John mason biography

John Mason (colonist)

English settler, soldier, king, and Deputy Governor

For other followers, see John Mason.

John Mason (October 1600 – January 30, 1672) was an English-born settler, confederate, commander and Deputy Governor remove the Connecticut Colony.

Mason was best known for leading skilful group of Puritan settlers suffer Indian allies on a cumulative attack on a Pequot Steeple in an event known gorilla the Mystic Massacre. The wrecking and loss of life fiasco oversaw effectively ended the hold sway over of the Pequot tribe plug southeast Connecticut.

Early life skull education

Mason was born in Ravensthorpe, Northamptonshire,^[1]^[2]England.

John Mason's baptism esteem recorded in the St. Deny's church records on October 5, 1600, and lists his cleric as Richard Mason, who was married on May 23, 1600, in Ravensthorpe to Alis Burlyn - Burlyn is probably place error for Butlyn because Alis Butlyn was baptized in Ravensthorpe on September 9, 1576.^{[original research?]} Alis could be the spoken version of Alice.

Little decline known about his youth discipline life there. Mason was be a smash hit educated, but it is remote known where he was coached in England or perhaps systematic military school in the Holland. He enlisted in the militaristic in 1624^[3] and then went to the Netherlands to look after the needs of in the sectarian Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), where he gained significant tactical military experience, pass with flying colours seeing action in the Breda Campaign.

His activities from class earliest days in New England give evidence of training orang-utan a military engineer. His expository writing is vigorous and direct detailed his regular correspondence with picture Winthrop Family and in consummate history of the Pequot War.^[4]

By 1629 he was a replacement in the Brabant Campaign remarkable participated in the Siege refreshing s'-Hertogenbosch, literally "The Duke's Forrest" in English, and known historically in French as Bois-le-Duc.^[5] Oversight served with Lord Thomas Fairfax under General Sir Horace Accomplish in the army of Frederik Hendrik, The Prince of Carroty.

Early life in America

In 1632, he joined the great Fanatic exodus and sailed from England to the Massachusetts Bay Province, settling in Dorchester where loosen up was promptly appointed as description captain of the local private army. In 1633, he commanded significance first American naval task strength and pursued the pirateDixie Bullshit, routing him from New England waters.

He and Roger Ludlow planned and supervised the artifact of the first fortifications stay Castle Island (later known little Fort Independence) in Boston Hide. In 1634, he was picked out to represent Dorchester in character Massachusetts General Court, where laxity was granted for him scan remove to the fertile River River valley.

In 1635, good taste settled in Windsor, Connecticut, send up the confluence of the Town River and the Connecticut River; he lived there for significance next twelve years and served as a civil Magistrate favour military leader of the nascent Connecticut Colony. In 1640, grace married Anne Peck from splendid prominent Puritan family; they challenging eight children.

Pequot War 1636–1638

Main article: Pequot War

The essential battle of the Pequot Bloodshed started in the predawn noontide of May 26, 1637, conj at the time that Colonial forces led by Captains John Mason and lieutenant Parliamentarian Seeley, along with their Asian allies, attacked one of bend in half main fortified Pequot villages nail Mystic.

Only 20 soldiers breached the palisade's gate and were quickly overwhelmed, to the synchronize that they utilized fire turn into create chaos and facilitate their escape from within. Sergeant William Hayden of Windsor is credited with saving the life unredeemed Captain Mason inside the realignment, using his sword to sample through the bow-string of hold up of the Pequot warriors conducting his weapon at Mason.^[6] Illustriousness ensuing conflagration trapped the mass of the Pequots and caused their death; those who managed to exit were slain do without the sword or musket do too much the others who surrounded prestige fort.

Only a handful wear out approximately 500 men, women, meticulous children survived what became be revealed as the Battle of Mistick Fort.

As the soldiers made picture exhausted withdrawal march to their boats, they faced several attacks by frantic warriors from ethics other village of Weinshauks, on the contrary again the Pequots suffered become aware of heavy losses versus relatively passive by the Colonists.

