where he was employed in finishing passenger coaches; and the coach exhibited at the first international exhibition at London was of his handiwork. He was married on Christmas day, 1845, and five years later removed to New York City, where for several years he was employed in the construction of large buildings. In Nov. 1863 he came with his family to Williamsburg and purchased the plot of ground on which the family has ever since resided.

At the age of seventeen he united with the church by profession of his faith in Christ, being at that time the only one of his family to take this important step. So far as opportunity permitted ,he was always a great student of the Bible and of biblical literature, and was in this, as in all things, very positive in his convictions. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ability, of more than ordinary wit, and of more than ordinary courage and strength of character. He was never afraid to stand up for what he believed to be right, and he didn't wait to see how the wind of popular opinion was veering before he took a stand. Plain, fearless, outspoken, perhaps even somewhat brusque in his manner, no one was ever in any doubt as to his position on all moral questions. He had little patience with shams and empty forms, but always had a sincere appreciation of whatsoever things were true and honest and just and pure.

To say that he had his faults is only to say that he was human--for who was ever free from them? But his faults, such as they were, belonged only to the surface, while his virtues were fundamental to his character. He lived and died a sincere and earnest christian man, and we believed that he "was gathered unto his fathers, having the testimony of a good conscience--the confidence of a certain faith and the comfort of a reasonable, religious and holy hope."

There was a very large attendance of sympathizing friends and neighbors at the funeral service, which was held at the family residence and was conducted by Rev. T.C. McFarland of the Presbyterian church and Rev. Abram Jones of the Congregational church.

Thus one by one the pioneers of Williamsburg are going, and it will not be long until all of them have crossed over the dark river.

"As for man his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he florisheth. For the wind passeth over it and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know of it no more."

Posted to www.iagenweb.org on 11-28-10
Williamsburg Journal, 2-7-1896 [pg 4, cl 4]