They embarked on board a ship bound for St. John, N. B. in the year 1811; remained a short time in the city, when they moved up the St. John river and settled down between Frederickton and Woodstock, where he learned the farming business, and in the course of a little time accumulated means, which enabled him to keep a country store; and as the neighborhood in which he lived was a new settlement, property began to rise, and he commenced speculating in public lands. As he had a good education and bright intellect, he was soon looked upon as a leading man in the neighborhood, and it was thought profitable as well as necessary to establish a tavern in the vicinity, which was strongly recommended by many lumber merchants; and Jones, being considered to be the best adapted for the business, accepted the offer. He at this time was of course prosperous, as he had the whole monopoly and an unbounded concourse of travellers stopping at his house; but an avaricious desire seized him and he at once became fearless, and his first step was to commence smuggling between Frederickton and Calais, Me., which business he carried on for a considerable time unmolested. While things were going on in this style, it so happened that an old acquaintance, whose name was Thomas Murdock, moved from St. John and settled in the same neighborhood in which Jones resided. The acquaintance was soon renewed, though not much to the satisfaction of Jones, as he knew Murdock to be a man of honesty, and it was on this ground and the fear of detection and exposure that Jones dreaded his old acquaintance, for Murdock was yet entirely ignorant of the business Jones was engaged in, for he, Jones, had previously managed to keep up the appearance of honesty and respectability.
As Murdock frequently visited at the house of Jones, he soon began to suspect that all was not right. However, he said nothing on the subject, until one evening he happened to pass the house of Jones, on his way home, at an unusually late hour, and seeing a great stir, he determined to go in and satisfy his doubts as to what he before suspected; and there he found Jones secreting a quantity of broadcloth which had been stolen a few nights previous. Jones then finding that he was at length discovered, begged of Murdock not to expose him, and at the same time offered him fifty pounds, as he said exposure would be the means of bringing his family to disgrace, and final destruction; and at the same time endeavoring to induce Murdock to participate in the capture; but Murdock flatly refused, saying that his duty to his God and his country forbade such an undertaking.
He then begged of Murdock to allow him a little time to settle up his affairs and leave the country, promising in the most solemn manner, and calling upon his God to witness, that if he would grant him this request he would become an honest man. And Murdock, seeing that it would be the utter ruin of Jones's whole family, for his children were then but young, consented, after the most solemn assurance that Jones would reform. But we will now see the value of a promise from such a debauchee as he was. Immediately he collected his consorts around and held a consultation as to what should be done. Meanwhile, they indulged in the use of the inebriate's cup, which was a necessary ingredient to fit them for their hellish purpose; and at length, after consultation, agreed that it would be necessary to murder Murdock. They then separated, resolved upon the death of the unoffending and innocent victim.
It was agreed that they, four in number, should meet the following night at a school-house in the neighborhood of Murdock's house, which was about three miles from the tavern, which they did; but two of them being so much intoxicated that the others felt doubtful of success, they finally separated,—but resolved to execute the deed the following evening, which they did, assisted by Jones. On approaching the house were Murdock resided, unconscious of the cruel conspiracy which he was soon doomed to experience from the hands of one who had often shared of his kind benevolence, Jones stationed two at the back door, while he and one more demanded entrance at the front door. Murdock, on hearing the voice outside, said, "Is that Jones?" who immediately answered, with a coarse voice, "Yes, let me in." Murdock fell alongside of his wife, exclaiming, "they have come to murder me! farewell, my dear and affectionate wife;" and at the moment Jones rushed in as Murdock's wife moved out of the bed, and drove a large knife through Murdock, when the poor afflicted wife screamed aloud, and Jones missing his way through the house, was confused for some time, and was, perhaps, a little intoxicated. Just at that time the Quebec mail stage came along, and hearing the cries of Mrs. Murdock, the driver with six others repaired to the house, where they found Murdock stretched in a bloody gore, and Jones torn limb from limb by a large Scotch dog. On hearing the cries, the others fled, but one of them, whose name we cannot learn, was taken subsequently and hanged in Frederickton, we believe in the year 1822. Thus