George Mason II
Encyclopedia
George Mason II was an early American planter and statesman. Mason was the grandfather of George Mason IV
, a Founding Father of the United States
.
plantation
in Stafford County
, Virginia
. He was the only son of George Mason I
and his first wife Mary French. He was the first of Virginia's Mason family
to be born in British America
.
. He also served as the county's sheriff
and justice of the peace
between 1699 and 1700. Mason also received funding from the county to build what was probably Stafford's first jail in 1690. Also between 1699 and 1700, Mason was county lieutenant of Stafford County, under General Nicholson, and was engaged in the defense of the Potomac region against Native Americans.
that included Accokeek plantation. Mason was granted multiple lots in Marlborough and may have built a tavern there.
Mason sold Accokeek after his father's death and relocated to a plantation on Chopawamsic Creek
which he named Chopawamsic
. At Chopawamsic, Mason planted an orchard, grew tobacco, and raised sheep and cattle.
Mason married secondly to Elizabeth Waugh in Stafford County, Virginia in 1706. George and Elizabeth had one daughter:
Mason married for a third time to Sarah Taliaferro, daughter of Francis Taliaferro and Elizabeth Catlett, in 1710. George and Sarah had four children:
, Charles County
, Maryland
. He was interred on a hillside with his father near the site of the old Accokeek
estate near Accokeek Creek
in Stafford County, Virginia.
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
, a Founding Father of the United States
Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
.
Early life
Mason was born in 1660 at AccokeekAccokeek (plantation)
Accokeek was a 17th-century plantation on Accokeek Creek in Stafford County, Virginia, United States. Accokeek was the first seat of the prominent Mason political family in Virginia.-History:...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
in Stafford County
Stafford County, Virginia
Stafford County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a U.S. state, and just across the Rappahannock River from the City of Fredericksburg. As of the 2000 census, the population was 92,446, increasing to 128,961 in 2010.. Its county seat is Stafford. In 2006, and again in 2009,...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He was the only son of George Mason I
George Mason I
George Mason I was the progenitor of the prominent American landholding and political Mason family. Mason was the great-grandfather of George Mason IV, a Founding Father of the United States.-Early life:...
and his first wife Mary French. He was the first of Virginia's Mason family
Mason family
The Mason family of Virginia is a historically significant American political family whose prominent members are known for their accomplishments in politics, business, and the military. The progenitor of the Mason family, George Mason I , arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on the ship Assurance in 1652...
to be born in British America
British America
For American people of British descent, see British American.British America is the anachronistic term used to refer to the territories under the control of the Crown or Parliament in present day North America , Central America, the Caribbean, and Guyana...
.
Political career
Like his father, Mason served as a colonel in the Stafford County militia and represented Stafford in the House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
. He also served as the county's sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
and justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
between 1699 and 1700. Mason also received funding from the county to build what was probably Stafford's first jail in 1690. Also between 1699 and 1700, Mason was county lieutenant of Stafford County, under General Nicholson, and was engaged in the defense of the Potomac region against Native Americans.
Business ventures
In 1691, the town of Marlborough was laid out on the same neck of land in the Potomac RiverPotomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
that included Accokeek plantation. Mason was granted multiple lots in Marlborough and may have built a tavern there.
Mason sold Accokeek after his father's death and relocated to a plantation on Chopawamsic Creek
Chopawamsic Creek
Chopawamsic Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River in Prince William and Stafford counties, Virginia. Chopawamsic Creek is formed by the confluence of the North and South Branches of Chopawamsic Creek and empties into the Potomac River south of Quantico at the Marine Corps Base Quantico's Air...
which he named Chopawamsic
Chopawamsic (plantation)
Chopawamsic was an 18th-century plantation on Chopawamsic Creek in Stafford County, Virginia. Chopawamsic was a seat of the Mason family.-History:...
. At Chopawamsic, Mason planted an orchard, grew tobacco, and raised sheep and cattle.
Marriage and children
Mason married his cousin Mary Fowke, daughter of Gerard Fowke and Ann Thorogood, in 1688. The couple had the following children:- Ann Fowke Mason Fitzhugh Darrell Smith
- Elizabeth Mason Roy
- George Mason IIIGeorge Mason IIIGeorge Mason III was an early American planter, businessman, and statesman. Mason was the father of George Mason IV, a Founding Father of the United States.-Early life:...
(1690–5 March 1735) - Nicholson Mason (1694–1715 or 1716)
- French Mason (1695–1748)
- Mary Mason Fitzhugh Strother (born circa 1700)
- Simpha Rosa Ann Field Mason Dinwiddie Bronaugh (1703–22 November 1761)
Mason married secondly to Elizabeth Waugh in Stafford County, Virginia in 1706. George and Elizabeth had one daughter:
- Catherine Mason (21 June 1707–15 June 1750)
Mason married for a third time to Sarah Taliaferro, daughter of Francis Taliaferro and Elizabeth Catlett, in 1710. George and Sarah had four children:
- Gerard Mason
- Thomas Mason
- Francis Mason (born 1711)
- Sarah Mason (born 1715)
Later life
Mason died in 1716 in Port TobaccoPort Tobacco Village, Maryland
Port Tobacco, officially Port Tobacco Village, is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15 at the 2000 census, making Port Tobacco the smallest incorporated town in Maryland....
, Charles County
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He was interred on a hillside with his father near the site of the old Accokeek
Accokeek (plantation)
Accokeek was a 17th-century plantation on Accokeek Creek in Stafford County, Virginia, United States. Accokeek was the first seat of the prominent Mason political family in Virginia.-History:...
estate near Accokeek Creek
Accokeek Creek
Accokeek Creek is a tidal tributary of Potomac Creek, itself a tributary of the Potomac River, in Stafford County, Virginia, United States. From it headwaters to its mouth, Accokeek Creek is in total length.-Nomenclature:...
in Stafford County, Virginia.