The Haunting Tale of Thomas Jones

Major Thomas was an immigrant from Strabane, Ireland. He fought in the Battle of the Boyne and served under William the second of England and James the Second of Ireland. He was working under a Letter of Marque from James when he was on Jamaica at the time of the great earthquake of July 7, 1692.

He married Freelove Townsend, daughter of Captain Thomas Townsend. After his marriage he became a privateer for three years.

Captain Townsend bought land from the Massapequa Indians in South Oyster Bay which he gave to his son in law. In 1696 Jones built the first brick house on Long Island. This brief biography sets the stage for a couple of ghost tales associated with Jones.

Jones supposedly buried treasure in the swamps near his house. He killed a black boy and buried him with the treasure with the belief that the boy’s spirit would protect the treasure. Cries and moans were heard coming from the swamp until the 1900s.

His brick house is supposedly haunted. The tale begins as Jones lies dying in his bed on the second floor. A large, black crow flew into the room and perched on the bed. When Jones died the bird flew away. Thereafter the family would close the window only to find it opened in the morning. People tried the shutter the window with wood, then brick and stone only to find the window still being opened.

People reported seeing the crow fly in through the window at night and rest on the bed. People who lived in the house told stories of waking up to wailing and screaming coming from the room only to find nothing but the open window. Many believed that the crow took Jones’ soul and that the Major wouldn’t be deterred from coming back to his beloved house.

Jones was first buried along the Massapequa River the southern end of what was then called Fort Neck. After his burial scavengers dug around the grave to find treasure rumored to be buried with him. When the family wanted to rebury him in a safer grave, they could only find the skull. It’s possible that the body was scavenged as a souvenir or it was discarded by the treasurer seekers. Another possibility is that rising waters from the river may have flooded the grave and the rest of the body was washed away.

Rumors started that Jones was wandering around looking for his head so he could rest in peace. A family member had kept the skull and showed it to visitors. Eventually the skull was reburied.

Jones, his wife, and two of their children lay buried at Old Grace Church on Merrick Road in Massapequa. And yes, Jones Beach is named after the Major.