MASON

From the files of Stephen M. Lawson

Mason Ancestry in England            Wells Ancestry in England

               Hugh Mason and Hester Wells

               Joseph Mason and Mary Fiske

               Joseph Mason and Mary Monk

               Elias Mason and Lydia Brown

               Elijah Mason and Sarah Child

               Sophronia Mason and Eli Morey

               Elijah Mason Morey and Elizabeth Merrill

               William Clemeth Morey and Melvina E. Andrews

               Minnie Elsie Morey and Aretus Erastus Freeman

               Iva Melvina Freeman and Donald VanHoosier Lawson

               Stephen Martin Lawson

Top of Page    Freeman Family    Lines Index    Chart Index    Surnames

Top of Page    Freeman Family    Lines Index    Chart Index    Surnames

The information for the WELLS ancestry in England is based on a supplement to Fifty Great Migration Colonists To New England And Their Origins, by John Brooks Threlfall (Madison, WI, 1990).

John WELLS - b. about 1500/10. In 1546, John was one of the Guardians of the Parish (probably churchwarden) at Maldon, Essex. The name of his wife and parents are uncertain.

1. John - b. about 1523/30; d. prob. early 1576. A fletcher at Colchester in 1551, John was called "son and heir of John WELLES of Maldon" in a 1551 deed, referenced in a 1566 deed.
2. Richard - bur. Feb. 15, 1596/7, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex. Probable son of John, a contemporary of Thomas of Maldon. Married Ann (bur. Jan. 28, 1608/9, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex), whose will was written Jan. 16, 1608/9 and proved Feb. 23, 1608/9. Children: prob. Alice married William PARKER; Edward died as infant; Joan died as a child; Grace; Judith; Ann; Margaret; John; Thomas; and Rose.
3. Thomas - b. about 1540/1, Little Totham, Essex; d. and bur. Jun. 15, 1605, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
4. William - bur. Jan. 24, 1584/5, All Saints' Church, Maldon, Essex. A tailor of Maldon, and freeman in 1579.
5. Mary - bur. Jan. 31, 1558/9, St. Mary the Virgin, Maldon, Essex.
6. Fayth - bap. Jan. 3, 1559/60, St. Mary the Virgin, Maldon, Essex.
7. Robert - bur. Jan. 2, 1589/90, St. Mary the Virgin, Maldon, Essex. Robert was a baker.

Thomas WELLS - b. about 1540/1, Little Totham, Essex; d. and bur. Jun. 15, 1605, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex. His will was made the day he died and proved Jul. 11, 1605, naming his five living children. Son of John WELLS. Thomas, a glover, took apprentices between 1584 and 1600. He was Coroner of Maldon in 1600 and 1601/2. There is no known record of his wife's name.

1. John - bap. Oct. 13, 1565, All Saints' Church, Maldon, Essex; d. bur. Nov. 12, 1607, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex. A glover, Thomas took apprentices in 1601 and 1602, and occupied Wrenches by Fullbridge Street. Married Margaret BOTRER, daughter of John BOTRER. Children: Alice; Grace; John; Helen; Rebecca died as infant; and Christopher died as infant.
2. A child - b. about 1567; bur. Feb. 10, 1567/8, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
3. Thomas - bap. Jul. 17, 1569, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Jan. 21, 1574/5, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
4. Susan - b. about 1571; bur. Dec. 16, 1614. Unmarried, she had a son John (bap. Nov. 1, 1614).
5. Margaret - bap. Jan. 20, 1572/3, Maldon, Essex; bur. Jan. 25, 1572/3, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
6. Thomas - b. about 1575, Maldon, Essex; bur. Dec. 25, 1624, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
7. Helen - bap. Aug. 18, 1577, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex. Married John PARNELL on Apr. 25, 1608 at St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
8. Christopher - bap. Mar. 22, 1581/2, Maldon, Essex; d. 1660, Essex. Married Oct. 17, 1604, Maldon, Essex, Sarah PARISH. Christopher was a yeoman farmer at Messing, and owned land in Maldon.

