I have long searched for my Mason ancestors in northern Virginia.  Benjamin Mason, 1724-1795, my 5^th great-grandfather, is supposed to be the son of George Mason, as mentioned in a deed dated January 12, 1771, when Sarah Foster of Prince William County, Virginia, sold Benjamin Mason, ‘the son of George Mason, deceased, of the County of Loudoun.’  There has only ever been this one tidbit of information that led me to this conclusion.  I don’t believe they are related to the ‘famous’ Masons of the area.  Back to the deed, Sarah sold Benjamin land ‘lying and being in Cameron Parish in the County of Loudoun.’  There has not been another Benjamin Mason I have found in this area, other than this Benjamin’s son. And my Benjamin Mason is always listed ‘of Cameron Parish’ of Loudoun County.

Benjamin’s father, George Mason, I believe to be the son of Edward Mason, who died in 1690.  Edward Mason was relatively young when he died in Stafford County, Virginia, in 1690, leaving a wife, Margaret, and three children, son George and two daughters, Margaret and Anne.  Son George is under the age of 16 in 1690 as his father mentions he will receive his inheritance at that age.  Wife Margaret Mason married Abraham Farrow shortly after the death of husband Edward.  In Abraham Farrow’s will of 1731, he leaves a bequest of land to his ‘daughter-in-law’ Margaret Bennett – ‘land as divided by Richard Gibson and Edward Mason.’  Daughter-in-law was commonly used at that time instead of stepdaughter.  In this bequest Abraham is giving her some of her father’s land.  There is no mention of Edward Mason’s son George, as he died the year before; and no mention of daughter Anne who was also probably deceased by this date.

Will of Edward Mason

February 28, 1690

Stafford County, Virginia

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Edward Mason, of Stafford County, Virginia, being sick in body but of perfect and sound memory, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

Imprimis.  I commit my soul to Almighty God in full assurance through ye merits of my Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, to have a glorious resurrection and as for my worldly goods I do dispose of as follows.

I give and bequeath to my eldest son, George Mason, three hundred and fifty acres of land acquired, more or less, together with all ye houses and fencing and out houses therein belonging and to him and his heirs forever the same three hundred and fifty acres of land, being land I now live on and my wish is that my said son, George Mason, to be of age before enjoying possession of his land at ye age of sixteen years.

I hereby give my land called by ye name of Merry Field and by definition one thousand and three hundred and seventy acres of land lying and being upon ye south side of south hundred of Quantico in Stafford County, ye said land to be equally divided between my son George Mason, my daughters Margaret Mason and Anne Mason and their heirs forever.

It is my will that in case my son George Mason should die before ye age of Sixteen years then my will is that my said loving wife Margaret Mason Shall have one hundred and fifty acres of land out of the three hundred and fifty acres of land within said land that I gave for my son George Mason, to have said land forever with ye house I now live in with all out houses, orchards, fencing and those belonging and as for the rest of my worldly estate after my debts are satisfied and paid to be divided equally between my loving wife and children.

I appoint my loving wife to be sole Executrix of this my last will and testament, devising a decent and Christian like burial and I do declare null and revoke all former wills by me made.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28^th day of February Anno Domini 1690.

Edward Mason

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of George Mason, George Brent, Edward Thomason

This will was sufficiently proved in County Court of Stafford by ye oaths of George Mason, Capt. George Brent, witnesses of ye said will on ye 10^th day of September Anno Domini 1690 and was then recorded.

Abraham Farrow, who married the widow and relict of Mr. Edward Mason, late of this county, also humbly showeth that the wife of the same Edward Mason, being proved in this court by Col. George Mason on behalf of the children of the said Edward Mason, for and concerning the land but as yet no renumeration of the said estate of Edward Mason, deceased, granted therefore your humbly prayers, letters of administration of the said Mason’s estate.