Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA
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In reply to:
Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA
Chuck Sexton 11/07/08
This is just my theory, but I think the difficulty identifying the Mason lineage is at least partly because they participated in the early Baptist movement. Because this was not made legal until about the 1770s, birth records would not have been kept as they were in an established church as they could have potentially been used against them in court. With many of the records in Stafford County, VA being lost, it seems the records we do have come from the church.
I descend from Gilbert Mason (this is not the Rev. Gilbert Mason) through his son, Lewis Mason. At least two of Lewis' sons were Baptist ministers. Rev. William Mason, who was the son of John Mason and Mary Nelson and the repetition of given names strongly suggest these two families are related.
Now examine the William Dale and Frances Phillips family and the marriage of Gilbert Mason to Elizabeth Dale. What I’ve read says the 8 Dale children's births were recorded in North Farnham Parish church records, but only 3 are named in the will of Frances Phillips Dale, which was filed in Bedford County, VA. Notice also that Frances did not remarry after the death of William in 1758. It has been suggested that she moved her family to Bedford to be near "her" family. She had a brother, George Phillips, in Pittsylvania County, VA. What I have read states that at the time of the move her eldest child would have been 20 and the youngest was about 9. 8 children in 11 years?Perhaps some of the adult children were married and on their own. Could Frances Phillips Dale and her children followed her daughter, Elizabeth, and her son-in-law, Gilbert Mason, to Bedford and this be "her" family that has been eluded to?
There have been many postings about Gilbert Mason's family being from North Farnham parish as well, yet I've not seen proof of Gilbert being recorded in those church records. North Farnham parish church would have been Anglican and we have proof that at some point the Masons left and joined the Baptist church. I also wonder if the migration from Stafford County to Bedford was because they were seeking religious freedom. Beford County was established in the early to mid 1750s and its young structure would have made it easier for those not conforming to the law to escape persecution.
More Replies:
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Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA
Carrie Newton 7/08/13
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Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA
Carrie Newton 7/23/13
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Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA
Chuck Sexton 8/01/13
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Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA
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Re: MASONS OF FRANKLIN CO, VA