Frances (Unknown) Mason (abt. 1663 - aft. 1705)

Born about 1663 in Stafford County, Virginia

Wife of Richard Mason — married about 1685 in Stafford County, Virginia

Wife of William Wentworth Matheny — married 1691 in Stafford Cty., Va

Descendants

Died after Dec 1705 after about age 42 in Overwharton Parish, Stafford, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Margaret Summitt [send private message] and Kim Everton [send private message]

Biography

Wife of Richard Mason, married about 1685 in Stafford Co., Va.

Wife of William Wentworth Matheny, married between 1694 and 1704 in Stafford Co. Va.

Mother of William Mason (abt 1679-1745)

• Frances Mason Kirk Clift (abt 1690-aft 1733)
• (possibly also) George Mason

Mother of Daniel Matheny, John Matheny, James Matheny and Mary Matheny.

STAFFORD COUNTY VA DEED & WILL BOOK 1699 - 1709; THE ANTIENT PRESS PP. 302-303 Will of WILLIAM MATHENY. .. the 12th day of Novr. in ye yr of our Ld 1705 I William Matheny of Stafford County Pltr. altho sick in body yet of good perfect & sound memory .. give & bequeath to my Eldest Son DANL. MATHENY all the 300 acres of land being the land I now live on with the appurtenances .. also give & bequeath to Danl. 3 cows & their female increase known by the names Lovely good luck & pye likewise head of hogs called the Home Gang with their female increase as also a mare called Bonny using Brent Town with her increase .. my gun which i commonly used .. give & bequeath to my second son JOHN MATHENY 3 cows Doe Cherry & bull pail as also a Bay mare called Fib .. 15 head of hogs that uses the Acokeek .. unto my third Son JAMES MATHENY 3 cows called pretty maid Haset & primrose as also one sow & 3 shores as also one pacing gray mare called the pacer when found or taken up .. unto my daughter MARY MATHENY 2 cows called Beck & Young stately with their female increase I give & bequeath unto WM. MASON my wifes son all that one hundred acres of land which 1 bought of THOMAS NORMAN joining to the upper side of my land which I now live or. ..in case he dye without such heirs the sd land to come to my 2d son John Matheny .. without heirs to my 3d son Jas. Matheny .. I give & bequeath to William Mason 3 cows called stately star & Rose as also 17 head of hogs which useth Rocky Run & a mare called Jenny -- one fowling gun .. all the remainder of my Estate I give & bequeath to my loving wife FRANCES MATHENY whom I appoint my sole Extrx. .. if my wife remarries my three sons may have the portions of their legacies delivered to them when they shall be at the age of 18 years .. but if my wife should not marry that then she may act in all matters relating to them until they are at the full age of 21 years .. whereas I have 100 acres of land lying in Charles County Maryland at Matawoman being joining to the lands formerly sold by my Father DANL. MATHENY unto NATHAN BARTON my will is that my Eldest Son Danl. have the same .. Presence Henry Connyer, Wm. x Matheny Clement x Swathy At a Court held 12th Decr. 1705 The Last Will & Testament of William Matheny was proved in court .. & a probate granted to Frances his Extrx. mentioned in the Will & the Will ordd to he recordd & is recorded. ^[1]

Biography

There is confusion between this Frances Mason and Frances Norgrave Mason. Researchers who can help clarify are appreciated.

After reading several articles (one sent to by me Linda Ellinger), I think that this one is in error.

Theory two:

Over the years, Matheny/Metheny/Matheny researchers have perpetuated the myth that William Wentworth Matheny, son of Daniel and Sarah Mathena of Hope Plantation, Stafford Co., VA was married to Frances Norgrave Mason the widow of Colonel George Mason, the ancestor of George Mason of Gunston Hall, the framer of the Virginia Bill of Rights and friend of George Washington. This error needs to be corrected. William was indeed married to a Frances Mason who had a son William Mason as both are mentioned in his Last Will and Testament. Frances was even the executrix of William Matheny's will but she was never married to Colonel George Mason nor to Captain John Norgrave as has been so often reported. Frances Norgrave Mason was dead by the time William executed his will and besides, she was already married to Dr. Edward Maddocks a Stafford County magistrate at the time she was supposedly married to William. This is well documented in Stafford County records which I located during my research into this matter. It was also discovered in the 1940s by a researcher for William Blake Metheny who did the seminal research into the family history. - Ed Powell.

He has a more in-depth argument posted on genealogy.com: http://genforum.genealogy.com/matheny/messages/503.html

Reference List for Review with this Latter profile

• http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I048790&tree=tree1
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Norgrave-1
• https://books.google.com/books?id=e0JyFxVAOvAC&pg=PA340&dq=William+Wentworth+Matheny&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiPv4el0ePeAhVGXhoKHRU6CqEQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=William%20Wentworth%20Matheny&f=false Kennedy, Helen M. Along Pond Creek Road: For Descendants of Alda Buckley Kennedy. Xlibris, Corp., 2010
• virtualology.com

Sources

1. ↑ "Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties," http://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I048793&tree=Tree1