Patrick Mason^{[1, 2]}

1816 - 1899  (83 years)

• Name	Patrick Mason  [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
  Christening	Apr 1816	Leggygowan, Saintfield, Down, Ulster, Ireland
  Birth	5 Apr 1816	Leggygowan, Saintfield, Down, Ulster, Ireland   [10, 11, 12]
  Gender	Male
  _UID	5ACF435337AFB248A2A6621646EA9D0F3BAA
  Death	9 May 1899	Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA   [11, 12, 13]
  	Cause: Bright's disease and complications
  Burial	11 May 1899	St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA   [12]
  Notes	Per notes from RAB, was born in St. Field, Down, Ireland on April 5, 1818, came to Canada with parents as infant, April 1819, died Fall River April 9, 1900 (sic) Confirmed at St. Patrice de Rawdon, 10 Sep 1837, per Registres Parroissioux de St-Patrice de Rawdon, 1837-1876, Vol I, pg 3 rev and 4. Sponsor at baptism on 27 Dec 1837 for Bridget McCabe, daughter of Hugh McCabe and Margret Murphy. It was noted that he could not sign. Godfather was cousin William Mason and Godmother's name was Sarah Pake. 1900 Fall River directory - no listing. 1920 census return for children states was Irish speaker Residence at death was 61 King St., Fall River ... same address as son Thomas E. Mason.
  Person ID	I239	broderick
  Last Modified	5 Jun 2025

  
  

  Father	Arthur Mason,   b. Abt 1793, Leggygowan, Saintfield, Down, Ulster, Ireland d. 25 Jun 1879, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada (Age 86 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Smith,   b. Abt 1789, Hollymount, Loughan Island, Down, Ulster, Ireland d. 16 Aug 1873, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	Bef 1818	Ireland   [14]
  Family ID	F68	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Rose Ann Coffey,   b. Abt 1819, Ireland d. 3 Mar 1882, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada (Age 63 years)
  Marriage	18 Apr 1842	Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada   [15]
  Children	1. Elizabeth Mason,   b. 27 Mar 1843, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. 13 Nov 1926, Montréal, Québec, Canada (Age 83 years)   2. Joseph Arthur Mason,   b. 11 May 1845, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. Poss Colorado, USA   3. Patrick J. Mason,   b. 25 Mar 1847, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. 20 May 1917, Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, New York, USA (Age 70 years)   4. Mary Ann Mason,   b. 19 Oct 1849, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. 14 Dec 1887, Marysville, Wright, Minnesota, USA (Age 38 years)   5. John Mason,   b. 17 Jan 1852, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. 14 Jan 1853, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada (Age 0 years)   6. James Mason,   b. 30 Jan 1854, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. Aft 1881 (Age 27 years)   7. Ann Mason,   b. 25 Apr 1856, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. 6 Jun 1856, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada (Age 0 years)   8. Thomas Edward Mason,   b. 12 Dec 1858, Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada d. 28 Aug 1924, Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA (Age 65 years)
  Family ID	F67	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	31 Jul 2015

  
  

• Event Map

  Christening - Apr 1816 - Leggygowan, Saintfield, Down, Ulster, Ireland Birth - 5 Apr 1816 - Leggygowan, Saintfield, Down, Ulster, Ireland Marriage - 18 Apr 1842 - Rawdon, Montcalm, Québec, Canada Death - Cause: Bright's disease and complications - 9 May 1899 - Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA Burial - 11 May 1899 - St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S616] Parkinson, Daniel B., Up to Rawdon, (http://www.uptorawdon.com), Research Files General Research 1837 - 1839 Rawdon Loyal Irish Volunteers. (revised April 24, 2014) (Reliability: 3). Private Pat'k. Mason Patt. Mason 3162 * 28 *31, signed 28 46ntbl Private Pat. Mason31, signed / son of Art. 28 as Pat 2 46 Microfilms from Library and Archives Canada containing militia pay lists may be found at Ancestry.com. There is some overlapping in the documents - for instance the second and third documents (in column G) include days already noted in document one (column E). Column G I have treated as a single document because the two parts cover the same time period (the regiment had two separate troops each with its' own serjeant [sic] major). An asterisk denotes a member of the Second Troop. At this time of political unrest, militia training and service was required for males aged 16 to 60 and there are 421 named. Only a handful appear to be Canadien. The recorder of the pay lists used spellings which are not always consistent with how the volunteer signed. Sic, or a note, in the comments column denotes there are