Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Robert Mason

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Descendants of Robert Mason

Generation No. 2

2. ROBERT² MASON (ROBERT¹) was born April 07, 1757 in Stepney, London, England, and died September 25, 1849 in Clear Creek, Knox County, Kentucky. He married MARY KING/EVANS Abt. 1783 in Kentucky. She was born May 09, 1760 in South Carolina, and died July 13, 1842 in Clear Creek, Knox County, Kentucky.

Notes for ROBERT MASON:
Source: London to America Newsletter; 4-1 Page 2

ROBERT MASON--HIS LIFE & TIMES

Robert MASON was born 7 April 1757 in Stepney, London, England, the son of Robert & Elizabeth MASON (WEBB?). He was christened 24 April 1757, in St. Mary Whitechapel, in Stepney. There were nine brothers & sisters in his family, beside himself. They were Ann Dudley, Charles, Charlotte, an Elizabeth who died in early childhood, Elizabeth, James, John, Sarah, & William. Nearly everyone of these names were repeated in Robert's children.

Robert came to America in 1775, aboard the ship 'Adventurer' along with two other young men from Stepney. These two lads were William EVANS, age 19; and John COLLINS, age 25. It is very possible that all three young men were related. All were indentured to sponsers in America to repay their passage aboard ship. It is interesting to note that Robert was listed as being a gunsmith; there was a large arms factory in Stepney at the time. John COLLINS was a carpenter, while William EVANS was a gardner. Upon his arrival in Virginia, Robert served his indenture in Hampshire county--now located in West Virginia. Nothing has been discovered about this part of his life.

In early 1779 he enlisted in the State Troops of Virginia and served in the 11th Regiment under Col. Acfrew Buford. He was at Buford's Massacre, during which his regiment took severe losses, due to a tactical error on the part of Col. Buford. Robert was discharged in July or August 1780.

Robert's marriage date has not been found, nor has his wife's maiden name been discovered. However, we believe that he married Mary King sometime in the early 1780s in the Carolinas. She could have been Cherokee Indian. Robert is listed on the 1790 census in Burke County, NC, with 5 children: 1 male under 16 years; and 4 daughters, plus himself and his wife. The son would have been James. The daughters alive in 1790 were Sarah, Nancy, Elizabeth, and one other who we cannot trace. He later moved to Tennessee where son William was born ca 1795, Robert Jr. in 1797, and John in 1800. A daughter Mary was born in 1793, but we don't know where.

Robert was believed to be in Grainger Co. TN during the 1790s and early 1800s. Three of his daughters were married there after 1800. They were Sarah, who married David Campbell 30 Aug 1803; Nancy who married Winston Partin 23 July 1804; and Elizabeth who married Isaiah Collins 20 Nov 1805.

Robert, with his unmarried children, was in Knox County, KY in 1806. His three married daughters followed in 1807. We are fortunate in knowing who each of his children wed. James married Phoebe Gibson in 1809. William married Elizabeth Evans, date unknown. Robert married Elizabeth Laws in 1819. John married Rebecca Gibson. Mary married Shelton Partin.

Robert applied for an received a land grant on Clear Creek on 18 Sep 1819. He remained on Clear Creek the rest of his life. On 24 Apr 1837, he applied for a War pension, but it was denied for lack of proof.

Before he died, he transferred his land to his sons, provided that they care for him & Mary as long as they lived. He died in 1849, and lies buried under this stone.

We know at least one episode in his life. Mrs. Henry Lambert accused him in court of being 'A dadburned hog-thief"!--the suit was dismissed. Mrs. Lambert is the ancestor of at least one person present here today!

COMMENTS MADE AT ROBERT MASON STONE DEDICATION 10 Jun 1990
On 1774, England was in turmoil. Her most promising colonies, in America, were banded together against her, because of her insistence on extracting the last penny of tax from the colonists. In addition to this, things at home were not going well. The common man was beginning to see, dimly, that there might be better things in life than unremitting toil for a land overseer of colliery owner. The were 'voting with their feet', as did the people of East Germany this past year.

While we do not know exactly the facts surrounding Robert's employment in Stepney, we can make some observations based on what was normal at the time. Child labor was very common--almost a universal necessity. Robert no doubt had put in at least seven years of toil--perhaps all of it in the arms factory. No forty hour work week --all worked 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week and counted themselves fortunate for the opportunity. Then home to bed through streets filthy with overflowing sewage, garbage, and rats. It is a remarkable tribute to Robert that he had enough stamina to resist, and to find a way out--to go to a place where a man's labors could count for himself, and to help build the greatest nation on earth.

Did Robert accomplish much? Well, he owned his own land. He left an inheritance for his family. Most of all he played a part in building America! He fought for her freedom! He caught the fever of new land over the horizon, and went to the frontier, to live amonst Indians and wild beasts!

I believe that the verse in Genesis (Chapter 13; v 15) applies to Robert Mason as much as it did to Abraham-----"And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."

Did Robert have seed? It is beyond numbering. However, I can tell this, that that portion of his seed through his daughter Sarah numbers more than 6,000 souls. If other children were as prolific, we could estimante over 50,000 descendants have arisen from Robert! Let us rise up and call him blessed!

More About ROBERT MASON:
Burial: Mason Cemetery, Bell County, Kentucky
Christening: April 24, 1757, St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, London, England
Emigration: January 1775, The Ship Adventurer, from London to Virginia
Military service: 1779, State Troops of Virginia, 11th Regiment

Children of ROBERT MASON and MARY KING/EVANS are:

3.	i.	SARAH ANN³ MASON, b. 1780, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1830.
	ii.	NANCY MASON, b. Abt. 1786, North Carolina; m. WINSTON PARTIN, July 23, 1804, Grainger County, Tennessee.
4.	iii.	ELIZABETH MASON, b. 1787, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1838.
5.	iv.	JAMES K. MASON, b. December 03, 1790, Burke County, North Carolina; d. July 15, 1865, Hendricks County, Indiana.
6.	v.	MARY MASON, b. 1793, Burke County, North Carolina.
7.	vi.	WILLIAM MASON, b. May 15, 1796, South Carolina or Tennessee; d. Abt. 1887, Bell County, Kentucky.
8.	vii.	ROBERT LEWIS MASON, b. December 06, 1797, Grainger County, Tennessee; d. July 04, 1887, Big Clear Creek, Bell County, Kentucky.
9.	viii.	JOHN E. MASON, b. Abt. 1800, Grainger County, Tennessee.

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