Thomas WELLS - b. about 1575, Maldon, Essex; bur. Dec. 25, 1624, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex. His will was made Dec. 17, 1624, leaving property to his son Thomas, and naming his daughters Helen and Hester. The care of children Hester and Thomas was entrusted to brother-in-law Simon RAYE. Son of Thomas WELLS. Living his entire life at Malden, Thomas was married there first Jan. 27, 1599/1600 at Maldon, Essex - recorded at both All Saints' and St. Peter's Churches. He married second Katherine (bur. Oct. 13, 1624, St. Mary the Virgin, Maldon, Essex.

Helen PILGRIM - bur. Apr. 14, 1617, St. Peter's Church, Maldon. Helen's sister Sarah married Simon RAYE, and their son Simon RAY (1610-1641) settled at Braintree, Norfolk Co., MA. Helen died of childbirth complications.

1. Ellen (or Helen) - bap. Dec. 9, 1600, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; d. 1655. Married before Dec. 1624 Moses CATMER, a shoemaker. No children.
2. Thomas - bap. Jun 2, 1602, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Jun. 15, 1605.
3. Hester - bap Feb. 8, 1603/4, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Mar. 12, 1609/10, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
4. Christopher - bap Sep. 19, 1605, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Oct. 25, 1605.
5. Elizabeth - bap. Aug. 16, 1609, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Mar. 9, 1611/2, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
6. Hester - bap. Jul. 21, 1611, St. Peter's Parish, Maldon, Essex; d. May 21, 1692, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.
7. Thomas - bap. Jul. 25, 1613, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Apr. 23, 1614, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
8. Thomas - bap. May 7, 1615, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. May 31, 1615, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex.
9. Thomas - bap. Jun. 2, 1617, St. Peter's Church, Maldon, Essex; bur. Nov. 30, 1631, St. Mary's Church, Maldon, Essex.

Top of Page    Freeman Family    Lines Index    Chart Index    Surnames

Hugh MASON - bap. Mar. 23, 1605/6, Dorking, Surrey, England; d. Oct. 10, 1678, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; bur. Arlington Street Cemetery [inscription - photo], Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Son of Richard MASON and Joan ALLCHIN. Hugh MASON, tanner, age 28, and his wife Hester, age 22, departed Ipswich, England April 1634 in the ship 'Francis'. He was admitted freeman Mar. 4, 1635 at Watertown, and held many positions of responsibility throughout his life. Governor John Endicott commissioned him Captain Apr. 5, 1653, and he commanded a company during the colonial wars. History of Sudbury 1638-1889, by Alfred Sereno Hudson (1889): "In 1678, in the early part of King Philip's war, the town of Sudbury, Massachusetts was attacked by a band of about two hundred Indians. Capt. Hugh Mason, a bold and gallant Commander marched with his men from Watertwon, Mass. to the relief of Sudbury. Arriving there, the people of Sudbury assisted by the Watertown reinforcement compelled the Indians to make a general retreat. Capt. Mason was of a committee of four appointed to provide for the defence of the frontier towns of Middlesex County. At the time of the fight, Capt. Mason was over seventy years of age." The will of Capt. MASON was written '3 day 12 month, 1677' (Feb. 3, 1677/8, with date also appearing as Feb. 8, 1677/8), amended on Mar. 8, 1677/8 and proved Jan. 22, 1678/9. The inventory of his estate taken Oct. 28, 1678, and of his debts Mar. 29, 1679. Both inventories indicate he was a man of moderate means and an active merchant in his trade as tanner. Married Jan. 13, 1632/3, St. Peter's Parish, Maldon, Co. Essex, England.

Hester WELLS - bap. Jul. 21, 1611, St. Peter's Parish, Maldon, Co. Essex, England; d. May 21, 1692, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Daughter of Thomas WELLS, Jr. and Helen PILGRIM.

