Major Thomas Jones
| Major Thomas Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1665 Ireland |
| Died | 1713 Long Island, Province of New York |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Known for | Early settler of American colonies |
| Spouse(s) | Freelove Townsend |
| Parent(s) | (unknown) |
Major Thomas Jones (ca. 1665 – 13 December 1713) emigrated to Rhode Island from Strabane, in Ireland. There he married Freelove Townsend, daughter of Captain Thomas Townsend, and would go on to serve as a privateer, and later be an influential figure on Long Island.
Thomas Jones was born about 1665. He fought in the Battle of the Boyne, Aghrim, and at the capitulation of Limerick, serving under William III of England and under James II of Ireland. For this service he attained the rank of Major.
Major Thomas Jones emigrated to America where he met and married Freelove Townsend, daughter of Captain Thomas Townsend, while in Warwick, Rhode Island. After that he was outfitted as a privateer and absent for three years, during which time he made many captures. His father-in-law Captain Thomas Townsend moved to Oyster Bay with his daughter Freelove.
Freelove Townsend was a woman of great intelligence and ability. Following Major Thomas Jones death, management of his estates was given over to her, as well as the education of their children. She was baptized in 1702 by the famous George Keith and the Rev. John Thomas, who were sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
In 1688 Captain Thomas Townsend had bought of the Massapequa Indians a piece of land at South Oyster Bay, after which he gave it in 1695 "unto Thomas Jones of Oyster Bay, my son-in-law, and to Freelove his wife, my daughter." In 1696 Major Thomas Jones built the first house of bricks so far east on Long Island.
Thomas Jones was admitted an associate freeholder under the original patent of Oyster Bay, granted by Governor Andros, September 29, 1677. Lord Cornbury, the Governor of New York, commissioned him to be Captain of Militia in Queens County, October 20, 1702. Two years later, on October 14, 1704, he was appointed High Sheriff of Queens, and on April 3, 1706, was made Major of the Queens County Regiment. Governor Hunter appointed Jones the "Ranger General of the Island of Nassau", the legal name then referring to Long Island. This commission started September 4, 1710, made him an officer of the Crown, with "Royal rights" or franchises of waifs, estrays, hunting, royal fish, treasure trove, mines, deodands, forfeitures, and the like.
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