_William AKERS ______+
| (1785 - 1863) m 1805
_John H. AKERS ______|
| m 1843 |
| |_Susanna LANE _______
| m 1805
|
|--John Jefferson AKERS
|
| _Benjamin NORVELL ___
| | m 1816
|_Martha NORVELL _____|
m 1843 |
|_Patsy D. WILLIS ____+
m 1816
______________________________
|
_Carl L. BURRUSS ____|
| (1893 - 1969) m 1923|
| |______________________________
|
|
|--Adrin BURRUS
|
| _Andrew Jackson "Boss" MASON _+
| | (1879 - 1960) m 1897
|_Lillian MASON ______|
(1901 - 1967) m 1923|
|_Eddie Melinda GENTRY ________+
(1878 - 1962) m 1897
[2683] living - details excluded
_James William COOK ____+
|
_John Lynn COOK ______|
| |
| |_Vivian Gertrude POTTS _
|
|
|--Ryan Christian COOK
|
| ________________________
| |
|_Nancy Elaine POTTER _|
|
|________________________
[2623] living - details excluded
_John GARNETT _______+
|
_Thomas GARNETT _____|
| |
| |_Anne _____ _________
|
|
|--Anne GARNETT
|
| _____________________
| |
|_Elizabeth MUSCOE ___|
|
|_____________________
_Joel GRIFFITH ______
|
_Joel S. GRIFFITH , Jr._|
| (.... - 1881) |
| |_____________________
|
|
|--George GRIFFITH
|
| _____________________
| |
|_Harriett _____ ________|
|
|_____________________
[1860]
[S34]
Personal papers of Mildred Akers Safford
_Lewis H. MASON ______+
| (1757 - ....)
_Nimrod MASON ________|
| (1776 - 1860) m 1813 |
| |_Mary BETHEL _________+
| (1756 - 1831)
|
|--Charles Henry MASON
| (1817 - 1855)
| _Henry "Harry" LEWIS _
| |
|_Sarah "Sally" LEWIS _|
(.... - 1860) m 1813 |
|_Scytha UNKNOWN ______
[2567]
As of 2004, no evidence of the birth of CHM to Nimrod and Sally Mason has been located. However, the weight of other evidence seems conclusive. The researcher located, held and photocopied the original documents regarding the divorce of Nimrod Mason from Abigail Horton Mason in mid-1813. We also find the marriage of Nimrod Mason to Sally Lewis on 3 July 1813 at Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church in Franklin County. Within days of this marriage, Jane, daughter of Nimrod marries Zachariah B. Lewis. We know from the Fredericksburg litigation that Nimrod had a daughter named Jane and that they lived in Kentucky. From the 1850 census we know that CHM was born between 28 August 1816 and 28 August 1817. He, therefore, had to have been born to Sally and not Abigail. We know from the 1837 marriage of CHM to Mary Jane Hill that this CHM's father was named Nimrod. Finally, from the death record of Nimrod in Franklin County, we know his father's name was Lewis and that he was from Virginia. Taken together, the evidence leads us to the conclusion that we have the right family members.
(revised 5 July 1998). In the 60's or 70's, Grace Mason Zinn Couch wrote: "Charles Henry Mason Jr.'s parents died of a contagious disease when he was a young child. When the parents died, the married daughter, Fannie Mason Parker and other relatives cared for the children. The family kept in touch with each other until grown, then drifted apart. All of the family records that had been kept were burned in a house fire."
Another family source listed children as William, Charles H., Fannie, Mide, Minnie and Nannie Mason. Several of the names are probably nicknames. The 1850 census calls this recollection into serious question, not the first instance of error in her later days writings.
In Oct. 1855, the Scott County courts appointed 2 persons to conduct an inventory of the Charles Mason family belongings (indirectly proving that both parents were dead), and in Nov, a full report was filed on the sale of all their property. See Scott County Order Books, Book G, page 350. Film 7008929.The record proves the likely time of their deaths in the Fall of 1855, but the compiled record of county deaths for 1855 omits their names. State archives staff advised the state's vital statistics law was passed in 1852 but counties resisted the law and omissions were not unusual.
Despite not appearing in the index for the 1840 census, he does appear on page 64. Charles H. Mason is listed as a white male between 20 and 30 years of age, living with a white female between 15 and 20 years of age, with one chil, a male under 5. He is in Scott County and listed between James Jones and Benjamin Johnson.
