Roger was born before 1589 in Newry, County Down,Ireland, the only son of Thomas Jones and his wife Margaret Purdon.
His father was an Anglican minister and had been consecrated Bishop of Meath in 1584,[1] which was probably already the position he held at the time of Roger's birth.
On 24 November 1609, Jones, Howth and their followers engaged in a violent fracas at a tennis court in Thomas Street, Dublin, in which a Mr. Barnewall was killed.
[12] The Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Arthur Chichester, an enemy of Howth, had him arrested immediately because he thought it murder, but it was found to be manslaughter.
[25] On 25 August 1628, Sir Roger was created 1st Viscount Ranelagh and Baron Jones of Navan by King Charles I.
[33] After the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion in 1641 Ranelagh defended Athlone during 1642 against confederate troops led by James Dillon.