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Home arrow Maritime History arrow John Paul Jones arrow In Search of Paul Jones Pistol
In Search of Paul Jones Pistol Print E-mail
Written by SeacoastNH   

JPJ in false British legend shooting crew member

JOHN PAUL JONES in BOSTON

Less than a dozen items belonging to John Paul Jones are known to exist today. Among them, very likely, is a pistol used in battle. One day a group of Jones fans from Portsmouth wen to check out the story. Here are the photos.

 

 

 

VISIT our John Paul Jones section

According to a footnote in Elliot Morison’s famous biography of John Paul Jones, one of his pistols – one he reportedly used in the battle with the Serapis – resides in nearby Boston, MA. The Masonic lodge there owns it. Records show that Jones joined the Masons in Scotland under the name John Paul on November 27, 1770.

Masonic library in Boston, MAA small group of Jones fans from New Hampshire made a pilgrimage to the Central Lodge of Massachusetts. Our goal was to view and photograph the pistol in hopes of studying and possibly reproducing it for future display at the John Paul Jones House in Portsmouth, NH. But our resource was already 50 years old. Would the gun still be there?

The pistol, we were told, was donated to the Masonic Lodge around the time Jones' body was discovered in Paris at the turn of the 20th century. The donor also created this amazing library with its glass floors and metal shelving. Our group entered the Samuel Crocker Lawrence Library, named for the collector. The pistol was not on public display.

Would we like to see some Jones' documents while waiting for the pistol? --- the librarian asked. You bet! For the next half hour we poured through letters to and from Jones and some fascinating historic documents and photos. We were like kids in a candy shop.

Librarian Cynthia Alcorn presented us with the historic weapon. Jones reportedly carried as many as six pistols, including those presented to him while in France. Details are sketchy. More research is needed, but here it is. In the dimly lit halls of the Masonic Temple, your SeacoastNH.com editor held the artifact in the window overlooking Tremont Street for added light. When Jones visited Portsmouth, NH he reportedly visited with members of the St. John's Lodge there. Did he bring this very pistol to Portsmouth?

British legends painted Jones as a pirate and accused him of shooting his own crew members when they did not obey. Jones did threaten members of the crew who considered mutiny. And during his youth, he killed a crew member with a sword when he was attacked. These stories have been combined into the pistol legend, that is not true. -- JDR

Copyright © 2005 SeacoastNH.com. Text and first six images and text by J. Dennis Robinson. Final photo by Ralph Morang. Our thanks to the Massachusetts Masons for their kind cooperation.

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts floor design

Mason's Grand Lodge entrance

Letters to and from John Paul Jones

Bob Hassold of Portsmouth reviews JPJ's letter book

Holding Paul Jones pistol in Boston (c) SeacoastNH.com

John Paul Jones pistol and letterbook (c) Ralph Morang III /SeacoastNH.com

(c) 2000 J. Dennis Robinson & Ralph Morang III

 

Calendar
Sea Dogs: Celebrating 15 Years
May 13, 2008
PORTLAND -- Charlie Eshbach, President/General Manager, Portland Sea Dogs, will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Sea Dogs with the publication of a new history of the team, “The Portland Sea Dogs: Images of Baseball.” FREE

LIVESTRONG Day
May 13, 2008
EXETER -- Wear yellow. Honor and support people affected by cancer in our community. Enjoy a new exhibition of art by cancer survivors. Learn about the Lance Armstrong Foundation's programs to unite people to fight cancer, and meet a member of the LAF s...

Be a Herbal Apprentice Course
May 14, 2008
CANTERBURY -- Fee: $175, members $160 Drive away the winter blues by delving into herbology. This course provides hands on experiences, making tinctures, soaps and herbal salts, for example, to connect you with the early spring. We will also concentrat...

American Independence Museum's Opening Day
May 14, 2008
The American Independence Museum opens for the season in Historic Exeter, New Hampshire. Museum hours are 10am to 4pm, with the last tours at 3:30pm.

Veggie Teens and Raw Food
May 14, 2008
EXETER -- Raise Your Vibe Wednesdays at Blue Moon. Blue Moon Natural Foods, 8 Clifford Street, Exeter, sees this spring as an opportunity to explore what each of us can do to make healthful choices for people and the planet. Some of these solutions com...

Writer Louise Erdrich
May 14, 2008
PORTSMOUTH -- One of the most gifted, prolific and challenging of contemporary Native American novelists, Award-winning novelist Louise Erdrich will be a part of our Writers on a New England Stage series on May 14. Her new original novel The Plague of D...

Lighthouse Buffet Dinner
May 16, 2008
The main event this evening will be the American Lighthouse Foundation's first “Lighthouse Trivia Challenge.” This will be a Jeopardy-style competition, complete with buzzers and sound effects. The winners of the early games will compete in a final roun...

Meteors, Meteorites and Comets
May 16, 2008
CONCORD -- Planetarium Educator Bob Veilleux will explain why you can collect meteorites - but not meteors or comets. Learn about these fascinating solar system interlopers, where they come from, how you can see them, and how they are related. See and...

Mother Courage
May 16 - 17, 2008
Our mainstage season wraps up in May with the Senior Youth Repertory Company production of Bertolt Brecht’s epic masterpiece Mother Courage and Her Children. Through Brecht’s stark vision, the play relentlessly questions the distinctions between war, bu...

Books & Blooms Sale
May 17, 2008
BRENTWOOD -- Our Annual Books & Blooms Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 17th from 9 - 11:30 am! Come to the Mary Bartlett Library, 22 Dalton Road in Brentwood, to purchase lots of books for little money - and purchase great plants at great prices. Pl...

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