184 AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF PAUL JONES. 
would be able to meet the charge hanging over him. He was 
duly admitted a member, and at the end of the entry is, “ Paul 
Jones entered.’”’ This latter seems to dispose of the statement 
that it was in 1773, after inheriting his elder brother’s property 
in Virginia, that he changed his name from John Paul to Paul 
Jones. It would therefore be extremely interesting to know what 
his reason really was for doing so. Could it be that he was so 
much scandalised by a charge of which he knew himself to be 
innocent? It is all the more strange in view of the fact that on 
Ist April, 1771, his employers, Currie, Beck & Co., gave him a 
testimonial stating that on two voyages of the “John’’ to the 
Indies he had acted as master, and had approved himself in 
every way qualified for the post. The firm had been dissolved, 
and the vessel sold, and the certificate goes on to say that all 
accounts between him and the owners had been amicably settled. 
They at anyrate had seemingly every confidence in him. The 
Lodge minutes give scanty information as to Jones. He was 
admitted on 27th November, and attended meetings on 29th 
and 30th of the same month. On Ist February, 1771, he was 
admitted to the 2nd degree, and the last time he was present 
was on 9th April. The latter was the occasion on which Jones 
marched with the brethren to the laying of the foundation stone 
of what is now known as Old Bank House, presently occupied 
by Sheriff Napier, and standing near the site of the Meikle Yett. 
The house built by Mr Freeland, a magistrate of the burgh, was 
that day named Castle Cannon, and it is curious to note how, in 
the process of time, the name in part has been transferred to the 
adjoining building, known as Cannonwalls. 
The records are silent as to whether any further proceedings 
were taken against Jones in regard to the charge or whether they 
were quietly dropped. In any case, his innocence was manifested 
in an affidavit sworn at the Mansion House, London, on 30th 
January, 1773, by James Eastment, just about the date when 
Jones visited Virginia in connection with his brother’s property. 
Eastment swore that Mungo Maxwell, in good health, came on 
board his vessel, the Barcelona packet, then lying in Great 
Rockley Bay, in the island of Tobago, about the middle of 
June, 1770, and in his capacity of carpenter. He was in perfect 
health for some days after he came on board, after which he was 
afflicted with fever and lowness of spirits. This continued for 
