George Mason II | |
|---|---|
| Member of theVirginia House of Burgesses representingStafford County | |
| In office 1705–1712 Serving with William Fitzhugh, John Waugh | |
| Preceded by | Rice Hooe |
| Succeeded by | Henry Fitzhugh |
| In office 1693–1703 Serving with William Fitzhugh, Thomas Ousley, Martin Scarlet, John Withers, Rice Hooe, John Waugh | |
| Preceded by | Martin Scarlet |
| Succeeded by | Rice Hooe |
| In office 1688–1691 Serving with George Brent, Martin Scarlet | |
| Preceded by | Martin Scarlet |
| Succeeded by | John Withers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Mason 1660 |
| Died | 1716 (aged 55–56) Port Tobacco,Province of Maryland, British America |
| Resting place | Accokeek, Virginia,United States |
| Spouses | |
| Relations | Mason family |
| Children | 12, includingGeorge III |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | George Mason (grandson) |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Great Britain |
| Branch/service | Virginian militia |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | Stafford County militia |
| Battles/wars | American Indian Wars |
George Mason II (1660–1716)[1][2][3] wasVirginian planter and officeholder who, although his father's only child, had many children and thus can be said to have established the Mason family as one of theFirst Families of Virginia. His grandsonGeorge Mason IV became the most distinguished member of the family, aFounding Father of the United States.[1]
Mason was born in 1660 at his father'sAccokeekplantation inStafford County, Virginia.[1][3] He was the only son ofGeorge Mason I and his first wife Mary French.[1][3] He was the first of Virginia'sMason family to be born inBritish America.
Like his father, Mason led the Stafford County militia, with the rank of colonel. After his father's death, he won election many times as one of Stafford County's two part-time delegates in theHouse of Burgesses (then the only house of theVirginia General Assembly).[4] This George Mason also served as the county'ssheriff andjustice of the peace between 1699 and 1700.[2][5] During this tenure Mason secured funds from the county to build what was probably Stafford's first jail in 1690.[2] Also between 1699 and 1700, Mason was county lieutenant of Stafford County, under General Nicholson, and defended white settlers of the Potomac region against Native Americans.[5]
In 1691, the town ofMarlborough was laid out on the same neck of land in thePotomac River that included Accokeek plantation.[2] Mason received multiple lots in Marlborough and may have built a tavern there.[2]
Mason sold Accokeek after his father's death and relocated to a plantation onChopawamsic Creek which he namedChopawamsic.[2] At Chopawamsic, Mason planted an orchard, grew tobacco, and raised sheep and cattle.[2]
Mason married his cousin Mary Fowke, daughter of Gerard Fowke and Ann Thorogood, in 1688.[1][3] The couple had the following children:[1]
Mason married secondly to Elizabeth Waugh in Stafford County, Virginia in 1706.[1][3] George and Elizabeth had one daughter:[1]
Mason married for a third time to Sarah Taliaferro, daughter of Francis Taliaferro and Elizabeth Catlett, in 1710.[1][3] George and Sarah had four children:[1]
Mason died in 1716 inPort Tobacco,Charles County, Maryland.[1][2][3] He was interred on a hillside with his father near the site of the oldAccokeek estate nearAccokeek Creek in Stafford County, Virginia.[2]