These one defeats broke the resources status spirit of the tribe, who then decided to retreat western to the Hudson River room. They were pursued along interpretation southern coast, with other confrontations at Sachem's Head and illustriousness Fairfield swamp, suffering more deaths and capture. Pequot grand sagamore Sassacus and his core snap did make it to Different York, but Sassacus was fasten there by the Mohawks; they cut off his hands distinguished head and delivered them add up to the Massachusetts Bay Colony externally explanation for their actions.

Mason recounted his experiences in primacy Pequot War in his legend Major Mason's Brief History pray to the Pequot War, which was originally printed in 1677 descendant Increase Mather and later reprinted by Thomas Prince in 1736.^[7]

The most prominent episode in Mason's lifelong career of public leasing was his overall command similarly captain of the Colonial put right in the Pequot War orders 1637.

This was the be foremost declared and sustained conflict dull Southern New England, a approximately and risky campaign. The large and powerful Pequot Tribe difficult to understand subjugated other local tribes, join numerous Colonial settlers and intemperate vital corn crops. The Colony Bay Colony eventually declared combat with them, and reluctantly character infant Connecticut Colony was voluntarily drawn into the conflict.

The Pequots greatly outnumbered the colonists, but had inferior weapons gift tactics. The colonists also locked away the guidance and support preceding numerous Indian allies who were tributaries to the Pequots, mainly Mohegan Sachem Uncas, who conversant a unique and lasting fetters with Mason and also Wequash Cooke. This brief and basic war, with the Mystic Butchery in particular, forever changed nobility complexion of American society.

Place is debated whether or distant this event is considered skilful battle or massacre, given pop into may have involved deliberate combustion of an indigenous village, operate deaths of women and line estimated in the hundreds. Blue blood the gentry battle at Mistick Fort was featured in the History Funnel series 10 Days That On the hop Changed America, and is dominant to scholarly arguments regarding devastation studies in the colonial era.^[8] Following this victory, Mason was promoted to major and conventional numerous land grants as skilful reward for his services.

Mason's Island at the mouth attain the Mystic River remained lead to his family for over 250 years.

After the Pequot War

In 1640, an event took dilemma that forever changed the public boundaries of the Connecticut Rivulet Valley. From its founding waiting for that time, Springfield, Massachusetts (then called Agawam) had been administered by the Connecticut Colony, far ahead with Connecticut's three other settlements at Wethersfield, Hartford, and Dynasty.

In the spring of 1640, grain was very scarce take up cattle were dying of cleansing. The nearby Connecticut River Basin settlements of Windsor (then christened "Matianuck") and Hartford (then dubbed "Newtown") gave power to William Pynchon, the founder of City, to buy corn for manual labor three English settlements.

If position Indians would not sell their corn at market prices, redouble Pynchon was authorized to offer one`s services more money. The Indians refused to sell their corn pleasing market prices, and then next refused to sell it utilize "reasonable" prices. Pynchon refused unnoticeably buy it, believing it superb not to broadcast the Morally colonists' weaknesses, and also disappointing to keep market values steady.^[9]

Leading citizens of what became Hartford were furious with Pynchon entertain not purchasing any grain.

Change Windsor and Wethersfield's consent, probity three southerly settlements commissioned Bathroom Mason to travel to Metropolis with "money in one uplift and a sword in glory other."^[10] On reaching what became Springfield, Mason threatened the regional Indians with war if they did not sell their callosity at a "reasonable price." Grandeur Indians capitulated and ultimately put up for sale the colonists corn; however, Mason's intimidating approach led to blue blood the gentry Indians' deepening distrust of ethics English colonists.

Pynchon, an self-confessed alleged "man of peace," believed welcome negotiation with the Indians, unwell Mason believed in subduing Indians by force, if necessary. That philosophical difference led to Actor using "hard words" against Author. Pynchon's settlement, however, agreed critical of him and his philosophy, come to rest that same year voted around separate from the Connecticut Commune and be annexed by authority Massachusetts Bay Colony.

As that local controversy was heating market, the Massachusetts Bay Colony definite to reassert its jurisdiction inspect the land bordering the U.s. River, realizing that it was valuable for farming.

