Samuel Ross Mason (1739 - 1803)

Born 8 Nov 1739 in Berkeley, Berkeley, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1803 at about age 63 in Jefferson County, Mississippi Territory, United States

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Biography

Samuel Ross Mason also, spelled Meason (November 8, 1739–1803) was a Virginia militia captain, on the American western frontier, during the American Revolutionary War. After the war, he became the leader of the Mason Gang, a criminal gang of river pirates and highwaymen on the lower Ohio River and the Mississippi River in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was associated with outlaws around Red Banks, Cave-in-Rock, Stack Island, and the Natchez Trace.

Samuel was murdered in 1803 by Wylie Harp, who tried to trade his head for reward money.

From Wikipedia: In the 1962 John Ford Western epic film How the West Was Won, a Samuel Mason-like frontier outlaw leader of a gang of river pirates is portrayed by Walter Brennan, as the fictional character of Colonel Jeb Hawkins, which alludes to the historical Cave-In-Rock.

In the 1956 Walt Disney television series Davy Crockett and the River Pirates, a Hollywoodized version of Samuel Mason is portrayed by American actor Mort Mills, who appears alongside the Harpe brothers.

Sources

See also:

• Berkeley County, West Virginia land records. Book 5. Page 136 and following. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4X-R9T3?i=76&cat=81066) "Samuel Mason of the County of Washington Pennsylvania Son and Heir at Law of Thomas Mason Dec'd" sold to Kelso James Wilson 500 acres at Rock Gap and Indian Run which Thomas had been granted by Lord Fairfax on 25 and 26 October 1768.

• Washington County land records. Volume B. Page 128. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXB-P3VM-C?i=71&cat=225855) Deed signed 3 June 1785. Samuel Mason of Donegal Township in Washington County of Pennsylvania sold to Thomas Mason a tract of land in said township.

• Washington County land records. Volume C. Pages 27 to 31. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-HTFX?i=99&cat=2258550 ) Document signed by the sheriff on 31 March 1786. To pay debt and damages of "Samuel Meason Esq.", the sheriff of Washington County seized and auctioned off Samuel's 400 acres of land in Donegal Township of Washington county. Daniel Leet was the highest bidder.

• The outlaws of Cave-in-Rock : historical accounts of the famous highwaymen and river pirates who operated in pioneer days upon the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and over the old Natchez trace. By Otto Rothert. 1924. Page 157 and following. (https://archive.org/details/outlawsofcaveinr00roth/page/156/mode/2up)

• Legends of America. Samuel “Wolfman” Mason Takes on the Natchez Trace. (https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-samuelmason/) "In 1779, he moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania, to buy a 500-acre farm. In July 1781, he was elected justice of the peace and was named an associate judge just a few months later. In 1782, Mason appeared successful, paying taxes on his 500-acre farm and two horses, four cows, and six sheep. He also owned four slaves. However, Mason was struggling financially and had become deeply indebted. After being repeatedly accused of being a thief, he went to Kentucky in 1784. His Pennsylvania farm was sold at a sheriff’s sale to pay part of his debt the following year. In 1789, the Pennsylvania court sent a man to Kentucky to collect the remaining debt but was unsuccessful."

• Samuel Mason River Pirate

• Wikipedia web page on Samuel Mason. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Mason)

• http://www.scenictrace.com/highwaymen-and-bandits-samuel-mason-and-the-old-trace/