Christopher Jones was born about 1570.  His father was a seaman, and a master (captain) of several sailing ships.  When Christopher Jones grew up, he too became a ship owner and master.  He lived in the town of Harwich, in the house pictured at left, until he was about 40 years old.  Then he moved to Rotherhithe, a city very near London and on the river Thames. 

The first ship he sailed was called the Josian, named after his wife.  He sold the ship Josian about 1608, and with three other business investors he purchased the Mayflower.  He used the Mayflower primarily to transport English goods to France, and return to England with French wines.  He had nine children, but unfortunately almost all of them died when they were young, and only a few survived to become adults.  In 1620, when he was fifty years old, Christopher Jones and the Mayflower were hired to carry the Pilgrims and their cargo to Northern Virginia.

Christopher Jones and the Mayflower stayed with the Pilgrims in America through the winter.  Half of the Mayflower's crew died the first winter.  The Mayflower left Plymouth in April after the winter was over, and arrived back in England in May 1621.  Christopher Jones took the Mayflower on another trading run to France later that year, but died shortly thereafter, in March 1622.  He was buried at St. Mary's Cathedral in Rotherhithe, Surrey, England.