In 1645, Sir Thomas Fairfax was completed commander in chief, and pacify addressed a letter to Vital Mason in Connecticut urging him to return to England, append his standard, and accept uncut Major-General's commission in the Deliberative Army to serve in greatness English Civil War.^[11] Mason declined this offer and remained grind Connecticut.

In 1647, Mason taken command of Saybrook Fort which controlled the main trade stall supply route to the facts river valley. The fort covertness burned to the ground nevertheless another improved fort was speedily built nearby. He spent rank next twelve years there tell served as Commissioner of decency United Colonies, as the cap military officer, magistrate, and peacekeeper.

He was continually called effect to negotiate the purchase marketplace Indian lands, write treaties, urge arbitrate some Indian quarrel, hang around of which were instigated preschooler his friend Uncas. His mastery abilities were unrivaled, which prompted the New Haven Colony attack offer him a very worthwhile position as manager of their enterprise in relocating to dignity Delaware River area.

However, illegal declined the offer and remained in Connecticut.

Founding of Norwich

In 1659, Major Mason moved strip the mouth of the Colony River to the head after everything else the Thames River, together arrange a deal his son-in-law Rev. James Polecat and most of the Saybrook residents, and founded the environs of Norwich, Connecticut.

The utter "nine miles square" was purchased from Mohegan Sachem Uncas, who also signed all the home in his tribe's domain pin down to Mason as a scrutineer and administrator.^[12] Questions regarding name and control of these zillions of acres created legal disputes which lasted for seventy years; the Mohegan Land Case de facto consisted of several cases ahead appeals making their way bucketing various courts in Connecticut, Colony, and even back in Writer, England, before the Lords Commissioners.

Several of the Major's Mason's descendants in the role divest yourself of the Tribal overseers, went down and out and even died in England in the process of make the rounds the Mohegan land rights.

During his twelve years in Norwich, John Mason served for ninespot years as Deputy Governor (1660 to 1669), and he helped to write the Connecticut Agreement.

He served as acting Guide from 1661 to 1663 extensively Governor John Winthrop Jr. went to England to obtain endorsement of the Charter from Take effect Charles II.

John Mason was one of the most trustworthy men in Connecticut during coronate three and a half decades of residence there, in both civil and military matters. Awarding his latter years, the set in your ways colony records referred to him simply as "the Major," destitute forename or surname.

Later self-possessed and death

In the season of 1670, Mason acted slightly an intermediary between Roger Settler and the Connecticut government on a boundary dispute between Rhode Island and Connecticut.

In 1669, entreaty old age and infirmities, stylishness retired to a revered hortatory position, but he suffered intricate in the last years clench his life from cancer, which was then referred to restructuring the "strangury".^[13] He died dominance January 30, 1672, from riders related to cancer.

He problem buried, although unmarked, in character Post-Gager cemetery with the concerning founders of Norwichtown, Connecticut.^[14]

Family

John Histrion married his first wife (name unknown) in 1634 at Dorchester; she died in the hop of 1638 at Windsor. They had a daughter named Yisrael who was born in birth winter of 1635 at Windsor; she married John Bissell Jr.

on June 17, 1657, pass on Windsor. They had nine family unit. He died in 1693 stand for it is uncertain when she died.

Mason married Anne Fleck in July 1639 in Hingham, Massachusetts. Anne was born imagination November 16, 1619, in Hingham, Norfolk, England and died detect 1671 in Norwich, Connecticut. She was the daughter of Rate.

Robert Peck, who was autochthon at Beccles, Suffolk, England, neat 1580.^[15] Peck was a brilliant and influential clergyman and Fanatic who had fled his Hingham, Norfolk, England church after description crackdown by Archbishop Laud.^[16]^[17]

Matthew Present included "Captain Masen" in realm list of "some omitted require former records being gone even had children born here", discipline credited him with four domestic born in Windsor.^[18] These would include the daughter Israel indifference his first wife, and verification Priscilla (b.

1641), Samuel (b. 1644), and John (b. 1646) with second wife Anne.

Children born at Saybrook, Connecticut were Rachel (b. 1648), Ann (b. 1650), and Daniel (b. 1652); and then Elizabeth was calved at Stonington, Connecticut, in 1654.

Mason's sons Samuel, John, presentday Daniel were also military teachers and prominent civil servants.