differences. An X was used to indicate the volunteer had signed off and a second X at the end of the name (or between first and second names) indicated that someone had signed for this man. This may denote illiteracy but not necessarily. It appears, when one examines the handwriting, that sometimes one person signed for others in his family - for example, a father for his sons. There are individuals known to be literate who did not sign for themselves on some lists. It would also appear that the paymaster permitted volunteers, who were not immediate family, to collect for friends or neighbours. This is proven by later pay lists where men signed their own names. It is worthwhile to consult the various lists for details; I have noted some individuals who did not sign the first list examined but did sign later ones and vice versa. Blank spaces in a column indicate that no account was found of payment to this volunteer in this particular time period. Transcribing into an Excel sheet requires great care and I apologize for errors or omissions and will endeavour to correct them, when pointed out. It is interesting to see who was promoted to higher rank in the brief 18 month period - in the case of Robert Bagnall from private to major. In a number of cases, rank indicates the volunteer had previous military service - Henry Dawson and William Norrish are excellent examples. Michael Watters was about 63 and not obliged to serve; was he a sergeant in recognition of his age? We do not know if he or his son Abraham, also a sergeant, were ex-soldiers. Many of the additions to the pay list were young men coming of age. Rawdon Loyal Irish Volunteers (PDF or XLS format) Payment was made in pounds, shillings and pence (£ s d) of Halifax currency, which was used officially in Upper and Lower Canada until 1841 when the gold standard was adopted for the dollar. The daily rate was similar to what was listed for the Kildare regiment but there were slight differences. The Rawdon pay list is earlier and it appears the rate may have been higher for those serving longer time periods. Most Rawdon pay lists were witnessed by William Holtby and Henry Dawson. This income in winter months must have been a welcome source of cash to all concerned, despite whatever inconvenience this caused to the clearing of land and family life. Columns A, B and C are the rank, first and last names and is based on the order found in the first document transcribed (column E, which was roughly alphabetical with additional names at the end. Subsequently, when new names were found, I tried to keep them approximately alphabetical when added them to this original list. Column D is the spelling and wording from the signature in the original document (column E) whether by the volunteer or the man who signed for him. The differences in spelling in later documents are noted, as will be explained below. Column E covers days paid November 25, 1837 - December 31, 1837 and column F indicates if they did not sign their own name and / or my comments on this volunteer. Column G covers days paid November 25, 1837 - January 31, 1838; one may subtract E from G to find the days paid for January alone. There are variances in how men signed but I have only noted if this information is relevant. The order of names, in the documents, is different from Column E because there are two separate lists for this period. I have order conform to the list from the earlier document. An asterisk indicates the name was on the second list and a member of the Second Company. Column H covers days paid February 1 - 28, 1838 - an asterisk indicates the members of the Second Company. During this period, we find that Thomas McCarty aka McCarthy was promoted to sergeant and Henry Nightingale was raised from private to corporal. The microfilmed documents for March 1 -31, 1838 did not include a complete pay list for the 32 officers and 200 men, at the rank of private, who were paid for all or part of that 31 day period. Only 11 senior officers were named and the other names are missing; therefore, there is no column. Column I covers days paid April 1 - 30, 1838 for all of First Company and the officers of Second Company; the pay list for the balance is missing. Column J covers days paid November 4 - 30, 1838 to the First Company. There are a number of promotions in rank. Some names appear for the first time, some of these are young men who have passed 16th birthday; others are settlers not previously enrolled. Column K covers days paid to ten troopers, raised for one month, 12 November - 11 December 1838 (one man was from 15th November to 14th December). A trooper was a private with the Cavalry. These men each received 9 pounds for the month, which is a great deal more than the infantry privates and perhaps included compensation for their horses. The two last men are not