Lemuel Mason (abt. 1628 - bef. 1702)

Born about 1628 in Norfolk, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Seawell) Mason — married 1649 in Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 15 Sep 1702 before about age 74 in Norfolk, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Lemuel Mason is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

Lemuel Mason was a Virginia colonist.

Parents and birth

His signed deposition in court in January 1653/54 that he was then 25 years old (see attached scan) documents that Col. Lemuel Mason was born about 1628/1629.^[1] He was born in Lower Norfolk County, Virginia to Francis Mason and his wife Alice Gany (sic) ^[2][3][4]

Marriage and children

Lemuel married in the same Virginia locale by 27 February 1649/50 (when the marriage was announced in court -- see attached image) to Ann Seawell, daughter of Henry Seawell of Seawell's Point (Sewell's Point). He was then about 21 years old and she was about 16 years old.

The Wills of Lemuel (dated 17 June 1695)^[5] and his wife Ann (dated 30 Oct 1705), provide the most robust documentation of their surviving children:^[6][7][8][9]

1. Thomas, the eldest son
2. Lemuel
3. George (George Mason (1655-1710))^[10]
4. "Frances, wife of George Newton." Frances is said to have been born about 1661^[2]"
5. Alice who had married Samuel Boush by 1695 but who appears to have married a Mr. Sayer by 1705.
6. Margaret who had married [illegible] who was then in England.
7. Elizabeth who married first William Major then "Mr. [Thomas] Cocke"^[11]
8. Ann who had married Mr. [illegible]
9. Mary who had married Mr Walton
10. Dinah

In addition to these, Dornan listed as a daughter Abigail Mason, born about 1668^[2] This may be based on a "still another will from the New England Register, Volume 42" said to have named Abigail as a daughter.^[12]

A prominent citizen of Lower Norfolk county, Virginia

Lemuel served as a justice of Lower Norfolk County from 1650 until his death, was presiding justice after 1669, served as major and colonel of militia, in 1658, 1665 and 1698-99. He represented Lower Norfolk in the House of Burgesses 1654-63, 1671-73, 1680-82, 1684-86 and from Norfolk in 1693.^[13][14][3] Maj. Lemuel Mason was authorized to impress men in service from Lower Norfolk County in defense against Indians in 1675/6. ^[2][15]

With a deed of 3 Feb 1673, Lemuel gifted to his wife Ann, his daughter Frances and his daughter Margeret a 3 year negro boy, a 3 year old negro girl and a 3 year odl negro girl respectively.^[16]

Death

Lemuel died after 17 Jun 1695.

He left a will dated 17 Jun 1695, Probated 15 Sep 1702 at Norfolk Co, VA. ^{[4] [2]}

He named his wife Ann and children and his sister Elizabeth Thelaball.

"Ann Mason" left a will dated 3 October 1705.^[17] Unlike Lemuel's will, Ann's document (see attached image) was still legible by the time it was scanned and it thus serves as the best documenation of the children of Lemuel and Ann.