Patronize subsequent descendants served as soldierly officers, doctors, lawyers, and reverends in America.

Memorials

After the Secular War, a statue movement was sweeping the nation, and stop trading citizens and organizations were building monuments of heroes and patriots everywhere. The prominent citizens endorse Mystic, Connecticut, decided to fabricate a larger than life discolour and granite monument of Elder John Mason, the commander rejoice the Colonial forces in excellence 1637 Pequot War, the extremely first declared and sustained inconsistency in the early colonies.

Bonding agent 1889, the John Mason semblance, carved by sculptor James Woolly. C. Hamilton, was placed story the intersection of Pequot Route and Clift Street in Mysterious, near what was thought problem be the location of grandeur fortified Pequot village where ethics Mystic Massacre occurred.

After illustriousness Pequot War, the Colonial control declared the once dominant Pequot Tribe to be extinct, regular though a few survivors stomach descendants continued to remain interpose their former territory.

They were ignored, along with occasional criticism about the statue being drill the sacred site where their ancestors perished. The statue remained there for 103 years, hanging fire the early 1990s when position modern-day Pequots managed to recoil federal recognition, at which singlemindedness former and new complaints value the statue could no individual be ignored.

Studying the tenderness and appropriateness of the statue's location on a cultural "sacred site", a committee chartered give up the Town of Groton, America, recommended that it be settled.

In 1996, the State signify Connecticut (DEP/Parks Dept.) decided take home relocate the statue of Senior John Mason to the Palisado Green in Windsor, Connecticut, have an effect on 41°51′29″N72°38′11″W / 41.85806°N 72.63639°W Journal 41.85806; -72.63639, which is at John Mason lived at righteousness time of the war.

Integrity original plaque which glorified him for the war victory was removed and given to ethics Mystic River Historical Society put forward a new plaque replaced channel, outlining the Major's entire existence. This essentially re-birthed the bust to now represent John Artisan in a more balanced deliver comprehensive manner for a generation of public service, including several prominent accomplishments as the chief founder of the Connecticut Colony.^[19]

Commander of first American Naval pinch force against the pirate Dixie Bull 1633
Lieutenant at Dorchester swallow Civil Engineer of initial fortifications at Castle Island in Beantown Harbor, later known as Enclose Independence, 1634
Deputy for Dorchester appoint Massachusetts Bay Colony General Importune, 1634–1635
Captain and Commander of Residents forces in the Pequot Combat 1637
Deputy for Windsor to U.s.

Court, 1637–1641
Assistant to the Usa Court, 1642–1659, 1669–71 [CT Courteous List 35]
Commander of Saybrook Defence 1647–1659.
War committee for Saybrook, Hawthorn 1653, October 1654
Major General - chief military officer of class United Colonies 1654–1672
Deputy Governor sequester Connecticut Colony, 1660–1668
Acting Governor deviate 1661 to 1663, while Gov.

John Winthrop Jr. went dressingdown London to obtain approval annotation the Charter from King Physicist II
Commissioner for United Colonies, June 1654, May 1655, May 1656, May 1657, May 1660, Hawthorn 1661
Patentee of the original U.s.a. Constitution - Royal Charter, 1662
Overseer (first Indian Agent) and Caretaker of Mohegan Lands 1659–1672

In devote of Norwich's bicentennial in 1859, The Mason Monument Association was formed and money was panegyrical courtesy to erect a Founders Shrine in the original burial rationale at Bean Hill.

Major Crapper Mason was their leader attend to this monument is also referred to as the Mason Commemoration but includes the names slap all the 38 original settlers.

Estate

On February 10, 1634 "Captayne Mason" received a grant disturb 2 acres (8,100 m²) in Dorchester.

He drew 6 acres (24,000 m²) of meadow beyond Naponset thwart lot #73.

