Person:John Mason (62)

John Mason, Jr. was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 Will of John Mason 2 Will Transcript of John Mason 3 Identity of wife of John Mason 4 Records of John Mason in Augusta County, VA 5 Information on John Mason		Welcome to Old Augusta Early Settlers Beverley Manor Borden's Grant Register Data Maps Places Library History Index
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Will of John Mason

• Page 52.—12th October, 1760. John Mason's will, farmer—To son, John, 270 acres on Mason's Creek; to son. James, 150 acres on Back Creek ; to son, William, 250 acres on Grassy Hill Branch; to youngest son, Joseph, 135 acres where testator lives; to mother. Leah; to daughter, Jannet; to daughter. Mary; to daughter, Margaret. Executors, William Boyd, of North Fork of Otter River in Bedford County, and brother-in-law James Keachcy. Teste: Margt. Boyd, Wm. Ritchie. Proved, 18th August, 1761, by the witnesses. James McKatchey qualifies (Boyd lives in Bedford), with Geo. Robinson, John Miller, James Bane.

• Page 165.--5th August, 1761.-- John Mason's estate, appraised by Thos. Tosh, James Bein, Neal McNeal.

• Vol. 2 - NOVEMBER 17, 1762. - (359) John Mason's orphans to be bound out.

• Page 255.--20th April, 1763. John Mason's appraisement, approved and recorded, by Thos. Tosh, Neal McNeal, Jas. Bean.

Will Transcript of John Mason

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. THE TWELTH DAY OF OCTOBER ANNO DOMINI 1760

I John Mason of Augusta County in the Colony of Virginia, Farmer Being Very Sick and Weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be Given to Almighty God. Therefore knowing it is appointed unto all men Once to Die Do make and Ordain this my Last will and Testament; That is to Say into the hands of almighty God that Gave it and my Body I Recommend to the Earth; That is to Say to be Buried at the Discretion of my Executors nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same age By the mighty power of God; As Touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me in this Life

I Give Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and Form.

First I Give and Bequeath unto my well Beloved son John Mason a tract of Land Lying on Mason's Creek 270 acres

Itim I Give and bequeth unto my Son James Mason a piece of Land Lying on Back Creek 150 acres

Itim I Give and Bequeth unto my Well Beloved Son William Meason 250 acres on Grassy Hill Branch

Itim I Give and Bequeth unto my youngest Son Josef my Plantation Whereon I Live Containing 155 acres

Itim I give and Bequeath unto my Dear Mother Leah the Sum of Twenty five in Cash

Itim I Give and Bequeth unto my well beloved Daughter Jennet a Gray natural Paceing mare

Itim I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Mary a young Dapple gray mare

Itim I give and Bequeth to my Daughter Margret a Black mare

Itim It is my will That the Remainder of my Whole Estate both Real and Moove able be Equally Divided amongst my Children abovesaid

Itim it is my Will to Make and Constitute William Boyd of North Fork of Otter Tiver in Bedford County Together with my Brother in Law James Keachey [insert above line "my Sole Executors of this my last w [above that] & Test" then back to line following "Keachy"] and I Do hereby Utterly Disallow; Revoke and Disannul All and Every Other former Testament; Wills; Leagasies; and Bequeths; and Exors Ratifying and Confirming; This and no other to be my Last will Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written Sole Exors of this my last will & Testament.

(signed) John Meason

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced and Declared by the Said John Mason as his Last will & Testament in the Presence of us:

Magret Boyd, Wm Ritchie

At a Court held for Augusta County, August 10th 1761. This Last will and Testament of John Meason dec'd was proved by the oaths of the Witnecses thereto subscribed and Ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of James McKachey one of the Exors (the other Executor Wm Boyd residing in Bedford County who made Oath accord ing to Law Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate therof in due force he having with security entered into Bond.

At a Court __?___ held for Augusta County April 20th, 1763. This further appraisment of the Estate of John Mačon dec'd being returned into Court is Ordered to be Recorded.

Identity of wife of John Mason

There are many sources citing the wife of this John Mason as Leah McKeachy. This appears to be in error, as John Mason clearly names his mother, Leah in both his will extract (in Chalkley's) and in his will transcript, as shown above. The identity of John Mason Jr.'s wife is listed as "Unknown" until records otherwise are located.

New Note: In searching for Leah, I came across a website that said that Leah was a seldom used familiar of Mary or Sarah. Perhaps, since the name Leah doesn't come down through the family but several female children have been name Mary, the search could be broadened? I also think that Leah may have been a sister-in-law to James McKeachey by way of his wife. Has anyone considered that possibility? Margaret Mason Engelhardt Engelhardt_M@yahoo.com

Records of John Mason in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley’s Augusta County Records:

• Vol. 1 - NOVEMBER 20, 1761. - (140) James McKeachey vs. John Mason, eldest son and heir-at-law of John Mason--abates by death of defendant.

Information on John Mason

http://www.wilcoxen.com/family/Mason/mason1.htm

1. ↑ .

   Info from Jimmy Kroger (jlkroger@@earthlink.net) who obtained it from a Mr. Pean, concerning Lettice Mason's ancestry. According to this document John Mason sr. first appears in the records for Augusta Co. in the 1740s, and it states that if his wife was not Leah McKeachy it was probably Tosh or Alexander. It also states that his will is dated Oct. 12, 1760, Back Creek, Bedford Co., Va.