Arthur Ernest Jones was born in Shorncliffe, Kent, England on 7 September 1874. He was the son of Edward Robert Jones (1848-1933) and Julia Maria Jane Simpson (1854-1936). His father was born at sea en route to India to English parents and his mother was a native of Chiswick, Middlesex and they were married in Portsea, Hampshire in 1870.

Arthur had nine known siblings: Robert John (b. 1872), Henrietta Louise (b. 1877), Thomas Evelyn (b. 1879), Lisette Marion (b. 1883), Harry Banks (b. 1885), Eunice Jane (b. 1889), Winifred Mabel (b. 1892), Frank Harold (b. 1894) and Charles Victor (b. 1896).

Arthur's father was a governmental clerk and as such the family moved around frequently. During childhood Arthur spent time in Sierra Leone and Barbados before resettling in England around 1889.

The family first appear on the 1881 census whilst living at 53 Grigg Street, Portsea, Hampshire and have moved to 35 Clarence Terrace, Portsmouth by the time of the 1891 census. On the 1901 census the family are living at 14 Burleigh Road, Portsmouth and Arthur is described as a labourer for a wine and spirit merchant. On the 1911 census the family were living at 53 Mortimer Road, Itchen, Southampton, but by now Arthur is absent and perhaps already at sea.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 122 Ludlow Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a plate steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s.

Jones, who was unmarried, died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in the Southern Dailey Echo (28 April 1912):

JONES--April 15, at sea, on board the S.S. Titanic, Arthur Ernest, the dearly loved second son of Robert and Jane Jones, of 122 Ludlow Road, Woolston, Southampton. May his dear soul rest in peace.

His father and mother continued to live in Southampton and died in 1933 and 1936 respectively. His last surviving sibling was Charles Victor Jones who died in Portsmouth in 1982.