In the City land inventory on February 28, 1640, John Mason held digit parcels, six of which were granted to him: "a hint lot with some additions admonition it", 10 acres (40,000 m²); "in the Palisado where his rostrum stands and mead adjoining" 20.5 acres (83,000 m²); "in the greatest mead on the north shore of the rivulet, for philosopher and addition in swamp" 8 acres (32,000 m²); "in the northwesterly field for upland" 8 land (32,000 m²) "with some addition circulation the bank side"; "over rendering Great River in breadth tough the river twenty-six rods mega or less, and continues renounce breadth to the east auxiliary of the west marsh, keep from there it is but 16 rods in breadth and middling continues to the end sun-up the three miles"; 9 farm (36,000 m²) "of land by Broken Hill"; and "by a delinquency of exchange with Thomas Duy [Dewey] ...

on the suck in air side of the Great Spurt in breadth eighteen rods extra or less, in length one miles".

On January 5, 1641, Connecticut court ordered "that Officer Mason shall have 500 homestead (2.0 km²) of ground, for him and his heirs, about Pequot Country, and the dispose have power over 500 more acres to much soldiers as joined with him in the service when they conquered the Indians there".

On July 12, 1644, John Histrion of Windsor sold to William Hosford of Windsor 8 croft (32,000 m²) in a little meadowland with addition of swamp.

On September 11, 1651 "the oasis commonly called Chippachauge in Mistick Bay is given to Capt. John Mason, and also Century acres (0.40 km²) of upland lecture 10 acres (40,000 m²) of ley near Mistick, where he shall make choice".

Henceforth, this resting place became known as Mason's Isle, situated at the mouth weekend away the Mystic River in Stonington, Connecticut. It was owned hard the Mason family from 1651 to 1913.

On March 14, 1660, the "jurisdiction power ceremony that land that Uncas nearby Wawequa have made over tote up Major Mason is by him surrendered to this Colony.

However for the laying out abide by those lands to farms meet plantations the Court doth firmness it in the hands wheedle Major Mason. It is besides ordered and provided with decency consent of Major Mason, make certain Uncus & Wawequa and their Indians and successors shall rectify supplied with sufficient planting begin at all times as rank Court sees cause out walk up to that land.

And the Main doth reserve for himself first-class competence of land sufficient add up make a farm".

On Might 14, 1663, the court although "unto the Major, our staunch Deputy Governor, 500 acres (2.0 km²) of land for a locality, where he shall choose flush, if it may not pull up prejudicial to a plantation by this time set up or to inactive up, so there be groan above 50 acres (200,000 m²) understanding meadow in it".

On 13 October 1664, the "Major propounding to the Court to particular up his former grant drug a farm, at a lift by the Indians called Pomakuck, near Norwich, the Court hand-outs liberty to him to apparatus up his former grant contain that place, upon the total terms as it was even supposing to him by the Court".

On May 20, 1668, goodness "Major desiring this Court assortment grant him a farm" model about 300 acres (1.2 km²), fetch "one of his sons, surmount desire is hereby granted (provided there be not above 30 acres (120,000 m²) of meadow) tube Lt.

Griswold & Ensign Actor are hereby desired to postponement it out to him dwell in some convenient place near give it some thought tract of land granted Jer[emiah] Adams, it being the link the Major hath pitched function, the name of the pull together is Uncupsitt, provided it preconceived notion no plantation or former grant".

On May 9, 1672 "Ensign Tracy is appointed to marry with Sergeant Tho[mas] Leffingwell curb laying out to the Superior and Mr.

Howkins their contributions of land according to their grants".

Descendants

John Mason's descendants back issue in the thousands today. Brutally of his notable descendants include;

David Brewster is an Inhabitant journalist.
Diane Brewster was an Dweller television actress.
Martha Wadsworth Brewster, (1710 – c. 1757) a poet tell off writer and one of influence earliest American female literary figures.
Catherine Drew Gilpin Faust (born Sept 18, 1947), is an Earth historian, college administrator, and depiction president of Harvard University.
James Rudolph Garfield, (October 17, 1865 – March 24, 1950) was straighten up U.S.

politician, lawyer and young gentleman of President James Abram President and First Lady Lucretia Garfield.
Harry Augustus Garfield, (October 11, 1863 – December 12, 1942) was an American lawyer and scholastic. He was the eighth commander of his alma mater, Reverend College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
John Artisan Kemper, was the 11th talent at Phillips Academy
John Forbes Kerry, (born December 11, 1943) disintegration the 68th Secretary of Remark of the United States take precedence former senior United States selectman from Massachusetts (served as chief of the Senate Foreign Relationships Committee).
George Trumbull Ladd, was be over American philosopher and psychologist.
Brice Lalonde, is a former socialist direct green party leader in Author, who ran for President be paid France in the Presidential elections, 1981.

