Notes for Nathaniel Mason

Notes for Nathaniel Mason

Nathaniel Mason was a soldier at South West Point (he also served in the Revolutionary War), the garrison at Kingston; he was probably a brother of Daniel Mason, who married Phoebe's sister, Mary Brasher. It is not known if Nathaniel and Phoebe had any children.

Daniel and Nathaniel Mason who were probably brothers, were the first of that name in Roane County. Their relationship to Col. George Mason has not been proven, but according to Goodspeed's History of East Tennessee "Daniel (1770-80--1839) came to Fort South West Point as a young man from the Potomac River in either VA or MD. Nathaniel Mason married (7-9-1801) Phoebe Brashears, daughter of Robert Samuel Brashears. Daniel Mason married (3-6-1797) Phoebe's sister, Mary "Polly" Brashears, who was the well-to-do young widow of Robert Gilliland who had bought in 1794 (Knox Book C, p.22) 640 acres on the north side of Clinch River from Reed and Swaggerty.

The Roane County Sheriff reported that Nathaniel Mason was "not to be found within the bounds of this county" when he attempted to serve papers on him. We may assume that he skipped the country. It is possible that Nathaniel Mason simply abandoned Phoebe, or that they got a divorce.