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The union of the two families was mutually advantageous by combining their shipping interests. The Jones’s house in Kings Head Street still exists, and Sara’s home across the way is now a local hostelry, the Alma.
After his marriage Chrisptopher Junior was well placed to develop his seagoing career and his commitments as a citizen of Harwich. From town records stored at the guildhall in Church Street, we discover that in 1601 he was one of 77 men who took the oath and was elected freeman of the Borough of Harwich. His name is listed as one of the 24 capital burgesses on the Great Charter granted to the Borough by James I in 1604. Civic accounts record his acting as an assessor for tax on land and property, and even as a jury member when his father-in-law was reprimanded for failing to repair steps to the Quay adjacent to his house. But Jones also had his own clashes with the law. He was accused (in 1605) with George Colman for keeping hunting dogs (greyhounds), a pursuit open only to those gentlemen whose land was valued at more than 40 shillings per annum. Clearly Jones was prospering but not yet sufficiently advanced to be classed as a gentleman.
Within a year of the wedding, the union was blessed with the birth of a son, named Thomas after Sara’s father. But sadly their joy was short lived since the Church Burial Register records the death of the infant on April 17th 1596. Sara had no more children and, alas, she died aged 27, and was buried at Harwich on 23 May, 1603.
Christopher did not remain a widower for long. His second wedding took place at St. Nicholas’ within a few months. This time his bride was herself a widow with seafaring relatives. Her late husband had been a noted mariner with connections to the Captains of the Armada fleet and treasure hunting in the the Indies. Josian Gray, aged 21, probably brought a substantial marriage portion. She had inherited her late husband’s house in Church Street, Harwich, together with other land and property. Their marriage produced eight children of whom Christopher Thomas (1607), Josian (1609) and John (1621) were born in Harwich and the younger offspring - Roger (1611), Christopher (1614), Joane (1615) and Grace (1619) were born in Rotherhithe, for it was there that the Jones family moved in 1611.
Christopher Jones’ career at sea continued to prosper during the course of his second marriage. He was engaged in building ships (one named Josian after his wife), as well as trading between England and Europe. Records show voyages to Norway, Bordeaux and Rochelle particularly in cloth (outward) and wine (inward).
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The connection with the Mayflower as her Master and part owner probably dates from 1609. Confirmation beyond doubt is assured from an Admiralty document dated January 1611, when Jones was involved in a salvage claim. Here he is identified as Christopher Jones of Harwich, Master of the Mayflower of the same place. This unequivocal coupling of Jones and the Mayflower with Harwich gives the town its special place in this particular history. Although Jones had moved to Rotherhithe in that same year, he was clearly identified as a citizen of Harwich, and his ship Mayflower would become famous for its transatlantic expedition bearing the Pilgrim Fathers.
Thus by family, by marriage, by civic duties and his early sailing career as a ship owner and master, Christopher Jones is firmly associated with Harwich, probably but not certainly the place of his birth because the Baptismal Register is blank between April 1565 and June 1571. •
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