764 Upper Brookside Rd, Central North River, NS, Canada Get directions
The small community of Jollytown consisted of at least four families in the late nineteenth century. Road construction in the mid-twentieth century disturbed a number of graves at the long demolished Methodist church, that were reinterred with a simple marker at the nearby Aeon Baptist Church. This was until recently the only visible record that Jollytown ever existed, as the Black families drifted into Truro over time.
Local historians have identified two separate Tynes families, the Jones and the Taylor families.
All images: “Jollytown: An African Nova Scotian Community”, Truro News except image of Jerry Jones, which is from Personal collection of the Jones family.
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Jeremiah Jones 1858-1950
Born in Truro, Jeremiah “Jerry” Jones was a courageous soldier from the First World War. Like many other Black Canadians, he had to overcome racial barriers just to volunteer.
While the No. 2 Construction Battalion was the only predominantly Black unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, African Canadians did serve in other units, including infantry battalions. At the advanced age of 58, Jones joined the 106th Battalion in Truro, and fought with the Royal Canadian Regiment at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele in 1917. At Vimy Ridge, he single-handedly stormed and captured a German machine gun post. For his bravery Jones was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal, second only to the Victoria Cross for recognizing gallantry in action. It was never awarded.
In 2010, after decades of campaigning, the Canadian government posthumously awarded Jones a Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service. He is a heroic figure in African Nova Scotian history.
Fredericton, New Brunswick to Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador 61 places Each of these places tell the story of the community they are in. View VisitList
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