known, to me, as Rawdon settlers. Column L covers days paid December 1-31, 1838. Some promotions and many new names added. Some are sons coming of age and others not previously signed on. This list and subsequent ones do not indicate which company. Column M covers days paid February 1- 28, 1839. Some promotions and more new names added. Column N covers days paid March 1- April 15, 1839 with many young, new recruits. [S617] Ancestry.com, Canada, British Army and Canadian Militia Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, 1795-1850, (Source Information Ancestry.com. Canada, British Army and Canadian Militia Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, 1795-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Commissary General of Musters Office and successors: General Muster Books and Pay Lists. WO12/11960–11967, 11972, 12018–12033, 13295. Records of other administrative departments of the War Office. Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. War Office and predecessors: Militia and Volunteers Muster Books and Pay Lists. WO13/3673–3717. Records of other administrative departments of the War Office. Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England. War and Colonial Department and Colonial Office: Confidential Print North America CO880/1–2. Records of the Colonial Office, Commonwealth and Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, Empire Marketing Board, and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, England.), Muster Books and Pay Lists (Militia, Volunteers) Rawdon, Ronville, Royal Foresters, Russell and Russelltown (1837-1843), img 28, p 19, ln 52 (Reliability: 3). Name: Pat Mason List Date: 30 Nov 1837 Piece Title: Rawdon Volunteers, Ronville Militia, Royal Foresters Incorporated Militia, Russell Militia, Russeltown Frontier Company Signed as Patk Mason [S24] Patrick Mason, A Few Notes of My Past, (Online transcript is located at http://www.education.mcgill.ca/rawdon/masonotes.htm. Photocopy of the original in possesion of S. M. Broderick.), See text. (Reliability: 3). Notes from Patrick Mason Marginal Note: This has been written in the Township of Rawdon from the lips of my Father and Mother, both present at the time. The following verbal information, I, Patrick Mason, son of Arthur Mason and Elizabeth Smythe of the Township of Rawdon but formerly of the County of Down Ireland, have received from them viz that I was born in the parish of St. Field, Townland of Legygoyne, county of Down, Ireland on April the fifth in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and baptized by the Revd. Priest Green of St Field and my Godfather was my cousin William Mason and my Godmother's nane was Sarah Pake. My paternal Grandfather's name was Arthur Mason and paternal Grandmother's maiden name was Catherine Branny - and my maternal Grandmother's name was Catherine Felunah and maternal Grandfather's name was Philip Smythe of Hollymount, Loughan Island, County Down, Ireland. I have written the above in good faith and believing that their memory being unimpaired the whole of the above is reliable - But places often change names . Signed Patrick Mason I forgot to say that the above is copied from a scrap the I myself made some years ago as father and mother related it to me which scrap I have here attached to this page with glue of gumarabic at the head. ********************* A few notes of my past life taken from my Father's and Mother's rehearsal and my own experience as far as memory do assist me - viz I was born and baptized in the parish of St Field, County of Down, Ireland on April the fifth in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Father and Mother taking me with them sailed from Belfast Lough on the fifth of April of the following year in the Brig Sarah of Belfast, commanded by Captain Clements, for Canada. - and arrived at Quebec on the following month of May - where they obtained lucrative employment for the summer. But removed to Montreal in the month of October, Father going to Western Canada to work in the shanties or lumber woods, leaving Mother and myself in Montreal, which he continued to do for the space of two years - coming to Quebec in the spring with the raft. But Father contracted a disease called Fever and ague from the water and his physician recommended him to a change of climate as a perfect cure. We therefore came to the township of Rawdon on the nineteenth day of the month of October (1821) one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. Land being obtainable by free grant to actual settlers, 100 acres to each and a further grant of 100 acres provided that the actual settler complied with certain regulations of the Crown land department - viz that the settler clear two acres deep across the whole front and open the two concessions one at each end within two years and my Father