Jealous to mean protective?

Is this a common usage?

For example:

The village folk were jealous (protective/mindful) of their [the subject's (the village folk's)] influence at the meetings they attended every moth.

Would you understand jealous to mean this if it was said to you or assume it meant insecure or doubting?

I don't think I've ever heard it used this way but maybe it went over my head when it was.