The Wills of George and Jane Mason, Chester County PA
Contributed by Julie Corken Zimmer
My great great great great grandfather married their youngest daughter after both of her parents died. He was an indentured servant to the family in his youth, reportedly coming over from Ireland. We have no nuclear family connections for him. They were Quakers from England and Robert Corken was Methodist Episcopal, I believe. Grace left the Quaker church by marrying him. They moved to Ohio a few years after they married. The family Bible (I presume the Mason Bible, although I don't know why it would have been in Grace's possession and not that of her brother, George Jr.) reportedly burned in a cabin fire in Ohio. It was said to be quite old even at the time, dating back to the earliest period of printing presses.
-Julie Corken Zimmer
Vinton Iowa
July 9, 2009
The Will of George Mason
I, George Mason of Kennet in the Co. of Chester and province of Pensilvania do in the time of health my memory & understanding being with me make this my Last Will & Testament.
First, I give to my son Joseph the sum of one Guinea
I give to my son Benjamin the sum of one Guinea
and I give to my son Matthew the sum of one Guinea
I give to my daughter Marey the sum of twenty pound sterling to be paid to her when my hay is sold which is at Risbrough in Yorkshire
I give to my daughter Rachel the sum of one Guinea
I also give to my daughter Jane the sum of ten pounds to be paid when she shall be twenty & one years old & one bed with all that belongs to it
I also give to my wife the third of my estate (?) during her naturall Life
I also give to my sons John and James and daughter Grace all my Land in Maryland to them & their heirs to come to them as they shall arive to the age of Twenty & one years & till then they are to live with & honestly Work for son George till they respectively be twenty & one years old, he providing them with sufficient food & Rayment while they are with him & to be likeably (?) & decently provided with cloaths when they shall have fulfilled that service to go away with and that part of my ? land caled Grooms Chance shall be eaqually divided between John & James shair & shair alike and that part of my land caled Archibald Rowl's addition together with that caled Turkey hill shall be my daughter Grace's shair
and it is my Will that such of them as shall dye without heirs of their own Body their shair or shairs shall then return too & become the property of my Children & their heirs who shall survive to be divided amongst them by an eaqual division
I also give to my son George Mason all the Land I now live upon to him and his heirs with all the rest of my goods & chattles of what Nature & kind whatsoever whom I also make & ordain sole executor of this my Will to receive & pay all my debts and to pay the legacys herein mentioned
In Witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this eight day of first mo 1770
Signed and sealed by George Mason in the presence of Thomas Woodward, Samuel Woodward, and Elizabeth Woodward ? on November 12, 1770. It was "legally affirmed" on November 12, 1774 -shortly after George Mason's death date of October 24, 1774-by Thomas Woodward and Samuel Woodward.
The Will of Jane Mason
The 8th of the tenth month 1788 I Jane Mason of Kennet Township, Chester County in Pensilvania, for the better settling my temporeal affairs (being weak in body, but of a sound disposing mind and memory thanks be given for the same) do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following (Viz)
I premise My Will and Mind is, my Body be decently buryed in a plain way (becoming the truth I profess) at the direction of my Executors herein after named, and that my just Debts and funeral expenses be paid.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Mason one Guinea and no more of my estate of any kind.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Mason Ten Pound lawful money of Pensilvania.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rachel Atkinson (?) Twenty Pounds sterling money of Great Brittain with this close (?) that if any part or sum of money should be paid to her by the Testatrix before her death, that such sum or sums shall be deducted out of the legacy herein mentioned.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Matthew Mason deceased's Children (Viz) Jane Mason, George Mason, Benjamin Mason, and Matthew Mason each of them the sum of Five Pound lawful money of Pensilvania when they shall arrive at lawful age
Item I give and bequeath unto my son George Mason Ten pound lawful money of Pensilvania
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Jane Newlin's children (Viz) Joseph Newlin and George Newlin Five Pounds Each when they shall arive at lawful age
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Mason Ten Pounds lawful money of Pensilvania
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Grace Mason my feather Bed and furniture also belonging with my ? of Drawers, a small Poplar Table. Also ? part of my wearing Apparel with Five Pound lawful money of Pensilvania.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Bakewell One Shilling Sterling and no more.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son James Mason Ten Pounds lawful money of Pensilvania.
AND lastly I constitute and appoint my beloved Son Benjamin Mason and James Lindley my sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoaking and disannuling all other Wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this only as my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Jane Mason hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and year above written.
(Signed and sealed October 8, 1788, by Jane Mason before witnesses Isaac Davies, William Bronn, and Susanna U Jones. The document was affirmed before /s/ Pers (?) Frazer, Regis, at Westown March 10, 1789, by personal appearances of Isaac Davis and Wm Bronn.)