Robert William Jones, Sr. was born on Sept. 16, 1881 at Gum Neck, Tyrrell Co., NC. He was a son of Robert William Jones (c1827-c1883) and Olive Richardson (c1840-c1883). His mother Olive was a daughter of Willoughby Richardson (c1803-by1870) and Mary "Polly" McGowan (c1805-c1876) and Polly (McGowan) Richardson was the daughter of Job McGowan (c1779-by1870).
Robert William Jones, Sr. married Winnie Mae Kemp on Feb. 4, 1907 in Gum Neck. She was born on May 7, 1888. They were the parents of Irene Evelyn, Edith Roberta, Ruby Virginia, Marjorie Kemp and Robert William, Jr.
Robert W. Jones, better known as "Capt. Bob", spent most of his adult life as captain of tug, freight, and passenger steamboats from Baltimore, MD south on the east coast. He captained the freight and passenger steamer "Alma" for many years between Elizabeth City, Gum Neck and Fairfield. This was before the Inland Waterway was completed. At the time, he was known as the only captain who could navigate the Albemarle Sound and Alligator River in fog. He used only nautical charts, a compass and his pocket watch to do this. During the first four years of marriage, Bob and Winnie lived in Baltimore, MD, later moving to Elizabeth City, NC. In 1915 they moved to Fairfield in Hyde County on the north side of Mattamuskeet lake. They lived there for the next 53 years. Winnie was a librarian there and they were active in Baptist Church work. They later moved to Washington, NC to be near their children and grandchildren.
Capt. Bob died on Sept. 29, 1977 and Willie Mae died on May 2, 1980, both in "Little" Washington, Beaufort Co., NC. They were married for more than 70 years.

McGowan Family History