therefore got the double grant - and in a year or thereabout a few settlers came and took land near to us and settled thereon. But some may be desirous to learn the cause of my Father settling on Lot #22 on the 8th range of Rawdon at a time when the whole Township was vacant and all in forest. Well then his reason for sodoing was as follows - At that time all the land in Rawdon up to the 8th range had been granted to supposed intending settlers by what was called an Order in Council and a privilege of 4 years to become actual settlers and only two years of that time being expired at the year 1819 my Father considered a great risque to venture on any of such land lest the real grantee should come and claim his land in either of the two succeeding years, which some actually did. And those that did not, the land was sold by the Government four shillings an acre with time to pay at 6 per cent interest. My Father laboured hard and suffered many privations to make a living for us. But succeeded to make what was then considered a very good living. And after the lapse of a few years when his children began to be able to help to labour the land, gained a competence. It would be superfluous for me to state the manner and means used to make fertile fields of the mountain forest at that time. I leave that part to the imagination of the future reader. Suffice it to say that all the grain that could be produced on the land had to be carried in backburdens a distance of seven or eight miles through woods across mountains, marshes and rivers to be forded to get to a grist mill to have it made into flour as there was not one oatmeal mill at that time in Canada and in Rawdon no person had means to keep either horse or ox until several years later - the produce then was potatoes, beans for soup, and indian corn with some wheat in small quantities not general. We spent a very secluded and lonely life for a time, yet happy in our seclusion. But after a few years we had some neighbours to settle convenient to us and as well as I can remember one Charles Heney, an Irish man and married to one Jane Fisher of Long Point near Montreal came and settled on Lot #21 on the eighth range and Wm. Blair on Lot 23 on the same range and so on one Arthur Magee also an Irishman and unmarried came and settled on Lot 20 on the same range, and the following summer he went to Montreal and happening to meet an immigrant girl on the steamboat wharf just landing from Castleblany, Ireland, her name was Catherine Burgess, he immediately married her and came to live in Rawdon for good. Then came George Keo, a ship carpenter, and took lot #24 on the same range, and a blacksmith living in Montreal of the name of Samuel Cathers was located for lot #25 of the eighth range, but sold his rite to one Thomas Price for the small sum of five pounds £5. And after the lapse of ten or twelve years nearly all the land in the Township was taken or claimed by some person, and people began to feel happy and could to a certain extent make out a rough living and in general they went to work with a will and improved their properties. And some in a few years gained a competence if not riches. And amongst them I may mention Old George Copping, an old sawyer, who came here in great poverty from England not having one dollar. Him and his son George sawed boards for my father at one copper each foot to build a new house as we had no sawmills at that time. But as I was about to remark his family soon became what is considered to be well off. And many others also in general, these who happened to get on good land have done well. One bad feature of the new Settlement was that for twelve years no schools were established, and even then the first schools for many years were of a very inferior quality. And also the children who were grown up to be of some help to hoe, herd cows, or pick sticks were generally kept from school to nurse baby or some other work of like importance. The above may be relyed on as it was even my own case with many others as my brothers and sisters who were younger than myself and able to go to school, would be sent out of the way as the saying was. But I was not in the way so I was kept at home. But I must say here that it was hard against my will, but complaint was worse than useless. I do not blame my parents as they were in need of all the little assistance that I could be to them in their effort on a bush farm to support a numerous small family. But I must say that I was much grieved as I had the reputation of learning well at that time. But it is here necessary to state that I have been at school with thirtynine others and all had to be taught from four books, that is one Universal Spelling book, one Charity School Book, and two primers. So it is plain that in them days it was a difficulty to learn the art of reading