1. Hannah - b. Sep. 23, 1636, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Oct. 17, 1653, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA, Capt. Joshua BROOKS of Concord, Middlesex Co., MA son of Capt. Thomas and Grace BROOKS. Capt. Brooks was a tanner, and became freeman on May 26, 1692. Children: Hannah married Benjamin PIERCE; Noah married Dorothy WRIGHT; John married Deborah GARFIELD; Grace married Judah POTTER; Daniel married Anna MERRIAM; Thomas died young; Esther married Benjamin WHITTEMORE; Elizabeth married Simon DAKIN (ancestors of Tennessee WILLIAMS); Job did not marry; Hugh married Abigail BARKER; and Joseph married first Abigail BATEMAN, and second Rebecca BLODGETT.
2. Ruth - b. about 1638; bur. Dec. 17, 1640, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. An older sister, Elizabeth, is said to have been born Sep. 3, 1538 and died young, but no birth, death or other record has been found.
3. Mary - b. Dec. 18, 1640, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married in a double wedding with sister Sarah on May 20, 1668, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Rev. Joseph ESTABROOK (b. 1640, Enfield, Middlesex, England, d. Sep. 16, 1711, Concord, Middlesex Co., MA), who graduated Harvard 1664. Children: Joseph married first Melicent WOODIS, and second Hannah (LEAVITT) LORING; Rev. Benjamin married Abigail WILLARD; Mary married Jonathan GREEN; Rev. Samuel married Rebecca HOBART; Daniel married Abigail FLINT; and Anne married Capt. Joshua HAYNES.
4. John - b. Jan. 1, 1644/5, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Feb. 22, 1730, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. Married in 1675 Elizabeth HAMMOND (b. 1656; d. 1715). Children: John married Elizabeth SPRING; Elizabeth married Thomas BROWN; Abigail died young; Daniel married first Experience NEWCOMB, and second Anna ALLEN; Samuel died young; and Hannah married Joseph SABIN.
5. Joseph - b. Aug. 10, 1646, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jul. 22, 1702, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.
6. Daniel - b. Feb. 19, 1648, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. 1698. He graduated Harvard College in 1666, and was a physician. In 1679, he sailed from Charlestown, MA, was captured by a Barbary Corsair, was carried into Algiers, and supposedly died there in slavery.
7. Sarah - b. Sep. 25, 1651, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. after 1696. Married in a double wedding with sister Mary on May 20, 1668, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Capt. Andrew GARDNER (b. Mar. 5, 1642; d. 1690, Canada), son of Thomas GARDNER and Lucy SMITH. Children: Sarah married John SEAVER; Esther married John WILLIS; Andrew married Mary SWAN; Lucy married Joseph WILDER; Abigail died young; Abigail married James WILDER; Thomas married Rebecca MAYO; and a child who died in infancy.

Top of Page    Freeman Family    Lines Index    Chart Index    Surnames

Joseph MASON - b. Aug. 10, 1646, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jul. 22, 1702, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Son of Hugh MASON and Hester WELLS. A tanner, his estate inventoried Aug. 11, 1702 at £195.7. Admitted to Church of Christ in Watertown Mar. 27, 1687. Married Feb. 5, 1683/4, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.

Mary FISKE - b. Jul. 5, 1661, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jan. 6, 1723, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Daughter of John FISKE and Sarah WYETH.

1. Mary - b. May 2, 1685, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. 1770, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Thomas LEARNED (b. Feb. 11, 1681, Sherborn, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Dec. 22, 1729, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Children: Jonathan married Hannah WHITE; David married Sarah MIXER; Joshua married Elizabeth GODDARD; Benjamin did not marry; Abijah married first Sarah SMITH, and second Abigail; Thomas died in infancy; Elizabeth died in infancy; Henry under guardinship; Mary died in infancy; Bezaleel married first Jerusha BOND, and second Susanna BOWMAN; Mary died young; Mercy married Smith PRENTICE; Amariah died young; and Jonas married Tabitha MORSE.
2. Hester - b. Jul. 8, 1686, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Mar. 7, 1754, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married first Nov. 18, 1737, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Joseph COOLIDGE (b. 1684, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Apr. 17, 1749, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA), son of Nathaniel COOLIDGE and Mary BRIGHT; and second Dec. 13, 1750, Watertown, MA, Edward JOHNSON, Jr. (b. May 4, 1689, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA). No children.
3. Joseph - b. Oct. 2, 1688, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jul. 6, 1755, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; bur. Arlington Street Cemetery, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.
4. Sarah - b. Nov. 17, 1691, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Jun. 22, 1709, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Thomas CHAMBERLAIN (b. Sep. 10, 1683, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA), son of Thomas CHAMBERLAIN and Elizabeth HAMMOND; and second before 1720 John BOND (b. Jul. 14, 1695, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA), son of Thomas BOND and Sarah WOOLSON. Children of second marriage: Joshua married Mellicent; Ezekiel died young; Sarah died young; Louisa; Elizabeth; Mary died in infancy; Lucy; and Ruhamah.

