1700 -    Capt. James AVERY died 18 April 1700.

1701 -    Daniel MASON was commissioned Lieutenant of the Stonington Trainband on 7 October 1701.

1701 -    Margaret STANTON (1701-1740), dau. of Joseph and Margaret (CHESEBROUGH) STANTON, was born 7 October 1701 at Stonington, Conn.  She married, 28 December 1721, to Jonathan COPP.

1701 -    The total population of the American Colonies in 1701 was estimated at 262,000.

1703 -    Ebenezer GRIFFING (1673-1723), son of John and Lydia (SHATSWELL) GRIFFING, married 10 February 1702/3 at New London, Conn. to Mary (HARRIS) HUBBLE, daughter of Gabriel and Elizabeth (ABBOT) HARRIS and widow of Ebenezer HUBBELL.  Ebenezer and Mary (HARRIS) GRIFFING had children:  John GRIFFIN m. 1725 Elizabeth TRUEMAN; Thomas; Samuel (1705-1737) m. 1727 Ann AVERY; Peter; Lydia; and Mary GRIFFING m. 1731 Nicholas DARROW. -   Wurts' MAGNA CHARTA, v.5, pp.1368-1370.

1703 -    On 3 July 1702, there was a great storm of hail that did not melt for three days.  The crops in Stonington, Conn. were severely damaged.

1703 -    On 11 September 1703, Thomas AVERY (b.1679, son of Thomas) sold land in Saybrook, called Pochange, and styled himself yeoman of Saybrook.

1704 -    Thomas AVERY (b.1679), son of Thomas and Hannah (MINER) AVERY, married 12 July 1704 to Ann SHAPLEY (1685-1751), dau. of Benjamin and Mary (PICKET) SHAPLEY.  They had children: Thomas AVERY (1705-1712); and Ann AVERY m. (1) Samuel GRIFFING and m. (2) Sylvanus MINER.  Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), pp.133-134; Wurts' MAGNA CHARTA, v.5, pp.1368-9.

1704 -    On 19 June 1704, Abiall MERCIER of Haverhill was named administrator of the estate of his late grandfather, Theophilus SATCHWELL.  Essex County Probate Records, vol.308, p.230; Docket 25,121.

1704 -    Zerviah STANTON (1704-1771), dau. of Joseph and Margaret (CHESEBROUGH) STANTON, was born 20 September 1704 at Stonington, Conn.  She married, 9 January 1722, to Nehemiah MASON.  -  Stanton, William A., THOMAS STANTON, OF CONNECTICUT, and HIS DESCENDANTS (1891), pp.138,146.

1704 -    A controversy between Thomas AVERY (b.1679) and Thomas LORD relating to certain lands in Saybrook was settled 8 December 1704.

1704 -    Elder David COPP, in 1704, conveyed to William COPP and Anne COPP, children of his deceased son, William COPP of Boston, mariner, (as the share or portin of said deceased son in his estate) a"Brick Messuage or Tenement" on PRINCE St., then occupied by one Matthias CONFREY.  This was the property purchased by David COPP in 1689.

1705 -    William THOMPSON died 1 June 1705.  His widow, Bridget (CHESEBROGH) THOMPSON, married second to Joseph MINER.

1705 -    Samuel and Thomas GRIFFING, twin sons of Ebenezer and Mary (HARRIS) GRIFFING, were born 8 June 1705.

1705 -    Thomas AVERY, son of Thomas and Ann (SHAPLEY) AVERY, was born 31 March 1705.  He died 3 July 1712 "while swimming."

1704 -    Groton, Connecticut was set off from Stonington as a separate town in December 1704.  The first selectmen were James AVERY, Samuel FISH, Nehemiah SMITH, James MORGAN and George GEER.  Constable was Jonothan STARR.

1706 -    Daniel MASON, Nathaniel CHESEBROUGH, John GALLUP, Isaac WHEELER, Ebenezer SEARLE, Samuel RICHARDSON, and Ebenezer BILLINGS were elected selectmen in Stonington in 1706.

1706 -    Thomas AVERY (b.1679) and his brother Samuel AVERY sold land in Pochange to Samuel CHAPMAN [CHIPMAN?] on 5 June 1706.  On 24 October 1706, Thomas AVERY called himself "of New London, gent.", and deeded to Samuel CHAPMAN land that should have been included in a deed given him 5 June 1706, at Pochange, Oyster River tract.  Saybrook Deeds.  Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), p.133-134.

1707 -    Massachusetts launched a costly, abortive expedition against Acadian (Nova Scotia) in 1707, and Connecticut colonists were terrified by the threat of a French and Indian invasion.

1707 -    Ann AVERY, daughter of Thomas and Ann (SHAPLEY) AVERY, was born 12 May 1707 at Montville, New London Co., Conn., and baptized 25 May 1707, First Church of New London.

1709 -    On 7 April 1709, "Know ye that we whose names are mentioned, viz:-- Lydia GRIFFIN, widow, (of) Bradford, and her children:  John, Ebenezer, Samuel and Nathaniel GRIFFIN,--- Daniel MORRISON, in behalf of his former wife, Hannah GRIFFIN; and daughters Lydia, wife of William KNOWLTON; Elizabeth, wife of Thomas STAPLES, Susanna, wife of Christopher BARTLETT, Jr. and Abigail GRIFFIN," for 105 pounds sold to Stephen BARKER, one hundred seventy-eight acres, given the widow GRIFFIN by her father Theophilus SHATSWELL.  The land was on the north side of the Merrimack river in Haverhill. -   NEW ENGLAND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER (Oct. 1894), p.414; Davis, Walter Goodwin, THE ANCESTRY OF ANNIS SPEAR (1945), pp.145-148.

1710 -    Theophilus BALDWIN married, 1710, to Priscilla MASON, granddaughter of Major John MASON.  He became the first deacon of the church in North Stonington, Connecticut and a leader in that community.  William Haynes, STONINGTON CHRONOLOGY (1976), p.30.

1710 -    On 10 May 1710, a deed of trust was executed in favor of Capt. John STANTON and four others, by which the eastern part of the Mohegan lands was forever settled on the Mohegan tribe, under the regulation of said five and their successors, "so long as there shall be any Mohegans found or known of alive in the world."  -  Stanton, William A., THOMAS STANTON, OF CONNECTICUT, and HIS DESCENDANTS (1891), pp.136-137.

1710 -    A Captain John MASON sold ten acres of land in the town of Windham, Conn. to Samuel STORRS, Sr. on 20 June 1710.

1711 -    Sylvanus MINER, son of Thomas and Hannah MINER, was bapt. in Stonington, Conn., 5 March 1711.  He married 6 October 1737 to Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN, dau. of Thomas and Ann (SHAPLEY) AVERY, and widow of Samuel GRIFFIN.

1711 -    Thomas CHIPMAN, son of Samuel and Sarah (COBB) CHIPMAN, married at Stonington, Conn., 26 April 1711 Abigail LOTHROP, born 23 April 1689, the dau. of John and Mary (COLE) LOTHROP.  The CHIPMAN's moved to Groton, Conn. about 1718, where he became an innkeeper like his father in Barnstable.  He moved to Salisbury, Conn. in 1741 where he died ca. 1754.

1711 -    Thomas AVERY (1679-ca.1710) died before 24 Nov. 1711, when his widow, Ann (SHAPLEY) AVERY, married (2nd) to Jonathan ROSS.  In the inventory of the estate of Thomas AVERY, taken at New London, 11 Dec. 1711, the widow is called Ann RUFF (or RUSS) and the children are Thomas, aged 6, and Ann, age 4.  She married (3rd), James MORGAN, 24 June 1729, at New London, and died 17 June 1751, at Groton.  Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), pp.133-134.

1713 -    Jonathan COPP, 19 years old, removed to Montville, Connecticut in 1713.  He later married Margaret STANTON and became a deacon of the Second Congregational Church at Stonington.  William Haynes, STONINGTON CHRONOLOGY (1976), p.31.

1713 -    John STANTON (1641-1713) died 3 Oct. 1713, in the 73rd year of his life.  "A few years before his death, Capt. John STANTON gave his real estate to his sons by deed, as follows:  to Joseph STANTON he gave the homestead farm in Stonington; to John and Thomas he gave all his lands in Preston.  Theophilus was not living then.  John and Thomas settled on the lands in Preston.  His will, dated in 1713 confirms these gifts of land.  In 1737, his son John, then of Preston, applied to the Probate Court in New London, for an equitable division of the Preston lands between him and his brother Thomas."  Stanton, William A., THOMAS STANTON, OF CONNECTICUT, and HIS DESCENDANTS (1891), pp.136-137;  Baldwin, John D., THOMAS STANTON of STONINGTON, CONN. (1882), p.17.

1713 -    Judge Samuel SEWALL mentioned David COPP often in his diary.  On 19 November 1713, SEWALL writes, "Elder COPP prayed for as dangerously sick."  He died the next afternoon, and was buried, according to SEWALL, "on the twenty-fourth, in the North.  Bearers Mr. Thomas OAKES, Mr. THORNTON; Capt. ATWOOD, Mr. MARYON; Deacon TAY, Deacon HUBBART; Followed the Mourners, Mr. COOK, HUTCHINSON; SEWALL, Col. LYNDE; Em HUTCHINSON, Col. TOWNSEND; Dr. C. MATHER, and Mr. WADSWORTH there.  A pretty many Men but few Women."  MASS. HIST. SOC. COL., Vol.46, p.409; Bolton, Mrs. Ethel Stanwood, CLEMENT TOPLIFF AND HIS DESCENDANTS (1906), pp.3-9,passim.

1713 -    David COPP died 20 November 1713, "aged 78 years," at Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.  His widow, Amy COPP, died 28 November 1718, "aged 82 years."  David COPP died intestate, and his son, David, was appointed administrator of his estate.  His real property in Boston was partitioned by his surviving sons, David and Samuel COPP of Boston, Jonathan COPP of Stonington, Conn., and John COPP of Norwalk, Conn., by deeds dated 29 March and 3 April 1714, and recorded 25 March 1715.  -  Suffolk Deeds, Liber 29, pp.118 and 119;  NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, pp.338-354.

1714 -    Jonathan COPP, cordwainer, was living in Stonington, Conn. on 3 April 1714, as shown by recitals in a deed of that date partitioning his father's real property.  Later he settled in the North Parish of New London (now Montville), Connecticut. -  NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, pp.338-354.

1714 -    The population of the colony of Connecticut in 1714 was estimated at 23,000.