and writing, saying nothing of the Classics, as no means was provided such as books, slates, paper or pens or pencils. My first week's writing, or attempt at writing, was on white birchbark as a substitute for paper and ink made from the bark of the soft maple tree. Be it known that some folks had turkeys and their quills were held in great esteem to make writing pens of. The above may hereafter look fabulous as there is a tendency to improvement at present but the above is no exaggeration. I write only a few real facts of that time. Photocopy of handwritten original is in my possession. [S203] FamilySearch.org, Census of Lower Canada, 1831, (Database on line, 1831 Census of Lower Canada.), L'Assomption, Rawdon, img 5 & 6, sht 3, household 202. (Reliability: 3). Dwelling 202, inhabited, range 8, lot 22, Arthur Mason head of household, proprietor, occ. Farmer, 8 persons in the family, 2 persons aged 5 or older, 3 persons aged up to 4 years, 1 married male aged 30-60, 1 unmarried female aged 14-18, 1 married female aged 18-45, 8 persons in family who are Roman Catholic. 200 acres land, 50 of which are cultivated, last years's harvest: 8 minots peas, 60 minots oats, 16 minots rye, 150 minots potatoes, 10 cows, no horses, 4 pigs. [S116] Ancestry.com, Census of Canada, 1851, (Database on line, 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Note - enumeration form numbers lines 23 and 24 as line 24 (repeated).), Canada East, Leinster, St-Patrice de Rawdon, ED 13, pp 61-62, img 61-62, ln 23 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason, occ. Farmer, age 32, born Ireland, married, member of family, residence a log house. [S88] Ancestry.com, Census of Canada, 1861, (Database on line, 1861 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.), Quebec, Montcalm, St-Patrick of Rawdon, ED7. img 210, p 40, ln 4 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason, head, farmer, born Canada, age 41 (at next birthday), married. [S87] Ancestry.com, Census of Canada, 1871, (Database on line, 1871 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.), Quebec, Montcalm, St.Patrick of Rawdon, Ed101, img 29, p 56, ln 18 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason, age 56, born Ireland, ethnic Irish, occ. Farmer, married, Dwelling 174, household 174. [S89] Ancestry.com, Census of Canada, 1881, (Ancestry.com, database on-line. Census images provided by Library and Archives Canada.), Quebec, Montcalm, St. Patrick of Rawdon, ED89, p 34, img 19, ln 18 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason, age 63, born Ireland, ethnic Irish, occ. Farmer, married. Dwelling 132, household 132. [S70] Ancestry.com, Census of Canada, 1891, (Database on-line), Quebec, 169 Montcalm, St. Patrice de Rawdon, p 129, img 15, ln 14 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason, head, age 72, widower, born Ireland, both parents born Ireland, occ. Farmer, employer, of 1, reads and writes. Dwelling B1/8, household 132. [S24] Patrick Mason, A Few Notes of My Past, (Online transcript is located at http://www.education.mcgill.ca/rawdon/masonotes.htm. Photocopy of the original in possesion of S. M. Broderick.), See text. (Reliability: 3). Notes from Patrick Mason Marginal Note: This has been written in the Township of Rawdon from the lips of my Father and Mother, both present at the time. The following verbal information, I, Patrick Mason, son of Arthur Mason and Elizabeth Smythe of the Township of Rawdon but formerly of the County of Down Ireland, have received from them viz that I was born in the parish of St. Field, Townland of Legygoyne, county of Down, Ireland on April the fifth in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen and baptized by the Revd. Priest Green of St Field and my Godfather was my cousin William Mason and my Godmother's nane was Sarah Pake. My paternal Grandfather's name was Arthur Mason and paternal Grandmother's maiden name was Catherine Branny - and my maternal Grandmother's name was Catherine Felunah and maternal Grandfather's name was Philip Smythe of Hollymount, Loughan Island, County Down, Ireland. I have written the above in good faith and believing that their memory being unimpaired the whole of the above is reliable - But places often change names . Signed Patrick Mason I forgot to say that the above is copied from a scrap the I myself made some years ago as father and mother related it to me which scrap I have here attached to this page with glue of gumarabic at the head. ********************* A few notes of my past life taken from my Father's and Mother's rehearsal and my own experience as far as memory do assist me - viz I was born and baptized in the parish of St Field, County of Down, Ireland on April the fifth in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. Father and Mother taking me with them sailed from