Top of Page    Freeman Family    Lines Index    Chart Index    Surnames

Joseph MASON - b. Oct. 2, 1688, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jul. 6, 1755, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; bur. Arlington Street Cemetery [inscription - photo], Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Son of Joseph MASON and Mary FISKE. Inherited the homestead in Watertown, and very prominent in town and church affairs, being assessor, town clerk, town treasurer, deacon, representative and moderator, among other positions. A tanner by trade, and resident of Boston (about 1707-1714) and Watertown. Married Sep. 14, 1710, Stoughton, Norfolk Co., MA by Rev. John Danforth, with intentions published at Boston, Jun. 26, 1710.

Mary MONK - b. 1691, Dorchester, Suffolk Co., MA; d. Apr. 22, 1763, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; bur. Arlington Street Cemetery [inscription - photo], Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Daughter of Elias MONK and Hope.

1. Mary b. Oct. 23, 1711, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA; d. Dec. 31, 1782, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA. Married first Apr. 7, 1737, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Ebenezer HOVEY (b. Jul. 12, 1714, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Apr. 11, 1742, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA), son of John HOVEY and Abiel WATSON; and second Dec. 27, 1750, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Caleb FULLER (b. Feb. 24, 1702, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Feb. 21, 1770, Newton, Middlesex Co., MA), son of John FULLER and Abigail BOYLSTON. Son: Thomas married Elizabeth BROWN.
2. Joseph - b. Oct. 9, 1713, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA; d. May 13, 1789, Lincoln, Middlesex Co., MA. Married May 3, 1742, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Grace BOND (b. Mar. 1, 1721, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Aug. 11, 1801, Lincoln, Middlesex Co., MA), daughter of Jonas BOND and Hannah BRIGHT. Children: Grace married Lt. Joseph TIDD, Jr.; Hannah married Isaac PIERCE, Jr.; Sarah married Deacon William LYON; Jonas married first Susanna (DAGGETT) FOSTER, and second Elizabeth BROOKS; Joseph, a Minuteman of Lexington, married Lucy FLINT; Mary married Josiah BISCO; Elizabeth married Deacon Reuben PUTNAM; Elijah did not marry; Abigail married James MILES; Martha married Capt. Benjamin PUTNAM; Katherine married Elisha DOGGETT; and William Bond married Susanna COBURN.
3. Abigail - b. Oct. 10, 1715, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married first Sep. 8 (Jun. 14?), 1737, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Thomas BISCOE (b. Nov. 11, 1711, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; disappeared at sea by 1740-1746), shipmaster and son of John BISCO and Sarah REMINGTON. Children: John married first Deborah PROUTY, and second Mrs. Esther MOORE; Josiah married first Grace WHITNEY, and second his first cousin Mary MASON. Abigail married second about 1746 Mr. MANN.
4. Benjamin - b. Jul. 14, 1717, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jul. 5, 1801, Dublin, Cheshire Co., NH. Married Sep. 28, 1741, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Martha FAIRBANKS (b. Aug. 2, 1724, Sherborn, MA; d. Feb. 4, 1815, Sullivan, NH), daughter of Capt. Eleazer FAIRBANKS, Jr., and Martha BULLARD. Children: Betty married Michael LELAND; Benjamin died young; Thaddeus married Sarah MORSE; Joseph married Anne PRENTISS; Abigail married Rueben MORSE; Martha died young; Benjamin married Phebe NORCROSS; and Bela married Sarah NORCROSS.
5. Elizabeth - b. Feb. 3, 1718/9, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Oct. 11, 1739, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Nathaniel PERRY, Jr. (b. Jan. 3, 1716, Sherborn, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jan. 24, 1754, Sherborn, MA), son of Nathaniel PERRY and Abigail ADAMS. Children: Moses did not marry; Edward West married Esther LEARNED; Daniel died young; Hezekiah died young.