1715 -    Abigail (INGRAHAM) CHESEBROUGH HOLMES AVERY, widow of Capt. James AVERY, was living 9 Sept. 1715, at which date she states that she has received full satisfaction from her two sons for her right of dower in the estate of Samuel CHEESEBOROUGH.  Stonington, Conn. Deeds, Bk.2, p.292.

1717 -    Handley CHIPMAN, son of John and Elizabeth (HANDLEY) CHIPMAN, was born in Sandwich, Mass. 31 August 1717, and married (1) 24 April 1740 to Jean, dau. of Col. Jonathan and Margaret (HOLMES) ALLEN, of Martha's Vinyard.  He married 2nd in Cornwallis, 14 December 1775, Nancy POST, dau. of Stephen and Elizabeth (CLARK) POST, formerly of Saybrook, Conn.  From Massachusetts, Handley CHIPMAN removed to Newport, Rhode Island, and in 1761 came to Cornwallis, Kings County, Nova Scotia.  A record of his family can be found in Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton's, THE HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY NOVA SCOTIA (1910), pp.600-602;  Mardenna J. Hunter, THE FAMILY OF JOHN HOWLAND, MAYFLOWER PASSENGER - FIVE GENERATIONS (1970), p.80.

1717 -    In 1717, George DENISON, III, built for his pretty bride, Lucy GALLUP, a new larger home on the site of his grandfather's "grate manor house" at Pequotsepos.  This building is now maintained as a museum by the Denison society.

1718 -    Thomas STANTON, Jr. (1638-1718), eldest son of the interpreter, died, 11 April 1718, at age 80.  Born in Hartford, he came to Stonington at 9 years, and at 20 married the 17 year old Sarah DENISON, daughter of Capt. George DENISON and his first wife, Bridget THOMPSON.  As eldest son he early took charge of the trading post when his father was away on official business, and with his brothers he became pioneer in West Indies trade.  He had three sons and four daughters, all but one son growing to maturity; a son and daughter each married their first cousins.  Haynes, STONINGTON CHRONOLOGY (1976), p.32.
 

1720 -    On 22 June 1720, Capt. Thomas AVERY and his brother Capt. James AVERY were appointed interpreters for the Mohegans in a suit then pending before the governor and council.  In 1721, Ceazer, the sacem of the Mohegans, conveyed to Thomas AVERY 160 acres of land in consideration of the kindness shown them by Capt. AVERY and his family.

1721 -    In October 1721, the North Parish , later called Montville, petitioned the General Court for liberty to form a separate church.  Thomas AVERY and his wife were on the list petitioners and original covenantors of the Church of the North Parish.  On 17 January 1721/2, it was agreed that the meeting-house should stand on Raymond hill land being given for the purpose.  In his church record, Mr. James HILLHOUSE, the first minister says:  "I was installed October the 3rd day, 1722.  Mr. ADAMS preached from Acts 16:9.  There were seven that belonged to the Church at my installment --- Capt. AVERY, Capt. DENISON, Mr. Nathl OTIS, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. VIBBER, Charles CAMPBELL and one Deacon."  CONNECTICUT ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHIVES, v.2, p.251; Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), p.107.

1721 -    John THOMPSON, son of William and Bridget (CHESEBROUGH) THOMPSON, married 4 Dec. 1721 to Jerusha PALMER

1721 -    Jonathan COPP, Jr., son of Jonathan and Catherine (LAYE) COPP, married first, 28 December 1721, to Margaret STANTON (1701-1740), dau. of Joseph and Margaret (CHESEBROUGH) STANTON.  They had children:  Dorothy COPP (1722-1810) m. 1742 Peter CRARY, 3rd; Jonathan COPP m.1747 Esther (ROGERS) SHAPLEY-SEABURY; Margaret COPP (1727-1771) m. 1748 Dr. Hobart MASON; Catharine COPP m. 1757 Nathan COBB; and Joseph COPP (1732-1815) m. 1757 Rachel DENISON.  -  Wildley, Anna Chesebrough, GENEALOGY of the DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH (1903), pp.310-311; Stanton, William A., THOMAS STANTON, OF CONNECTICUT, and HIS DESCENDANTS (1891); NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, pp.348-349.

1721 -    The old Mason burying ground at William Cove was set aside in 1721 at Stonington.  Stonington Historical Society, STONINGTON GRAVEYARDS (1980), p.26-27.

1722 -    When the Second Church of New London (later Monteville Center Church) was formally organized in 1722, Jonathan COPP became its deacon, and was delegated the duty of going to Boston to accompany the Rev. James HILLHOUSE to the town to take up his duties as pastor.  Jonathan COPP owned a mill and a good farm located near the Norwich line in the section called the "Leffingwell Society."  His homestead stood on the summit of Raymond Hill, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country.

1722 -    Nehemiah MASON (1693-1768) married 9 January 1722 at Stonington, New London, Connecticut to Zerviah STANTON, dau. of Joseph and Margaret (CHEESEBORO) STANTON.  They lived "on Mason's Island."  They had children:  Hobart MASON (1722-1781) m. (1) 1748 Margaret COPP, m. (2) Silvia BABCOCK; Andrew MASON (1724-1728); Hannah MASON (1731-1808) m. 1750 Henry GALLUP; Andrew MASON (1730-1812) m. 1754 Mary GALLUP; Jared MASON m. 1755 Hannah PARKE; and Zerviah MASON m. 1755 James HOLMES. -   NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol.XV (1861), p.218; Wheeler, Richard Anson, HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT, pp.460-465; Wildley, Anna Chesebrough, GENEALOGY of the DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH (1903), p.311; Stanton, William A., THOMAS STANTON, OF CONNECTICUT, and HIS DESCENDANTS (1891), p.146.

1722 -    Upon his marriage to Zerviah STANTON, Nehemiah MASON was given a gift of Andrew's Island by his father, Daniel MASON.  Nehemiah built a house at the top of north hill.  The foundation and well were still there as late as 1976.  Daniel MASON also left by will to Nehemiah MASON one-half of the Sixteen Pole Way, one-half interest in the Common Land west of the Meeting House, and land in Lebanon.
          Besides his eighteen acre island, Nehemiah MASON owned the large salt marsh to the north of him and other land near the Meeting House, as well as the land in Lebanon.  "He might be described as a typical small farmer of his day.  He never made enough to leave anything but his land, divided once again among his children."  Allyn, James H., MAJOR JOHN MASON'S GREAT ISLAND (1976), pp.30-31.

1722 -    Hobart MASON (1722-1781), son of Nehemiah and Zerviah (STANTON) MASON, was born 6 October 1722 and baptized 14 April 1722 at Stonington, Connecticut.  He married 10 Nov. 1748 to Margaret COPP, dau. of Jonathan and Margaret (STANTON) COPP. -  NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol.XV (1861), p.319.

1724 -    On petition to the General Court, in 1724, Jonathan COPP was appointed one of a committee of five to supervise the expenditure of moneys raised from unimproved lands "for pious uses."

1725 -    A distribution of the Estate of Ebenezer GRIFFIN, dated 17 July 1725 names children Lydia, John, Samuel and Mary.  Thomas and Peter, born respectively, June 8, 1705 and June 19, 1707, are not named in the distribution. Thomas was a twin with Samuel (and may have died young).  Peter died Sept. 10, 1722. -   COLLECTIONS of the NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, vol.VI, Part II, "Register of Pedigrees", v.II, p.134,135n.

1727 -    On 26 July 1727, Ann AVERY called herself the only child of Thomas AVERY, deceased.

1727 -    Samuel GRIFFING (1705-1737) married 16 November 1727 to Ann AVERY, daughter of Thomas and Ann (SHAPLEY) AVERY.  They had children:  Samuel GRIFFIN (1728-1800) m. 28 March 1753 Desire, dau. of Peter CRARY; and Thomas GRIFFIN married 20 Sept. 1753 to Jerusha CHIPMAN. -    COLLECTIONS of the NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, vol.VI, Part II, "Register of Pedigrees", v.II, p.134-135; Wurts' MAGNA CHARTA, v.5, pp.1368-1370.

1728 -    Stephen CHIPMAN (1708-1735), son of John and Mary (SKIFF) CHIPMAN, m. 18 May 1728 to Mary GRIFFIN.  Mardenna J. Hunter, THE FAMILY OF JOHN HOWLAND, MAYFLOWER PASSENGER - FIVE GENERATIONS (1970), p.80.

1729 -    Ann (SHAPLEY) AVERY ROSS, widow of Thomas AVERY and Jonathan ROSS, married (3rd) 24 June 1729, at New London, Conn., to James MORGAN.

1730 -    Thomas GRIFFIN, son of Samuel and Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN, was born 27 November 1730 O.S.   He married Jerusha CHIPMAN.
          Jerusha CHIPMAN was born 10 Sept. 1730 O.S.  She married Thomas GRIFFIN. -  Brown, Cyrus Henry, BROWN GENEALOGY (1907), pp.126-127; LDS Arizona Temple Record 37655AR Bk.38930.

1737 -    Daniel MASON (1652-1736), died at Stonington, Connecticut, 28 January 1736/37 at the age of 85 years.  He married twice:  first Margaret DENISON, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (WELD) DENISON; and second, Rebecca HOBART, daughter of Rev. Peter HOBART of Hingam, Mass.  Daniel and Rebecca (HOBART) MASON are buried in the Mason burying ground at Mystic, Connecticut. -  Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), p.135; Haynes, STONINGTON CHRONOLOGY (1976), p.34-35; Stonington Historical Society, STONINGTON GRAVEYARDS (1980), p.26-27.

1736 -    On 2 Dec. 1736, Samuel AVERY, Abraham AVERY and Hannah (AVERY) MINOR, in connection with Thomas MINOR, the husband of Hannah (AVERY) MINOR, sold the 150 acres of land that came to them from their honored grandfather and his wife, Grace.  This land had been given by Thomas MINOR and his wife, Grace, to his daughter, Hannah (MINOR) AVERY and to her husband Thomas AVERY for their life.  When both were dead, the land was to revert to Hannah (MINOR) AVERY's surviving children.  Preston Land Record, Bk.5, p.7; Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), p.105,108.

1737 -    Thomas AVERY (1651-1736), well known Indian interpreter, died 5 January 1737, at Montville, Connecticut, at age 86.  Haynes, STONINGTON CHRONOLOGY (1976), p.35.