Belfast Lough on the fifth of April of the following year in the Brig Sarah of Belfast, commanded by Captain Clements, for Canada. - and arrived at Quebec on the following month of May - where they obtained lucrative employment for the summer. But removed to Montreal in the month of October, Father going to Western Canada to work in the shanties or lumber woods, leaving Mother and myself in Montreal, which he continued to do for the space of two years - coming to Quebec in the spring with the raft. But Father contracted a disease called Fever and ague from the water and his physician recommended him to a change of climate as a perfect cure. We therefore came to the township of Rawdon on the nineteenth day of the month of October (1821) one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. Land being obtainable by free grant to actual settlers, 100 acres to each and a further grant of 100 acres provided that the actual settler complied with certain regulations of the Crown land department - viz that the settler clear two acres deep across the whole front and open the two concessions one at each end within two years and my Father therefore got the double grant - and in a year or thereabout a few settlers came and took land near to us and settled thereon. But some may be desirous to learn the cause of my Father settling on Lot #22 on the 8th range of Rawdon at a time when the whole Township was vacant and all in forest. Well then his reason for sodoing was as follows - At that time all the land in Rawdon up to the 8th range had been granted to supposed intending settlers by what was called an Order in Council and a privilege of 4 years to become actual settlers and only two years of that time being expired at the year 1819 my Father considered a great risque to venture on any of such land lest the real grantee should come and claim his land in either of the two succeeding years, which some actually did. And those that did not, the land was sold by the Government four shillings an acre with time to pay at 6 per cent interest. My Father laboured hard and suffered many privations to make a living for us. But succeeded to make what was then considered a very good living. And after the lapse of a few years when his children began to be able to help to labour the land, gained a competence. It would be superfluous for me to state the manner and means used to make fertile fields of the mountain forest at that time. I leave that part to the imagination of the future reader. Suffice it to say that all the grain that could be produced on the land had to be carried in backburdens a distance of seven or eight miles through woods across mountains, marshes and rivers to be forded to get to a grist mill to have it made into flour as there was not one oatmeal mill at that time in Canada and in Rawdon no person had means to keep either horse or ox until several years later - the produce then was potatoes, beans for soup, and indian corn with some wheat in small quantities not general. We spent a very secluded and lonely life for a time, yet happy in our seclusion. But after a few years we had some neighbours to settle convenient to us and as well as I can remember one Charles Heney, an Irish man and married to one Jane Fisher of Long Point near Montreal came and settled on Lot #21 on the eighth range and Wm. Blair on Lot 23 on the same range and so on one Arthur Magee also an Irishman and unmarried came and settled on Lot 20 on the same range, and the following summer he went to Montreal and happening to meet an immigrant girl on the steamboat wharf just landing from Castleblany, Ireland, her name was Catherine Burgess, he immediately married her and came to live in Rawdon for good. Then came George Keo, a ship carpenter, and took lot #24 on the same range, and a blacksmith living in Montreal of the name of Samuel Cathers was located for lot #25 of the eighth range, but sold his rite to one Thomas Price for the small sum of five pounds £5. And after the lapse of ten or twelve years nearly all the land in the Township was taken or claimed by some person, and people began to feel happy and could to a certain extent make out a rough living and in general they went to work with a will and improved their properties. And some in a few years gained a competence if not riches. And amongst them I may mention Old George Copping, an old sawyer, who came here in great poverty from England not having one dollar. Him and his son George sawed boards for my father at one copper each foot to build a new house as we had no sawmills at that time. But as I was about to remark his family soon became what is considered to be well off. And many others also in general, these who happened to get on good land have done well. One bad feature of the new Settlement was that for twelve years no schools were established, and