Thomas MEASON, Sr.

1707 - 1779  (72 years)

• Name	Thomas MEASON
  Suffix	Sr.
  Birth	22 Feb 1707
  Gender	Male
  AFN	14J2-WST
  Will	14 Mar 1779	Westmoreland County, PA
  Death	14 Mar 1779	Westmoreland County, PA
  Probate	15 Mar 1779	Westmoreland County, PA
  Notes	(1) Source: Jean James . (2) O'Dell, Cecil, Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia, Marceline, MO: Walsworth Publishing Company, 1995, p. 209: MASON Thomas Mason (b. 1706 c.) "lived on the east side of Opechon Creek about 1736 or 1737,"and for several years afterward "near present-day Middleway, West Virginia." Andrew Hampton attempted to sell him a tract of land, but they could not agree on the price. On 27 September 1754, he purchased a tract of land containing 370 acres from Thomas Lowe for 120 pounds. Thomas and his wife Elizabeth sold the 370 acres to George Fallis for 120 pounds on 4 September 1758. This tract is located on Mill Creek, adjacent southeast of John Mills Sr.'s 1,315-acre patent land and one mile west of Bunker Hill, West Virginia on Berkeley County Highway 51/5 and 24/3. . . . A Thomas Mason was taxed in East Marlboro Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1734. (3) Wiseman, C. M. L., Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio, Columbus, OH: F. J. Heer Printing Co., 1901, pp. 304: Thomas Meason, Sr., of Berkeley County, Virginia, was born February 22, 1707. Elizabeth, his wife, was born April 2, 1721. They moved to Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Their children, twelve in number, were: Hannah, born May 3, 1737; Samuel, born November 8, 1739; Isaac, born August 15, 1743; George, born February 6, 1746; Rachel, born November 6, 1749; Sarah, February 15, 1751; John, February 22, 1753; Thomas, July 17, 1755; Joseph, July 7, 1759; Anne, January 27, 1761; Mary, January 22, 1763, Elizabeth, May 11, 1765. (4) Torrence, Robert McIlvaine, Torrence and Allied Families, Philadelphia, PA: Wickersham Press, 1938, pp. 342-348: [Note by compiler: Information from the Torrence book should be viewed with caution, since it contains some errors relating to the MASON-MEASON and allied families. The errors relating to Thomas MASON and his immediate family are particularly significant. According to the Torrence book, the Thomas MASON who lived in southern VA was married twice; first, to Mary NEWTON; and second, to a woman named Elizabeth. The compiler believes that the Thomas MASON who lived in southern VA was married only once, to Mary NEWTON. According to this source, the Thomas MASON who lived in southern VA moved to northern VA, and thereafter moved from northern VA to PA, where he died in 1779. The compiler believes that the Thomas MASON who lived in southern VA lived and died there, and never moved to northern VA or PA. The compiler believes that this source confused the Thomas MASON who lived in southern VA with another person, Thomas MEASON; that Thomas MEASON was married only once, to Elizabeth TEETH on 14 October 1734 in Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE; that Thomas MEASON moved to northern VA; and that Thomas MEASON thereafter moved to PA, where he died in 1779. Because of these errors, much of the information in the Torrence book relating to the Thomas MASON who lived in southern VA is incorrect.] Now, Thomas Mason's name appears in a northern county of Virginia. It is written in the body of deeds, as Thomas Mason, but he signs it Thomas Thomas Mason and his wife Elizabeth appear in Court records in Winchester, Frederick County, Colony of Virginia, in 1754. In examining the Frederick County records, it is found that they all spell his name, in the body of the documents, as Thomas Mason, and they are so indexed, yet he signed his name as Thomas Meason. This cannot be explained, other than by deducing that he simulated the spelling that was found in the settlement of the estate of his uncle, Thomas Mason, wherein it was written, Thomas Meason in the photostatic record. Some of his sons retained the Mason spelling, while others adopted the new. The Old Court House, adjoining the new one in Winchester, Virginia, records a deed, wherein Thomas Mason acquired, on September 27, 1754, from Thomas Low, both of the County of Frederick, Colony of Virginia, 370 acres of land in the aforesaid County and Colony, which had been patented to Thomas Low, bearing date June 1, 1754, lying on Mill Creek, whereon he lives . . . bounded . . . line . . . 