1737 -    Samuel GRIFFIN (1705-1737) was a mariner.  He was lost at sea before 27 January 1737.  On 6 October 1737 at Stonington, Conn., his widow, Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN, married (2nd) 6 October 1737 at Stonington, Conn., to Sylvanus MINER, son of Thomas and Hannah (AVERY) MINER.  Sylvanus MINER is said to have been living in Voluntown, Conn. in 1754.  They later removed to Horton, Kings County, Nova Scotia where he died 15 March 1786, aged 77 years.  A record of the family of Sylvanus and Ann (AVERY) (GRIFFIN) MINER can be found in Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton's, THE HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY NOVA SCOTIA (1910), pp.600-602, 749-750; Avery, Elroy Mckendree, et.al., THE GROTON AVERY CLAN (1912), pp.191-192.   (Note Elroy Avery in his THE GROTON AVERY CLAN gives Sylvanus MINER's death place as "Stonington".)

1740 -    Margaret (STANTON) COPP, first wife of Jonathan COPP, Jr., died 11 December 1740; and he married second, 30 June 1742, to Sarah DENNIS, widow of Samuel HOBART.

1742 -    Jonathan COPP, Jr. married second, 30 June 1742, to Sarah (DENNIS) HOBART, dau. of Ebenezer and Sarah (HOUGH) DENNIS and widow of Samuel HOBART.  She had daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah HOBART, by her first marriage.  Jonathan and Sarah (DENNIS) COPP had children:  Samuel COPP m.1769 Dolly BROWN; John COPP; Ebenezer COPP m. Deborah SPALDING; David COPP (1748-1750); William COPP m. Catherine --?--; Esther COPP; David COPP m. (1) Mary SPALDING and (2) Elizabeth TORREY; and Mary COPP. -  NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, pp.338-354.

1746 -    Jonathan COPP, Sr. (1665-1746) died 4 November 1746 at Montville, Conn. near New London.  In his will he left an Indian boy to his wife, on condition that she teach him to read and write.  His widow, Catherine (LAY) COPP, died 24 May 1761.  They are buried in the Raymond Hill Cemetery.

1748 -    Hobart MASON was graduated at Yale in 1748.

1748 -    Hobart MASON (1722-1781) married (1st) 10 November 1748, at Stonington, to his cousin, Margaret COPP (1727-1772), daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (STANTON) COPP.  They had children:  Margaret MASON (1750-1798) m. John GRIFFIN; Lois; Elnathan 1st (died); Elnathan MASON (1755-1811) married 1779 Mary GRIFFIN; Henry MASON (1758-1836) m. Amey, dau. of John WILLIAMS; Zerviah MASON; Eliphalet MASON; Hobart; and Luke MASON.  -  Wheeler, Richard Anson, HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT, pp.460-465; Virkus', COMPENDIUM OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY, v.II,p.32, v.VII,p.867; NEW ENGLAND HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER, Vol.XV (1861), p.319; Wheeler, Richard Anson, HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT, pp.460-465; Wildley, Anna Chesebrough, GENEALOGY of the DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH (1903), p.329; NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, p.353.

1750 -    Jonathan COPP, Jr. was a magistrate and active in public affairs.  Joshua HEMPSTEAD, a fellow magistrate, recorded in his diary a meeting of justices at Jonathan COPP's home in 1750, at which various measures for the suppression of vice were discussed, and tavern keepers and jurymen for the ensuing year were chosen.  They "had a good supper and broke up at 8 o'clock."   NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, pp.338-354; Grace Denison Wheeler's THE HOMES OF OUR ANCESTORS IN STONINGTON.

1751 -    Joseph STANTON (1668-1751) died without a will, and his estate was divided among his three sons and four daughters then living.

1751 -    "Ann MORGAN, relic of Dea. James MORGAN, deceased aged abt. 68.  Her first husband was Thomas AVERY, her second Jonathan ROFF."  HEMPSTEAD DIARY, p.570.

1751 -    Abraham AVERY, son of Thomas and Hannah (MINOR) AVERY, married (2nd), 1 October 1751, Sarah COPP, dau. of Jonathan and Catherine (LAY) COPP. -   NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, pp.346.

1753 -    Thomas GRIFFIN (b.1730), son of Samuel and Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN, married 20 September 1753, at Stonington, Conn. to Jerusha CHIPMAN, born 10 Sept. 1730 O.S.   They had children:  Ann; Mary GRIFFIN married, 1779, Elnathan MASON; James Chipman GRIFFIN; Deborah; and Thomas GRIFFIN, Jr. (1766-1844) m. Mary "Polly" BROWN, dau. of Simeon BROWN.

1754 -    Thomas CHIPMAN (1687-1754) died before 8 April 1754, when his will was proved.  In his will dated 31 July 1752 he named his wife Abigail, sons Thomas CHIPMAN, John CHIPMAN, Samuel CHIPMAN, Amos CHIPMAN and Jonathan CHIPMAN, and his daughter Sarah BIRD.  His daughter, Sarah CHIPMAN, married (1) Daniel ELDRIDGE, (2) Joseph BIRD, and (3) Nathaniel AUSTIN.  THE MAYFLOWER QUARTERLY, v.48, No.1, pp.5-8.

1755 -    Elnathan MASON (1755-1811), son of Hobart and Margaret (COPP) MASON, was baptized 29 December 1755 at Stonington, Connecticut.  He married 31 October 1779 to Mary GRIFFIN; and he died 12 Sept. 1811. -  LDS Salt Lake Temple Records No. SL.9114, Bk.7E, p.434; Gary Boyd Roberts, GENEALOGIES OF CONNECTICUT FAMILIES, vol.II, p.528; Revolutionary War Pension File #W.15842.

1757 -    Joseph COPP (1732-1815), son of Jonathan and Margaret (STANTON) COPP, married 1757, to Rachel DENISON.

1758 -    Mary GRIFFIN, dau. of Thomas and Jerusha (CHIPMAN) GRIFFIN, was born 13 May 1758 at Stonington, Conn.  She married 31 Oct. 1779 to Elnathan MASON.

1760 -    In 1760, the township of New Dublin, in Lunenburg County, about fifty miles southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was granted to Connecticut.

1760 -    "New London, Connecticut and vicinity contributed liberally to the flood of migration into Nova Scotia, which set in shortly after the expulsion of the Acadians in 1755.  The Government encouraged New Englanders to occupy the lands left vacant by the deportation of the French population (to Louisiana).  In 1759 after the fall of Quebec, a committee of five prominent citizens was sent to inspect the Acadian country.  One of these was Major Robert DENISON.  The committee reported favorably, and in a short time more that 6,000 people left New England, bound for the new 'promised land' of Nova Scotia.  Among these were Samuel COPP (1704-ca.1774) and his brother John COPP (sons of Jonathan and Catherine (LAY) COPP), and Major DENISON himself, who despite his more than three score years did not hesitate to follow the course he had recommended to his neighbors.  Samuel COPP and John COPP received patents or grants of about 700 acres each in the Township of Horton, Kings County, N.S.  This county lay in the heart of the Acadian country and had been almost completely depopulated by the removal of the French inhabitants.  In Horton was located the village of Grand Pre', immortalized in Longfellow's EVANGELINE.  Another one of its villages, 'Horton Corner,' is now Kentville, the county seat.  Samuel and John COPP arrived probably about the year 1761."
          Other's who removed to Nova Scotia about this time included:  the family of Sylvanus and Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN-MINER; the family of Handley CHIPMAN, son of John and Elizabeth (HANDLEY) CHIPMAN; the family of Hobart MASON (1722-1781); and the family of Thomas and Jerusha (CHIPMAN) GRIFFIN. -  NEW YORK GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY RECORD (Oct. 1931), v.62, p.349-50; Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton's, THE HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY NOVA SCOTIA (1910), pp.600-602, 749-750, passim.

1763 -    Benjamin PECK, Jr. married 26 December 1763 to Hannah MINER, dau. of Sylvanus and Ann (AVERY) (GRIFFIN) MINER. -  Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton's, THE HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY NOVA SCOTIA (1910), p.749-50.

1770 -    The 1770 Census of Nova Scotia includes the following names:

          AVERY, Robert       Horton        MINER, ---?---      Horton
          BROWNELL, Jeremiah  Sackville     MINER, ---?---      Horton
          COPP, John          Horton        MINER, ---?---      Horton
          COPP, Samuel        Horton        MINER, ---?-- Jr.   Horton
          DARROW, Jonathan    Horton        PECK, Benjamin      Horton
          DENISON, Andrew     Horton        PECK, Cyrus         Horton
          DENISON, Andrew     Horton        PECK, John          Sackville
          DENISON, Samuel     Horton        PECK, Silas         Horton
          GRIFFING, Samuel    Horton        TURNER, Samuel      Horton
          MASON, Benjamin     Sackville     WITTER, Anna        Horton
          MASON, Hobert       New Dublin    PARK, Mathew        New Dublin
          MASON, Nathan       Sackville     PARK, John          New Dublin
          MASON, Nathanie     Sackville     PARK, James         New Dublin
             From:  Joy Reisinger, ed., LOST IN CANADA (Sparta, Wisconsin 1976), v.2, pp.44-46.

1770 -    John GRIFFIN married, ca.1770, to Margaret MASON (1750-1798), daughter of Hobart and Margaret (COPP) MASON.

1771 -    The will of Zerviah (STANTON) MASON, widow of Nehemiah MASON, was probated in 1771.  She left two Negro girls, Rose and Deborah, valued at 20 pounds.  To her oldest son, Hobart MASON, who had graduated from Yale in 1648; married his cousin Margaret COPP; and was "now living in Dublin, Nova Scotia," she left 30 pounds.  Allyn, James H., MAJOR JOHN MASON'S GREAT ISLAND (1976), p.31.

1772 -    Margaret (COPP) MASON, first wife of Hobart MASON died 26 July 1772.  Hobart MASON returned to Groton, Connecticut and married second to Silvia BABCOCK.

1772 -    Capt. John PARK (1742-1812) married first, in 1772, to Abigail CHAPMAN, dau. of William CHAPMAN.  Their son, Benjamin J. PARK married Amy CRARY.  Wurts' MAGNA CHARTA, v.5, pp.1368.  (Note: Samuel GRIFFIN (1728-1800), son of Samuel and Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN, married 1753 to Desire CRARY, dau. of Peter CRARY.  Thomas GRIFFIN, son of Samuel and Ann (AVERY) GRIFFIN, married 1753 to Jerusha CHIPMAN or CHAPMAN.)

1772 -    Jonathan COPP, Jr. died 9 December 1772 at Stonington, Conn.

1774 -    Hobart MASON (1722-1781) married second, ca. 1774, to Silvia BABCOCK and removed to Nova Scotia.  Hobart and Silvia (BABCOCK) MASON had children:  Dudley MASON and Nancy MASON.  -  Fred E. Crowell, NEW ENGLANDERS IN NOVA SCOTIA (New England Historical and Genealogical Society May 1979); For information about families related to the MASON line, see also Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton's, THE HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY NOVA SCOTIA (1910), passim; Wildley, Anna Chesebrough, GENEALOGY of the DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM CHESEBROUGH (1903), p.329.

