John Mason (abt. 1662 - abt. 1737)

Born about 1662 in Norfolk, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1737 at about age 75 in Currituck Township, Hyde, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Myra Grigg [send private message]

Biography

John Mason is believed to have been born in Virginia and moved to North Carolina c. 1690. He was residing in Albermarle Co in 1693 and records suggest he had 176 acres located where Weeksville is today. He sold the plantation around 1712/15 and moved to Rose Bay.

He appears, occassionaly, in transactions recorded in North Carolina Higher Court Minutes.^[1] These:

• Sep 1694; he sold cattle to a Robert Kitching.
• Sep 1694; he acknowledged, between himself and Sarah his Wife, their assignment of a bill of Sale made to the said John MASON by John DEN of a certain plantation in the precinct of Couratuck lying next to Whitts Island unto the said Robert KITCHING.
• Sep 1694; Sarah MASON, Wife of Jno. MASON acknowledged her free and voluntary assent to the assignment of John DENs bill of sale unto Robert KITCHING.
• Sep 1694; a deposition. The deposition of John MASON aged Thirty Two yeares or there about being Deposed; Sayeth That marrying with Sarah the daughter of John BURNSBY, Wm BURNSBY coming out of Virgenia, I desired him to Stay but one Weeke till I had Trimmed Mr. CHASES Cannow and I would goe up with him with my Now wife to see her Father hee the said BURNSBY promising mee a Seat of Lands Att Flatty Creek made mee dispose of my plantation at Curratuck with my Stock thereon: promiseing that Seat of Land which he had entred at Flatty Creek; I your Deponent expecting him to bee as good as his Word: I the deponent asked him what I should doe for Cattle hee promised mee he Would Sell mee Foure or Five head of Cattle Cowes: but he Falling from his Word Some time after : He told mee that he could Spare mee but Two Cows and Two Yearlings: I asked him why he would not Spare mee the whole Quantitiy he promised mee his answer was that Henry PALIN was to have one halfe of them for taking them up and Saving them from Mr. HENLY: upon that I found by his discourse that they were Intangled and so would proceed no Firther: This Deposition is attested by Jno. MASON and his Wife: and to the Same They Subscribe their Names the 28 of September 1694. /s/ John MASON, Sarah MASON (Sarah aged about 25 years). And Firther Sarah MASON declares that her Brother Wm. BURNSBY told her that he had Never gott them from Mr. HENLEY had it not been for Henry PALIN who moved and perswaded him to it. /s/ Sarah MASON

From these items we can ascertain that:

• His wife (first) was named Sarah Burnsby, and daughter of John Burnsby. She may have had a brother, William Burnsby.
• They resided in the precinct of Currituck and sold property there in Sep 1694.
• They had intended to move to Flatty Creek by grant form John Burnsby.
• He was likely born 1662 and his wife, born c. 1669.

John Mason's will probate date was Sept 1741.^[2] The Will appears to indicate that his wife, at the time, was named Mary.

Sources

1. ↑ North Carolina Higher Court Minutes for 1694, citing ource: The Colonial Records - Higher Court Records (1670-1696).
2. ↑ See Will in the last section of this profile.

Will of John Mason, Snr.

Hyde Precinct in New Currotuck (sic) (Currituck), dated Feb. 15, 1737/8.

Wife MARY: I give the feather bed I lie on with all the furniture there to belonging.

Daughter MARY MASON, Junr: I give one feather bed, and further tis my desire and will that in case my loving wife MARY should die before my Grand Son MASON TISON Should arrive to the age of twenty one years, that he should be and remain with my Daughter MARY (provided she remain single) Until he arrive to the age beforemention'd , but in case she marry, tis my desire and will that then my elder son ROGER take and keep my said grand son till he arrive to the age of twenty one years, further, tis the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament that my Daughter MARY should have no other part nor parcell of my Estate, either real or personable, but what is herementiond and she therewith to be content.

Daughter MARGRET MASON: I give one feather bed and furniture now belonging to it, and tis the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament that she have no more of my estate, Either real or personal, and she therewith had be content.

Youngest Son THOMAS, and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever: I give my now dwelling plantation with all the land and appurtenances thereunto belonging, Buted and bounded according to Patent, and tis the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament that my said Son THOS shall give and allow to his two sisters quiet possession of the house and ground I now lend dureing the time they, his two Sisters MARY and MARGRET, remain single, and further, that he my sd Son THOS allow his brother Roger free previledge to Grind at my Wind Mill as long as she shall stand and Grind, and further, it is the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament that my son THOMAS have no other part nor parcel of my Estate in any manner but what is herementiond and so shall be therewith content.

Grand Son MASON TISON: I give one {*} Gun and one Cow and Calfe, them and their increase, Male and female, the increase as well {as} the Cow to be equally Divided between my grand Daughter KEZIA HERRINGTON and my grand son MASON TISON as a Legacy.

It {is } my will and Desire that after my Wife Mary has had her thirds out of my moveable Estate, that the Residue thereof, both Cattle and household stuff, be equally divided between my sons ROGER and JOHN and LINKFIELD, excepting a three year old Heiffer which I give before any division be made of my cattle to my Grand son JOHN MASON, son of Roger MASON.

THOMAS TISON and CHARLES HERRINGTON: I give each of them one shilling sterling and no more and they shall be therewith content.

Executors: Son, Roger MASON and my wife MARY MASON. ......................................... JOHN MASON; 
Witnesses:
Samuel Jasper, 
John Tule
, Thom-Preton-Cromwell

:

Probate: Hyde County September Court 1741. The will was proved in open Court by the oath of SAMLL JASPER. Ordred that ye secretary have notice thereof. Mrs. MARY MASON and MR. Roger MASON, Esqr, Qualified as EXRS by taken the oath by law appointed. WM Barrow. Clk court Letters Issued Xber the 17th 1741.

SOS WiLLs (original), DAH/SOS Land Grant Book 4, #155, DAH