The Papers of John Mason (1766-1849) 1794-1834

Access and use

Location of collection:
Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall
Library & Archives
10709 Gunston Road
Mason Neck, VA 22079
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (703) 550-9220 ext. 235

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of approximately 350 items relating to the personal, business and legal affairs of John Mason, son of George Mason of Gunston Hall.

Biographical / historical:

JOHN MASON (1766-1849), the eighth surviving child of George and Ann Eilbeck Mason of Gunston Hall, was a Georgetown merchant and civic leader in the District of Columbia. In partnership with James and Joseph Fenwick, Mason began his career in 1788 exporting goods from Bordeaux, France. He lived in France until 1792 when he returned to the United States and managed the firm from its Georgetown offices. In 1798 he became president of the Bank of Columbia (chartered 1793). In 1815 he purchased the Columbia Foundry in Georgetown. In 1796 he became a director of the Potowmack Canal Company and in 1817 he became its president. When the District of Columbia militia was formed in 1802, Mason was appointed its commander by President Thomas Jefferson with a rank of brigadier general, a post which he held until 1811. President Jefferson also appointed him as Superintendent of Indian Trade in the District of Columbia in 1807, an office which he fulfilled until 1815. During the War of 1812 Mason was appointed as Commissionary General of Prisoners.

In 1796 John married Anna Maria Murray of Annapolis and they had ten children. They lived in Georgetown and also had a mansion on Analostan (now Theodore Roosevelt) Island. In retirement (after some financial reversals) John and Anna moved to "Clermont," a farm about four miles west of Alexandria.

Acquisition information:
This collection was donated by Virginia Dawson Beebe, 1981
Arrangement:

This collection is divided by series and primarily chorological within each series. The contents list provides more information to the arrangement of this collection.

Physical location:
Archives
Physical description:
This collection consists of approximately 350 items relating to the personal, business and legal affairs of John Mason, son of George Mason of Gunston Hall.