Richard Chichester Mason
Encyclopedia
Richard Chichester Mason (7 May 1793–22 July 1869) was a prominent physician
practicing in Alexandria
, Virginia
. Mason was a grandson of George Mason
and his wife Ann Eilbeck.
, Virginia on 7 May 1793. Mason was the son of Thomson Mason
(1759–1820) and his wife Sarah McCarty Chichester.
Mason attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
and graduated with his Doctor of Medicine
in 1816. Mason's doctoral thesis was on menstruation
.
, Virginia. He and Lucy had sixteen children including:
Upon the death of his grandfather George Mason on 7 October 1792, Mason's father Thomson inherited a portion of the Gunston Hall
estate. Around 1817, Mason's father Thomson divided the property into two plantations: Dogue Run farm for Mason and Hunting Creek farm for Mason's brother Thomson Francis Mason
(1785–1838). Mason and his family began living on his Dogue Creek plantation in the mansion he built, Okeley Manor
, sometime before 1834.
in the community. Mason retired from his practice at the age of 45 to work his farm at Okeley Manor. He later served with the Confederate States Army
in the American Civil War
in Richmond
. Mason returned home at age 72 to find the mansion at Okeley, used during the war as a hospital, burned to the ground to prevent the spread of smallpox
. Mason also discovered that a negro and an Irishman were in possession of the property. By 1880, Mason's son Beverley had recovered the property and was residing in a house he built on the hill.
Mason died on 22 July 1869 at Rutledge in Fauquier County, Virginia at age 76.
(1725–1792); nephew of George Mason V
(1753–1796); grandnephew of Thomson Mason
(1733–1785); son of Thomson Mason
(1759–1820) and Sarah McCarty Chichester Mason; first cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason
(1760–1803) and John Thomson Mason
(1765–1824); second cousin of Armistead Thomson Mason
(1787–1819), John Thomson Mason
(1787–1850), and John Thomson Mason, Jr. (1815–1873); first cousin of George Mason VI
(1786–1834), Richard Barnes Mason
(1797–1850), and James Murray Mason (1798–1871); second cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason
(1811–1843); and first cousin thrice removed of Charles O'Conor Goolrick
.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
practicing in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, 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...
. Mason was a grandson of George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
and his wife Ann Eilbeck.
Early life and education
Richard Chichester Mason was born at Newington in Fairfax CountyFairfax 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...
, Virginia on 7 May 1793. Mason was the son of Thomson Mason
Thomson Mason (1759–1820)
Thomson Mason was a prominent entrepreneur, planter, civil servant, and justice. Mason was the son of George Mason, an American patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention....
(1759–1820) and his wife Sarah McCarty Chichester.
Mason attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
and graduated with his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1816. Mason's doctoral thesis was on menstruation
Menstruation
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:...
.
Marriage and children
Mason married Lucy Bolling Randolph, daughter of Colonel Robert Randolph, on 14 May 1816 at Eastern View in Fauquier CountyFauquier 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...
, Virginia. He and Lucy had sixteen children including:
- Robert Thomson Mason (12 May 1818–1890)
- William Fitzhugh Mason (4 April 1821–12 July 1822)
- Randolph Fitzhugh Mason (1 March 1823–9 August 1862)
- Lucius Meade Mason (24 May 1824–6 January 1845)
- Eliza Carter Mason (24 May 1824–12 December 1832)
- Baynton Turner Mason (8 January 1826–27 June 1857)
- Richard Randolph Mason (19 April 1827–18 March 1886)
- Lucy Bolling Mason (8 September 1831–15 December 1832)
- Eliza Lucy Mason (13 December 1832–8 July 1862)
- Beverley Randolph MasonBeverley Randolph MasonBeverley Randolph Mason was a renowned educator and founder and principal of the Gunston Hall School for young women in Washington, D.C. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights....
(1 September 1834–22 April 1910) - Eva Mary Anna Mason Heth (17 January 1836–19 November 1915)
- John Stevens Mason (18 August 1839–3 April 1918)
- Landon Randolph Mason (31 December 1841–21 June 1923)
- William Pinckney MasonWilliam Pinckney MasonWilliam Pinckney Mason was a Lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, and his wife Ann Eilbeck.-Early life and education:...
