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John Winston Jones
Member From: 1846 - 1847
- Birth Date: November 22, 1791 Birth Place:"Dellwood", Amelia County, Virginia
- Death Date: January 29, 1848
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Harriett Boisseau (approx 1815)
- Children: Alexander Jones
Mary Winston - Religion:
- Education: College of William & Mary (1813)
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession: Lawyer, admitted to the bar on October 10, 1814
- Additional Info: His daughter, Mary Winston, married George W.B. Towns, who served as Governor of Georgia, 1847-1851
His son, Alexander Jones, succeeded him in the House of Delegates.
In 1846, Jones served as counsel for Thomas Ritchie, Jr. in the trial after the famous duel in which John Hampden Pleasants, Jr. was killed, resulting in the acquittal of Ritchie on grounds of self-defense.
Speaker of the House, January 4-December 6, 1847 He was reelected a member of the House from Chesterfield County for the sesssion beginning December 6, 1847 but due to ill health did not take his seat and tendered his resignation on December 17,1847.
- Bio: Born in Amelia County, Va., November 22, 1791. Died at his residence, “Dellwood”, Chesterfield County, Va., January 29, 1848. Buried at “Dellwood”, Petersburg, Va. John W. Jones of Chesterfield County was the son of Alexander and Mary Ann (Winston) Jones of Amelia County. He attended private schools and studied law at the College of William and Mary in 1813. On October 10, 1814, he qualified as attorney at law, and commenced the practice of law in Chesterfield County. In 1817, he served as attorney for the Commonwealth in Amelia and Powhatan, and in 1818 in Dinwiddie and Nottoway Counties, in the Fifth Circuit by appointment of judge Peter Randolph, Jr. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1829-30, and of the U. S. House of Representatives, March 4, 1835 to March 3, 1845. He was Speaker of the Twenty-eighth Congress. He declined to be a candidate for reelection to the Congress and resumed the practice of law, also engaging in agricultural pursuits. In 1846, he was counsel for Thomas Ritchie, Jr., in the trial after the famous duel in which John Hampden Pleasants was killed, resulting in the acquittal of Ritchie on grounds of self-defense. He was a member of the House of Delegates in 1846-47, and Speaker pro tempore for four days preceding his election as Speaker on January 4, 1847. He was reelected a member of the House from Chesterfield County for the session beginning December 6, 1847. On account of ill health, he did not take his seat and tendered his resignation on December 17, 1847. At the same session he was succeeded by his son, Alexander Jones. He married, about 1815, Harriett Boisseau, daughter of Daniel and Priscilla (Hill) Boisseau of Chesterfield County. Their daughter, Mary Winston, married George W. B. Towns, Governor of Georgia, 1847-51.
- Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
U.S. House of Representatives, (March 4, 1835 - March 3, 1845)
Commonwealth Attorney for Amelia and Powhatan, 1817
Commonwealth Attorney for Dinwiddie and Nottoway, 1818
Delegate to Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830
Served as Speaker pro tempore for four days prior to his election as Speaker
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (1843-1844)
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1846-1847 | Chesterfield | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Finance (Chair) Privileges and Elections |
|
| 1847-1848 | Chesterfield | Courts of Justice |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.