"Thomas Jones was one of the pioneer settlers of Guilford, and came with Mr. Whitfield. His name is sixth on the plantation Covenant, signed 1 June 1639, on the passage of Mr. Whitfield’s company to Guilford. He was evidently a young man, and probably was a relation of William Jones of New Haven. He appears to have been the first Marshal at Guilford, and have held that office without a dissenting vote. Perhaps he was not married when he came to Guilford, though this is not certain. He married a Mrs. Mary Carter, probably a widow, with a daughter, Mary Carter, who subsequently married Samuel Ward of Branford, 1 January 1658.
He was a witness in the first court, 15 August 1645, and was chosen or rather reappointed Marshal at a court held 7 October 1646. To this office he was annually rechosen until 17 June 1650, when George Bartlett was chosen 'to succeed in his room in that office when he removes,' Thomas Jones to retain office until then. On 8 June 1651, 'George Bartlett was chosen to succeed brother Jones in the Marshal’s place, when Providence shall remove him.' Before 10 June 1652, he had removed, and John Fowler was chosen Marshal. He left his property and family in Guilford, and may have intended to return. His wife died 16 September 1650, and probably soon afterward his place was sold and transferred to John Meigs. The deed was given many years later, however, on 4 March 1667/8, by Lieutenant William Chittenden, 'the said Thomas Jones’s Agent.' Thomas Jones had died many years before that date. Mr. Davenport, in a letter to Governor John Winthrop, Junior, dated about 10 March 1655, wrote as follows: 'Mr. Disborough and Goodman Jones died lately of the small pox in England or Scotland.'
Thomas Jones evidently came to Guilford for a more free exercise of his religious and perhaps political opinions, and returned to England when his friends came in power. When Mr. Whitfield tendered his reasons to the Church of Guilford, Feb. 20, 1649-50, for his removal, and enquiry was made of every man concerning his particular ability in paying to the ministers for the present, and in probability to continue according to ordinary providence, 'Thomas Jones professed his willingness and hoped to be able to continue his present payments.'
His home lot lay next that of John Bishop, on the east side of the Green, and he held in addition 6 acres of upland and swamp near by, 4½ acres of upland in the East Creek Quarter, and 5½ acres of marsh land there. In the Neck he held 9¾ acres of upland, and also owned 8 acres of marsh at 'Salt-holes.'
On 12 June 1656, Mary Carter demanded £40 sterling from Thomas Jones’s estate, which the court ordered to be paid her. This sum consumed all the inventory but £1-03-08, which was ordered to be kept for the children."
