William Mason

William Mason, son of Jackson Mason and Eleanor Mason (née Thompson and afterwards Blewart) (q.v.). Awarded compensation for three claims in Jamaica as co-executor of John Thompson.

1. William Mason, born 18/03/1803, baptised 02/02/1805 St Mary’s, Lancaster, Lancashire, son of Jackson Mason Esq, and Eleanor (née Thompson). An older sister, Elizabeth (born 28/03/1802, baptised 02/01/1805 St Mary’s, Lancaster, Lancashire and buried 26/07/1806 St Oswald, Warton Nr Lancaster, Lancashire, aged 4 yrs 4 months) and a younger sister Marianne (Mary Ann) born 14/08/1808, baptised 28/05/1815 Old Church, St Pancras, London. Father Jackson Mason, Attorney-at-Law and Alderman of Lancaster, was buried 13/11/1809 at St Oswald, Warton, Nr Lancaster, Lancashire, aged 57. His mother, Eleanor, then married John Blewart 14/03/1811 at St Mary’s Lancaster, Lancashire. A half-brother from this marriage, William Blewart, was born 08/11/1812, baptised 28/05/1815 at Old Church, St Pancras, London at the same time as Marianne Mason. The family was living at Guildford Street, London, at the time of this baptism.

2. Educated at Giggleswick School circa 1816-1822. Date of birth on school register given as 18/03/1802 (baptism record gives 18/03/1803). Entered Trinity College, Cambridge Michaelmas Term 1821. Scholar 1825, B.A. (12th Wrangler) 1826, M.A. 1829. (12th Wrangler = placed 12th in list of First Class Honours in Mathematics).

3. Ordained Deacon and Priest 1828.  Curate of Cockermouth, Cumberland until 1833.  

4. Married Margaret – probably the Margaret Hutton who married William Mason 19/10/1830 Beetham, Westmorland, as Beetham is just 1½ miles south of Milnthorp(e), Westmorland, where his mother, Eleanor Blewart (q.v.), lived.

5. Moved to Normanton, Yorkshire, in 1833 to become Vicar of All Saints. Seven children born and baptised in Normanton: Jackson (baptised 01/01/1834), William (baptised 10/09/1835), Edward (baptised 23/10/1837), Thomas Charles (baptised 09/06/1839), Catharine (baptised 13/04/1841), Mary Ann (baptised 18/04/1843) and Eleanor (baptised 14/10/1845). Was Vicar of Normanton 1833-1866.

6. In the 1841 census shown at Vicarage House, Normanton, aged 35 (rounded down to nearest 5), Clerk, born out of county, with wife Margaret, aged 35, born out of county, and Jackson, 7, William, 5, Edward, 3, Thomas, 2, and Catharine, 3 months, all born Yorkshire. Also in the household are 4 female servants and 1 male servant. At The Vicarage, Normanton in the 1851 census: William, aged 48, Vicar of Normanton, born Lancaster, Lancashire, wife Margaret, aged 46, born Westmorland, Beetham, son Edward, aged 13, Scholar at home, and daughter Mary Ann, aged 8, also Scholar at home. Living with the family are a governess and three female house servants. Son Jackson is with George A Butterton, D.D. Head Master of King Edward 6th School, Giggleswick, and his wife at Craven Bank, Giggleswick. Jackson given as 17, Scholar, born Normanton. Son William buried aged 11 at All Saints, Normanton, 23/11/1846. Son Thomas Charles buried aged 5 at All Saints, Normanton, 11/04/1845. Daughter Catherine, aged 5, buried at All Saints, Normanton on 01/12/1846. At Normanton Vicarage in 1861: William, aged 58, Vicar of Normanton, born Lancaster, with wife Margaret, aged 56, born Beetham, Westmorland, Harriet P Penn, an unmarried visitor, aged 63, a Gentlewoman, born Kidderminster, Worcestershire, and a cook, waiter and housemaid. Son Jackson, with wife Eleanora, born Jersey, Channel Islands, is listed as the Vicar of Pickhill, Yorkshire.

7. Rev William Mason executor for the Will of Ralph Watkins Fisher, made 28/04/1838, proved 02/02/1850 Prerogative Court, Archbishop of Canterbury.

8. Curate of Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire 1866-1869. Wife Margaret buried Normanton 15/05/1869, aged 68 years, described in burial register as of Kirkby Malzeard. William subsequently lived in Pickhill, Thirsk, Yorkshire. Confusing 1871 census as Jackson, Vicar of Pickhill, and his wife, Elonora, are visitors in Holme, Yorkshire, while at the Vicarage, Pickhill are William Mason, father, 68, widower, M.A. Clergyman of the Church of England Without Care of Souls, born Lancaster, Edward, brother, aged 33, late Captain in H.M. Infantry, born Normanton, Emily M, 7, daughter, scholar, born Pickhill, William V, son, 11 months, born Channel Islands, Jersey, and a governess, nurse, housemaid and cook.

9. William died 04/03/1873 at Pickhill. Buried Normanton 08/03/1873 as ‘William Mason, Pickhill, Late Vicar of Normanton, aged 69 years.’ Will proved 12/04/1874; effects under £12,000: ‘The Will of the late Reverend William Mason late of the Vicarage Pickhill in the County of York Clerk who died 4 March 1873 at Pickhill was proved at York by the Reverend Jackson Mason Clerk and Edward Mason Esquire both of Pickhill the Sons the Executors.’

T71/864: Port Royal claim no. 33. T71/869: St George claim nos. 42 and 94.

1. Lancashire Online Parish Clerk; Ancestry.com, London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 [database online]; Lancashire Online Parish Clerk; Ancestry.com, London, England Births and Baptisms 1813-1906 [database online].

2. Giggleswick School Register online; Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online].

3. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online].

4. www.familysearch.org batch no. M05533-1; Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online].

5. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online]; Births and Baptisms IGI; Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online] and confirmed by List of Rectors and Vicars, 1262 – 1927, Normanton Church, Wakefield Council website: www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/People/WalterHampson/HistoryOfNormanton/03Families.htm [accessed 04/11/11].

6. 1841 census online; 1851 census online; Pontefract and District Family History Society burials online. 1861 census online.

7. Access to Archives website: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=024-wdmm&cid=35-4#35-4 [accessed 07/11/11].

8. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni 1261-1900 [database online]; Ancestry.com, West Yorkshire, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 [database online]; 1871 census online.

9. Ancestry.com, Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900 [database online]; Ancestry.com, West Yorkshire, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1985 [database online]; England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941 online.