Jones, Rebecca, 1739-1817

Henry Drinker (1734-1809) was a member of the Society of Friends and served as clerk of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. He was a partner in the Philadelphia shipping firm of James and Drinker. In Sept. 1777 he refused to formally declare his loyalty to the United States government and as a result was taken prisoner (along with other prominent Philadelphia Quakers) and subsequently exiled to Winchester, Va. where he remained until April 1778.

Rebecca C(astaldi) Jones was born September 10, 1947, in Evergreen Park, Ill. She worked various jobs in the newspaper industry, and eventually became a professor of journalism at the U. of Maryland. She also spent a year, 1967, as a public relations aide at the Chicago Children's Home and Aide Society. Her early books often feature children coping with serious illness in themselves or others. She has also authored the humorous Jeremy Bluett series. Her work has earned her numerous awards. Jones has commented that she was often sick as a child. While lying alone in bed she created great imaginary characters to keep her company, and many of these are now appearing in her stories.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols. 33, 99