Abner Jones
Encyclopedia
Abner Jones also known as Elder Abner Jones, was a minister and early church reformer in the United States
.
to a father native to Massachusetts
and a mother native to Rhode Island
. He initially trained in medicine, and settled in Lyndon, Vermont
around 1767. After establishing himself in Lyndon, he married Damaris Prior.
and Boston, Massachusetts, prior to settling in Haverhill, Massachusetts
and preaching in nearby Salem
.
In 1811, he attended worship at the Christian Church in Assonet, Massachusetts
. In his memoirs, it is mentioned that this church had formerly been of the Baptist denomination, but had come in recent years into the Christian Connexion. He continued to preach in New Hampshire and Milan, New York
until 1833. In September, 1833, he accepted the post of minister in the Assonet church. In 1835, his wife, Damaris, died, and was buried in the churchyard. She along with several others would later be moved to the Assonet Burying Ground
when the church reduced the size of its cemetery.
Elder Jones left Assonet in early 1838, moving first to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
and then Upton, Massachusetts
. In 1839, he married Nancy F. Clark (also Clarke) of Nantucket, and in 1840 he removed from Upton to Exeter, New Hampshire
. After his death in 1841, his funeral was conducted by the Rev. Elijah Shaw of Lowell
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
According to Memoir of Elder Abner Jones, which was published in 1842 by his son, A. D. Jones, Abner Jones was born in Royalston, MassachusettsRoyalston, Massachusetts
Royalston is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,258 at the 2010 census.-History:Royalston is a small town in the North Quabbin area of northwestern-central Massachusetts. It was named after Isaac Royal, a landowner. It is very large in land area—about...
to a father native to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and a mother native to Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. He initially trained in medicine, and settled in Lyndon, Vermont
Lyndon, Vermont
Lyndon is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 5,448 at the 2000 census. Lyndon is the home of Lyndon State College. The town contains one incorporated village, Lyndonville and three unincorporated villages: Lyndon, Lyndon Center, and East Lyndon.Lyndon is the...
around 1767. After establishing himself in Lyndon, he married Damaris Prior.
Ministry
Elder Jones had entered the ministry in 1801. He organized several Christian churches in New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Boston, Massachusetts, prior to settling in Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
and preaching in nearby Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
.
In 1811, he attended worship at the Christian Church in Assonet, Massachusetts
Assonet, Massachusetts
Assonet is one of two villages in the town of Freetown, Massachusetts in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. An original part of the town, Assonet was settled in 1659 along with the city of Fall River, then a part of Freetown. It rests on the banks of the Assonet River...
. In his memoirs, it is mentioned that this church had formerly been of the Baptist denomination, but had come in recent years into the Christian Connexion. He continued to preach in New Hampshire and Milan, New York
Milan, New York
Milan is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The Town of Milan is in the northern part of the county.-History:The area that comprises Milan today was the western part of the Little Nine Partners Patent of 1706. Milan was largely a farming and mill town and remains a very rural...
until 1833. In September, 1833, he accepted the post of minister in the Assonet church. In 1835, his wife, Damaris, died, and was buried in the churchyard. She along with several others would later be moved to the Assonet Burying Ground
Assonet Burying Ground
The Assonet Burying Ground is the main public cemetery for Freetown, Massachusetts.Prior to becoming a cemetery, the land occupied by the Assonet Burying Ground was used as a military musterfield for the southeastern Massachusetts area...
when the church reduced the size of its cemetery.
Elder Jones left Assonet in early 1838, moving first to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
and then Upton, Massachusetts
Upton, Massachusetts
Upton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts....
. In 1839, he married Nancy F. Clark (also Clarke) of Nantucket, and in 1840 he removed from Upton to Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
. After his death in 1841, his funeral was conducted by the Rev. Elijah Shaw of Lowell
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
.