150 poles .. . granted to the said Thomas Mason. There is also a deed wherein Thomas Mason and his wife Elizabeth, both of Frederick County, Colony of Virginia, convey this same described property, to George Fallis, of the aforesaid County and Colony, the indenture bearing date December 5, 1759. The signatures to this deed were Thomas Meason and Elizabeth Meason. The spelling throughout the document was Mason and it was indexed as Mason. Another deed, found in Winchester, Virginia, is of especial interest, because of mentioning of the names of Thomas Mason, and others who later on, intermarried with the children of this (now) Thomas Meason. "This indenture, between Joseph Thompson, of the County of Frederick, Colony of Virginia, of the first part, and Thomas Mason, of the second part, conveys a tract of land on a branch of the Shenandoah River, called Everett Run, being a part of a tract of 300 acres grunted to Robert Worthington, by patent October 3, 1734, and being part of 3000 acres, which were laid off for Robert Worthington by Andrew Campbell, Lewis Neil, David Vance, John Smith, and John McCormick, by virtue of orders and decrees made in the County of Orange, Virginia, for the division of the said 3000 acres, dated August 3, 1760, and signed by Joseph Thompson." "At Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia, now West Virginia, there is a deed, dated 1st, 2nd, August, 1777, Book 4, page 222, by which Thomas Mason conveys to George Cole Briscoe, two tracts of land adjoining 255 and 300 acres respectively, at Charlestown, Jefferson County, Went Virginia." "There is an other deed, 20 March, 1807, Book 4, page 215, by which John M. Briscoe and Marie, his wife; Cuthbert and Elizabeth his wife; George Cole Briscoe, by John Briscoe, his attorney-in-fact; Philip Briscoe, Samuel Briscoe, Harrison Briscoe, and Edward Briscoe, all of Jefferson County, West Virginia, convey to Wm. Cameron, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the two tracts of land devised by George Cole Briscoe, he having bought the land from Thomas Mason, one tract being next to Richard McSherry's. The land conveyed by George Cole Briscoe to his seven sons, was purchased from Thomas Mason." Another reference to this land transaction of Thomas Mason (Meason), is found, wherein Thomas Mason made a deed, dated August 1, 1777, recorded August 19, 1777, conveying two tracts, one of 255 acres, the other of 300 acres, to George Cole Briscoe, both grantor and grantee being of the County of Berkeley, Colony of Virginia. This land lying on Everett Run, a branch of the Shenandoah River, is now in Jefferson County, West Virginia. In this deed, the spelling is Mason, but in the index, it is Meason. A very important connecting link between the first Thomas Mason and the now Thomas Meason, is disclosed through George Cole Briscoe, whose name appears as the purchaser of this land from Thomas Mason, and the fact that Thomas Meason, in his will, says, "I give unto my daughter Sarah Briscoe, wife of George Cole Briscoe, the sum of five shillings to be paid to her, she having received her portion already." In a deed previously quoted, it was shown that Thomas Mason, while living in Frederick County, Virginia, acquired the tract called "Everett Run" from Joseph Thompson, August 3, 1760, and sold it to George Cole Briscoe in 1777. Berkeley County was formerly a part of Frederick. It should be noted that Thomas Meason, in selling this land to George Cole Briscoe, was not joined in the sale by his wife Elizabeth. It may therefore be assumed that her death was prior thereto. Thomas Meason removed from the County of Berkeley, Colony of Virginia, to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where he died in March, 1779. His will contains much valuable information about his lands and children. It will be given in full: WILL OF THOMAS MEASON In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Meason this fourteenth day of March one Thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, of the county of Westmoreland, in the State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania being aged and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to Almighty God for the same, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life, and that all flesh must die, when it may please Almighty God to call, do make and ordain and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, to wit: Imprimis, and first of all, I give and recommend my soul to God, who first gave it to me, and my body to be decently burried in the earth in a decent Christianlike manner making no doubt of receiving the same again at the General Resurrection by the mighty power of God, and as to what transitory estate the Lord has been pleased to bestow upon me in this life, I do give and bestow and bequeath as followeth: Item, my will and desire is that all my just and funeral expenses be first paid out of my personal estate by my executors hereafter named. Item, I give and bequeathe to my son Thomas Mason, one certain tmct of land lying and being in the County of Westmoreland, in the State of Pennsylvania, the right of the said Land and Improvement, I have lately purchased of and from one John Minter, which said Land and premises I do give my son Thomas Meason and his heirs and assigns for ever. Item, I do give and bequeathe to my son Joseph Meason one certain tract of Land lying in the County of Westmoreland in the State of Penna., called " Green Lick," which said Land and improvements I have lately purchased of and from one James Blackstone, which land and improvement I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Mason and his heirs and assigns forever. Item, I give unto my son Samuel Meason the sum of five shillings Current money to be paid him by my Executors hereinafter named. Item, I give unto my son Isaac Meason the sum of five shillings current money to be