1778 -    Elnathan MASON served in the Revolutionary War in the 10th Company, 6th Regiment, Connecticut Militia.  He also served in Captain Latham's Artillery Co., under Col. William LEDYARD, and was at the Battle of Fort GRISWOLD in 1781. -  NSSAR National #101319 (supplemental).

1779 -    Elnathan Hobart MASON (1755-1811), son of Hobart and Margaret (COPP) MASON of Stonington, Conn., married 31 October 1779 to Mary GRIFFIN, b. 13 May 1758, daughter of Thomas GRIFFIN, Sr. and his wife Jerusha (CHIPMAN?) GRIFFIN.  Elnathan and Mary (GRIFFIN) MASON had children:  Mary "Polly" MASON; Samuel MASON; Thomas Griffin MASON (1787-1848) m. Catharine BAYARD; Elnathan MASON; Samuel MASON again; Dudley D. MASON; and Jarusha MASON.  -  Revolutionary War Pension File #W.15842; Brown, Cyrus Henry, BROWN GENEALOGY (1907), pp.126-127.

1781 -    In the Spring of 1781, Elnathan Hobart MASON enlisted at Groton, Connecticut in Capt. LATHAM's company in Colonel LEDYARD's Regiment for one year.  Together with his brother Henry MASON and his brother-in-law, Thomas GRIFFIN, he was garrisoned at Fort GRISWOLD and was one of those brave souls who attempted to defend the fort against a vastly superior British force at the Battle of Fort Griswold on 6th September 1781.  They were taken prisoner by the British; carried to New York; and there detained until they were released in an exchange of prisoners. -  Revolutionary War Pension Files #W.15842 (Elnathan MASON), #W.17097 (Henry MASON) and #W.19537 (Thomas GRIFFIN).

1781 -    HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
          "During the Revolutionary War, New London harbor on the Thames River was home port for many privately owned armed ships that preyed upon British supply vessels and merchant ships.  The privateers were licensed by the State of Connecticut according to the rules established by the Congress.  Each year they increased in number and captured more British shipping.  Their exploits peaked with the taking of the "Hannah" by the "Minerva" in the summer of 1781.  Seizure of the "Hannah's" rich cargo which included personal supplies for the British officers stationed in New York City; helped prompt the events that soon followed.
           "New London's bulging warehouses brought great wealth to adventurous ship owners and merchants, but they were a potential target for enemy reprisal.  From the earliest days of the war, Connecticut officials had seen the need for harbor fortifications, but construction had proceeded slowly.  By 1781, the largest structure on the New London side, Fort Trumbull, was still unfinished and vulnerable to attack from land.
           "East of the Thames River on Groton Heights, a completed work, Fort Griswold, commanded the harbor and the surrounding countryside.  It was somewhat square with protecting fortifications on two corners and a projection on the east side.  A deep trench surrounded the fort on three sides.  The lower walls were faced with stone and were topped with a barrier of cedar pickets projecting outward.  Above this was an earthen wall with openings (embrasures) for cannon.  A tunnel-like passageway (sallyport) led to a covered ditch which ended at a battery for cannon southwest of the fort.  The gate at the north end was protected by a V-shaped earthen mound.  Barracks for 300 men paralleled the innermost wall and the magazine was set into the southwest bastian near the flagpole.  The fort was in good condition and the magazine was full in 1781.
           "Late that summer the British generals were anxious to distract Washington who was then marching south.  They decided to create a diversion by attacking an important northern supply center, New London, and, with the same stroke, destroy the "Rebel pirate ships".  The command of the expedition fell to Benedict ARNOLD who had deserted the American cause the year before and who being a native of nearby Norwich, knew the harbor area well.
           "At sunrise on September 6th, 1781, the people of the town of New London were awakened with the news that a large force of British Regulars had landed on both sides of the river's mouth and were coming upon them fast.  They could do nothing but flee.  A number of rigged ships in the harbor caught a favorable breeze and escaped upstream, but the rest were trapped.  The 800 men led by Benedict ARNOLD met only scattered risistance as they set about the task of destroyng the immense stockpile of goods and naval stores kept at New London.  Ships, wharfs and buildings were set aflame.  One hundred and forty-three buildings were destroyed.
           "The British force of 800 men that landed on the east side of the Thames River was slowed by tangled woods and swamps.  A battalion of New Jersey loyalists responsible for moving the artillery could not keep pace with the Regulars who came within striking distance of Fort Griswold at 10:00 A.M.  Meanwhile, the fort had been garrisoned with about 150 militia and local men (including Hobart "Elnathan" MASON and Thomas GRIFFIN) under the command of Colonel William LEDYARD.  Colonel LEDYARD and his officers, expecting reinforcements momentarily, elected to defend the post against the superior force.  Colonel EYRE, the British commander, sent forward a flag demanding surrender.  LEDYARD refused.  The demand was made again and Col. EYRE threatened that if he were forced to storm the fort, no quarter would be given to its defenders.  Col. LEDYARD still refused to surrender the fort.
           "The British force immediately spread their ranks and advanced on Fort Griswold.  As they neared the ditch, they were met with an artillery barrage which killed and wounded many, but the seasoned and disciplined troops continued their charge.  Some tried to gain the southwest bastion, but they were repulsed and Col. EYRE, the British commander, was badly wounded.  Under heavy musket fire, another group dislodged some pickets and by hand to hand combat reached a cannon and turned it against the garrison, Another party led by Major MONTGOMERY charged with fixed bayonets.  They were met with long spears and the Major was killed.  A few of the Regulars managed to reach the gate and open it and the enemy force marched in, in formation.  Seeing this, Colonel LEDYARD ordered his men to stop fighting and surrender, but some action continued on both sides.
           "According to American accounts, after Col. LEDYARD gave up his sword in surrender, he was immediately killed with it and a massacre ensued.  Before the "massacre" it is claimed that less than ten Americans had been killed, but when it was over, more than eighty of the garrison lay dead and mutilated, and more than half of the remainder were severly wounded.  The American wounded were placed on a heavy artillery cart, which, as it was being moved down the hill to the river, broke away and smashed into a tree causing terrible suffering.  The bleeding wounded men were then carried to the nearby home of Ebenezer AVERY.  Prisoners who were able to walk were placed aboard ship.  As evening approached, the British troops embarked leaving a detachment behind for an (unsuccessful) attempt to destroy the fort." -
          From the pamphlet, FORT GRISWOLD STATE PARK (State of Connectucut Department of Environmental Protection, Parks and Recreation Unit, Hartford, Ct. 06115).  See also, Mather, Frederic G. THE REFUGEES of 1776  from LONG ISLAND to CONNECTICUT (1972 reprint of the 1913 edition), pp.234-236,passim; Eleanor B. READ, MYSTIC MEMORIES (1980), p.11-14.

1781 -    Thomas GRIFFIN, Jr., born 12 October 1766, at Stonington, New London County, Connecticut, while residing at Stonington, enlisted, 1 May 1781, and served as a private in Captain William LATHAM's company, Colonel William LEDYARD's Connecticut Regiment.  He was stationed at Fort Griswold, in Groton, Conn., and was in the engagement that resulted in the British capture of that fort on 6 September 1781.  He was taken prisoner, carried to New York and soon after exchanged.  He was discharged 1 May 1782.  He was allowed pension on his application executed 9 October 1832, at which time he was living in Breckfield, Madison County, New York.  He died there 19 July 1844.  He married 3 November 1790 at Stonington to Mary "Polly" BROWN.  On 13 February 1838, he gave a deposition as part of the pension application of his sister, Mary MASON, widow of Elnathan MASON.  Pension File #W.19537 (see also pension #W.15842 Elnathan MASON).

1782 -    Henry MASON (1759-1836), son of Hobart and Margaret (COPP) MASON, married 21 April 1782 in Groton, Conn to Amey WILLIAMS (1763-1840), dau. of Capt. John WILLIAMS.  They had a large family.  Pension File #W.17097; Virkus', COMPENDIUM OF AMERICAN GENEALOGY, v.II,p.32, v.VII,p.867.

          On 9 February 1833, Henry MASON, "aged about Seventy four years, of New London, New London Co., Connecticut, made a declaration for a pension on his Revolutionary Service.  He stated that "sometime in the early part of the Revolutionary War, he believes in the year 1775 he resided in the town of Stonington ---, and that while there residing he was drafted to serve a tour of duty in Captain MORGAN's Company of Drafted Militia; that he did serve in said company under the said Captain this term in Fort Griswold in the town of Groton in said county and state; and that at the end of the term for which he was drafted he was honorably discharged.   That in the following year he was again drafted to serve another tour of duty; that he did serve in said Fort another tour, in Captain STODDARD's company of drafted militia ---.  That about the last of August or first of September A.D. 1778 he resided in said town of Groton and --?-- there was enlisted into Captain William LATHAM's Company of Artillery in the State Troops of Connecticut to serve for the term of one year; that he did serve in said Company for said year as Sergeant; and as part of the Garrison of Fort Griswold in said town of Groton.  That at the end of said term he again inlisted at the same place in to the same Company under the same Captain to serve for another term of one year.  That he did serve the said second term of one year in the garrison of said Fort Griswold as orderly sergeant.  That at the end of said second term he again inlisted and entered into the same Company commanded by the same Captain to serve for another year.---  That he did serve in said Fort in said Captain William LATHAM's company of arillery for the term of three full years.  That on the morning of the sixth of September A.D. 1781, he entered Fort Griswold as a volunteer, took part in the conflict of that day and by God's blessing he escaped unwounded.  That with the survivors of the garrison he was taken prisoner, carried to New York, and confined about two months in the Sugar Houses.  That after this confinement he was exchanged and carried over to and landed upon Elizabeth Point, from which place he marched home to said Groton where he arrived in the winter.  That he was born in the town of Groton in April 1759, as he has been always informed but that he has no record of his birth.  That he has always resided in the towns of Groton or New London.  That Col. William LEDYARD was the commanding officer of the garrison, ---."  -  Pension File #W.17097.

1787 -    Thomas Griffin MASON, son of Elnathan Hobart and Mary (GRIFFIN) MASON, was born, 14 December 1787, in New York.  He married Catharine BAYARD, and he died, 12 December 1848, in Troy, Indiana.  -  Information from a 1902 letter to Ethel (SPILMAN) MOORE of Gastonia, N.C. from her uncle Oliver Perry MASON, youngest son of Thomas Griffin and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON.  In 1988 this letter was in the possession of William L. DeCoursey of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1790 -    The Census of New London County, Connecticut for 1790, p.117, lists:
              Elnathan MASON,  1 White Male over 16
                               2 white males under 16
                               3 white females.

