Robert Jones

   Cause of his death was Paraplegia 6 months.

  General Notes:

At the time of the 1861 Census he is living in Port Seton & Cockenzie. He is aged 42 and a Mariner. His brother John is living next door, by himself. Living with Robert are his wife, Jane aged 32; children Helen, 12 a scholar, Robert, 10 a scholar, and John, 8 a scholar. Also living here is Robert's nephew John aged 15 a scholar (believed to be his brother John's son) and Helen Dickson, 53 a widow (Jane's mother).

The 1861 Census also records on an otherwise empty page a number of people who were absent from Tranent at the time. Amongst those listed were a John Jones and a Robert Jones with the notation "at the Whale Fishing". It's not clear if this refers to the same John and Robert as above but it seems likely.

By 1871, however, Robert had left Port Seton and was living in Dundee, at 149 Princes Street. His wife and family, including his wife's widowed mother and their grandson William Yule (Helen's son), are recorded at this address in the 1871 census but he is not. As he was a whaler it is very likely that he was at sea.
In 1881 he is again absent from the household, probably for the same reason. Jane is recorded as a "Shipmaster's wife" and she was living at The Grove in Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Their son John, a jute merchant aged 21, was still living with them and so was their grandson, William Yule now aged 13 and a scholar. Young William's mother, Helen Yule, was living nearby at 2 Lower Kenny Place, Broughty Ferry in Dundee so he may simply have been visiting Robert and Jane's household at the time the census was taken. Helen's husband, Charles Yule, was a whaler too, a captain, and eventually the harbour master at Dundee with a long and very distinguished career. He lived to be 100 years old.
At some stage Robert Jones secured a position as a Captain with the Loch Line Steamship Company and it was while serving with them that he distinguished himself as the Captain of the steamship Loch Garry on the Greely Relief Expedition.
This was an expedition undertaken by the US Navy to rescue Lt. Adolphus Greely and his Arctic exploration team who had become stranded in the Arctic. It was an arduous rescue mission but ultimately successful in rescuing Greely and his seriously depleteted party, most of whom had succumbed to the elements while waiting to be rescued.
In October 1884 Captain Jones was home and the deserving recipient of plaudits from his own countrymen:
C O C K E N Z I E

THE GREELY RELIEF EXPEDITION - TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN JONES - A few days ago, Captain R. Jones, of the steamer Loch Garry, Dundee, who is a native of this place, was presented at Dundee with a handsome testimonial in recognition of his services to the Loch Line Steamship Company, and especially for his skilful navigation of the Loch Garry in the Arctic seas in connection with the Greely relief expedition. The meeting took place in the Royal British Hotel, Mr Alexander Mathewson, chairman of the Company, presided. The Chairman, in proposing the toast of the day, said - We are met here to acknowledge services faithfully done. We are here to acknowledge Captain Jones as a man of sterling character and a first rate seaman, a man who does honour to his calling - a calling which has shed so much glory and imparted so much manliness to our country. (Hear, hear.) We specially acknowledge Captain Jones as the oldest commander of the Loch Line - a man who has done his duty so well and so faithfully that in every circumstance, and even in trying emergencies he has always had the confidence and the respect of our managing owners. (Hear, hear.) And last but not least, we acknowledge Captain Jones' excellent services in connection with the Greely expedition. By some it was thought to be a dangerous experiment to send Captain Jones with his little iron vessel away north among the ice. The captain had no fear for himself or his vessel. He is an experienced navigator in the northern seas, and he did his duty well in connection with the Greely expedition, and to the satisfaction, I am sure, of the American Government. We all rejoice that the expedition was in time to save at least the remnant of that noble band. I am satisfied we do honour to ourselves in acknowledging Captain Jones for the manner in which he conducted his part of the Greely expedition, and it gives us great pleasure in feeling that we were associated with the Americans in this undertaking to save the lives of those gallant explorers. (Applause.) I have now to ask Captain Jones to accept of this tangible token of our respect for him - a solid silver salver with a purse of sovereigns. (Applause.) The inscription on the salver is - "Presented to Captain Robert Jones, of the s.s. Loch Garry, by the shareholders of the Dundee Loch Line Steamship Company and other friends, in recognition of his long connection with the Loch Line, and also of his services while in command of the Loch Garry in the Greely Relief Expedtion. Dundee 22d Sept. 1884." Captain Jones, in reply, said - I am entirely taken aback by this handsome and unlooked for testimonial. It is what I never expected, for the simple reason that I consider that I have only done my duty. (Applause.) At all times I have tried to do so, and I hope I shall ever strive to perform my duty. (Applause.) Before sitting down allow me to say how much pleasure I had in acting under Commander Schley, who proved himself an able navigator and amply justified the confidence reposed in him by the United States Government. (Hear, hear.) I have again to thank you for this handsome testimonial. (Applause.) Mr Wells, the American consul, who was present, said he had no doubt the success of the Greely Expedition was due in great measure to Captain Jones' skill as a navigator and to his energy as a seaman. Commander Schley, being aware of his intimate knowledge of that region, consulted him on various occasions and recognised his services in the despatches he sent to our Government. He (Mr Wells) was very glad, being a representative of the Government, to pay his respects to Captain Jones, and may he long live to enjoy the honour which he so justly deserves. (Applause.)

Captain Robert Jones passed away in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, just over two years later on 14 January 1887. The tough old salt had been suffering with paraplegia for six months. He was 68 years of age. His wife, Jane Dickson, passed away at the age of 74 on 13 May 1902 as a result of a heart condition.
The silver plate presented to him at the testimonial is still in the hands of one of his descendants, his great great grandson Robert (Bob) Logan Dickson Jones.
The Greely expedition and Captain Jones' role is featured in a book about the Jones family written by Craig Fullerton. For more information contact Craig at the Home page for this website.

  Medical Notes:

The Informant was John, his son.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Seaman at the time of his marriage on 6 Dec 1846 in Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland.

• He worked as a Seaman at the time of Helen's birth on 16 Sep 1848 in Port Seton, East Lothian, Scotland.

• He worked as a Shipmaster at the time of son John's marriage on 11 Apr 1879 in Cockenzie, East Lothian, Scotland.

• He worked as a Shipmaster according to son Roberts Death Certificate.

• He worked as a Shipmaster at the time of his death on 14 Apr 1887 in West Ferry, Dundee, Angus, Scotland.

Robert married Jane Dickson, daughter of Robert Dickson and Helen Grinton, on 6 Dec 1846 in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. (Jane Dickson was born in 1828 in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland, christened on 5 Oct 1828 in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland and died on 13 May 1902 in 2 Lower Kenny Place, West Ferry, Angus, Scotland.). The cause of her death was Cardiac Disease Syncope.