Civil War Confederate Naval Officer. He served as commander of Confederate ironclad "CSS Virginia" (Merrimack) in the second day (March 9, 1862) of the famous battle with the Union ironclad "USS Monitor" after Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan was wounded in the fighting of the first day.

Catesby was born in 1821 at his maternal grandmother's Fairfield estate in Frederick County, Virginia, which subsequently became included in Clarke County (near Berryville). His parents were Roger Jones and Mary Ann Mason Page. His father was an officer in the United States Army and veteran of the War of 1812. Catesby was one of 13
children. He was the second eldest of those children.

He entered the United States Navy in 1836 when he was appointed acting midshipman. In December of 1841 he was allowed to attend the naval school at Philadelphia. He passed the examination for midshipman and was warranted in that rank. On the 19th of that month he was ordered to the Depot of Charts in Washington, D.C. and studied under Matthew Maury. In September he was detached and sent to the schooner Flirt, for surveying duty. On November 13th 1846 he was ordered to the U.S.S. Ohio. He was serving as Acting Master of the Ohio, which sailed from Boston around South America to join the Pacific squadron. He was warranted as master of the Ohio in Oct of 1848, and on this ship he served during the Mexican War. Catesby's widow later filed for a pension as his widow, and on that application for pension his service during the Mexican War was noted. After years of service at sea, Catesby was promoted to Lieutenant in May of 1849. He was living in the household of his parents in Washington City, District of Columbia in 1850. His father was a Brigadier General and Adjutant General of the Army at the time. His father died in 1852. Lt. Jones was ordered to the Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. on ordnance duty in February of 1853. He was there until 1856 when he was ordered to duty as ordnance officer on the U.S.S. Merrimac. Lt. Jones was on wait orders in May of 1860. His mother and 4 sisters were living in Washington City on the homestead.

After the Battle of the Ironclads at Hampton Roads, Lt. Jones was assigned on July 22nd 1862 to supervise the construction and arming of the C.S.S. Chattachoochee near Columbus, Georgia at the Saffold, Georgia Naval Shipyard. He was in command of that ship from the completion of construction in 1862 to 1863. He was reassigned in Feb 1863. On May 9th 1863, Jones was ordered to assume command of the Naval Works at Charlotte, North Carolina. Later in 1863 the Confederate government appointed Cdr. Jones to supervise the production of cannon for coastal defense and naval bombardment. A foundry was located in Selma, Alabama. Under Jones, the Selma foundry became the only site within the Lower South capable of manufacturing the Brooke rifle for the Confederate Navy, as well as other large-caliber artillery. The most common pieces produced at Selma were the 6.4-inch Brooke, which was just over 11 feet and weighed more than 10,000 pounds, and the 7-inch, 12-plus foot piece, weighing as much as 15,000 pounds. Selma is also believed to have cast 11 of the 11-inch Brooke smoothbore guns that weighed in excess of 20,000 pounds, although it completed and shipped only eight. Although he wished to return to sea service aboard ship, his requests for such service were denied. He was too valuable to the Confederacy in his position at the Selma Foundry. His knowledge and expertise in ordnance was unsurpassed. Cdr. Jones consistently applied his skills and knowledge to the task at the foundry. After the war, he remained in Selma with his family.