1790 -    Thomas GRIFFIN, Jr. (1766-1844) married 3 Nov. 1790 to Polly BROWN (1771-1865), dau. of Simeon, Jr. and Ruth (YORK) BROWN.  Thomas and Polly (BROWN) GRIFFIN had children:  Polly GRIFFIN m. Saunders LANGWORTHY; Thomas; Anna; Simeon; Avery; Nathan; Phoeby; Lucretia; James C.; Jerusha; Albert; Ashbel H. married a WORDEN; Samuel C.; and John B. GRIFFIN. -   Brown, Cyrus Henry, BROWN GENEALOGY (1907), pp.126-127; LDS Arizona Temple Record No. SL1193 No.25618, Pk.129, p.1220; Revolutionary War Pension #W.19537.

1791 -    Catharine BAYARD was born 8 November 1791 in New York.  She married, ca. 1810, near Albany, New York to Thomas Griffin MASON, son of Elnathan and Mary (GRIFFIN) MASON.

1800 -    The family of Elnathan MASON was listed on page 665, line 20, in the Census of Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut in 1800.

1807 -    Harvey SPILMAN (1807-1887), son of Thomas and Nancy (BRINTON) SPILMAN, was born 11 February 1807, in Gallatin Co., Kentucky.  He died 31 May 1887, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Harvey SPILMAN married Mary MASON, daughter of Thomas G. and Catharine (BYARD) MASON -  From a 1902 letter to Ethel (SPILMAN) MOORE of Gastonia, N.C. from her uncle Oliver Perry MASON.  Original of letter is in the possession of William L. DeCoursey.

1810 -    Thomas Griffin MASON (1787-1848), son of Elnathan Hobart MASON and Mary (GRIFFIN) MASON, married, ca. 1810, in or near Oneida Co., New York, to Catharine BAYARD, born 8 November 1791 in New York.  They had children:  Mary MASON (1813-1903) married 10 Dec. 1830 Harvey SPILMAN; Julia Ann MASON m. 1836 Addison GREEN; Denison D. MASON (1815-1893) m. Catherine RUTHERFORD; Elizabeth MASON; Ambrose MASON; Martin B. MASON; William F. MASON; and Oliver Hazard Perry MASON (1829-1919) m. (1) 1859 Mary LUCY - divorced, m. (2) 1898 Mary HOSERUD.

          In a letter dated February 4, 1973 to William DeCOURSEY, Marion (NUTTING) DALE of Jacksonville, Florida wrote:  "I found the enclosed material among some papers my mother, Suzie (LAVERTY) NUTTING placed in the LAVERTY family Bible.  These compromise the extent of my knowledge except for some details I remember.  Aunt "Lizzie" (probably Elizabeth SPILMAN JACKSON 1837-1930) who was a favorite of mine had been married to a preacher.  Her son (Josiah Harvey JACKSON) was a West Point man and a Colonel at that time.  She was in her 80's yet lively and would play with me like another kid.  Uncle Ped "Perry" (Oliver Perry SPILMAN) was the superintendent of the Electric line that ran from Indianapolis to Lebanon, Indiana.  He was quite a card too.  My grandmother (Alice SPILMAN LAVERTY) was very serious and strict.  VERY!  - Marion DALE"
          Enclosed with the above letter was the following transcript of family records as recorded by Suzie (LAVERTY) NUTTING of Minneapolis, found in the family bible of her mother, Alice (SPILMAN) LAVERTY:

                                            Born                Died
          Thomas G. MASON               Dec. 14, 1787       Dec. 12, 1848
          Catherine MASON                                   Feb.  7, 1842
                 |
          Mary MASON                    Oct.  9, 1813       July 17, 1903
          Harvey SPILMAN                Feb. 11, 1807       May  31, 1887
                 |
          Caroline SPILMAN HUBBS        Nov. 17, 1831       Feb. 26, 1914
          Adeline SPILMAN               Sep. 15, 1833       Sept. 5, 1854
          Jerome SPILMAN                Sep   5, 1835
          M. Elizabeth SPILMAN JACKSON  July 19, 1837       November 1930
          Alice SPILMAN LAVERTY         Nov. 28, 1839       June 10  1918
          Sarah Ann SPILMAN             Mar. 23, 1842       May      1874
          America SPILMAN MEARS         Apr. 18, 1845       April    1935
          Florence SPILMAN              Aug. 27, 1847       July     1849
          Charles SPILMAN               Feb. 21, 1850
          Oliver Perry "Ped" SPILMAN    Jan. 25, 1853       Oct. 21, 1932

1813 -    Mary MASON (1813-1903), daughter of Thomas G. and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON, was born 9 October 1813 in Oneida Co., New York.  She married 10 December 1830 at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana to Harvey SPILMAN; and she died 17 July 1903 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1815 -    Denison D. MASON, son of Thomas Griffin and Catharin (BAYARD) MASON was born 2 September 1815 in New York; died 15 September 1893 at Trenton, Florida.  He married 17 April 1836 to Catherine RUTHERFORD.  He was a Methodist Minister in Indiana, Ililnois, Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky for about 25 years.  Later he became a minister in the Church of Christ, and he established the Joppa Christian Church at Trenton, Florida.  -  P. M. Agee, THE AGEE FAMILY (1937), pp.146,325-327,passim.; Richard B. Sanders, "Pioneers - The Mason Family", GILCHRIST COUNTY JOURNAL (Trenton, Florida, February 6, 1958),  p.1.

1818 -    Thomas G. MASON is listed among the earliest residents of Troy, Perry County, Indiana.  He conducted a large cooper shop and made barrels, hogsheads, kegs, etc.  Thomas MASON operated an early corn cracker, the motor of which was a sweep drawn by horses or cattle. -  HISTORY of WARRICK, SPENCER and PERRY COUNTIES, INDIANA (Goodspeed Bros., Chicago 1885), p.668,671; Frank Baertich, HISTORY OF TROY, INDIANA (1983), p.15,17,210,214.

1820 -    Nathaniel PALMER of Stonington, Connecticut first discovered the Antarctic continent in 1820, while on a sealing voyage on the ship "Hero," built in 1800 at the Packer Shipyard in Mystic, Connecticut.

1824 -    Dudley MASON purchased lots 69, 93, and 94 in Troy, Perry Co., Indiana in 1824.

1825 -    Thomas G. MASON was deeded land in Perry Co., Indiana by John HUFFMAN on 11 Dec. 1825. -  Perry Co., Indiana Deed Bk.a, p.211.

1829 -    Oliver H. P. MASON, son of Thomas Griffin and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON was born 7 July 1829. -  Pension File # XC. 2,660-454 (Mexican War).

1830 -    Thomas G. MAYSON [MASON], is listed as head of a family in Troy, Perry County, Indiana in 1830.  Frank Baertich, HISTORY OF TROY, INDIANA (1983), p.225.

1830 -    Thomas G. MASON purchased lots 43 and 67 in Troy, Indiana, from the county of Perry, Indiana on 14 Sept. 1830.  Deed Bk.A, p.355.

1830 -    Harvey SPILMAN, son of Thomas and Nancy (BRINTON) SPILMAN, married 19 December 1830 at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana, to Mary MASON, dau. of Thomas Griffin and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON.  They had children:  Caroline (1831-1914) m. 1853 David R. HUBBS; Adeline (1833-1854) m. James H. BATES; Jerome SPILMAN (1835-1899) m. 1859 Esta HANCOCK; Edith "Mary Elizabeth" SPILMAN (1837-1930) m. 1853 John W. JACKSON; Alice SPILMAN (1839-1918) m. John LAVERTY; Sarah Ann SPILMAN (1842-1874 m. John W. HONEY; America "Mattie" SPILMAN (1845-1935) m. 1866 Frederick S. MEARS; Florence SPILMAN (1847-1849); Oliver Perry SPILMAN (1853-1932) m. Lillian --?--; and Charles Mason SPILMAN m. 1870 Gertrude POLLARD.
          See:  Perry County, Indiana Marriage License, issued 11 Dec. 1830, recorded 27 Dec. 1830; Melville, Malcolm L. THE SPILMAN PAPERS (Forestville, California 1965), p.333-34; Family bible of Alice (SPILMAN) LAVERTY in the possession of Marion (NUTTING) DALE of Jacksonville, FL; Family Bible Record made by America (SPILMAN) MEARS, in the possession of Freda HERREN of Denver, Colorado (a photographic copy of this record is in the possession of William L. DECOURSEY of Minneapolis, MN). -  Brenton, Chester F., DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM SPILMAN and MARY BROWN (Privately published, Spokane, Washington: 1980); See also: Society of Mayflower Descendants National #38059; MAYFLOWER ANCESTRAL INDEX (1981).

1831 -    Caroline SPILMAN, oldest child of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN, was born 17 November 1831 at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.  She married 29 Oct 1853 to David R. HUBBS (1828-1894), son of Amaziah P. and Jane HUBBS.  He died 19 Jan. 1894 at Tell City, Indiana.  She died 26 February 1914 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is buried at Lakewood Cemetery.

1833 -    In October 1833, Thomas G. MASON sued Edmund JENNINGS for Slander, laying his damages at $1000.  In 1832 they had a trial of debt before James BRISTOW, justice of the peace, at the conclusion of which JENNINGS had publicly declared to MASON, "You have sworn to a damned lie, and I can prove it."  Upon this accusation, the suit for slander was brought.  Samuel FRISBIE appeared for MASON.  The jury returned a verdict for $300 damages.  Having been satisfied that his veracity was confirmed by the verdict, T. G. MASON did "release Edmund JENNINGS from the whole amount of a judgment which I received against him in the Perry Circuit Court at the October Session 1833, except twenty five dollars and all the cost of said court." -  Perry County, Indiana Court Records, Bk.2, p.280-, 216-; HISTORY of WARRICK, SPENCER and PERRY COUNTIES, INDIANA (Goodspeed Bros., Chicago 1885), pp.621-622.

1835 -    Jerome SPILMAN, son of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN, was born 5 Sept. 1835 in Milton, Trimble Co., Kentucky.  He married 15 May 1859 in Nebraska to Estaville Kansas HANCOCK, and had a son Josiah Harvey "Harry" SPILMAN who married 15 Nov. 1883 to Margaret BISANER. -  George Gordon Ward, THE ANNALS OF UPPER GEORGIA CENTERED IN GILMER COUNTY (1965), pp.305-307; Melville, Malcolm L. THE SPILMAN PAPERS (Forestville, California 1965), pp.333-334.

