Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06

his sons that they should prefer the
happiness and independence of pri-
vate life to the troubles and veXa-
lions of public business. After that
paragraph he writes:
release and remit to my brother. Thomson
Mason. and his heirs Il certain debt of $40
pounds shil1ings and 81 pence sterling, and
pounds IL shillings and pence currency
due me on account Of money advanced for him
many years ago while he was in England, for
which II was never my intention to make him
answerable as will appear by my entry in my
own handwriting annexed to the account in
my book.
The testator said that Brother
Thomson Mason was further indebted
to him for a considerable sum on
account of protested bill of ex-
change and bond paid for him to
MI Bronaush's estate. and he directs
his executors not to sue for the re-
covery of that debt. He leaves 40
shillings to Mrs. Heath, wife of
Thomas Heath of Stafford county,
"in first cost of goods. a year, during
her life. to be laid out for her in
necessaries for her own particular
use; and It her son, Mr.. Richard
acquaintance from my childhood
days. should unfortunately be re-
duced to necessitous circumstances,
l desire and direct my executors to
supply him with necesSaries for his sup
port and maintenance from my estate.
X X X X
Mason left mourning rings to the
value of 3 gdineas each to John Mon
John West Jun and the Rev. Mr.. Lee
Massey. He bequeathed suit of
mourning to his cousin, Miss Bro
naugh. and one to Martin Cockburn.
The will of Gen. John Mason, who
inherited Analostan Island from
George Mason. was made June IA.
1s47. and probated April Is. 1859.
OF the court Of Fairfax county and
in our own recorders Office. He
makes no mention Of Analostan
Island and the inference the Rambler
draws is that the island had passed
from his possession many years be-
fore that. The Rambler has heard
that there was deed of trust, from
Mason to the branch bank of the
United States, and it is likely that
the island passed out of the owner
ship of John Mason by the familiar
route of trustees sale.
Gen. John Mason, in his will. calls
himself John Mason of Clermont.
Clermont should embellish the page,
but the Rambler has not been to
that farm. Mason bequeaths all his
property to 'his wife. his daughter,
Catherine. and his sons. James M.
Mason and Eilbeck Mason. That
one of the figures in the Mason-Sli-
dell-Trent-San Jacinto-W Wilkes affair
that threatened war between the
United States and Great Britain, and
James NJ. Mason will find a place in
these little annals as the Analostan
articles proceed. The will of Gen.
John Mason was probated by James
NJ. Mason. whose identification was
proved by the oaths of r. c. Mason
and George W. Hunter. To his daugh-
ter Catherine. John Mason left a
slave, Henry, and to his wife. a
slave, Alice, and the children Of
Henry and Alice, sallie, Jen. Enoch
and an unnamed infant.
The will of Thomson Mason, son
of George, was dated April Is, 1897,
and probated in 1926, the witnesses
to it being John Mason, Abediah Gar
nett, Samuel Lightfoot, David john
ston and William Griffith. Thomson
Hall. Fairfax county He bequeathes
to his beloved wife, Sarah McCarty
Mason, during her life the mansion
house, called Holm Hall, and the
land contiguous contained in the pat
ents to Thomas Stafford and Thomas
land repatented by my
father, Col. George Mason" He emu
the property left him by his
father, and these old place-names and
names of persons were given by the
Rambler in telling the provisions of
the will of George Mason of Gunston.
He leaves to his wife the slaves. Jes-
sic. Charles and Bob. sons of Old Let;
Old Della. Phillis. Mulatto Let. Old
Nell and her daughter Nell. Black
Poll, Nan, daughter of Old Della.
Pamela; Alice, Robin and James and
Jessie. the sons of Jennie. He also
leaves to his wife "the black mare l
tions certain slaves whom he be-
queathes to his daughters, Sarah
Chichester Mason, Elizabeth Mason
and Ann Eilbeck Mason. To his son,
Thomson Mason. he leaves his gold
watch, confirms to him slaves given
him by his grandfather, Rlcharo
Chichester, and confirms to. him the
gift of a silver beaker given him
by his grandfather, George Mason OF
Gunston Hall. He makes various pc
quests to his sons. George william
Mason, William Mason and Richard
Chichester Mason.
X X X
The will of James NJ. Mason. United
States senator and Confederate en-
yoy to Great Britain. was dated De-
cember 81. 1859. and probated at the
court of Fairfax county in 1871. He
describes himself as of Clarens, Fair
fax county, and the Rambler believes
that Clarens is somewhere west OF
in the vicinity of the
Episcopal Seminary, but that is to be
determined later. James NJ. Mason
cellent wife and to my two daughters,
Virginia Mason and Eliza (called
Ida) Mason" His professional and
political books he leaves to his sons,
George Mason and James Mason. To
his son John he leaves such part
Of my miscellaneous library (not ex-
ceeding one-third). as he shall select.
George 1.-The silver bowl. ladle and
stand. called the Gunston punch
bowl and the writing travelling case.
called a dispatch box given me by
Alexander Collie of London. England.
To son James he leaves the gold
snuff box. given me by A. T. B. Bares-
ford and Lady Mildred Baresford
revolver pistols; to my son John. my
platina snuff box and aneroid baro-
meter, given me by Lady Mildred
Raresford Hope; to daughter Virginia
my gold pencil case having the crest.
and to my daughter Ida the pencil
case of aluminium metal. given me by
Lady Donoughmore of England" Con-
ITO my daughter, Mrs. Dorsey (Kath-
arinel (hayipg mo- Appropriate me.