Person:Isaac Mason (3)

1. ISAAC MASON PASTORAL NOTES

Related by Ira M. Barton in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1864. Volume XVIII Early 1700s, Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts

"Isaac Mason was the ancestor of Mrs. Bullard. He was the first Deacon of the second Baptist Church in Swansey. Elder Thomas Barnes was ordained as their first pastor, in 1693, and the record finds, that "our beloved brother, Isaac Mason, was chosen and ordained Deacon."

This office he held during his lifetime; and the records of both, the church and the town show, that he died Jany. 25, 1742. He thus held the office of Deacon of this church, for fifty years, and during the whole of the pastorates of his brother Joseph and Mr. Barnes. It appears that he had much to do with both the Spiritual and the secular affairs of the Church. June 17, 1731, he, with others, "was chosen a Committee to treat with the other Society concerning the ministerial lands in Swansey." His very numerous descendants are found in Mass., N. York, Ohio and other States. In Ohio, they are represented by the Hon. Sampson Mason of Springfield, formerly M. C. from that District."

2. WILL OF ISAAC MASON.

In the name of God, Amen. The seventh day of March, one thousand, seven hundred and forty-one, in the fourteenth year of his Majesty's reign I, Isaac Mason of Swanzey in the County of Bristol in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, yeoman, being in reasonable health, blessed be God, being advanced in years and knowing it is appointed for men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, and first of all I commit my soul to Almighty God that gave it and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and touching such worldly estate that God hath been pleased to give me shall be disposed of in manner and form that and my will is that all my just debts first be paid.

Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Hannah Mason all the improvement of the east end of my dwelling house and cellar, well and yard room and a way to go and come to said house and the profits and privileges and appurtenances of all my homestead farm in Swanzey where I now dwell, during her natural life; but my son Oliver Mason, his heirs or assigns shall or may improve said farm and pay to his mother a reasonable yearly rent to my said wife or her order and I also give to my said wife my stock of cattle and other creatures and household goods, and after my wife's decease my will is that said household goods and stock of cattle and other creatures shall be equally divided between my two daughters namely, Hannah Luis and Mary Bowen or their legal representatives.

Item. As touching my son Isaac and my son Sampson, I gave them lands by deed of gift according to my ability before they deceased.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Nathan Mason the one half of six acres of lot marsh meadow lying on the east side of New Meadow river in Swanzey aforesaid, in partnership with the widow Mary Mason, to him and his heirs and assigns forever: also I do acquit and discharge my son Nathan of a receipt under his hand that he gave me of eighty pounds that he received of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Oliver all my right and share in a piece of salt meadow by Cpat. Mason's land on the south side of New Meadow river in Swanzey aforesaid and also I give to my son Oliver all my said homestead farm, housing, lands, meadows, with their appurtenances and all my right of lands in Swanzey, to him my said son Oliver and his heirs and assigns forever and my will is that my wearing apparel shall be equally divided to my two sons Oliver and Nathan.

Item. And my will is that the burying place in the south west corner of my land, four rods square, shall be free for a burying place for my posterity.

I give and bequeath to my three grandchildren, children of my son Hezekiah deceased, namely, Melatiah Mason, Hezekiah Mason and Phebe Mason the sum of seventy pounds in money or bills of the new tenour, that is to say, I give to Melatiah the sum of thirty five pounds and to Hezekiah the sum of thirty pounds and to Phebe I give five pounds which make up the abovesaid sum of seventy pounds to be paid by my executor after my wife's decease and as they come to lawful age, and I do make, ordain and constitute my son Oliver Mason that liveth with me and hath care of my concerns, sole executor of this my last will and testament, ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared By the said Isaac Mason to be his last Will and testament in the presence of us Subscribers,

Elisha Mason, Israel Cole, Joseph Mason.

Probated March 16, 1741-42 [Bristol County, Mass. Probate. Vol. 10, page 130.]

3. NOTES ON ISAAC MASON

"Genealogy Of The Sampson Mason Family, Part I." compiled by Alverdo Hayward Mason, East Braintree, Massachusetts, 1902.

His name is not mentioned in his mother's will, probably because he was not indebted to her. She had divided her husband's estate among her sons some years before her death and made a bequest only to Sampson, appointing as trustees, the older sons, Samuel and Joseph, naming Pelatiah and a Benjamin as indebted to her. Isaac Mason was a shoemaker by trade and lived in Rehoboth for some years after his marriage to Hannah (— )? About 1706 he removed to Swansea where he probably erected the house, still standing, which by tradition was his home. He was chosen Deacon of the Second Church of Swansea soon after its organization in 1693 and continued in that office until his death which occurred January 25, 1741-2. He was undoubtedly buried in his family burial lot, near his home on the north side of Swansea, not far from the present Hortonville post office, but his grave is unmarked. His wife, Hannah, was living when his will was made in 1741, but the date of her death is unknown.

1. ↑ Rounds, H. L. Peter. Vital records of Swansea, Massachusetts to 1850. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1992)
   220.

   Deacon Isaac Mason Departed this Life January the 25:1742 being in the Seventhy forth year of his age

2.   Named one of the Overseers in will of brother Noah.