some means are always left whereby the guilty are sooner or later brought to condign punishment. Thus ended the career of a disobedient son and a cruel, regardless father, and blood-thirsty, cruel man, whose ear was deaf to the cries of the widow and the tears of the bereaved orphans, which he left, both of his own and the ill-fated Murdock, who left six helpless children to weep over the loss of their kind father. After the death of Jones, his wife carried on the business for some time, but in consequence of the disgraceful death of her husband, which was generally understood in that section of the country,—(though many of her friends deny that it was he who was found in the house of Murdock, as he was so much deformed by the dog, and boldly assert that he went to England to see his relatives; but it was pretty generally acknowledged by those best acquainted in the neighborhood,)—the public forsook the house, and Mrs. Jones was obliged to sell out and leave the neighborhood, which she did, and moved to the St. Lawrence River, where she settled about thirty miles from Montreal. As her means of living began to grow rather scanty, she began also to see the urgent necessity of bringing all her artfulness into practice, for she was a very persevering, arbitrary woman. As she had a very heavy family to support, she endeavored to make her house a house of resort for travellers or persons who wished to spend some of the hot summer months in that cool and delightful region of the country, away from the more unwholesome air of a crowded and suffocated city; and in this manner, as may be expected, they formed many new and stylish acquaintances, so that she soon succeeded in marrying her daughters to persons of respectability, although they were any thing but virtuous girls as well as wives.
The youngest daughter whose name was Sophia, and who is the principal subject of this narrative, was at the age of seventeen married to a young man whose name was Hamilton, a respectable mechanic, who happened to be travelling in that section of the country, we believe a native of Kingston, Upper Canada. As he chanced to put up at her mother's house in the summer of 1828, and his health was rather delicate, he determined to stop some time, as his physician recommended a change of climate. However, her mother finding Mr. Hamilton possess considerable money and considerable personal attraction, at once endeavored to bring round a marriage between him and her daughter. Consequently he was treated with the greatest care and attention during his illness, Sophia being his constant and only attendant. She possessed an uncommonly agreeable looking countenance, although rather masculine; she was very fascinating, and seemed to possess a soft, tender, agreeable disposition; at the same time her mother was exercising all her art and influence to induce him. He was not wholly unaware of the real disposition of the daughter, had he only listened to the voice of warning; but to no effect, for he resolved to marry Sophia immediately on his recovery.
The following year he returned to Kingston, taking with him his wife, and settled down about ten miles from the city, and there set up a tavern, which was agreeable to his wife, as her mother taught her the art of subtle deception.
He had not been long married, as may be supposed, until he found out the real character of his wife, which preyed so much upon his constitution, that his health began to decline rapidly, and at the end of two years he died, leaving a widow about nineteen years old. His death was not so much grief to her as was supposed by those who dealt out sympathy towards her, as the tender-hearted but deceived people thought, she being so far distant from her relatives, if she had any alive, for none were ever seen visiting her since they moved there. But it has since been ascertained, by her own confession, that he died from the effects of poison which she gave him, through her negro girl, whom she kept as cook, taking care, lest suspicion might occur after his death and an examination take place, that it might appear a mistake, or through the ignorance of the illiterate negro. This she did, thinking, no doubt, that if she was clear of him, as his health seemed declining, she could then carry out any plan she might devise for the gratification of her propensities; for she was very sensual in her pleasures and totally incapable of appreciating that high-toned feeling, and the self-respect and refinement which should govern the female sex. She was almost indifferent to any principle of justice, as well as human sufferings; she was bold, revengeful and courageous, and cunning in the subjects of her pursuits; she was also very deceitful, shrewd, and had a great influence over weaker minds. After the death of her husband, she became one of the most abandoned and notorious of women, giving loose to every species of licentiousness and extravagance—and there was no crime too great, no deed too cruel for her to engage in, to accomplish any object of her desire, often engaging personally in acts of the most outrageous and daring robberies.
