Thomas Mason (1770–1800)
| Thomas Mason | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Thomas Mason May 1, 1770 Fairfax County, Virginia |
| Died |
September 18, 1800 (aged 30) Woodbridge, Prince William County, Virginia |
| Residence | Woodbridge, Prince William County, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | European American |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Occupation | planter, businessperson, Virginia House of Delegates member |
| Religion | Anglican, Episcopalian |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Barnes Hooe |
| Children |
Elizabeth Mason Gerard Alexander Mason Leannah Mason Barron Thomas Mason |
| Parents |
George Mason IV Ann Eilbeck |
| Relatives | son of George Mason IV |
Thomas Mason (May 1, 1770 – September 18, 1800)[1][2] was an early American businessman, planter, and politician. As a son of George Mason, a Founding Father of the United States, Mason was a scion of the prominent Mason political family.
Early life and education
Mason was born in Fairfax County, Virginia on May 1, 1770.[1][2] He was the youngest child and son of George Mason IV and his first wife Ann Eilbeck.[1][2]
Mason was tutored by Reverend Buchanan at his father’s Gunston Hall plantation.[2] He remained a pupil of Reverend Buchanan’s until he was sent to study at Fredericksburg Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1788.[2] After completing his education at Fredericksburg Academy, Mason trained to be a merchant under an apprenticeship with William Hodgson in Alexandria.[2] Following his apprenticeship in Alexandria, Mason’s father set him up with a business in Richmond.[2]
Marriage and children
Mason married Sarah Barnes Hooe, daughter of Gerard Hooe and Sarah Barnes, at Lexington plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia on April 22, 1793.[1][2] Sarah was a sister of his elder brother George Mason V’s wife, Elizabeth "Betsey" Mary Ann Barnes Hooe.[2] The couple had four children:[1][2]
- Elizabeth Mason[1][2]
- Gerard Alexander Mason (December 1793–December 18, 1849)[1][2]
- Leannah Mason Barron (1798–1824)[1][2]
- Thomas Mason (1800–1828)[1][2]
Later life
In 1792, Mason inherited his father’s properties on the southern side of the Occoquan River across from Colchester along with the rights to the Occoquan ferry.[2][3] Mason named his plantation Woodbridge after the wooden toll bridge he built in 1795 to replace the ferry.[2][3] Mason had hired renowned inventor and engineer Theodore Burr to design the toll bridge.[2][3] The toll bridge carried King's Highway (present-day U.S. Route 1) across the Occoquan River.[3] Woodbridge remained under the ownership of the Mason family until 1851 after the death of Mason's eldest son, Gerard Alexander Mason.[3]
Mason died on September 18, 1800 at his residence at age 30.[1][2] At the time of his death in 1800, Mason was serving his second term as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Prince William County.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Gunston Hall. "Thomas Mason". Gunston Hall. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 Gunston Hall. "Children of George Mason of Gunston Hall". Gunston Hall. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Stephen E. Phinney, Prince William County Historical Commission (November 1997). "Woodbridge is 200 Years Old!". Historic Prince William. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
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