James H. Jones (1819 - 1893)
Born enslaved in Virginia, James Jones was reportedly purchased by Johns Hopkins. He was freed before 1858.
Part II: From Servant to Freeholder
Posted: September 14, 2021
Last updated: November 6, 2022
Relationship to Johns Hopkins: Coachman and Servant
What happened to James Jones after Johns Hopkins died in 1873?
As I discussed in post #14, James Jones came to Baltimore from Virginia in the mid-1800s to work as a servant, coachman, and waiter for Johns Hopkins. This post discusses James Jones' life after the death of Hopkins in 1873. In that year, Jones assumed ownership of a house on French Street provided to him by Johns Hopkins, and he was also given $5,000 in Hopkins' will.
Johns Hopkins bought the lot and house on French (later called Front street) in 1849. When Jones started living there is unknown, but it may have coincided with his marriage to Elizabeth. Their first child, Mary, was born on July 27th, 1858, suggesting that they married before 1858. Between 1868 and 1875, Jones’ address is recorded in city directories as either “49 Front of Foundary” or “222 N. Front Street.” The 1870 census records the Jones Family living in Ward 8.
James and Elizabeth sold the house on French/Front Street in July 1874 for $3,772, shortly after Hopkins died, and moved to Pearl Street.
From census records, we know that he married a woman named Elizabeth and that she had six children, three living to adulthood - Mary, William, and John. James died in 1893. His memorial stone was originally placed in Laurel Cemetery in Baltimore, adjacent to Clifton Park, where he lived and worked for so many years. Sometime during the 1950s the stone was relocated to Carroll County, Maryland, where it lies in ruins in an abandoned cemetery.
1870 Census for James H. Jones (age 49), his wife Elizabeth (age 39), and his children Mary J. (age 11), William H. ( age 10), and Johnsey (age 4). "Johnsey" was also the childhood nickname of Johns Hopkins. James Jones was born in Virginia while his wife and children were born in Maryland. James and Elizabeth could neither read nor write. William may have been named after James Jones' master in Virginia, William Henry Tayloe.
1880 Census for James H. Jones (age 60), his wife Elizabeth (age 50), and his children Mary J. (age 21), William H. ( age 20), and John H. (age 14). By 1880 James and Elizabeth Jones had also adopted a boy named Joseph More. More (or Moore) is one of the slave surnames associated with the Tayloe plantations in Virginia. We also learn from this census document that James was employed as a waiter, his daughter as a dress maker, and his son William as a clerk. Meanwhile, Elizabeth kept house and John was in school.
This notice in the Baltimore Sun on May 26, 1896, indicates that an estate inventory was filed in the Baltimore Orphans' Court for James H. Jones. The Mary Jones named in the notice is not James' daughter Mary J. Jones, who died in 1881 (see below).
1900 Census for Millie Rodman (head of household), Millie's mother Mary E. Taylor, and her sister Hattie (Rodman) Jones. Hattie is married to John H. Jones. They have been married for 13 years and have one son, James A. Jones. Hattie has no occupation but John works as a photographer. Elizabeth ("dress maker") and William H. Jones ("day laborer") are living in the same residence but are described as "boarders." As expected, James and Mary do not appear, and Elizabeth is labeled a widow.
1940 Census for James Alvin Jones, James Jones' grandson, and his family in Baltimore, Ward 15. James is married to Clara Baptiste Jones and they have two sons, Jerome Baptiste Jones and James Alvin Jones, Jr. A woman named Clementine is listed as a daughter-in-law.
1950 Census for James Alvin Jones in Baltimore, Ward 15. James remains married to Clara Baptiste Jones, and his son Jerome Baptiste Jones is living with him as a bachelor.
Hannah F. and James B., children of James H. Jones
Two of James Jones' children died very young. Hannah Jones may have been named after Johns Hopkins' sister.
James H. Jones and wife Elizabeth A. Jones
Memorial stone from Laurel Cemetery in Baltimore. It is now located in Sykesville, Maryland.
Mary J. Jones, daughter of James H. Jones
James Jones' daughter Mary J. Jones was born in 1858 and died in 1881.