1837 -    Dennison MASON purchased lot #68 in Troy, Perry County, Indiana, in 1837.

1837 -    On 24 February 1837, Mary MASON, aged 78 years, a resident of Richland, Oswego County, New York, made delaration in order to obtain a widow's pension.  She stated "that she is the widow of Elnathan MASON, who was a private in the Army of the Revolution; that he resided at Stonington, Connecticut at the commencement of the Revolutionary War; and that he went as a soldier with the Connecticut troops to Ticonderoga and served one campaign. - Also served as a private in the same Army at Roxbury, Massachusetts. - Also in the spring of 1781, believes it was about the middle of April, the said Elnathan MASON, then being the husband of this Declarant, enlisted in Groton in the State of Connecticut in Captain LATHAM's company in Colonel LEDYARD's Regiment for one year and continued to serve as a private soldier in said company at Fort Griswold until the memorable 6th of September 1781, at which time he was taken prisoner and carried to New York and there detained until he was exchanged; when he was brought to his home near Groton sick with the yellow fever with which he remained confined and under the Physicians care for several weeks. --- She further declares that she was married to the said Elnathan MASON on the 31st day of October in the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine; that her husband, the aforesaid Elnathan MASON, died on the twelfth day of September, eighteen hundred and eleven, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed." -  Pension File #W.15842.

1837 -    On 4 March 1837, Elnathan MASON, Jr., an acting Justice of the Peace in Oswego County, New York, gave testimony as follows:  "Elnathan MASON, Jr., of Richland, Oswego County, being duly sworn saith that he is well acquainted with Mary MASON the declarant named in the preceeding declaration and has been so acquainted with her since the year seventeen hundred ninety eight, and was also at that time acquainted with Elnathan MASON, the husband of said Mary, and that the said Elnathan died in September eighteen hundred and eleven as he at the time was informed and verily believed, and that the said Mary had never since been married but still lived a widow.  That he frequently heard the said Elnathan while living speak of his serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army at Roxbury and also many particulars of his service at Ticonderoga, and of his service at Groton Fort in the summer of 1781, and of his capture and subsequent imprisonment at New York; and further that he is the son of the said Mary and Elnathan and was born in the year seventeen hundred ninety one and that the annexed paper (signed by this deponent) is an original record of the family of the said Mary and Elnathan and is in every particular true according to the best of his knowledge and belief; and that he saw his father, the said Elnathan, write the last line thereof, to wit, 'Jarusha MASON born July the 12th 1801,' and that the whole of the said record was truly copied into the family Bible of said Mary MASON more than twenty years ago, and now remains in her possession, and further that the said Mary is in the full possession of her memory and natural abilities and he verily believes has in her said declaration testified to the truth according to the best of her knowledge and belief. - Elnathan Mason." -  Pension File #W.15842.

          The following family Bible record is part of the National Archives Pension File #W.15842, application of Mary (GRIFFIN) MASON, widow of Elnathan MASON who died on 12 September 1811, of Oswego in the State of New York.  He was a private in the company commanded by Captain Latham of the regiment commanded by Col. Ledyard in the continental line from Connecticut.

               Elnathan MASON and Mary GRIFFIN married October 31, 1779.
               Polly MASON born September 1, 1780.
               Samuel MASON born July the 13th, 1785.
               Samuel MASON died October 17, 1786.
               Thomas Griffin MASON born December 14, 1787.
               Elnathan Mason, Jr. born August 12, 1791.
               Samuel MASON 2d born February 20, 1794.
               Samuel MASON died January 20, 1799.
               Dudley D. MASON born December 8, 1798.
               Jarusha MASON born July 12, 1801.
                         ---------------
          Certified by me this 4th day of March 1837
                    Elnathan MASON, Jr.

1838 -    On 13 February 1838, at Madison County, New York, "Thomas GRIFFIN of Brookfield, county of Madison and State of New York, being duly sworn says that he is a citizen of the United States, aged seventy one years; that he is brother to Mary MASON, widow of Elnathan MASON late of the county of Onandaga deceased, who now resides in Richland in the County of Oswego; --- that said Elnathan MASON enlisted into the army of the United States in April 1781 and this deponent enlisted in May 1781 each for one year under Capt. William LATHAM and served at Fort Griswold under Col. LEDYARD and continued at said fort until it was taken by the British; that the said MASON and this deponent were taken prisoners on the 6th day of September 1781 and taken to New York and soon after exchanged and returned to Connecticut; that immediately on his release from imprisonment he was taken sick and for some time his recovery was --?--; that he was informed and believed that the government paid the expenses in his sickness; that on his recovery he --?-- into the Army and continued --?-- to the end of his service which was one year; that this deponent attended upon the said MASON in his sickness and that he is positive that said MASON served the full term of one year.  - Thomas GRIFFIN." -  Pension File #W.15842.  (See also Pension File #W.19537 "Thomas Griffin, Jr.".)

1838 -    On 10 August 1838, Ama (WILIAMS) MASON, widow of Henry MASON, of New London, Connecticut, made application for a widow's pension.   She declared that her husband, Henry MASON, was at Fort Griswold "at the time it was taken by the British troops September 6th 1781 and was taken prisoner and carried to New York; that he was kept there a prisoner until late in the fall of that year or during the winter following."  She declared that she was married to the said Henry MASON on the 21st day of April 1782 by Doctor PRENTICE, then of Groton, a Justice of the Peace; that said Henry MASON died at New London, Conn. 24 April 1836.  Abigail CHIPMAN and Martha BAILEY of the town of New London appeared in court and swore that they had been present at the marriage of Henry MASON and Ama WILLIAMS on 21 April 1782. -  Pension File #W.17097.

1840 -    Orlean BLANCHARD brought suit against Thomas G. MASON in Perry County, Indiana, on 21 March 1840, and received a judgment of $188.00. -  Perry County Civil Court Records, Book 2.

1840 -    Census of Perry County, Indiana Lists:
             Household of T. G. MASON with 1 male 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 50-60 (Thomas G.), and 1 female 50-60 (Catharine).
             Household of Denison MASON with 1 male under 5, 1 male 20-30, 1 female under 5, and 1 female 20-30.
             Household of Harvey SPILMAN with 1 male under 5, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 30-40, 2 females under 5, 2 females 5-10, and 1 female 20-30.

1841 -    Frederick S. MEARS (1841-1921), son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth Charlotte (SHOLTS) MEARS, was born 27 Sept. 1841 at Hindostan, Martin Co., Indiana.  "The father was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Indiana about the time he attained his majority.  The mother was born in Indiana.  Frederick S. MEARS was reared on the home farm, and attended the district schools."  Frederick S. MEARS married 27 Sept. 1866 to America SPILMAN, dau. of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN.  Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA (1915), v.I, pp.354-355.

1842 -    Catharine (BAYARD) MASON (1791-1842), wife of Thomas G. MASON, died 7 February 1842.  She is buried at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.

1845 -    America "Matty" SPILMAN, daughter of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN, was born 18 April 1845 at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.  She married, 27 September 1866 at Washington, Indiana to Frederick S. MEARS; and she died 17 April 1935 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1845 -    Thomas G. MASON and Dennison MASON deeded land in Perry Co., Indiana to Harvey SPILMAN on 28 May 1845.  Deed Bk. C, pp.523,561.

1847 -    Oliver Hazard Perry MASON, son of Thomas G. and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON, served in the Mexican War as a Private in Captain Crook's Company "E", 4th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers.

1848 -    Thomas Griffin MASON (1787-1848) died 12 December 1848.  He is buried in Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.

1850 -    O. P. MASON, age 21, Laborer, born in Indiana, was living in the household of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN in 1850.  Census of Troy, Perry County, Indiana, August 26, 1850, p.726.

1850 -    Charles Mason SPILMAN, youngest son of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN, was born 21 February 1850 at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.  He married Gertrude POLLARD on 6 April 1870 and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He had children:  Perry A. SPILMAN, and Mary L. SPILMAN married Mr. McCLASKEY.

1853 -    John W. JACKSON married, 26 Oct. 1853, to Mary Elizabeth "Edith" SPILMAN, daughter of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN.

1853 -    David R. HUBBS married, 29 Oct 1853, in Perry County, Indiana to Caroline SPILMAN (1831-1914), daughter of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN.  They were married by J. W. JACKSON, V.D.M.

1857 -    John LAVERTY married, 15 Oct. 1857, to Alice SPILMAN (1839-1918), daughter of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN.

1859 -    Jerome SPILMAN (1835-1899), son of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN married, 15 May 1859, in Nebraska to Estavilla HANDCOCK, born 16 February 1843 Clearfield, Penna.  They had a son Josiah Harvey "Harry" SPILMAN who married, 15 Nov. 1883, to Margaret BISANER.
          About 1855 Jerome SPILMAN graduated at Greencastle, Indiana, whereupon he entered upon the Methodist ministry.  He located forty miles west of Omaha, at Fontanell, Nebraska where he was the first missionary of his faith in the Nebraska Territory.
          At the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the Union Army as a chaplain of an Iowa cavalry troop called "Curtis' Horse," which capacity he served several months.  After witnessing the slaughter on the battlefield, with mixed emotion, he resigned his position as chaplain, and took up the gun.  He raised a company of infantry at Washington, Indiana, and was made captain of it.  He was wounded at Jackson, Mississippi.  Preserved originals of several letters from Jerome SPILMAN, written from the battlefield, to his wife Esta, are in the possession of William L. DeCoursey of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  These letters reveal the agony of his decision between his duty to God and his duty to his country.  (See Appendix).
          After the Civil War, Jerome SPILMAN moved first to Huntsville, Alabama and then to Augusta, Georgia, where he was presiding elder of the North Georgia Conference.  Jerome SPILMAN died 25 Nov. 1899 at Atlanta, Georgia.  He is buried in the National Cemetery at Marrieta, Georgia. -  See George Gordon Ward, THE ANNALS OF UPPER GEORGIA CENTERED IN GILMER COUNTY (1965), pp.305-307; Melville, Malcolm L. THE SPILMAN PAPERS (Forestville, California 1965), pp.333-334.

1859 -    Oliver H. P. MASON married (1st) 15 October 1859, at San Francisco, Calif. to Mary LUCY.  They were divorce 20 July 1896 at Hillsboro, Washington Co., Oregon.

