 Jones met Major Archibald Campbell , the commanding officer of Fort Niagara on June 9 , 1787 . He presented the Major with a letter of recommendation from Cadwallader Colden Junior , which attested to Jones ' good character and surveying capability . Two days later , Jones was hired as a land surveyor for the Crown . Jones ' first assignments were working as a chain bearer for various teams surveying the Niagara region . 
