Jonas Jones
Encyclopedia
Jonas Jones was a lawyer, judge, farmer and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Augusta Township
, Upper Canada in 1791, the son of Ephraim Jones
. He was educated at John Strachan
's school in Cornwall
and studied law with Levius Peters Sherwood
in Elizabethtown (Brockville
). During the War of 1812
, he enlisted with the Leeds
militia, becoming a captain. He was called to the bar in 1815 and set up a practice in Brockville. In 1816, he was elected to the 7th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Grenville
and held that seat until 1828. Although conservative, he had his own views on the protection of individual rights and the independence of the elected assembly. However, he helped unseat Barnabas Bidwell
in 1821. In 1822, he opposed the union of Upper and Lower Canada
. He supported bills which helped fund the development of the Welland Canal
and he was a member of a committee which recommended further improvements of transportation along the Saint Lawrence River
. He was appointed judge in the Bathurst and Johnstown District courts.
With his brother Charles Jones, who represented Leeds
in the Legislative Assembly
, he operated mills at Furnace Falls (Lyndhurst). He was a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
branch at Brockville and, in 1834, became the president of the Saint Lawrence Inland Marine Assurance Company.
In 1833, he was appointed president of a commission to help improve navigation along the Saint Lawrence which met with American
engineers and, in 1834, work began on a canal at Cornwall
and other projects were planned. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Leeds. He was appointed to the Legislative Council
in 1839, serving as speaker while John Beverley Robinson was on leave. He was appointed to the Court of the King's Bench in 1837.
He died in Toronto in 1848, apparently of some form of seizure or stroke
.
His oldest son David Ford
later became a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Augusta Township
Augusta, Ontario
Augusta is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the Saint Lawrence River in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.-Communities:The township comprises the communities of Algonquin, Bisseltown, Blue Church, Charlieville, Domville, Garretton, Glenmore, Herrons Corners, Lords Mills, Maitland,...
, Upper Canada in 1791, the son of Ephraim Jones
Ephraim Jones
Ephraim Jones was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in Weston, Massachusetts in 1750. His father, Ephraim and five of his brothers served with the British during the American Revolution. He was taken prisoner in the Saratoga Campaign of 1777 and later served with...
. He was educated at John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
's school in Cornwall
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
and studied law with Levius Peters Sherwood
Levius Peters Sherwood
Levius Peters Sherwood was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born at St. Johns in Lower Canada, the son of Justus Sherwood. He studied law and was called to the bar in 1803. In 1804, he was appointed registrar for Grenville, Leeds, and Carleton and customs inspector...
in Elizabethtown (Brockville
Brockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
). During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he enlisted with the Leeds
Leeds County, Ontario
Leeds County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was created in 1792, and merged with Grenville County in 1850 to create Leeds and Grenville County....
militia, becoming a captain. He was called to the bar in 1815 and set up a practice in Brockville. In 1816, he was elected to the 7th Parliament of Upper Canada
7th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 7th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 4 February 1817. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1816. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada at the home of Chief Justice of the Court William Henry Draper...
representing Grenville
Grenville County, Ontario
Grenville County area is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was created in 1792, and named in honour of William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville, Secretary of State in 1790. The First settlers were Loyalist from the United States...
and held that seat until 1828. Although conservative, he had his own views on the protection of individual rights and the independence of the elected assembly. However, he helped unseat Barnabas Bidwell
Barnabas Bidwell
Barnabas Bidwell was a dual Canadian and American politician of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries.Bidwell was born to Adonijah Bidwell and Jemima Devotion in Township No. 1 , and graduated from Yale College in 1785. He later attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island...
in 1821. In 1822, he opposed the union of Upper and Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. He supported bills which helped fund the development of the Welland Canal
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Canada that extends from Port Weller, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, to Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie. As a part of the St...
and he was a member of a committee which recommended further improvements of transportation along the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
. He was appointed judge in the Bathurst and Johnstown District courts.
With his brother Charles Jones, who represented Leeds
Leeds County, Ontario
Leeds County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.The county was created in 1792, and merged with Grenville County in 1850 to create Leeds and Grenville County....
in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
, he operated mills at Furnace Falls (Lyndhurst). He was a director of the Bank of Upper Canada
Bank of Upper Canada
The Bank of Upper Canada was a Canadian bank established in 1821 under a Charter granted by the colony of Upper Canada in 1819. The incorporators were William Allan, Robert C. Horne, John Scarlett, Francis Jackson, William W. Baldwin, Alexander Legge, Thomas Ridout, his son Samuel Ridout, D’Arcy...
branch at Brockville and, in 1834, became the president of the Saint Lawrence Inland Marine Assurance Company.
In 1833, he was appointed president of a commission to help improve navigation along the Saint Lawrence which met with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineers and, in 1834, work began on a canal at Cornwall
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
and other projects were planned. In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
13th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 13th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 November 1836. Elections in Upper Canada had been held 20 June 1836. All sessions were held at Toronto.The House of Assembly had five sessions 8 November 1836 to 10 February 1840....
representing Leeds. He was appointed to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
The Legislative Council of Upper Canada was the upper house governing the province of Upper Canada. Modelled after the British House of Lords, it was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was specified that the council should consist of at least seven members. Members were appointed for...
in 1839, serving as speaker while John Beverley Robinson was on leave. He was appointed to the Court of the King's Bench in 1837.
He died in Toronto in 1848, apparently of some form of seizure or stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
His oldest son David Ford
David Ford Jones
David Ford Jones was an Ontario manufacturer and political figure. He represented Leeds South in the Canadian House of Commons as a Conservative member from 1874 to 1882....
later became a member of the Canadian House of Commons.