Isle of Thanet Gazette 17th March 1906   JONES – Death, March 5th at 23 Fort Road, Margate, Joseph John Jones aged 41 years.   Isle of Thanet Gazette 17th March 1906   IN THE CAUSE OF CHARITY Funds for Margate Life boatman’s widow.      By the death of J. J. JONES, one of the members of the Margate Lifeboat crew, who died from acute pneumonia, as the result of a cold contracted whilst on lifeboat service, the widow has been left with a family of eight very young children, and a movement has been set on foot to make some provision for the widow and orphans.   A meeting was held on Friday evening at the Parochial Hall, Hawley Street, conveyed by Mr W. H. HUGHES and at which the Mayor (Mr W. L. LEWIS J.P.) presided. Mr HUGHES explained that when he heard of the death of Mr JONES the previous Monday evening, and knowing that the widow had been left with a family of eight children, all under fifteen years of age, he felt something must be done. The same evening he brought the case, which he regarded as a particularly sad one, before the notice of the Ancient Independent Order of Oddfellows and gave notice that he proposed to arrange a big benefit concert, with the support of all the Friendly Societies in the town. On the day after her husbands death the widow received the share of the money awarded to the lifeboat crew for services rendered (£14 odd) and she had since received the funeral benefits from the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows and the Trinity benefit Club, so that she was in no immediate want, but the tradesman’s debts owing, rent, rates and other outgoings would swallow up her money, and she would be left comparatively destitute.   Mr HUGHES then went on to detail the steps he had taken to enlist the sympathy and get the promise of practical help from many of the leading inhabitants of the town, and he was able to announce that he had promises of subscriptions up to that time of about £20 and further promises of subscriptions when the proper lists were prepared. He hoped the total sum realised would be such as to give the widow and her family help of a permanent nature by a judicious investment of the fund.   The Rev Michael PRYOR (Vicar of Holy Trinity) moved that a committee be formed with a view to raising a substantial sum such as Mr HUGHES had suggested. Mr G. F. BROWN J.P, seconded Mr W. G. PEARCE said he would be glad to subscribe half a guinea and if it was the wish of the committee, when the boy left school, he should be taught a trade, he would be willing to take him and pay him sufficient from the commencement to enable him to keep himself in clothing and food. Mr J .J. HERMITAGE J.P, who said he deeply sympathised with the widow, promised to do all he could to assist. Mt T.B. JEPHCOTT stated, as Hon. Secretary to the National Lifeboat Institution, that when they were put in full possession of the facts, he was sure they would do something.   Other promises of help came from Mr A BOURNE, Mr BATES, Mr G.S.R. ROLFE, Mr G SAVIN, Mr D.T. EVANS, Mr C.E. DOUGHTY and others.   The subscription list is headed with five guineas each from the Mayor of Margate, Rev M PRYOR, Mr J.T. FRIEND and the Margate Philanthropic Institution; Mr HUMPHREY, five pounds; Mr A B COBB and Capt C.T. HATFEILD three guineas. Several smaller sums of two guineas, guineas and smaller sums, totalling up to the present to over £60. Margate Local & Family History