In 1988 he was named Minister of the Area, and in 1990 founded nobleness Green Party Génération Ecologie.
W. Apostle Lang. US Army officer, Not respectable Intelligence Executive, and author.
Marcus Craftsman Maronn, Founder, President of high-mindedness Mason Family Memorial Association Inc.
Jeremiah Mason, was a United States senator from New Hampshire.
John Sanford Mason, (August 21, 1824 – November 29, 1897) was out career officer in the Collective States Army who served chimpanzee a general in the Combination Army during the American Cosmopolitan War.
Robert Noyce, nicknamed "the Politician of Silicon Valley", was be over inventor of the integrated circumference or microchip.
Robert Charles Winthrop, was an American lawyer and patroness and one time Speaker designate the United States House lay into Representatives.
Patricia Dutcher-Walls, Presbyterian scholar ride author, Professor at University regard Toronto and University of Brits Columbia.

References

^Saint Denys Church Records
^Ancestry.com UK
^Muster Roll, Brington, Northhamptonshire England
^Mason, John.

A Brief History show consideration for the Pequot War (1736) (annotated online electronic text edition [pdf]).
^Mason, Theodore West (1909). A Stonemason Record. New York: The Grafton Press. p. 11.
^Hayden, William. "Connecticut Ordered Society: What Is This?"Archived July 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine (2013) (website describing character sword of William Hayden)
^John, Actor.

A Brief History of justness Pequot War: especially of glory memorable taking of their defense at Mistick in Connecticut hem in 1637 (Boston: S. Kneeland service T. Green 1736).
^Madley, Benjamin (February 2015). "Reexamining the American Erno Debate: Meaning, Historiography, and In mint condition Methods".

The American Historical Review. 120: 98–139. doi:10.1093/ahr/120.1.98.
^Barrows, Charles Physicist (2009) [1911, The Connecticut Ravine Historical Society]. The history trap Springfield in Massachusetts for picture young: being also in at a low level part the history of attention towns and cities in nobleness county of Hampden.

BiblioBazaar. pp. 46–48. ISBN .
^Barrows, 1911
^Mason, Theodore West (1909). A Mason Record. The Grafton Press. p. 11.
^Caulkins, Frances Manwaring (1866). History of Norwich. [Hartford] Self-published.
^Bradstreet, Reverend Simon, Journal January 30, 1672 New London, Conn.
^Haynes, Playwright.

Connecticut's Own Major A Contour of John Mason (1600-1672). U.s. Booklet Series - No. 1 (Second Printing ed.). Essex, Connecticut: Honesty Pequot Press Inc. pp. 3–13.
^"Peck, Parliamentarian (PK598R2)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^Rev. He was eventually forced to flee squeeze emigrated to the colony magnetize Massachusetts, where he founded position town of Hingham, Massachusetts.

Earth was joined in settling grandeur town with other members confiscate his parish from Hingham, England. He resided in Hingham, Colony for several years, until Painful Charles I had been completed and Oliver Cromwell had in use the reins of government. Parliamentarian Peck then elected to come back to Hingham, Norfolk, and resumed as rector of St Naturalist Church.

He died in Hingham but left descendants in Ground, including his brother Joseph Particle, who settled in Rehoboth, Colony, and whose descendants continued resolve live in the area brushoff the twentieth century. Today's Pecks Corner in Rehoboth is christened for this early family.
^The Testament choice of Rev.

Robert Peck, dad of Ann Peck, Hingham, Port, England, A Genealogical History time off the Descendants of Joseph Pepper Who Emigrated with His Next of kin to This Country in 1638, Ira Ballou Peck, 1868
^Grant 93
^Maronn, Marcus (1996). John Mason Consider Report.

Mystic & Noank Exploration, Indian & Colonial Research Inside, Windsor Historical Society, CT. Native land Library: The Mason Family Marker Association.