paid him aforsaid, he having already received his portion. Item, I give unto my son George Meason, the sum of fiftv pounds current money to be paid him as aforsaid. Item, I give unto my daughter Hannah Meason the sum of fifty pounds, current money as aforesaid. Item, I give to my daughter Rachael Worthington, wife of Robert Worthington, Jr., the sum of five shillings to be paid to her as aforesaid, she having received her portion already. Item, I give unto my son John Meason the sum of fifty pounds current money aforsaid. Item, I give unto my daughter Sarah Briscoe, wife of George Cole Briscoe the sum of five shillings current money, to be paid to her, she having received her portion already. Item, I give to my daughter Ann Meason the value of one of my negroes in ready money, to be paid to her by my Executors hereinafter named. Item, I give to my daughter Mary Meason, my negro Solomon to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Item, I give and bequeath to son Joseph Meason the best horse belonging to me at the time of my death. Item, my will and desire is that my son Joseph Meason should possess my two negroes two years after my decease. Item, My Will and desire is that my three youngest daughters, namely Ann, Mary and Elizabeth Meason, shall have my three featherbeds and furniture and my pewter, equally divided among them. Item, My will and desire is that the residue of my estate be equally divided betwix my three sons, John, Thomas and Joseph, and I do hereby nominate, ordain and appoint my three before-mentioned sons, John Meason, Thomas Meason and Joseph Meason, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking, disallowing and making void, all other Wills and Testaments by me made, and this only, to be my last will. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, the day and year aforementioned. THOMAS X Meason [his mark] Signed and Sealed and Published in Presence of us; Samuel Wells Jas. Blackstone Samuel Wells, Jr. Edward Rice. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ) ) SS. WESTMORELAND CO. ) I, Edward A. Cramer, Register of Wills in and for said County, hereby do certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the original Last Will and Testament of- THOMAS MEASON, late of Westmoreland County, Pa., deceased, as the same remains on file and is of record, at Greensburg, Pa., in Will Book, No. 1, page 17. Witness my hand and seal of said office, this first day of February A. D. 1926. The names of Thomas Meason's children are all mentioned in his will, thus identifying each. The dates of their births were supplied by Mrs. Floyd Kimble, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, who, being a descendant of Major John Meason, is number 217620 in the D. A. R. through this connection. In her letter of August 31, 1933, to Mrs. John S. C. Christy, historian for Great Meadows Chapter, 23 Lincoln Street, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, she stated, in speaking of Major John Meason: "Thomas Meason, his father, died in 1779, in Westmoreland County, Pa. I have Bible records of births of these families, and copies of their wills." The birth dates, sent by Mrs. Kimble, agree with those sent to the compiler by Mrs. Lucille Mason Lucas, 426 Arch Street, Portland, Indiana, also a descendant of Thomas Meason, which dates she secured from Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio, by C. M. L. Wiseman, published by F. J. Heer Printing Company, Columbus Ohio, in 1901, page 304. In the will of Thomas Meason, the spelling of the name is given as both Meason and Mason. It is believed that this will was written for him when he was very ill, because he did not sign it. It is signed with "His Mark", whereas, in all of his previous documents, he signed his name plainly. It may be assumed that the first child of Thomas and Mary (Newton) Meason, its birth having been on May 3, 1737, was born in Norfolk, Virginia, since the parents sold their last property, there, on May 24, 1737. [Note by compiler: The compiler believes that Thomas MEASON was never married to Mary NEWTON; Thomas MEASON was married only once, to Elizabeth TEETH on 14 October 1734 in Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE.] By referring to the dates of the births of the children of Thomas Meason, which follow, it will be seen that between the birth of Thomas Meason, on July 17, 1755, and the birth of Joseph Mason, on July 7, 1759, there is a period of four years, less ten days. It is believed that the bearing of eight children was a severe call upon the endurance of Mary (Newton) Mason, and that she died some time after the birth of Thomas Meason, in 1755. Following her death, Thomas Meason married Elizabeth, surname unknown, and their four children were Joseph, born in 1759; Ann, a year and six months later; Mary, almost two years later; and Elizabeth, two years and four months later. [Note by compiler: The compiler believes that Thomas MEASON was never married to Mary NEWTON; Thomas MEASON was married only once, to Elizabeth TEETH on 14 October 1734 in Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE.] It was unusual for a widower or widow to remain