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Thomas Mason (1753–1800)

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For other people called Thomas Mason, see Thomas Mason (disambiguation).

Thomas Mason
Born
Thomas Mason

May 1, 1753
Fairfax County, Virginia
DiedSeptember 18, 1800(1800-09-18) (aged 30)
Woodbridge, Prince William County, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)planter, businessperson, Virginia House of Delegates member
SpouseSarah Barnes Hooe
Children4
Parent(s)George Mason IV
Ann Eilbeck

Thomas Mason (May 1, 1753 – 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]

  • Patsy Mason Lake (1796-1873)
  • 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gunston Hall. "Thomas Mason". Gunston Hall. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Gunston Hall. "Children of George Mason of Gunston Hall". Gunston Hall. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e Stephen E. Phinney, Prince William County Historical Commission (November 1997). "Woodbridge is 200 Years Old!". Historic Prince William. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
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