6. Nehemiah - b. Jun. 14, 1721, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Aug. 6, 1775, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; bur. Arlington Street Cemetery, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married first Mar. 28, 1754, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Elizabeth STONE (b. Aug. 29, 1723, Watertown, MA; d. Apr. 24, 1755, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA), daughter of Ebenezer STONE and Sarah BOND; second Jul. 6, 1756, Medford, MA Martha CLARK (b. Feb. 4, 1724, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Jul. 23, 1761, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA), daughter of Richard CLARK and Mary RANDALL; and third Apr. 17, 1764, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA Rebecca FILLEBROWN (bap. Mar. 29, 1730, Cambridge, MA), daughter of Isaac FILLEBROWN and Hannah PIERCE. Children of second marriage: Daniel married Esther MASON; Hugh married first Elizabeth CLARK, and second Lydia MOORE; Elizabeth married Col. Moses COOLIDGE; and Joseph did not marry. Children of third marriage: Moses married Lucy KINGSBURY; Sarah married James HOWLAND; Martha married Samuel SAWIN; Rebecca married Charles CLARKE; and Aaron married Sally PRATT.
7. Elias - b. Aug. 24, 1723, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Mar. 30, 1802, Woodstock, CT.
8. Esther - b. Nov. 4, 1725, Watertown, MA; d. Jul. 14, 1802, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Jan. 25, 1749/50, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Capt. Jonathan BROWN, Jr. (b. Aug. 24, 1724, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Nov. 25, 1797), son of Jonathan BROWN and Elizabeth SIMONDS, and brother of Lydia who married Esther's brother Elias. Children: Penninnah did not marry; Susannah married Nathaniel BRIGHT, Jr.; Francis married his cousin Anna BROWN; Mary did not marry; Elizabeth married John BRIGHT; Jonathan did not marry; and Adam married Abigail BRIGHT.
9. Lydia - b. Nov. 6, 1727, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Nov. 4, 1747, Natik, MA Pvt. Micah WHITNEY (b. Jun. 4, 1725, Framingham, MA; d. Nov. 29, 1791, Douglas, MA), son of James WHITNEY and Martha RICE. Children: Mary; Amos died in infancy; Micah; Daniel; and Mason.
10. Susanna - b. Sep. 22, 1729, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. Married Dec. 16, 1755, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Samuel SODEN (b. Jul. 23, 1730, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA), son of Thomas SODEN and Hannah PRENTICE. Children: Susanna; Thomas died young; Samuel; Hannah married Rev. Nathaniel LAWRENCE; Thomas; Mary; and Elizabeth.
11. Ebenezer - b. Mar. 1, 1731/2, Watertown, Middlesex Co., d. Mar. 26, 1798, Spencer, MA; bur. Old Cemetery, Spencer, MA. Captain of the Minutemen at Lexington. Married Oct. 15, 1760, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Elizabeth BRIGHT (b. Aug. 11, 1734, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Sep. 18, 1812, Spencer, MA), daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth BRIGHT. Children: Ebenezer married first Judith WHITE, and second Sarah BEERS; William married first Nancy WHITE, and second Polly (BALDWIN) CONVERSE; Enoch married Elizabeth BISCO; Elliott did not marry; Seth died in infancy; Elizabeth married Moses HALL; Joseph married Elizabeth WHITE; Susanna did not marry; and Isaac married first Asenath PROUTY, and second Thirza MOORE.
12. Josiah - b. Oct. 3, 1734, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Sep. 9, 1814, Cambridge, MA. Married Jun. 21, 1757, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA Anna LIVERMORE (b. May 8, 1739, Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA; d. Sep. 10, 1819, Cambridge, Middlesex Co., MA), daughter of Oliver LIVERMORE and Ruth BOWMAN. Children: Thomas married first Lydia DANE, and second Betsey TYLER; Lucy married Samuel CHILDS; Josiah married Lois RUSSELL; James died in infancy; Anna; John married first Tryphena SHIPLEY, and second Judith TUCKER; Joseph died in infancy; Susanna did not marry; Samuel married Mary Spear HARLOW; and William Frederick did not marry.

Kinnexions    Freeman Family    Site Contents    Surnames    Contact Info