George Mason III
Encyclopedia
George 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
.
plantation
in Stafford County
, Virginia
. He was the eldest son of George Mason II
and his first wife Mary Fowke.
between 1715 and 1726. It was during his tenure as a burgess in Williamsburg
that Mason met and married his wife Ann Stevens Thomson. He served as County Lieutenant of Stafford in 1719. Mason also served as sheriff
of Stafford County.
Mason amassed enormous land holdings in Stafford, Fauquier
, Prince William
, and Fairfax
counties in Virginia. Mason also increased his land holdings by acquiring large grants south of the Occoquan River
, which were later named Woodbridge by his grandson Thomas Mason
. Mason leased most of his properties out as smaller farms with their rent paid in tobacco
yield. Other sources of Mason's income came from fisheries and a ferry service carrying King's Highway
across the Occoquan River
. Because Mason owned land on both sides of the Occoquan River, he enjoyed a monopoly
on river crossings as well as on the fishing rights in Belmont Bay
.
In 1716, Mason accompanied the "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition
" led by Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood
across the Blue Ridge
and into the Shenandoah Valley
.
A few years after his marriage to Ann, Mason relocated his family to Stump Neck plantation in Charles County
, Maryland
, relegating the Chopawamsic
estate in Stafford County, Virginia to a secondary residence.
. Soon after his death, Mason's widow and children returned to Chopawamsic. At the time of his death, Mason owned 20875 acres (84.5 km²) in Stafford County alone.
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 1690 at ChopawamsicChopawamsic (plantation)
Chopawamsic was an 18th-century plantation on Chopawamsic Creek in Stafford County, Virginia. Chopawamsic was a seat of the Mason family.-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 eldest son of George Mason II
George Mason II
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.-Early life:...
and his first wife Mary Fowke.
Planter and politician
At the time of his father's death in 1716, Mason was 27 and already a man of prominence in Stafford County. Like his father, Mason increased the family's property and social standing in Stafford County, and continued a tradition of leadership and public service. Also 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...
between 1715 and 1726. It was during his tenure as a burgess in Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
that Mason met and married his wife Ann Stevens Thomson. He served as County Lieutenant of Stafford in 1719. Mason also served as 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....
of Stafford County.
Mason amassed enormous land holdings in Stafford, Fauquier
Fauquier County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,139 people, 19,842 households, and 15,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 21,046 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, Prince William
Prince William County, Virginia
-National protected areas:* Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge* Manassas National Battlefield Park* Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge* Prince William Forest Park-Government and politics:...
, and Fairfax
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
counties in Virginia. Mason also increased his land holdings by acquiring large grants south of the Occoquan River
Occoquan River
The Occoquan River is a tributary of the Potomac River in northern Virginia, in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The river is long, and its watershed covers about . It is formed by the confluence of Broad Run and Cedar Run in Prince William County; Bull Run enters it east-southeast of...
, which were later named Woodbridge by his grandson Thomas Mason
Thomas Mason (1770–1800)
Thomas Mason was an early American businessman, planter, and politician. As a son of George Mason, a Founding Father of the United States, Mason was a scion of the prominent Mason political family....
. Mason leased most of his properties out as smaller farms with their rent paid in tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
yield. Other sources of Mason's income came from fisheries and a ferry service carrying King's Highway
King's Highway (Charleston to Boston)
The King's Highway is a route over in length in the eastern United States. It joins Charleston, South Carolina, to Boston, Massachusetts. It was named after Charles II of England, who in 1650 directed his colonial governors to build it. It did not become a continuous wagon road until 1735...
across the Occoquan River
Occoquan River
The Occoquan River is a tributary of the Potomac River in northern Virginia, in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The river is long, and its watershed covers about . It is formed by the confluence of Broad Run and Cedar Run in Prince William County; Bull Run enters it east-southeast of...
. Because Mason owned land on both sides of the Occoquan River, he enjoyed a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
on river crossings as well as on the fishing rights in Belmont Bay
Belmont Bay
Belmont Bay is a body of water at the mouth of the Occoquan River between Fairfax and Prince William counties, Virginia. The bay covers about . The bay adjoins the Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge and Mason Neck State Park on the Fairfax County side and the Occoquan River...
.
In 1716, Mason accompanied the "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition
Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition
The Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition took place in 1716 in the British Colony of Virginia. The Royal Governor and a number of prominent citizens traveled westward, across the Blue Ridge Mountains on an exploratory expedition...
" led by Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood
Alexander Spotswood
Alexander Spotswood was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the British Army and a noted Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He is noted in Virginia and American history for a number of his projects as Governor, including his exploring beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains, his establishing what was perhaps the first...
across the Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and into the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
.
Marriage and children
Mason married Ann Stevens Thomson, daughter of Stevens Thomson and his wife Dorothea, in 1721. The couple had three children:- George Mason IVGeorge MasonGeorge Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
(11 December 1725–7 October 1792) - Mary Thomson Mason Selden (1731–5 January 1758)
- Thomson MasonThomson MasonThomson Mason was a prominent Virginia lawyer, jurist, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Mason was a younger brother of George Mason IV, United States patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S...
(14 August 1733–26 February 1785)
A few years after his marriage to Ann, Mason relocated his family to Stump Neck plantation in 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...
, relegating the 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:...
estate in Stafford County, Virginia to a secondary residence.
Later life
Mason died in a ferry accident on 5 March 1735 on 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...
. Soon after his death, Mason's widow and children returned to Chopawamsic. At the time of his death, Mason owned 20875 acres (84.5 km²) in Stafford County alone.