Hampton City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Jones, Capt. John Pembroke 1910
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Guy Potts http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00017.html#0004214 February 26, 2008, 7:16 pm

Charlotte Daily Observer [NC]
26 May 1910

Capt. J.P. Jones Dead - Oldest Graduate of Naval Academy Dies in California - 
Noted Figure in Old Navy - Formerly a Citizen of Wilmington and Well Known 
Throughout State - Served in Mexican War.

Pasadena, Cal., May 25 - Captain John Pembroke Jones, the oldest graduate of 
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1825 and a veteran of the 
Mexican and civil wars, died at his home today. He participated in the siege 
of Buena Vista and was midshipman. At the outbreak of the civil war he joined 
the Confederacy.

Commanded the Merrimac

In the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac, Jones was executive 
officer of the Merrimac.

Captain Jones was married three times. His first wife was Miss Jane Vance 
London of North Carolina. She died soon after the birth of Pembroke Jones, now 
of New York.

The second wife was Miss Mary Willis of Savannah, Ga., who died soon after the 
birth of a son, Edward Jones Willis of Richmond, Va. He took the name of his 
maternal grandfather at the request of the grandparents.

The third wife is Miss Georgia Newton of Norfolk, who survives.

Three sisters live in Warwick County, Virginia and a brother, Colonel Thomas 
M. Jones, is in Prescott, Ariz.

Well Known in Wilmington

Wilmington, May 24 - Captain J. Pembroke Jones, an old and honored citizen of 
Wilmington, who died this morning at Pasadena, Cal., affectionately known in 
the old navy as Paul Jones, was born at Hampton, Va., the old family seat in 
the year 1826.

He was the oldest survivor of the graduate officers of the United States navy, 
which he joined at an early age, having subsequent to his first training at 
sea, finished his education at Annapolis about 1845. He served also at the 
academy as an instructor. 

Many Credible Feats

In 1851 Captain Jones was third in command of the United States surveying 
schooner Gallatin. In 1853 his zeal and perseverance while in command of the 
United States sailing vessel Crawford, upon obtaining with Maffitt and Craven, 
one of the most interesting hydrographic results ever accomplished in the 
service was especially complimented by Superintendent Bache in his dispatches. 
At the outbreak of the war between the States, he was on naval service on the 
west coast of Africa, and having been sent home with official dispatches, he 
and many others of his distinguished compatriots, composing in part the flower 
of the old navy, relinquished the certainty of promotion to the rank of 
admiral (to which some of those whom they had outranked succeeded), in order 
that they night serve their native State in any capacity to which they were 
called.

His Victory at Cape Fear

Captain Jones subsequently commanded the Confederate iron-clad ram "Raleigh" 
with which he attacked and put to flight the whole blockading squadron off 
Cape Fear in 1864.

He served under Commander Tatnall in the defense of Savannah and was later 
placed in command of the iron-clad battery "Georgia." At the close of 
hostilities he accepted a flattering offer of the Argentine Republic to 
undertake important torpedo work which he performed with credit to himself and 
the profession which he represented. He retired to private life in Virginia 
and afterward removed to California where he passed the remainder of his days.

Son Receives News at Airlie

Wilmington, May 25 - Mr. Pembroke Jones of New York, who with his family, are 
at Airlie, their country home, received a message this morning from Pasadena, 
California, announcing the death of his father, Captain John Pembroke Jones, 
who had been in California for his health. He was 86 years of age and for the 
past few years had been the oldest living graduate of Annapolis. His home was 
near Hampton, Virginia, and the remains will be brought there later for 
interment.

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