(10 January 1843–16 December 1923)
Upon the death of his grandfather George Mason on 7 October 1792, Mason's father Thomson inherited a portion of the Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall is an 18th-century Georgian mansion near the Potomac River in Mason Neck, Virginia, United States of America. The house was the home of the United States Founding Father George Mason. It was located at the center of a 5500 acre plantation...
estate. Around 1817, Mason's father Thomson divided the property into two plantations: Dogue Run farm for Mason and Hunting Creek farm for Mason's brother Thomson Francis Mason
Thomson Francis Mason
Thomson Francis Mason was a prominent jurist, lawyer, councilman, judge, and the mayor of Alexandria, District of Columbia between 1827 and 1830.-Early life and education:...
(1785–1838). Mason and his family began living on his Dogue Creek plantation in the mansion he built, Okeley Manor
Okeley Manor
Okeley Manor was an early 19th-century plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Okeley, the residence of prominent Alexandria physician Richard Chichester Mason , was one of the principal Mason family estates in Northern Virginia...
, sometime before 1834.
Later life
While practicing medicine in Alexandria, Mason also served as a justice of the peaceJustice 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...
in the community. Mason retired from his practice at the age of 45 to work his farm at Okeley Manor. He later served with the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Mason returned home at age 72 to find the mansion at Okeley, used during the war as a hospital, burned to the ground to prevent the spread of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
. Mason also discovered that a negro and an Irishman were in possession of the property. By 1880, Mason's son Beverley had recovered the property and was residing in a house he built on the hill.
Mason died on 22 July 1869 at Rutledge in Fauquier County, Virginia at age 76.
Relations
Richard Chichester Mason was a grandson of George MasonGeorge Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
(1725–1792); nephew of George Mason V
George Mason V
George Mason V of Lexington was a planter, businessman, and militia leader. Mason was the eldest son of United States patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, George Mason IV....
(1753–1796); grandnephew of Thomson Mason
Thomson Mason
Thomson 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...
(1733–1785); son of Thomson Mason
Thomson Mason (1759–1820)
Thomson Mason was a prominent entrepreneur, planter, civil servant, and justice. Mason was the son of George Mason, an American patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention....
(1759–1820) and Sarah McCarty Chichester Mason; first cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason
Stevens Thomson Mason (Virginia)
Stevens Thomson Mason was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, a member of the Virginia state legislature and a Republican U.S. Senator from Virginia .-Early life and military career:...
(1760–1803) and John Thomson Mason
John Thomson Mason
John Thomson Mason, Jr. was a U.S. Congressman from Maryland, representing the sixth district from 1841 to 1843.-Early life and education:...
(1765–1824); second cousin of Armistead Thomson Mason
Armistead Thomson Mason
Armistead Thomson Mason , the son of Stevens Thomson Mason, was a U.S. Senator from Virginia from 1816 to 1817.-Early life and education:...
(1787–1819), John Thomson Mason
John Thomson Mason (1787–1850)
John Thomson Mason was an American lawyer, United States marshal, Secretary of Michigan Territory from 1830 through 1831, land agent, and an important figure in the Texas Revolution.-Early life and education:...
(1787–1850), and John Thomson Mason, Jr. (1815–1873); first cousin of George Mason VI
George Mason VI
George Mason VI was a prominent Virginia planter. Mason was the eldest son of planter and businessman George Mason V and grandson of United States patriot, statesman, and delegate from Virginia to the U.S...
(1786–1834), Richard Barnes Mason
Richard Barnes Mason
Richard Barnes Mason was a career general officer in the United States Army and the fifth military governor of California before it became a U.S. state.-Early life:...
(1797–1850), and James Murray Mason (1798–1871); second cousin once removed of Stevens Thomson Mason
Stevens T. Mason
Stevens Thomson Mason , also known as Stevens T. Mason, Tom Mason, The Boy Governor, and lesser known nicknames Young Hotspur and The Stripling, was the territorial governor of the Michigan Territory, and later the first Governor of the state of Michigan. Mason guided the Michigan Territory into...
(1811–1843); and first cousin thrice removed of Charles O'Conor Goolrick
C. O'Conor Goolrick
C. O'Conor Coolrick was a Virginia lawyer and politician whose legislative accomplishments include the establishment of a school for the training of teachers at Fredericksburg, Virginia that became the University of Mary Washington, and the establishment of modern systems for worker's compensation,...
.