French Mason (1738 - 1769)

Born 1738 in Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

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Biography

French Mason was a Virginia colonist.

French Mason, Jr., was born about 1738. His mother died in 1743, so when his father, French Mason, Sr., died on 15 November 1748, he was left an orphan, with a bequest of lands he was too young to manage. His cousin, George Mason IV (1725-1792), was named executor of the estate and undertook to "truly pay and deliver all the Legacies" it contained, effectively becoming the guardian for French and his minor siblings.^[1]

On 4 January 1758 George Mason sent French to George Washington as a messenger, requesting that Washington entrust a substantial amount of money to French for delivery to a Captain Trent.^[2]. On May 6 of the same year he again sent French to George Washington, this time with the request that Washington provide French with a Commission in Washington's own regiment. He gave the following description of French:^[3]

You may be assured, Sir, that I would not recommend a Person to your Favor, whom I did not from my own knowledge, believe to be a young fellow of Spirit and Integrity–He has lived a good while with me & if I am not greatly deceived, he has personal Bravery that that will carry him thro' any Danger with Reputation & this Opinion I am the more confirmed in, as he never was a flashy fellow. He has been but little in Company & has not that Address which is requisite to set a Man in Advantageous light at first; but he is a very modest lad & does not want parts & I am confident will endeavour to deserve your good opinion as well as to support the Character I have given him.

Washington's declined to provide French with a place in his regiment and George Mason's 16 May 1758 response reveals more of his motivations for seeking to obtain a paid position for French, but not welcoming a volunteer position:^[4]

[B]oth he & I were very fond of his entering as such in yr. Regiment; but I really did not think it advisable that he should run his own little Estate in Debt upon the occcassion. ... [A]s he is very fond of of trying a Soldiers Life & indeed I found it absolutely necessary that he should do so, as the only means of getting clear of a very foolish Affair he is likely to fall into with a Girl in this Neighborhood, I have advised him to enlist in the new Regiment, if he can be made a Serjeant....

George Mason's concerns regarding French Mason's romantic inclinations appear justified. French married Anne Thompson in Fauquier County, and she bore him a son, Francis.

French died in 1768. On 20 March 1768 his wife Anne (Thompson) Mason obtained a bond of 500 pounds to administer his estate, joined by Sampson Darrell and Gilbert Simpson.^[5]. His estate appraised as 1968 pounds of tobacco and 139 pounds, 4 shillings and 7-1/2 pence, not including the real estate he had acquired from his father.^[6]

An accounting of the guardianship of Francis Mason from French's death in 1768 to 1779, when Francis reached his majority, was concluded and approved by the Fairfax Court on 21 May 1781.^[7] It shows income from a lease of the land of 1003 pounds of tobacco per year, providing an average income just below 10 pounds per year, depending on the then–current rate of exchange.

Sources

1. ↑ Bond of George Mason and Will of French Mason, Fairfax Will Book A, No. 1, Part 1, 255-57 (15 Nov 1748);"Fairfax, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-QJKC : June 4, 2021), image 153 of 162; Holbrook, E. Richardson, Virginia. County Court (Fairfax County).
2. ↑ George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Mason to George Washington, January 4. January 4, 1758. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw442741/.
3. ↑ George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Mason to George Washington, May 6. May 6, 1758. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw442804/.
4. ↑ George Washington Papers, Series 4, General Correspondence: George Mason to George Washington. 1758. Manuscript/Mixed Material. https://www.loc.gov/item/mgw442847/.
5. ↑ "Fairfax, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-929N : June 4, 2021), image 93 of 510; Fairfax County (Virginia). County Clerk, Virginia. County Court (Fairfax County).
6. ↑ Appraisal of Estate of French Mason, Fairfax Will Book A1, 26 (16 May 1768; "Fairfax, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PC-QVNY : June 4, 2021), image 17 of 135; Holbrook, E. Richardson, Virginia. County Court (Fairfax County).
7. ↑ Fairfax Will Book D, "Fairfax, Virginia, United States Records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89PC-2GN5 : June 4, 2021), image 140 of 708; Virginia. County Court (Fairfax County).

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