Ruben Jones (abt. 1859 - 1914)

Born about 10 Apr 1859 in Old Boorooma Station via Walgett, New South Wales, Australia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Son of Charles Jones and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Hornery

Husband of Catherine (Riley) Jones — married 31 Oct 1885 (to 16 Jun 1909) in Presbyterian Church, Moree, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Mary Elizabeth Doyle — married 19 Jul 1909 (to 1910) in Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Selina (Riley) Jones — married 18 Jul 1911 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 17 Feb 1914 at about age 54 in Scott Memorial Hospital, Scone, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alan Walter Livet [send private message]

Biography

Ruben Jones (1859-1914) was the fifth of eight children, and the fourth of six sons, to Charles Jones (abt.1814-1878) and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Hornery (1820-1875). The precise date and place of his birth are uncertain.

When his mother died in 1875 Ruben was about 16 years old. Around six months later his father remarried and his stepmother was Sarah (Riley) Wilkinson (abt.1854-1919).

Ruben's father died in 1878 when he was almost 29 years old.

It is tempting to regard Ruben as having been 'unlucky in love'. The history of his documented relations perhaps supports this view.

On 31 October 1885, Ruben married his first cousin Catherine (Riley) Jones (1853-1917) in the Presbyterian Church at Moree.^[1] While this was Ruben's first marriage it was Catherine's second, although she had no surviving children from her prior relationship. Their only child was Reuben Vincent Jones (1888-1894) whose birth was registered at Manilla but who died at or near Tamworth around six years later. They apparently remained together until August 1905.

In 1908 Ruben petitioned for his marriage to Catherine on the basis that she had not properly divorced her first husband.^[2] A decree nisi was issued and made absolute in June 1909.^[3] This matter culminated in the reporting of a 'Peculiar Matrimonial Case' before the Chief Justice of Queensland in which Catherine then sought to properly complete the divorce from her first husband.^[4] His Honour granted the request but observed that by doing so he had effectively now negated the grounds upon which the NSW Court had made its previous judgement to annul her marriage to Ruben. In the course of these proceedings Catherine mentioned that around 1905, "...accusations against his [Ruben's] morality were made by a young servant girl", and that in the course of an argument about the matter he beat her unconscious.^[5] It is impossible to judge the extent to which these allegations were completely true or perhaps exageerated or manufactured by her in order to sway the court.

Some time before his court petition in 1908, Ruben had already come together with Mary Elizabeth Doyle (abt.1874-abt.1939). In fact, Mary had given birth to their son Charles Reuben Jones (1908-1994) earlier that year. The month after the anulment, Ruben married Mary.^[6]

Once again, Ruben's relationship was not to last. Within months Mary was charged with bigamy,^[7][8] She ultimately plead guilty^[9][10] although apparently absconded before being sentenced.^[11]

Finally, in 1911, Ruben married widow Selina (Riley) Jones (1860-1917) at Rockhampton in Queensland.^[12] Ruben would have been around 52 and his bride 51. Her husband, German immigrantJohann Charles Ferdinand Tilse (1849-1904), had died at Mackay in 1904.

Interestingly, Ruben's marriage was the fourth of his family into Selina's family. Selina was a younger sister of his stepmother (Sarah (Riley) Wilkinson (abt.1854-1919)), and the wives of his older brothers (Elizabeth (Riley) Jones (1852-1919) wife of Charles Jones (1850-1922), and Ruth (Royle) Jones (1858-1921) wife of James Jones (1855-1938)).

Not quite three years later, Ruben died at Scone.^[13] It is not clear whether he and Selina were still together at that time. As reported in The Scone Advocate.^[14]

Obituary— Just as we go to press, we learn that Mr. Reuben Jones, of Kingdon-street, died this afternoon, about half-past 4. The deceased, who was 52 years of age, had for some months been a great sufferer from an internal complaint, and bore his suffering with courage. The funeral takes place to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o'clock.

He was buried at Scone:^[15][16]

The remains of the late Mr. Reuben, Jones, of this town, and whose death was referred to in last issue, were interred in the Church of England Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon last. The remains were followed to their last resting-place by a number of relatives and sympathisers; the last rites of the Church being conducted by the Rev. F. Cadel. The deceased was 56 years of age, and for some, months had been a great sufferer from an internal trouble, for which he underwent an operation some time previously in Sydney, at the hands of Sir Alex. M'Cormick. It was known that the trouble must terminate fatally, and the deceased became reconciled to the fact, and bore his suffering with patience. Before coming to Scone to reside a few years ago, the deceased resided in the Manilla district.

Sources

1. ↑ NSW BDM marriage 5180/1885 - marriage to Catherine
2. ↑ LAW REPORT. (1908, November 27). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15023736
3. ↑ AS YOU WERE. (1909, June 16). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 8. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115495061
4. ↑ IN CIVIL JURISDICTION. (1909, October 23). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 10. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19608721
5. ↑ IN CIVIL JURISDICTION. (1909, October 23). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 10. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19608721
6. ↑ NSW BDM marriage 8163/1909 on 19 July 1909 in the name May Doyle, and/ or 8165/1909 on 14 July 1909 in the name Mary Facey, at a Hamilton to Reuben Jones
7. ↑ WEST MAITLAND POLICE COURT. (1909, November 25). The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW : 1894 - 1939), p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article124678845
8. ↑ CHARGE OF BIGAMY. (1909, November 26). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), p. 9. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238239550
9. ↑ CHARGE OF BIGAMY. (1910, February 2). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137458270
10. ↑ CHARGE OF BIGAMY. (1910, February 4). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137450854
11. ↑ LEFT THE DISTRICT. (1910, August 18). Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138411096
12. ↑ Qld BDM 1911 C2725
13. ↑ NSW BDM death registration 4484/1914
14. ↑ Local and General News. (1914, February 17). The Scone Advocate (NSW : 1887 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156997536
15. ↑ Personal. (1914, February 20). The Scone Advocate (NSW : 1887 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156999832
16. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191004871/ruben-jones: accessed 26 November 2023), memorial page for Ruben Jones (10 Apr 1859–17 Feb 1914), Find a Grave Memorial ID 191004871, citing Scone Anglican Cemetery, Scone, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209).

• Probate: Advertising (1918, May 3). The Scone Advocate (NSW : 1887 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved November 26, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156912435

DNA

Parental relationships are confirmed by a Family Tree DNA Family Finder test match between Peter Jones and his second cousin once removed Normea (Jones) O’Toole. Their most-recent common ancestors are Charles Jones (abt. 1814 - 1878) and Elizabeth (Reynolds) Hornery (1820 - 1875). Predicted relationship from FTDNA: 2nd to 4th Cousin, based on sharing 112 cM and longest block of 23.

Acknowledgements

WikiTree profile Jones-7310 created through the import of Jones Family - 1 Aug 2011.ged on Jul 31, 2011 by Peter Jones. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Peter and others.