even then the first schools for many years were of a very inferior quality. And also the children who were grown up to be of some help to hoe, herd cows, or pick sticks were generally kept from school to nurse baby or some other work of like importance. The above may be relyed on as it was even my own case with many others as my brothers and sisters who were younger than myself and able to go to school, would be sent out of the way as the saying was. But I was not in the way so I was kept at home. But I must say here that it was hard against my will, but complaint was worse than useless. I do not blame my parents as they were in need of all the little assistance that I could be to them in their effort on a bush farm to support a numerous small family. But I must say that I was much grieved as I had the reputation of learning well at that time. But it is here necessary to state that I have been at school with thirtynine others and all had to be taught from four books, that is one Universal Spelling book, one Charity School Book, and two primers. So it is plain that in them days it was a difficulty to learn the art of reading and writing, saying nothing of the Classics, as no means was provided such as books, slates, paper or pens or pencils. My first week's writing, or attempt at writing, was on white birchbark as a substitute for paper and ink made from the bark of the soft maple tree. Be it known that some folks had turkeys and their quills were held in great esteem to make writing pens of. The above may hereafter look fabulous as there is a tendency to improvement at present but the above is no exaggeration. I write only a few real facts of that time. [S103] Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915 (database online), (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=collectionDetails;t=searchable;c=1463156), _Pre 1903, 1899, p 383, img 245, no. 354 (Reliability: 3). Name: Patrick Mason Gender: Male Marital status: widower Age: 83 yrs, 1 mo and 4 days Birth Date: abt 1816 Birth Place: Ireland Death Date: 9 May 1899 Death Place: 61 King st., Fall River, Massachusetts, USA Occ, Farmer Cause: Bright's Disease, and complications Father: Arthur Mason Mother: Elizabeth Smith [S47] FindAGrave.com, (http://www.findagrave.com), Memorial ID 185821017 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason Birth 5 Apr 1816 Ireland Death 9 May 1899 (aged 83) Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA Burial Saint Patricks Cemetery Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA Plot Plat 2, Lot 282, Grave 3 Memorial ID 185821017 · Son of Arthur Mason & Elizabeth Smith. Husband of Rose Ann Coffey. COD: Brights Disease & complications AGE: 83 yrs 1 mos 4 dys Residence: 61 King Street Occupation: Farmer Burial: 12 May 1899 Relationship to memorial creator unknown. Patrick is interred with: Catherine Foley 1842-25 Sep 1896 Grave 1 Bridget (Rigney) Foley 31 Oct 1841-25 Mar 1899 Grave 2 As of 16 Dec 2017 I am unaware of the relationships between these three individuals. Bridget is my 3rd Grandmother. Her husband James, died in 1900 is buried in a different grave with two of their grandsons. I can not find much info on Catherine. Catherine is the person who purchased the graves. 12.16.2017 KJR Inscription Grave is unmarked. Gravesite Details See above note dated 16 Dec 2017 [S117] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Massachusetts, Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910, (Database on-line), 4225847, img 186 (Reliability: 3). Patrick Mason, Burial Place - Fall River, MA, Death Date - 9 May 1899, Death Place - Fall River, MA, Age - 83, Birthplace - Ireland, Occ. - Farmer, Marital Status - Widowed, Father's name - Arthur, Father's Birthplace - Ireland, Mother's name - Elizabeth Smith, Mother's Birthplace - Ireland, Source film # - 961528, ref - v 492, p 222. [S24] Patrick Mason, A Few Notes of My Past, (Online transcript is located at http://www.education.mcgill.ca/rawdon/masonotes.htm. Photocopy of the original in possesion of S. M. Broderick.) (Reliability: 3). [S7] Ancestry.com, Québec Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967., ([database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2008. Includes images of the actual copies of parish registers submitted to the central authorities.), Rawdon (St-Patrice), 1842, pp 3&v, M, img 3 (Reliability: 3). On 8 Apr 1842 were married Patrick Mason, domiciled in this parish, minor son of Arthur Mason, farmer, and Elizabeth Smith of this parish, on one part, and Anne Coffee, domiciled in this parish, minor daughter of Patrick Coffee, farmer, and Mary Delany, the father and mother of this parish. Witnesses were Edward Cahill and Hugh Cassidy, witnesses for the groom, and Patrick Coffee and Michale Coffee, witnesses for the bride. Bride's surname listed as "Coffee".