After living in this manner for three years after the death of her husband, her previous course of life being secreted from public censure, in the spring of 1834 she removed from her old place of habitation to La Prairie, a neat village about nine miles south of Montreal, where she set up a cottage-tavern, as she knew she would here have a much better chance of carrying out her wicked and unlawful practices. Here she made use of a great many artifices to induce emigrants and smugglers to put up with her; and she was considered by many a very kind, open hearted and generous woman. After giving very liberal contributions to charitable institutions, and seldom charging her visitors any thing, in the course of one year her house was the principal resort in the village—so that it was necessary to employ a pretty smart bar-keeper, or one who would be capable of superintending the general business; therefore, she hired a young man, whose name was Brown, a native of Maine, who seemed to be very capable as well as admired, until at length he left—but of him we will speak in another page. At this time business seemed very prosperous, so that it was nothing remarkable for young men of every rank, station and age to visit her house; besides, she being a young and fascinating widow, having the sole responsibility of a large and prosperous looking establishment, it was no small inducement to young men who admired an enterprising partner. However, she so managed matters as to make her house a kind of head-quarters for quality travelling between the States and Montreal, as her house was situated convenient to the steamboat wharf—at the same time looking out for such as had the appearance of plenty of money. She soon got around her a gang of ruffians who were perfectly obedient to her will, and ready to execute the most bloody act, whenever she planned or commanded; of this gang she was always the principal deviser. Whenever travellers, or such as she had good reason to suspect had plenty of money, stopped, she immediately marked her object, and frequently became the leader herself in some of the most horrible and outrageous murders.
About the middle of November, 1835, a gentleman whose name was Parker, from Quebec, on his way to New York, stopped at her house, as he had to wait for the steamboat, which was broke down. Finding that he had a large quantity of specie with him, she placed her unsuspecting guest at a table, so that his back was near an open window, which served as a passage or door leading out to the roof of the back part of the house, through which he was shot by one of her consorts, whose name we could not learn. They then robbed him of every thing he had about him. We are informed he had with him £2000; they then secreted his body in the cellar until night, when he was buried in a swamp, in the rear of the dwelling; his horse they afterwards sold for $150, in Plattsburg. Soon after the navigation of the Lake closed, and the cruel and lawless gang spent the winter, having plenty of money to carry on their gambling; but some of them were compelled to clear out for assassination and other drunken outrages.
In about three months after, two gentlemen from Montreal, on their way to Burlington, Vermont, happened to stop at her house. The travelling being very bad, in consequence of a very heavy snow drift, which made it impassable, either for wheeling or sleighing, they resolved to put up for the day. After calling for dinner and making some inquiry about the price and quality of furs in the New York and Boston markets, which at once indicated their business, and in all probability cost them their lives, they engaged in conversation, and wiled away the time in exciting and gratifying their feelings by the wit and fascinating conversation of their polished, shrewd and deceitful hostess; and as the evening began to draw nigh, the brandy decanter became quite a sociable companion, and was used pretty freely. One of them being rather limited in his use of the cup, she resolved that he should not escape her hands, and immediately called for a bottle of champagne, (and was understood by the waiter,) which left him perfectly stupid; thus she kept them until about eight o'clock, when they called for their horses, and while they were making ready to start, Brown and two others started about four miles ahead, laying obstructions in the way, by making fast a rope across the road, about three feet high, in order to capsize the horses as they passed down the hill, which proved effectual, while they lay in ambush and rushed upon them, shot one and stabbed the other—the affrighted horses broke the harness and run away, but were brought back. The bodies they brought to the tavern and also buried, according to Brown's confession, while in prison at Kingston awaiting the day of execution, from which we find a detail of this almost unprecedented outrage.—Sophia was herself present, and was of course employed in searching and dividing the spoil, of which no doubt she claimed a pretty good share. We are informed that they had in their possession £2000.