1866 -    Frederick S. MEARS (1841-1921) married 27 September 1866, at Washington, Daviess Co., Indiana, to America "Matty" SPILMAN, born 18 April 1845, dau. of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN of Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.  They had children:  Charles Bertred MEARS (1867-1935); Frederick MEARS (1872-1913) m. (1) Hanna J. --?--, m. (2) 23 Nov. 1906 Mollie Iva SMITH; and Mary Alma MEARS (1877-1904) married, 28 Dec 1898, Leslie Eugene DECOURSEY. -  General Society of Mayflower Descendants #38059.  MAYFLOWER ANCESTRAL INDEX (1981), v.1,p.173,417; Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn, HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, MINNESOTA (1915), v.I, pp.354-355.; D.A.R. #614356; Brenton, Chester F., DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM SPILMAN and MARY BROWN (Privately published, Spokane, Washington: 1980), p.15.

1870 -    Charles Mason SPILMAN, son of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN, married, 6 April 1870, to Gertrude POLLARD.  They moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and had children Perry SPILMAN and Mary SPILMAN, and perhaps others.  Mary SPILMAN married Clarence McLASKEY, a Minneapolis fireman.  Clarence and Mary (SPILMAN) McLASKEY had three sons, Clarence, Frank and Charles, and one daughter Gertrude (McLASKEY) PAUL of Waterford, Michigan.

1877 -    Mary Alma MEARS, daughter of Frederick and America (SPILMAN) MEARS, was born 16 August 1877, at Washington, Daviess Co., Indiana.  She married, 28 Dec 1898 at Faribault, Minnesota, to Leslie Eugene DECOURSEY; and she died 20 Jan 1904 at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1891 -    On 6 August 1891, Oliver H. P. MASON of Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, gave declaration for a pension, in which he swore that he enlisted at Jasper, Dubois Co., Indiana, in 1847, as a private in the Fourth regiment of Indiana Volunteers.  He states that he was born at Troy Perry County, Indiana on the Fourth of July 1829; that his wife's maiden name was Mary LUCY, to whom he was married at San Francisco, California, on July 1857

1895 -    Minnesota State Census, Faribault, Rice County, 1895,
              LAVERTY, Alice      age 54      born Indiana
              LAVERTY, Susie          19
          (Note:  Alice (SPILMAN) LAVERTY was a daughter of Harvey SPILMAN.  Her daughter, Susie LAVERTY, married a NUTTING.  "Cousin" Susie NUTTING lived next door to the Leslie DECOURSEY family, 1010 - 26th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

1896 -    Mary (LUCY) MASON, divorced her husband Oliver H. P. MASON on 20 July 1896 at Hillsboro, Washington Co., Oregon.

1898 -    Oliver Hazard Perry MASON, son of Thomas G. and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON, divorced his first wife, Mary LUCY at Hillsboro, Oregon on 20 July 1896; and he married second, 22 March 1898, at Sidney, Kitsap County, Washington, by Rev. James B. CLARK, to Mary HOSERUD, daughter of Ole O. and Krystie HOSERUD of Winneshiek County Iowa.  Witnesses were C. W. CLAUSEN and Thomas ROSS. -   Certificate of Marriage;   Pension File XC.2,660-454 (Mexican War).

1898 -    Leslie E. DeCOURSEY a resident of Steele co., Minn., son of Isaac H. DeCOURCY, married 28 Dec 1998 at Faribault, Rice Co., Minnesota to Mary A. MEARS, dau. of Fred and America (SPILMAN) MEARS.  Witnesses were Gertrude COGGSWELL and Geo. DEFINE.  Mary MEARS was a descendant of William BREWSTER, Mayflower Pilgrim.  Rice county Marriages Book H, p.499.  See also General Society of Mayflower Descendants #38059.  MAYFLOWER ANCESTRAL INDEX (1981), v.1,p.173,417; Brenton, Chester F., DESCENDANTS of WILLIAM SPILMAN and MARY BROWN (Privately published, Spokane, Washington: 1980).

1899 -    The Woquetequock Burial Ground Association in Stonington, Connecticut, on 31 August 1899, dedicated a monument which had been erected as a memorial to the first four settlers of Waquetequock --- William CHESEBROUGH, Thomas MINOR, Walter PALMER and Thomas STANTON.  Each side of the monument carries an epitaph, above which has been carved a coat of arms.  Stonington Historical Society, STONINGTON GRAVEYARDS (1980), p.20-21.

1900 -    Fred Perry DeCOURSEY, son of Leslie E. and Mary (MEARS) DeCOURSEY was born 11 Aug 1900 in Owatanna, Steele Co., MN.  Minnesota Birth Cert.#15276.

1901 -    The following is a transcript of a letter, dated October 1st, 1901, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, written to Joshua Harvey "Harry" SPILMAN, son of Jerome SPILMAN (1835-1899) and grandson of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN.  The letter was written by Oliver Perry MASON (1829-1919), son of Thomas G. and Catharine (BAYARD) MASON.  The preserved original of this letter is in the possession of William L. DeCOURSEY of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Items in parenthesis have been added to the text for clarification.
       "My dear Nephew Harry SPILMAN,
          "I am here at your grandmothers - my sister - whom I dropped in on a few days ago after 49 years residence on the Pacific Coast.  Your aunts Mattie (America SPILMAN MEARS) and Carrie (CAROLINE SPILMAN HUBBS) and your grandmother (Mary MASON SPILMAN) all live together.  I have been permitted to read your letter to your grandmother and enjoyed it very much.  Your father Jerome was like a younger brother to me.
          "I was very much interested in Ethel's (Ethel SPILMAN MOORE) desire to know something about our family and their connection with the American Revolution.  I will give it to you, at least in part.  My grandfather was Hubbard [sic] Elnathan MASON.  He served two enlistments in the War of the Revolution, from Connecticut.  His ancestors came from England long before the Revolution and settled at New London.  He held a grant from the King which comprised nearly the whole state of Connecticut.  Some of them distinguished themselves in the Indian Wars prior to the Revolution, and when the Revolution broke out, my Grandfather Hubbard Elnathan MASON was one of the first to enlist and was in a number of engagements.  He had several sons and daughters, I never knew but two of them, my father Thomas Griffin MASON, and my Uncle Dudley MASON.  My father died in Troy, Perry County, Indiana.  My Uncle Dudley died in Lewisburg, Arkansas.  My father married Catharine BAYARD.  They had a number of children, viz:  Julia MASON, Denison D. MASON, Mary MASON your grandmother, Elizabeth MASON, Ambrose G. MASON, Martin B. MASON, William F. MASON, and O. H. Perry MASON myself, and I think three other children who died in childhood.
          "Commodore O. H. Perry was a cousin of my father.  My father enlisted in the War of 1812, and Perry was in the Navy.  Myself and Martin B MASON were soldiers in the Mexican War, and Martin was also a soldier in the rebellion, and I supose you know the part your father took in the rebellion also.
          "This is a general outline of the family tree.  The records of the State of Connecticut will show these facts in relation to the Revolution.
          "I live in Seattle, Washington at No. 1315 East Madison St.  I am now engaged in mining, and came here in the interest of my company.  I write my name simply O. P. MASON on account of its shortness.  I will send you a prospectus of our mining enterprise.
          "Though I have never seen you, of course you and your family are near and dear to me.  Your grandmother and Aunts will probably write you all the news.  I have but one child, a daughter, and she will probably never have any children as she is getting well along toward 50 and none yet.  My mine is fabulously rich and I would like to make enough out of it to help all my poor relations out of the mire.
          "Every truly yours, - O. P. MASON."
       (In regards to the above letter:  O. P. MASON apparently attempted to make good his promise to make the family rich.  Several hundred shares of THUNDER CREEK MINING stock were distributed to various family members in the early 1900's.  The mine, located in the North Cascades Wilderness area, was producing into the 1930's when the company was disolved.  Some of these stock certificates which had been passed down through the families, were still, in 1980, in the possession of Marion (NUTTING) DALE and William DeCOURSEY, descendants of Harvey and Mary (MASON) SPILMAN.  The certificates in the possession of William L. DeCOURSEY are in the name of his father, Fred Perry DeCOURSEY, who received his middle name "Perry" after his great-great uncle who was visiting in Minneapolis when Fred was born in August 1900.  Other certificate shares in the mining company were transferred to Fred DeCOURSEY from his grandfather Fred MEARS, husband of America "Mattie" SPILMAN.  Mrs. DALE acquired her certificates from her grandmother, Alice (SPILMAN) LAVERTY. --- The "cousin" relationship between Thomas Griffin MASON and Commodore Oliver Hazard PERRY, mentioned in O. P. MASON's letter is verified in Mrs. F. W. BROWN's SOME ANCESTORS OF OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (1911), Part I, p.22-23.  They were both descendants of Capt. George DENISON.)

1902 -    According to Ethel (SPILMAN) MOORE, the same "Uncle Ped" (Oliver Perry MASON), that wrote the above letter, wrote her father again on 9 Feb. 1902 from his home in Seattle that he has a daughter Lucea living in Baltimore, Md.  This letter also states that "Harry JACKSON had a brilliant record of service in the Phillipines and in Cuba."

1903 -    Mary (MASON) SPILMAN (1813-1903), aged 89 years 10 months, widow of Harvey SPILMAN, died 17 July 1903, at 2947 - 16th Av. So., Minneapolis, Minnesota, of "Senility/Catarrh."  She was buried at Layman's Cemetery, but her remains were later moved to Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.  See Society of Mayflower Descendants National #38059; MAYFLOWER ANCESTRAL INDEX (1981).

1904 -    Mary Alma (MEARS) DeCOURSEY, died of consumption 20 Jan 1904 in Minneapolis, MN.  She is buried in Lakewood Cemetery.

1905 -    Minn State Census, Minneapolis, 9th Ward, Subd.e, precinct.1,
       E.D. 39, Schedule 46, 2518 Central Ave., N.E.:
            41   HOBBS, Caroline    age 74        Ind.     ----     Wisc.
                 DeCOURCY, Leslie       31        Wisc.    Wisc.    Wisc.
                 DeCOURCY, Fred P.       5        Minn.    Wisc.    Ind.

          Note:  Caroline (SPILMAN) HOBBS was a sister of America (SPILMAN) MEARS and great-aunt to Fred P. DeCOURSEY.  She is buried at Lakewood, Cemetery, Minneapolis.

