Fred M. Jones

Not to be confused with Frederick McKinley Jones.

The Honourable Frederick M. Jones OBE JP
Jones (left) with his son, Keith
Custos Rotulorum of Portland
In office 1965 – 1971 (his death)
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Sir Alexander Bustamante Sir Donald Sangster Hugh Shearer
Preceded by	F. V. Grossett
Succeeded by	John Henry Stedman
Personal details
Born	Frederick McDonald Jones 29 January 1890 Portland, Colony of Jamaica, British Empire
Died	31 December 1971 Kingston, Jamaica
Spouse	Gladys Jones
Relations	Sadie Jones (granddaughter)
Children	7, including Ken Jones and Evan Jones
Parents	Morgan Newton Jones Rosa Elizabeth Jones
Education	Titchfield High School

The Hon. Frederick McDonald Jones OBE JP (29 January 1890 – 31 December 1971), commonly known as Fred M. Jones, was a wealthy Jamaican planter and public figure who served as Custos Rotulorum of Portland from 1965 until his death. He was one of the biggest and most successful farmers of bananas and coconuts in the Caribbean; who devoted much of his life to public service.

Early life and family

The Jones family came to Portland, Jamaica, in 1842 with the Rev. Evan Jones, a Welsh clergyman who built St Thomas Anglican Church in Manchioneal. Fred M. Jones was born to the Reverend's son, Morgan Newton Jones JP, who leased the in ruinate sugar plantation Williamsfield Estate. Jones's mother was Rosa Elizabeth Jones (née McDonald) and he was educated at Tichfield Secondary School, returning to Williamsfield in the evenings to work for his father.

In 1923, Jones married Gladys Smith MBE JP, a Quaker missionary from Oskaloosa, Iowa. Gladys's mission focused on education, transforming Happy Grove School in Portland from a vocational to an academic institution.Although an Anglican, Jones took an active hand in Quaker affairs and works alongside his wife. They had seven children, among them were the writer Evan Jones and the politician Ken Jones.

Fred M. Jones Estates, Ltd. (FMJ)

In the early 1900s, Fred M. Jones and his brother, Henry Morgan Jones (b. 26 July 1893), grew coconuts and bananas on their father's land. By 1916, their father had died, leaving Williamsfield Estates to them jointly with Fred having powers of attorney over the property. On 7 August 1916, Henry left to join British forces in the First World War, attesting with the 237th Battalion (American Legion), (CEF); swiftly being transferred to the No. 2 Construction Battalion. Henry was discharged on 20 April 1919, having attained the rank of sergeant.

Between the 1920s and 1930s, as large American fruit companies such as United Fruit and Atlantic Fruit moved their Caribbean operations to Central America, Jones acquired their lands. He was initially denied loans, possibly due to his mixed race. However, he was eventually granted a loan by a small building society on the western side of the island. In 1949, after many years of operation, Jones's company was officially registered as Fred M. Jones Estates, Ltd. (FMJ), of which his father's Williamsfield Estates is now a subsidiary. In 1961, a dairy was established at FMJ. At its hight, FMJ covered 10,000 acres across Portland and St Thomas, with the majority of villagers from settlements such as Duckenfield working on the property.

As of 2019, FMJ is managed by Nicholas Jones, grandson of Fred M. Jones; encompassing 5,000 acres and employing 220 people. Due to the Golden Grove Sugar Estates factory closing in 2019, FMJ estates transitioned from primarily producing sugarcane to cassava, which is sold to Desnoes & Geddes to brew Red Stripe. Another recent addition to FMJ is the Holland Crocodile Sanctuary.

Public service

In a 1965 article in The Gleaner, it was written that 'the Jones family has been a friend of the people over the years'; and, in 1971, that Jones himself was 'one of [Portland's] most active and public spirited sons'. Jones and his wife were patrons of education; upon Gladys's death, Jones donated sufficient musical instruments to Happy Grove School to furnish the pupils with an orchestra. In 1965, he also donated FMJ land for building Amity Hall Primary School.

In the 1930s and 1940s, he served extensively as a justice of the peace. It is likely he also exercised this office in other years. However, Jones was perhaps most active as the holder of civic and agricultural board positions. During his life he was named:

• Director of the Portland Parochial Board;
• President of the Portland Citizen's Association;
• Chairman of the Banana Board;
• Vice-Chairman of the Agricultural Development Corporation;
• Director of the All-Island Banana Growers Association;
• Director of the Banana Industry Insurance;
• Chairman of the Happy Grove School Board;
• Chairman of the Friends' Education Council;
• Member of the Anglican Diocesan Council;
• Member of the Diocesan Finance Council.

Honours

• Jones was dubbed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in Elizabeth II's 1963 New Year Honours, '[f]or voluntary public services'.
• In 1965, Jones was appointed Custos Rotulorum of Portland by Sir Alexander Bustamante, replacing the Hon. F. V. Grossett, whom died in office. Up until that point, it had been customary to resign the position at the age of 75, yet Jones was 75 upon his appointment.

Personal life and death

Fred M. Jones died at the age of 81 in Nuttall Memorial Hospital in Kingston.

He was the first person to own a Rolls-Royce in Jamaica and was a member of the Royal Jamaican Yacht Club, though he did not sail.

Jones is depicted in his son Evan's semi-fictional novel Stone Haven (1998), where his character's name is Stanley Newton.