JONES

William (1763-1831) and Samuel (1770-1859) Jones

John Jones was a well-known optician of the 18^th century in London, and 2 of his sons followed him into the business. His shop was at 135 Holborn. His oldest son, William, was an apprentice by 1776. William had also been working with another well-known London optician, Benjamin Martin. Sometime before 1784, William became his father’s partner and the company appeared in at least one commercial directory as John Jones & Sons. John retired in 1791 and the 2 brothers renamed the company “W & S Jones”. Three catalogues from this time have survived and show that the company was selling an enormous range of products including spectacles and opera glasses indifferent frames, magnifying glasses, microscopes, telescopes. There were also artificial eyes, assorted mathematical instruments and electrical apparatus as well as medical apparatus and books. It seems unlikely that they produced everything themselves, but probably (like many other opticians at the time) bought in parts or even complete equipment from other sources. When George Adams Jr  died in 1795, they bought his remaining stock and the copyrights to his various books, and the 2^nd editions of these books were edited by William and published by W & S Jones. Poor health forced William to retire to Brighton where he died in 1831. Samuel continued the business until his own death in 1859.