Sources

1. ↑ Virginia magazine of history and biography. Volume 4. 1897. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents. Note 1 of pages 83 to 85 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93PV-XKMM?i=342&cat=16216) "Colonel Lemuel Mason was born about 1628 (according to his deposition made in 1653) was Justice of Lower Norfolk from 1650 until his death and presiding justice from 1669; appointed high sheriff in April, 1655, and was a member of the House of Burgesses in ... 1655, 1657-8 (as Major Lemuel Mason), ... 1558-59, ... 1659-60, 1663, 1666-76, 1682, 1692, and doubtless in other years."
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5, p. 570 (Mason Family). [1]
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Jamestowne Society (http://www.jamestowne.org/martin---mason.html) accessed 5 October 2021
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Vol. 1, by Lyon Gardiner Tyler, pp. 285-286. (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Virginia_Biography/CWiel4PVkEkC?hl=en&gbpv=0
5. ↑ One scan of the will shows it to be almost impossible to use for purposes of documentation. See Norfolk land records. Volume 6. Page 258. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9PX-F9GL?i=481&cat=370289) Earlier transcribers appeared to have better success before it reached this condition.
6. ↑ Virginia magazine of history and biography. Volume 4. 1897. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents. Note 1 on pages 83 to 85. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B3PV-XK7J?cat=16216) "The Will of Colonel Lemuel Mason was dated June 17, 1695, and proved in Norfolk county September 15, 1702. Appoints his sons, Thomas and Lemuel, overseers of the will, and his wife, Ann, executrix. His legatees were his sons, Thomas, Lemuel, and Samuel [George ?], daughter, Frances, wife of George Newton, Samuel Boush, who married daughter Alice, Mr. Cocke, who married daughter Elizabeth, Mr _____, in England, who married daughter Margaret, Mr. ____ who married daughter Ann, Mr Walton who married daughter Mary, daughter Dinah and sister Eliabeth Thelaball (The will-book is much mutilated). The will of Ann Mason, widow of Colonel Lemuel Mason, was dated October 30,1705, and proved in Norfolk county March 13, 1705-6. Legatees: daughters, Frances Sayer, Alice Boush, Mary Cocke". The reference in 1705 to "Mary Cocke" rather than "Elizabeth Cocke" is due to Elizabeth's death in 1697 such that her daughter (Ann's granddaughter) Mary inherited in 1705 (see page 617 of Prominent Families; https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/608832/?offset=0#page=629&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=lemuel)
7. ↑ Some Promient Virginia Families. By Louise Pecquet du Bellet. 1907. Page 616. (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/608832/?offset=0#page=628&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=) Note that this transcription, unlike the one in the Virginia magazine of history and biography, lists no "Samuel" and says forthrightly that George was listed in 1695 will of Lemuel.
8. ↑ Virginia magazine of history and biography. Volume 2. 1895. Footnote on pages 385 & 386 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93PN-88M4?i=207&cat=16216) This version of a transcription of Lemeul's will of 1695 also says that the will lists George as a son
9. ↑ Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1624/5: Families G-P Volume II. For a snippet of page 570, see (https://books.google.com/books?id=tcM40zgdAZgC&pg=PA501&lpg=PA501&dq=Adventurers+of+Purse+and+Person&source=bl&ots=xPttmRxq7f&sig=ACfU3U1e-Bg-Dbv9r1CMnCWxF4OlIEqBFA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7mLnuqa6FAxUsAzQIHUU2AVA4FBDoAXoECAUQAw#v=snippet&q=Mason&f=false)
10. ↑ Torrence and allied families. By Robert Torrence. 1938. Pages 339 and following. (https://archive.org/details/torrencealliedfa00torr/page/n803/mode/2up) "George Mason 3 ( Colonel Lemuel2, Lieutenant Francis1) Justice of Norfolk in 1702 ; Captain of Militia in 1707. His will was dated 13 January, 1710, and recorded in Portsmouth, Virginia, in Book 9, p. 13, as 16 March, 1711. After the usual formalities, he bequeaths to his wife, Phillis; devises to his son, Thomas Mason, the plantation whereon he (the father) lives, designating same to become the property of his son Thomas when he attains maturity. To his son George, the plantation known as 'Marriner Jones'."
11. ↑ The Majors and their marriages. By James Cabell. 1915. Pages 46 and 47.(https://archive.org/details/majorstheirmarri00cabe/page/n89/mode/2up?q=Mason)
12. ↑ Some Promient Virginia Families. By Louise Pecquet du Bellet. 1907. Page 616. (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/608832/?offset=0#page=628&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=) This relationship was apparently substantiated by a 1690 deed of gift from Lemeul to "his children George, Craford, and Abigail his wife" (see page 618 of Prominent Families; https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/608832/?offset=0#page=630&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=lemuel)
13. ↑ New River Notes, Colonial Virginia Register
14. ↑ Virginia magazine of history and biography. Volume 4. 1897. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents. Note 1 of pages 83 to 85 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93PV-XKMM?i=342&cat=16216)
15. ↑ The Majors and Their Marriages, James Branch Cabell, 1915, page 47.
16. ↑ Allied Families. Masons South of the James River. By Kathryn Gearhart ((https://alliedfamilies.wordpress.com/masons-south-of-the-james-river/)
17. ↑ Norfolk land records. Volume 7. Page 117. (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-XSL2-F?i=166&cat=370289)

See Also

• Genealogical Gleanings in England. Page 691. (https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=CaNCAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PA690&hl=en&q=Mason ) "MARGARET CHEESEMAN of St. Mary Magdalen Bermondsey widow, 15 January 1679, proved 21 July 1680. My overseers shall disburse, expend and lay out for my funeral expenses and charges fifty pounds. To the poor of this parish five pounds . To all the children of my very loving kinsman Mr Lemuel Mason the elder in Virginia that shall be living in Virginia at the time of my decease ten pounds apiece, to remain in the hands of my executors until they shall attain to their several ages of one and twenty years or days of marriage . To my Cousin Elizabeth Theleball, now living in Virginia, five pounds. To all her children living at time of my decease five pounds apiece. To John Matthews , living in Virginia, who was brother by the mother's side to my late granddaughter Anne Cheeseman deceased, five pounds and a diamond ring which formerly was his sister's. To my kins-woman Anne Gayney twelve pence. To my god daughter Margaret Mason, who lives with me, one hundred and fifty pounds and the lease of my house and all the plate I had of John Harrison. The rest of my plate I give to the children of my said cousin Lemuel Mason as followeth ( i.e.) to Alice Mason a great beaker, to Elizabeth a tankard, to Anne a tankard and to Abigail, Mary and Dynah all the rest of my plate, to be equally divided & c, and to Lemuel Mason the younger my best great ring. Five pounds apiece to Mr John Samuel, Mr. Thomas Gladwin, my said cousin Margaret Mason and Mrs. Mary Childe widow; and they to be overseers of my will. All the residue to my kinsman Mr Lemuel Mason in Virginia; and he to be executor; and my said god-daughter Margaret Mason to be executor in trust only for the use and benefit of the Lemuel her father. Proved by Margaret Mason. "

• Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Edited by Lyon Gardener Tyler. 1915. Volume 1. Pages 285 & 286. (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_Virginia_Biography/CWiel4PVkEkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Mason)

• Note that the Findagrave web memorial is based on secondary sources as "Burial details unknown". Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126585634/lemuel-mason: accessed April 6, 2024), memorial page for Col Lemuel Mason (1628–15 Sep 1702), Find a Grave Memorial ID 126585634; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Linda (contributor 46626647).

• Kathryn Gearhart. Allied Families Masons South of the James River. 11/27/2010 (https://alliedfamilies.wordpress.com/masons-south-of-the-james-river/)