Allen Jones (December 24, 1739 – November 10, 1798) was an American
planter,
American Revolution
The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
brigadier general of the
Halifax District Brigade, and statesman from
Edgecombe County, North Carolina.
Early life
Allen Jones was born in
Edgecombe County, North Carolina (later
Halifax County), in the
Province of North Carolina. He attended
Eton College
Eton College ( ) is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school providing boarding school, boarding education for boys aged 13–18, in the small town of Eton, Berkshire, Eton, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It has educated Prime Mini ...
in England.
Profession
After returning to the colony, he was a member of the
Province of North Carolina House of Burgesses between 1773 and 1775 and delegate to the five
North Carolina Provincial Congresses (1774–1776), serving as vice-president in the Fourth Provincial Congress.
Jones served in the military throughout the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
(1775–83).
*Colonel over the
Northampton County Regiment of Militia (1775–1776)
*Brigadier General over the
Halifax District Brigade of North Carolina militia (1776–1783)
He also served in the
State senate 1777 to 1779, 1783, 1784, and 1787; and as a Member of the
Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780. Jones was a delegate at the state convention that rejected the proposed
Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States is the Supremacy Clause, supreme law of the United States, United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. Originally includi ...
at
Halifax, in 1788.
He was the older brother of Congressman
Willie (pronounced Wylie) Jones, a leader in neighboring
Halifax County. Together they were the source of the Jones surname adopted by the
Scottish American naval hero during the Revolutionary War,
John Paul Jones — whose birth-surname was Paul. Allen Jones was also the father-in-law of
North Carolina Governor and
Constitutional Convention delegate
William Richardson Davie.
Death
Allen Jones died on his plantation, ''Mount Gallant'', near
Roanoke Rapids, Northampton County, North Carolina, on November 10, 1798. Interment was in the private burial ground on his estate.
References
External links
Biographic sketch at U.S. Congress website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Allen
1739 births
1798 deaths
Continental Congressmen from North Carolina
People educated at Eton College
North Carolina militiamen in the American Revolution
Militia generals in the American Revolution
Members of the North Carolina Provincial Congresses
Members of the North Carolina House of Burgesses