1906 -    Our ancestor, Elnathan MASON, fought in the American Revolution in the Battle of Fort GRISWOLD.  The Minneapolis, Minnesota Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution unveiled and dedicated a bronze tablet in Loring Park to commemorate the battle of Fort GRISWOLD, fought at Groton, New London, Connecticut.  The tablet was "imbedded in a huge boulder which had been placed on the knoll at the end of Fourteenth St. at the foot of a tree the chapter had planted in 1903."  The tablet read as follows:
          "TO COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE OF FORT GRISWOLD FOUGHT SEPTEMBER 6, 1781.  THIS TREE WAS PLANTED IN HISTORIC EARTH FROM THE THIRTEEN ORIGINAL COLONIES BY MINNEAPOLIS CHAPTER DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.  TABLET PLACED SEPTEMBER 6, 1906."
          From a newsclipping in a D.A.R. scrapbook at the Minnesota Historical Society.

1907 -    On 13 April 1907, Oliver H. P. MASON, a resident Seattle, King County, Washington applied for a pension on his service in the Mexican War.  He stated that he was enrolled at Jefffersonville, Indiana under the name of Oliver H. P. MASON about May 1847 as a Private in Company E, 4th Indiana Volunteer Regiment; and that he was discharged at Pueblo Mexico about November 1847 and received his pay at New Orleans, La.  His personal description at enlistment was as follows:  Height 5 feet 5 inches; complexion, dark; color of eyes, Brown; color of hair, Black or Brown; born July 7th, 1828, at Troy in the State of Indiana.  Pension XC.2,660-454.

1915 -    On 11 October 1915, Oliver H. P. MASON of Seattle, Washington signed an affidavit in which he declared that he was born 7 July 1829 at Troy Perry County, Indiana.  That his wife's maiden name was Mary HOSRUD and they wer married 22 March 1898 at Sidney, Kitsap Co., Washington by Rev. James B. CLARK.  That he was previously married in San Francisco about 1869 to Mary LUCY by a Catholic priest; she got a divorce in 1896; and died in Portland, Orgon soon thereafter.  That he had two children by first wife, Mary (LUCY) MASON, both dead in 1915.  That he had no children by second marriage.  Pension File # XC.2,660-454 (Mexican War).

1919 -    Oliver H. P. MASON died of Prostatitis Cystitis, 4 March 1919 at Seattle, King County, Washington.  His remains were cremated at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.  His death certificate gives his date of birth as 7 July 1829; his father's name as "Thomas MASON."  His Widow, Mary (HOSERUD) MASON applied for a pension on 23 April 1919 and again in 1921 and 1922.

1921 -    Frederick Perry DeCOURSEY and Edna Mae FERREL, dau. of William Lawrence and Mabel (STORRS) FERREL, were married, 21 June 1921, in Des Moines, Iowa.  They lived at Annandale, Minnesota until 1926 when Fred DeCOURSEY sold his interest in the Mears Cottage Grove Resort to his cousin, Mason MEARS and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1922 -    On 17 March 1922, Mary (HOSERUD) MASON, widow of Oliver H. P. MASON, filed an affidavit in King County Washington in which she swore as follows:  "That I was born January 7, 1859 at Cambridge, Dane Co., Wisconsin at the home of my grandfather, Rev. C. C. STEENSEN, who was then Pastor of the Norwegian Danish Methodist Episcopal Church.  That I could furnish the affidavits of many people that lived at Winneshiek Co., Iowa between 1860 and 1870 and still live there.  That between the years 1860 and 1870 my father went under the name of Ole OLSON, and after that he used Ole Olson HOSERUD.  At first he spelled it HAASARUD, and then simplified it to HOSERUD.  My father was born in Norway, and my grandfather's name was OLSON, and when my father came to this country he dropped the name of OLSON after a while and then used the name of HOSERUD, which was a farm name in Norway.  That the above stated facts are true, and that my family moved to Winneshiek Co., Iowa in the Spring of 1859, when I was a few months old. - Mary Mason"

1922 -    Frederick Ferrel DeCOURSEY, son of Fred and Edna Mae (FERREL) DeCOURSEY was born 13 May 1922, in Annandale, MN.

1923 -    Judith Ann DECOURSEY, daughter of Frederick Perry and Edna Mae (FERREL) DECOURSEY, was born, 28 May 1923, at Annandale, Wright County, Minnesota.  She married, 13 May 1944, to Arsa W. WEIMAN.

1931 -    William Leslie DeCOURSEY, son of Frederick Perry and Edna Mae (FERREL) DeCOURSEY of 1025 - 19th Av NE, Minneapolis, MN, was born 9 Nov 1931, in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.  Father's occupation was Standard Oil Service Station attendant.  Birth Cert.#49360.  William DeCOURSEY was baptized at Trinity Methodist Church.

1935 -    America (SPILMAN) MEARS, age 88 years, 11 months, 29 days, widow of Frederick S. MEARS, died 17 April 1935 at Annandale (Corinna Twp.), Wright County, Minnesota.  Her death certificate No.3796, Bk.31, gives her husband's name as Frederick MEARS; her date of birth as 18 April 1846; birthplace, Indiana; father's name, Harvey SPILLMAN, born Indiana; and cause of death, Arterio-sclerosis of several years duration.  Informant was Chas. MEARS of Annandale, Minnesota.  She is buried at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

1942 -    Frederick Ferrel DeCOURSEY, son of Fred and Edna Mae (FERREL) DeCOURSEY, married 6 June 1942 at Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Violet SATRE, born 28 Dec 1918, Ironwood, MI, dau. of John CLARK and Elsie (GUSTAFSON) SATRE.  From 1937 until after her marriage, Violet (SATRE) DECOURSEY was an employee of National School Studios in Minneapolis.

1944 -    While on military leave, Arsa W. WEIMAN married, 13 May 1944, at Trinity Methodist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Judith Ann DECOURSEY, daughter of Fred Perry and Edna Mae (FERREL) DECOURSEY of Fridley, Anoka County, Minnesota.  Howard WEIMAN, the groom's brother, was best man at the wedding.

1950 -    William Leslie DECOURSEY, son of Frederick Perry and Edna May (FERREL) DECOURSEY of Minneapolis, Minnesota, married, 24 Nov 1950, in Mason City, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, to Mertle Joyce BIRD, dau. of David and Treva (HAYNES) BIRD of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.  Witnesses were Philip JAREN and June BIRD.  William and Mertle (BIRD) DECOURSEY had three children:  Constance K., William D., and David F. DECOURSEY. - Iowa Marriages 17-50-821.
          For a list of some of the ancestors of William DeCOURSEY and Mertle (BIRD) DECOURSEY see: THE SECOND BOAT (July 1987), vol.8, pp.90-101; MINNESOTA GENEALOGIST (June 1976), v.7, pp.30-36.

1951 -    Constance Kay DeCOURSEY, dau. of William L. and Mertle J. (BIRD) DeCOURSEY, was born, 7 May 1951, at St. Barnabas Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.  She was baptized, 24 Jun 1951, at Trinity Methodist Church.

1952 -    William David DeCOURSEY, son of William and Mertle (BIRD) DeCOURSEY, was born, 20 May 1952, at St. Barnabas Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.  He was baptized at Trinity Methodist Church.  He married 8 April 1972 to Jeanne Morneau.

1955 -    David Fredrick DeCOURSEY, son of William L. and Mertle (BIRD) DeCOURSEY, was born, 10 May 1955, in Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., Minnesota.  He was baptized, 11 Sep 1955, at Trinity Methodist Church.

1972 -    Ethel (SPILMAN) MOORE of Gastonia, N. C. wrote to William DeCOURSEY on 8 Dec. 1872 as follows:
          "I am a widow, eighty-seven years old.  I have excellent health and, I believe a clear mind.
          "The Harvey SPILMAN who was your great-great grandfather was my great grandfather.  He was born February 11, 1807 in Gallatin County, Kentucky.  He married Mary MASON on December 10, 1830 in Troy, Indiana.  He died in Minneapolis, Minn. May 31, 1887.
          "Do you know anything about Mary MASON?  I know only that her father was Thomas Griffin MASON, born Dec. 14, 1787 in New York; died Dec. 12, 1848 in Troy, Indiana; that on Oct 1, 1901 she was living in Minneapolis with two daughters Mattie and Carrie.
          "Harvey SPILMAN and Mary MASON had several children.  One was my grand-father, Jerome.  Others that I know about were Charles, Edith, Alice and Mattie.  I have a letter from Charles SPILMAN written from Minneapolis on March 29, 1909.  Edith married a JACKSON, Alice married a LAVERTY.  Each had a son named Harvey.  My grandfather was Jerome.  He was born on Sept. 5, 1835 in Milton, Kentucky.  He married Estavilla HANDCOCK, born in Clearfield, Pa. on Feb. 16, 1843, on May 15, 1859 in Fontenelle, Nebraska.  Jerome died in Atlanta, Ga. Nov. 25 1899.  His wife Esta, died in Marietta, Ga. in 1936.  Both are buried in the National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. ---"

1973 -    On 30 January 1973 Fred Perry DeCOURSEY of Mesa, Arizona purchased a grave marker to be placed on the grave of his grandmother, America (SPILMAN) MEARS (1846-1935), wife of Frederick S. MEARS.  She is buried at Lakewood Cemetery, East 1/2 of Lot #4, Sec.25.

1974 -    On 13 October 1974, an elaborate embroidery, twenty-five by sixteen feet, depicting the landing of the Pilgrims and a panorama of American History, was dedicated and put on permanent display at the Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Over fifty women spent three years in meticulous needlecraft in creation of the embroidery.  THE MAYFLOWER QUARTERLY, v.41, No.2, pp.50-52.

1978 -    In the summer of 1978, William L. and Mertle J. DECOURSEY of Minneapolis, Minnesota visited the cemetery at Troy, Perry Co., Indiana.  They recorded records from grave markers as follows:

            Thomas G. Mason           Catherine Mason, wife of T.G. Mason
            born Dec. 14, 1787        born Nov. 8, 1791
            died Dec. 12, 1848        died Feb. 7, 1841
          (A metal Masonic marker was next to the stone of Thomas G. MASON.)

1981 -    The restoration of the original gravestone marking the grave of George DENISON (died 23 Oct 1694) was placed on his grave at Hartford's Old Buring Ground, Hartford, Conn. in April 1981 by the Denison Family Association.  THE DENISON NEWSLETTER (July 1981), No.69, p.2.

1983 -    On Thanksgiving Day in 1983, The Mayor of Leiden, Holland announced that the alley, off the Pieterskerkkoorsteeg, by the former home of William BREWSTER had been named " Brewster Alley."  Three-hundred and fifty years ago, at the time that the Pilgrims lived there, the alley was known in Dutch as "Stincksteeg" (Stink alley) or "Slopsteeg" (Slop alley) - or a place to take out the trash.  THE MAYFLOWER QUARTERLY, v.50, No.2, p.63.
 

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