Ephraim Jones
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Ephraim Jones (April 27, 1750 - January 24, 1812) was a soldier, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.
He was born in Weston, Massachusetts in 1750. His father, Ephraim and five of his brothers served with the British during the American Revolution. He was taken prisoner in the Saratoga_Campaign of 1777 and later served with Edward Jessup's Loyal Rangers. After the war, he settled west of the Ottawa River in the area of Augusta Township. He moved to the Montreal area and became justice of the peace there in 1786. In 1788, he became a justice of the peace in the new Lunenburgh District and received a large land grant in August Township. He operated a mill and iron foundry on the Gananoque River.
He served on the land board for Leeds & Grenville and was a judge in the district courts. He was elected to the 1st Parliament of Upper Canada representing Grenville. He introduced a bill introducing trials by jury and supported the 1793 act prohibiting the further introduction of slaves into Upper Canada.
He suffered from frail health in his later years and died in Augusta Township in 1812, aged 61.
