Jethro Jones Lost Gravesite
November 22 @ 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Group Hike
Jethro Jones Lost Gravesite
Sunday November 22nd at 11:00 am
Parking: Blair Road, Blandford, MA 01008 near North Blandford cemetery. GPS 42.20280, -72.98060 We will park on one side of the road and meet at the corner of Jones Road and Blair Road.
Hike Rating: Moderate 2 miles in and back, moderately hilly with ups and downs, rocks, roots and dirt.
Join our co-host The Blandford Historical Society for a hike honoring Revolutionary War veteran Jethro Jones. In April of 2021 we researched this lost cemetery and found its remains on a rise in Blandford on a once controversial road. The news of this reached direct descendant Jocelyn Jones, his fourth great grand daughter. Jones lived here after the revolution until his death in 1828 at age 95. He, his wife and other family members are believed to be buried at the same burial plot. Jones never received a marker or flag because his burial location was unknown. This has now all changed…Jones is now memorialized and rightly so. This is a heartwarming story that Jones himself over 250 years later would be proud of. We will honor him and his family. We will begin at the junction of Blair Road with Jones Road and hike up to the once lost small cemetery. We will learn about the life and work and service of Jethro Jones as we walk from the DAR historic marker for Jones alongside forest managed by Hull Forest Products up to the cemetery where Jones and his family are believed to be buried. We will learn about Jones’s history as one of the earliest documented African American toolmakers in colonial America, as well as his military service during the French and Indian Wars and Revolutionary War. Blandford Historical Society will share info on the early history of North Blandford, and Jones’s descendant Jocelyn Jones Arnold will share the story of finding her patriot ancestor. This hike is free and open to all, donations to the Hilltown Hikers and the Blandford Historical Society are greatly appreciated.
Please Register per vehicle on https://events.ticketleap.com/events/westernmasshilltownhikers Maps and bottled water provided. Well behaved dogs welcome. Event is volunteer lead. Suggested donation is $15. More details are on www.hilltownhikers.com . Please email westernmasshilltownhikers@aol.com or call/text 413-302-0312 if you have any questions. As always be prepared for rocks, mud and roots, bring trekking poles and a snack!
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GROUP HIKES AND TOURS SINCE 2010
Mission Statement: Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes to engage in all legal activities relating to the development, maintenance and operation of historical properties and tours, recreational hiking and outdoor adventure in Western Massachusetts. Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, Inc. provides monthly, guided group tours of historical hiking destinations in various locations of Western Massachusetts. We also provide volunteer trail maintenance for trails, maintain our historic conserved properties and provide educational presentations to other civic groups, non-profit organizations, libraries and schools. We are a non-profit 501C(3) organization incorporated in the State of Massachusetts. Tax ID #86-2532249
IMPORTANT: For all activities, participants must come prepared with adequate water and food. Dress appropriately in layers for the weather, including rain gear, and wear proper hiking footwear. The hike leader has the discretion to deny people participation if they are not adequately prepared. Contact us via email or text with any questions. Most hikes are listed as “Dog Friendly” or “Dogs on Leash are welcome.” If leashing is required you must keep your dog on leash! Please do not bring a dog if it is not reliably under your control, leashed or otherwise, and be prepared to pick up after your dog.
Adults bringing minor children are fully responsible for their safety and well-being. For children under 14, please contact us to ask if it is permissible to bring them (some hikes may be difficult for them and a liability release is mandatory). Hikes leave from the trailhead at the “Leave Time.” Please ARRIVE at the trailhead prepared to hike at least 10 MINUTES earlier than the Leave Time.