Reverend Thomas Jones

The gravestone of Rev. Thomas Jones

Rev. Jones was born in Dorchester, MA on April 20, 1721, the son of Ebenezer and Waitstill (Davenport) Jones.

He went to Harvard College and graduated in 1741. Rev. Jones was installed as the Minister of the Second Parish of Woburn in 1751. Very shortly after, a dozen people left his church to become members of the Church of England. It is said that while his sermons were not very exciting he was a practical and faithful minister to his parishioners much like his predecessor, the Rev. Mr. Supply Clap.

On September 5, 1751 Rev. Jones married Abigail Wiswall of Dorchester in Dorchester. She brought with her an enslaved child named Cuff Trott, who would live with her his entire life, even after gaining his freedom.

The Jones' had three children, all girls: Lucy in 1753 and twins Martha and Mary in 1758. Lucy married Rev. Joseph Lee and moved to Roylston, MA. Martha married Rev. John Marrit (who would succeed her father as Minister). Mary married a man named Edward Walker.

Rev. Jones died of an apoplectic fit (a stroke) on March 13, 1774 in the middle of giving his Sunday sermon.

The gravestone of Mrs. Abigail Jones

Mrs. Jones aided John Hancock and Samuel Adams after they fled from Lexington on the morning of April 19, 1775. Her husband had been good friends with Rev. Jonas Clark, the minister in Lexington, and her house was only about 4 miles from the Lexington Green. She prepared a meal for them, but unfortunately they didn't stay at her home long enough to enjoy it, as they were warned of soldiers on the march that may be looking for them. They eft with the help of the current minister, Rev. Wyman, and returned the following day after the soldiers had left to thank Mrs. Jones for her hospitality. She died in 1814 at the age of 92.

Reverend and Mrs. Jones are buried in the Second Parish Burial Ground in Burlington, MA, which was at the time part of Woburn.

Memento mori

He lies interred

the Remains of the

REV. THOMAS JONES,

late Pastor of ye second Church of

Christ in Woburn who having with

great diligence, integrity, prudence, fi-

delity & meekness of Wisdom served God

& his Generation in ye sacred Office in

this place was suddenly called off from

his Labours on LORD'S day, March 13, 1774

In ye 52d year of his Age & 23d of his Ministry

Integer Vitae scelerisque purus

Being dead He yet speaketh Heb. XI. 4.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto

me, Write, Blessed are ye dead which die in

the Lord, from henceforth Rev XV. 13.

Watch for ye know not when ye Master of

the house cometh what I say unto you I

say unto all Watch Mar. XIII 35 37

The sweet Remembrance of the Just

shall flourish when He sleeps in Dust.