US Navy hero “a devilish monster”
John Paul Jones (1747-1792) is today revered in the United States as a founding hero of the American Navy. His body lies in a grand bronze and marble tomb at the Naval Academy Chapel at Annapolis. A statue of him features as part of the John Paul Jones Memorial in Washington. One of the most sophisticated ships in the US Navy is the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), an Arlleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. He was born at Kirkbean, on the Arbigland Estate, near Kirkbean, Kirkudbright, Dumfries and Galloway.
Local people who knew him regarded him as a pirate pure and simple, and a thoroughly unpleasant individual, being of “a hellish disposition.” Writing in 1824, John Mactaggart said:
“The late celebrated sea robber; a Gallovidian, I am rather sorry to say, but he was a clever devil, had strong talents of the infernal stamp; he was a short thick little fellow, above five feet eight in height, of a dark swarthy complexion. Now I am going to say somewhat of this fellow, and all I say I think is the truth, for I have it from the lips of many who personally knew him, and all about his singular ways.
“He was a common sailor for several years, out of the port of Kirkudbright, and was allowed to be unmatched on that coast for skill in sea matters; he was a pilot of the first kind, was quick at conception, and a prophet at foretelling the coming of storms; and when tempests might catch the bark he was in, he dreaded them not, but like Falconer's Rodmand, was
“First in action – in retreat the last.”
“Yet, though a famous seaman, his mess-mates generally disliked him; he was of a quick, fiery temper, and of a mad, ambitious, aspiring nature; and when roused, he cared not what he did, with the first weapon he fell in with; a capstan-bar was his favourite cudjell, and once being beset with a press-gang, in Liverpool, he laid three dead on the deck, and dashed the rest overside his sloop, into the Salthouse Dock.
“Having got the command of a pretty large vessel, belonging to Kirkudbright, he set sail with her to America, for a cargo of tobacco; while crossing the wide Atlantic, one of the crew, a young lad of fair promise, having some how or other irritated him, the devlish monster ran to a pot of pitch boiling on the deck, and flang a ladle-full of the horrid fluid about the youth, who, in desperation with the pain, leaped overboard, into the Gulf Stream and was seen no more.
“The Earl of Selkirk, hearing of this diabolic act of Paul Jones, threatened that if he ever came back to the country, he should receive his reward in punishment for the same. Such news reaching the horrid captain as he lay with his ship off Long Island, New York, gave him the first hint of changing his mode of life; having got a crew he could depend on every infernal enterprize and having turned such as did not suit him adrift, scouring the ocean in all directions, and taking prizes and property to great amount; it was now neck or nothing with him, so he brought his mighty talents into action.
“Ships of all nations dreaded him; the name of Paul Jones struck terror into thousands, and he was frequently thought, like Crumwhull's gib cat, to be where he was not. Having captured at one time and another, a large fleet, he became quite piratic Commodore, and was more severe on Britain than on any other nation, and most favourable to the French; the latter soon becoming acquainted with his kindness, offered him one of their highest naval situations, which was channel pilot, the which he accepted, and became a great favourite at the court of France.
“It was just about this stage of his career, that he made his attack upon Auld Scotland, to be revenged on the Earl of Selkirk, for his threat towards him. He brought his fine ship of war, the Serapis, to anchor at the mouth of his native river Dee, one beautiful summer morning, about forty-five years ago, and sent his barge, manned, and armed, to St Mary's Isle, for the purpose of catching his Lordship, who luckily was not at home that day.
“After surrounding the mansion, and making search, the pirates came off disappointed, but took the family silver plate with them, the which they, after a time returned, accompanying the same with a singular letter, in which was notified, that if his lordship had been with him, after he left the Dee, he would have witnessed a fine sea-fight between him and the Ranger, British frigate; this was a severe bout; the pirates beat her off, but did not follow up their capture. What he would have done with his lordship had he caught him, has been a question; it is thought that he would have ransomed him for the value of his estate, and so caused his utter ruin. But before arriving at the Dee, he had called at Whitehaven, a town that once huffed him, and having spiked the cannons on the battery there, he attempted to set the place on fire, but the houses all being of free-stone he could not get it to blaze so well as he wished; such traits, in the character of Paul Jones, prove him a being of hellish disposition; for those men of a revengeful nature, are evidently the most horrid wretches on earth.
“Having rounded Scotland and visited the Firth of Forth, he returned to Brest – attended on the French navy, and had them frequently on the point of almost starting to the invasion of Britain; falling sick, however, he retired to Paris, or somewhat in its neighbourhood, where he died, a young man rather, not fifty years of age; he died very rich and all his gold went to the French treasury; whether any of his heirs in Galloway could come at any of this, I know not. He was the father of a natural son, by a married lady, the which sun yet lives, but is ratherly a doyloch.
“Paul Jones seems to be unrivalled as a pirate; his undaunted courage, his penetrating judgment, and his savage temper, befitted him in an extraordinary manner for the damnable trade. It is laughable to look back at the sensation he caused among the rural bodies of Galloway, when he brought his ship upon their lonely shores; some armed themselves with scythes, some with pitch-forks, old guns too were looked at, while many fled and hid themselves in the Rossens o' whuns, caves, and wild mosses. A row-boat even went down the river, heavily armed, the evening he stood out to sea, for the purpose of intercepting him with their tale of it, if he dared to return; when this boat came in sight of the Oyster Craig, it was thought to be Paul Jones' armed barge, so a heavy firing was opened on it, and as the tide was filling, the rock in time became covered with water, so the fluttering fancies of the borough-bravados conceiving that the barge was down, they returned in a joyous flight home; next day they went back, and on examining the rock, found it battered blue with the leaden bullets, since which time it has been termed the Frenchman's Rock.
Pages 373-376. The Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia. By John Mactaggart. 1824.
The John Paul Jones Birthplace Museum, at Kirkbean, about 13 miles southwest of Dumfries off the A710 is well worth a visit. It is open from 1 April to 30 September, 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday; and every day during July and August. There is an excellent video, a reconstruction of the cabin of Jones' ship, the Bonhomme Richard, a picnic area and easy parking. Telephone 01387 880613. See: www.jpg.demon.co.uk/index.htm
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