The 1850 census shows him to be 33 at enumeration on August 27, 1850, allowing his birthday to fall between August 28, 1816 and August 28, 1817. He would have been 20 when he married. Mary Jane, at 27, would have been born between August 28, 1822 and August 28, 1823. Married on December 20, 1837, Mary Jane would have been between 14 yrs., 4 mos. and 15 yrs. 4 mos. At his death, son William H. would be about 17, John N. abt. 15, James T. abt. 13, Sarah F. abt. 11, Charles H. abt. 9 and Mary E. abt. 5 1/2.
Confirming the year of death compromises confidence in the story that older sister Fannie Mason Parker helped care for the children (with other family members). We would need to look for someone older than William H. who was born (per death certificate) on Mar. 3, 1839, 15 month after his parent's marriage. To accept this account, Mary Jane would have to have been pregnant well before their marriage and 13 to 14 years old. We feel this is not likely to be true. A second explanation is that Grace was wrong in her facts and that an aunt or cousin cared for the children, not an older sister. This is somewhat supported by the researcher's inability to identify a Fannie Mason in this period.
Grace wrote that the family lived on a plantation in Iowa and had Negro servants. No evidence supports this story. In KY, the record is clear. Tax and court records prove CHM owned no real property. We surmise that if the Masons were in Iowa (or Ohio) they were working & living on someone's farm and did not own it.
Charles H. Mason's birthplace remains unverified but it was probably in Franklin County, very close to the Scott County line. Nimrod Mason, his father, was married at Fork of the Elkhorn Baptist Church and the community of Fork of the Elkhorn is 3 miles from the Scott County line. William H.'s death certificate (13837) claims VA for both parents, the 1850 census report claims KY. Kentucky is probably correct.
Their burial site is unknown. Many Scott County graves were marked with uncarved field stone and many stones are buried, yet undiscovered. Some graveyards on private farms remain incompletely audited. In considering where to search, it should probably be in the Sadieville area. C.H. Mason's neighbor, Thomas K. Holland is buried in the Stone-Holland cemetery on Hinton Rd, near Sadieville and William H., the youngest son is in the Sadieville Cemetery. These cemeteries are very close together and are consistent with Grace Mason's story that the next generation lived "near Corinth", although Sadieville is closer.
Note no Mason girls married during the years 1837-63, casting further doubt on the family tradition that an older daughter of CHM's took the younger following the death of both parents.
[3254]
From Marriage Box A, document 42A, Scott County Courthouse, photocopy of document that reads as follows:
Know all men by these presents That we, Charles H. Mason and james W. Martin are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the sum of fifty pouds, the payment whereof well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, exr's and admr's. Sealed and dated the 21 day of December 1837. The condition of the above obligation is such, that if there be no lawful obstruction, to a marriage shortly to be had between Charles H. Mason and Mary Jane Hill then the aboce obligation be void, elst to remain in full force. Signed by Charles H. Mason and James W. Martin
Document 42 B reads:
December the 20 1837, I do hearby certyfy that I am willing for Charles H Mason to get Lisence to marry my daughter Mary Jane Hill. Signed Mary Ann Hill, witness, James W. Martin.
Document 42 C reads:
Nov the 11th 1837. This I hear certify that I am willing that my son Charles H Mason should Marry Mary Jane Hill of Scott County Kentucky. signed Nimrod (X) Mason, his mark. witness Nimrod T. Mulberry.
[3253]
[S152]
Scott County Marriages 1837-1851
_Charles Henry MASON _+
| (1846 - 1894) m 1867
_John Henry MASON _____|
| (1881 - 1932) m 1903 |
| |_Sarah Ellen GLASS ___+
| (1850 - 1915) m 1867
|
|--Esker "Ted" MASON
| (1906 - ....)
| _\unknown\ ___________
| |
|_Mollie Mary THOMPSON _|
(1883 - 1969) m 1903 |
|_\unknown\ ___________
[1803]
[S34]
Personal papers of Mildred Akers Safford
[2255] living - details excluded
__
|
_William WEST _______|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--Susan WEST
|
| __
| |
|_____________________|
|
|__
__
|
_George W. YOUNG __________|
| |
| |__
|
|
|--Caroline Virginia YOUNG
| (1848 - 1934)
| __
| |
|_Theresa Elizabeth WATSON _|
|
|__