page_title: John Mason (c. 1600–1672)
section_title: Estate
hierarchical_section_title: John Mason (c. 1600–1672) / Estate
caption_attribution_description: English: Temporary Plaster Monument
context_page_description: John Mason, was an early English settler, soldier, commander, and Deputy Governor of the Connecticut Colony. Mason was best known for leading the English settlers at an attack on the Pequot and the Mystic Fort, an event that ended up being known as the Mystic Massacre which effectively ended the hegemony of the Pequot tribe in southeast Connecticut.
context_section_description: On 10 February 1634 "Captayne Mason" received a grant of 2 acres (8,100 m²) in Dorchester. He drew 6 acres (24,000 m²) of meadow beyond Naponset in lot #73.
  In the Windsor land inventory on 28 February 1640, John Mason held seven parcels, six of which were granted to him: "a home lot with some additions to it", 10 acres (40,000 m²); "in the Palisado where his house stands and mead adjoining" 20.5 acres (83,000 m²); "in the first mead on the north side of the rivulet, for mead and addition in swamp" 8 acres (32,000 m²); "in the northwest field for upland" 8 acres (32,000 m²) "with some addition on the bank side"; "over the Great River in breadth by the river twenty-six rods more or less, and continues that breadth to the east side of the west marsh, and there it is but sixteen rods in breadth and so continues to the end of the three miles"; 9 acres (36,000 m²) "of land by Rocky Hill"; and "by a deed of exchange with Thomas Duy [Dewey] ... on the east side of the Great River in breadth eighteen rods more or less, in length three miles".
  On 5 January 1641 Connecticut court ordered "that Captain Mason shall have 500 acres (2.0 km²) of ground, for him and his heirs, about Pequot Country, and the dispose of 500 more acres to such soldiers as joined with him in the service when they conquered the Indians there".
  On 12 July 1644 John Mason of Windsor sold to William Hosford of Windsor 8 acres (32,000 m²) in a little meadow with addition of swamp.
  On 11 September 1651 "the island commonly called Chippachauge in Mistick Bay is given to Capt. John Mason, and also 100 acres (0.40 km²) of upland and 10 acres (40,000 m²) of meadow near Mistick, where he shall make choice". Henceforth, this island became known as Mason's Island, located at the mouth of the Mystic River.
  On 14 March 1660 the "jurisdiction power over that land that Uncas and Wawequa have made over to Major Mason is by him surrendered to this Colony. Nevertheless for the laying out of those lands to farms or plantations the Court doth leave it in the hands of Major Mason. It is also ordered and provided with the consent of Major Mason, that Uncus & Wawequa and their Indians and successors shall be supplied with sufficient planting ground at all times as the Court sees cause out of that land. And the Major doth reserve for himself a competence of land sufficient to make a farm".
  On 14 May 1663 the court granted "unto the Major, our worshipful Deputy Governor, 500 acres (2.0 km²) of land for a farm, where he shall choose it, if it may not be prejudicial to a plantation already set up or to set up, so there be not above 50 acres (200,000 m²) of meadow in it". On 13 October 1664, the "Major propounding to the Court to take up his former grant of a farm, at a place by the Indians called Pomakuck, near Norwich, the Court grants liberty to him to take up his former grant in that place, upon the same terms as it was granted to him by the Court".
  On 20 May 1668 the "Major desiring this Court to grant him a farm" of about 300 acres (1.2 km²), for "one of his sons, his desire is hereby granted (provided there be not above 30 acres (120,000 m²) of meadow) and Lt. Griswold & Ensign Tracy are hereby desired to lay it out to him in some convenient place near that tract of land granted Jer[emiah] Adams, it being the place the Major hath pitched upon, the name of the place is Uncupsitt, provided it prejudice no plantation or former grant".
  On 9 May 1672 "Ensign Tracy is appointed to join with Sergeant Tho[mas] Leffingwell in laying out to the Major and Mr. Howkins their grants of land according to their grants".
caption: Masons Island circa 1950
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