One of the most interesting families who lived in the Chatham area was the family of James Monroe Jones. James was the son of Allen and Temperance Jones of North Carolina. Although a slave, Allen saved enough money to purchase his family's freedom at a vast sum of $2,000.00. The price orginally negotiated for his children changed, however, as their value on the action block steadily increased with their growing size. As such, Allen again saved $3,000.00 and this time succeeded in buying his family's freedom including his elderly father, Charles, who had come over on a slave ship in the late 1700's. (1)

Allen accomplished this by working as a blacksmith and gunsmith after slaving all day for his master. He was a great believer in education and wanted the same for his children. Consequently, they left North Carolina in 1843. A covered wagon was their home until they reached and settled in Oberlin, Ohio. There, the sons attended Oberlin College and graduated before the civil war. (2)

James Monroe Jones became a skilled gunsmith and engraver and moved to Chatham, Canada West, in 1849. On November 16, 1854 James married Emily Francis and moved to 105 Head Street (which is now Grand Ave.), living in the same building where he had his business. (3)

He attained the name "Gunsmith Jones" as the result of his excellent craftsmanship in firearms and won first prize for the best assortment of firearms at the Grand Provincial Exhibition in Montreal in 1860. Jones was reputed to be one of the best gunsmiths in this part of Canada and won prizes at fairs and other contests in the area (Insert photo shows some medals won by Jones). Two of his guns can be seen on display at the Hiram Walker Museum in Windsor, Ontario. (4)

"Gunsmith" Jones was proud of his family and was a dedicated member of the Chatham Community. He was a magistrate in Chatham in 1874, (5) spoke several languages, and attended the John Brown Convention. He died at the home of his son, George, in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1905. (6)

James and Emily's family consisted of six children. Their children were: Annie, Emily, Frederica, Sophia, George and James.


Sources:
(1) Copy of Manumission papers, Seek The Truth, G. Robinson
(2) Oberlin Alumni Magazine 57, No. 4, James Monroe Jones papers, April 30, 1872
(3) Provincial Freeman-November 25, 1854
(4) What About Pistols?-Chatham Daily Planet, September 29, 1860
(5) Chatham Directory, Chatham Library
(6) Death Certificate, Washtenaw County, Michigan, November 7, 1905, Record # 38