John Jones

  General Notes:

At the time of the 1861 Census he was living with his uncle Robert's family in Port Seton & Cockenzie. He was a scholar aged 15. His widowed father was living right next door.

John and Margaret and their family emigrated to South Australia in 1877 on the Loch Fyne. His uncle (his mother's brother) George Johnstone was the famous riverboat Captain who opened up the Murray River with Francis Cadell from Goolwa. John accompanied his uncle George on the Queen of the South, the famous steamboat brought out from Scotland to ply the Murray River.

His wife's obituary, printed in an old (unidentified) newspaper provides some additional information about John:

"Margaret Jones, 92, one of the oldest known identities of Murray Bridge, died at her home, Second St, on July 29. She had been ill only 2 weeks. She was born at Cockenzie (Scotland) and in 1866 was married to the late Mr John Jones, who as a pioneer of river trading and a prominent figure at Goolwa, Morgan and Murray Bridge, is well remembered. Following her husband, Mrs Jones came to Australia in 1877 in the boat Loch Fine [should be Fyne I think], with six young children in her care. Mr Jones was agent for the river trading firm Messrs George Ferguson and A H Landseer at Goolwa, Morgan and Murray Bridge, and his wife remained at the last named town after his death. She was a member of the presbyterian church. Her surviving daughters are Miss M Jones, Mesd J. Cowan (she was married to Sir John Cowan) D McTavish (Murray Bridge) E Joyce (Jervois) F Kleeman and G Bartholomaeus(Qld) Mr J Jones (Perth) is the only son."

Another newspaper said John was the only son of Captain J Jones of Dundee (Scotland) arrived South Australia 1877. He left 9 children and 5 great grandchildren when he died.

With thanks to Leonie Boyce for this information

He is buried with his wife in Plot 267, East Main Path in the Murray Bridge Cemetery. Two of their daughters are also buried there, Irene and Marion. He has an impressive Monument, the plot is surrounded by a chain with small anchors as pillars, and an upright anchor sitting in rocks adorns the top of the tall plinth. The Inscription reads (the final verse is from Shakespeare - Julius Caesar):

JOHN JONES
Born Sept 2nd 1845
Died Jany. 26th 1903
Erected to his Loving Memory
By his Wife Margaret.

His Life was gentle and the
Elements so mixed in him
That nature might stand up
And say to all the world
This was a Man.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He resided at the time of his marriage on 31 Jan 1868 in 2 Hermiston Buildings, Edinburgh, , Midlothian, Scotland.

• He had a residence on 31 Aug 1898 in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia.

• He worked as a Law Clerk at the time of his marriage from 1868 to 1869 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

• He worked as an Accountants Clerk on 28 Apr 1868 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

• He worked as an Accountants Clerk on 14 Mar 1871 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.

• He worked as a Clerk at the time of Charles' birth on 25 Sep 1872 in Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland.

• He worked as a Chartered Accountants Clerk at the time of Jane's birth on 3 May 1874.

• He worked as a Chartered Accountants Clerk at the time of Agnes' birth on 8 Dec 1877 in Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland.

John married Margaret Harkess, daughter of John Herkess and Marion Blackie, on 31 Jan 1868 in 3 St John's St, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. (Margaret Harkess was born on 8 Jun 1845 in Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland, christened in Jul 1845 in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland, died on 29 Jul 1937 in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia and was buried on 30 Jul 1937 in Murray Bridge Cemetery, Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia.)