long unmarried. Girls were marriageable at the age of twelve. A young wife, after bearing many children in rapid succession, was apt to break in health, and die, leaving her husband alone with his children and, as a matter of fact, in the prime of life. On the widow's side, it may be said, through the necessities of plantation life, she was left peculiarly alone. Without any neighbors of her station in life within miles, and left in a precarious situation of authority over semi-barbarous blacks, recently transported to the colonies, the situation was one actually calling for protection on the part of the widow. Children of Thomas and Mary (Newton) Mason, eight [Note by compiler: The compiler believes that Thomas MEASON was never married to Mary NEWTON; Thomas MEASON was married only once, to Elizabeth TEETH on 14 October 1734 in Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, New Castle County, DE. All eight of the children listed below were children of Thomas and Elizabeth (TEETH) MEASON.]: i. HANNAH MEASON, born May 3, 1737; unmarried. . . . ii. SAMUEL MASON, born November 8, 1739; wife believed to have been Miss Dorsey. . . . iii. COLONEL ISAAC MASON, married Catherine Harrison. iv. GEORGE MASON, born February 6, 1746; held a Lieutenant's commission in the Regular Army in 1812. "A difficulty arose with a fellow officer. In settling the affair, an appeal was made to the code-of-honor. Lieutenant Meason was severely wounded by the shot of his antagonist, and was permanently lamed. He was a gentleman remarkably courteous in his intercourse with others."1 "Isaac Meason, a brother of Lieutenant Meason, also appealed to the code-of-honor, once so fashionable among chivalrous men of the country. The story runs, that the fight was about a lady. A silver dollar in his vest pocket saved his life in the duel." Lieutenant George Meason died at Sackett's Harbor in 1812. [The compiler believes that the Torrence book has confused George MASON with another person with the same or similar name.] v. RACHAEL MEASON, born November 6, 1749; married Robert Worthington, Jr. vi. SARAH MEASON, born February 15, 1751; married George Cole Briscoe, as mentioned in her father's will, and had seven sons, whose names have been stated in a deed. . . . vii. MAJOR JOHN MEASON, born February 22, 1753; married Hannah Frost. viii. THOMAS MASON born July 17, 1755; joined General George Rogers Clark's expedition, and outside of the mention of his name in his father's will, in 1779, there is no reliable record. A possible clue is the will of a Thomas Mason, recorded in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pa., probated in 1805, who had a wife Anne, and children, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Ann Synthia, and Mary Mason. Children of Thomas and Elizabeth Mason (or Meason), four [Note by compiler: The compiler believes that all four of the children listed below were children of Thomas and Elizabeth (TEETH) MEASON]: ix. JOSEPH MASON, born July 7, 1759. He also joined the expedition of General George Rogers Clark. There is no further record of him, other than his mention in his father's will in 1779, at which time he was living. x. ANN MEASON, born January 27, 1761; unmarried. xi. MARY MEASON, born January 22, 1763; unmarried. xii. ELIZABETH MEASON, born May 11, 1765; married the Reverend John Fell, a Methodist minister. . . .
  Person ID	I18839	Frost, Gilchrist and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth TEETH,   b. 2 Apr 1721   d. Abt 1765 (Age 43 years)
  Marriage	14 Oct 1734	Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilimington, New Castle County, DE   [1]
  Children	1. Hannah MEASON,   b. 3 May 1737, Frederick County, VA d. Aft 14 Mar 1779 (Age > 42 years)   2. Samuel MASON, Sr.,   b. 8 Nov 1739, Frederick County, VA d. Jul 1803, MS or LA (Age 63 years)   3. Col. Isaac MEASON,   b. 15 Aug 1743, Frederick County, VA d. 25 Jan 1818, Fayette County, PA (Age 74 years)   4. George MEASON,   b. 6 Feb 1746, Frederick County, VA d. Abt 1789 (Age 42 years)   5. Rachel MEASON,   b. 6 Nov 1749, Frederick County, VA d. Aft 1816, Cape Girardeau County, MO (Age > 68 years)   6. Sarah MEASON,   b. 15 Feb 1751, Frederick County, VA d. Fayette County, PA[?]   7. Maj. John MEASON,   b. 22 Feb 1753, Frederick County, VA d. 2 Aug 1805, Fayette County, PA (Age 52 years)   8. Thomas MEASON, Jr.,   b. 17 Jul 1755, Frederick County, VA   9. Joseph MASON,   b. 7 Jul 1759, Frederick County, VA d. 29 Mar 1799, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA (Age 39 years)   10. Ann MEASON,   b. 27 Jan 1761, Frederick County, VA d. Abt 1810, PA or KY (Age 48 years)   11. Mary MEASON,   b. 22 Jan 1763, Frederick County, VA   12. Elizabeth MEASON,   b. 11 May 1765, Frederick County, VA d. 10 Jul 1831, OH (Age 66 years)
  Family ID	F6571	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2024

  
  

• Sources

  Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Details: Citation Text: (1) Burr, Horace, TheRecords of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, DE: Historical Society of Delaware, 1890, p. 358: Marriages 1734. . . . Thomas Measor and Elizabeth Teeth, married Oct. 14th.