Was Henry Rice Mayson Meason(b.1529) the grandson of Sir William George Mason II - born 1488?

Question

I'm trying to trace the ancestry of Henry Rice Mayson Meason born 1529 in Gloucester, England, and have come up with three different possibilities (a man called Henry MAYSON MASON b1496 being one)  'Ancestry' has on record a man who was called Mathew Mason as father, but there is some contention (on other sites) about Henry Rice's distinct surname in this regard.  Would appreciate any help.

Answer 1

Nobody at this period had two forenames, so first we need to establish what names we should be looking for.

Is this Wikitree profile the one you mean? Henry Mason (abt. 1529 - bef. 1584)

Comments

He is listed in most site references as Henry Rice, principally because he was commonly known as 'Rice.' throughout his life, rather than by his name - Henry..  

Many thanks, I hadn't thought about this until you mentioned it here, but that may have been to distinguish him from a father also called Henry- which would make Henry Mayson Meason (b. 1496) the correct father of the 3 accredited to him. That is supposition, however.

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What are the contemporary documents for the name Rice? The profile I linked to cites only his will which does not use that name.

The name Sir William George Mason II also looks very unlikely. I can't see a Wikitree profile for him.

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Thanks, I agree.  I think Sir William can be ruled out, which is progress of a sort. :) Sir William as grandfather would make his father Sir Richard.

I have a copy of his will too.  Good point.

Answer 2

Geni has  William (George) Mason of Diddlebury, Shropshire  son of Richard and his wife Margreta Higgins https://www.geni.com/people/William-Mason/6000000001142192094 ( note  the portrait is of Prince Rupert of the Rhine !)  

Richard Mason  and Margreta Higgins  appear in the visitation of Shropshire 1623.  Their heir was a William.  I see no grand children named Henry. p353

I agree with Andrew about the two first names. (we often see them as a result of two people being conflated). 

 On family search a Henry Mason as linked to in wikitree  by Andrew  ( or at least  he has the same name and dates).has been given  without sources, a father Richard 1450-1552. His father is said to be Richard Le Mason of Shropshire.https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G2TS-17X This profile has Henry's  children born in three different  counties; Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Cambridgeshire.  (very unlikely for a husbandsman)

Richard Mason of Diddlebury (see Vist of Shropshire) did have a son Richard but according to the visitation, he was a cleric ( a priest and unable to legally marry until 1549).

Comments

Many thanks. Appreciate your thorough answer.  As I stated, the two names refer to the fact that Henry was commonly known as 'Rice'.

I think Richard can be ruled out - that would make Henry's G-father Sir William.

I noted the sudden shift to Shropshire - when for decades the family had been firmly rooted in Gloucester.