Ann Mason

Burial record:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2377/anna-mason

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Ann was born in January 1734. She was the daughter of William Eilbeck and Sarah Edgar. She married George Mason IV at Mattawoman Plantation, Charles Co., Md., on 4 April 1750.[1],[2] As of 4 April 1750, her married name was Mason.[1],[2] Ann died on 9 March 1773 at Gunston Hall Plantation, Fairfax Co., Va., at age 39.

Eulogy in Mason Family Bible. Ann Eilbeck Mason's own description of his wife, written in the family Bible after her death: 'She was something taller than the middle size, and elegantly shaped. Her eyes were black, tender and lively; her features regular and delicate; her complexion remarkably fair and fresh. Lilies and roses (almost without a metaphor) were blended there, and a certain inexpressible air of cheerfulness and health. Innocence and sensibility diffused over her countenance formed a face the very reverse of what is generally called masculine.

Ann's son, John, wrote some time after her death: 'I remember well her funeral, that the whole family went into deep mourning suddenly prepared, that I was led clothed in black to her grave, that I saw her coffin lowered down into it by cords covered with black cloth, and that there was a large assemblage of friends and neighbors of every class and of the slaves of the estate present; that the house was in a state of desolation for a good while, that the children and servants passed each other in tears and silence or spoke in whispers, and that my father for some days paced the rooms, or from the house to the grave (it was not far) alone.'

Mason ordered this inscription on the tombstone that marks her grave in the Gunston Hall burial ground:

Ann Mason, Daughter of William Eilbeck of Charles County in Maryland Merchant, departed this Life on the 9th Day of March 1773 in the 39th Year of her Age, after a long & painful illness, which She bore with uncommon Fortitude & Resignation.

"Once She was all that cheers and sweetens Life, The tender Mother, Daughter, friend and Wife, Once She was all that makes Mankind adore; Now view this Marble and be vain no more."

(from gunstonhall.org)

From the Mason Family Bible:

http://www.gunstonhall.org/library/archives/manuscripts/family_bibl...

George Mason of Stafford County Virginia, aged about twenty five Years, and Ann Eilbeck (the Daughter of William Eilbeck of Charles county Maryland, Merchant) aged about sixteen Years, were married on Wednesday the 4th. Day of April in the Year 1750 by the revd. Mr. John Moncure Rector of Overwharton Parish, Stafford County Virginia.

• 1. George Mason, their eldest Son, was born on Monday the 30th. Day of April 1753, abt. 8 O'Clock at Night, in Dogues Neck, & privately baptized the Week after by the revd. Mr. Charles Green Rector of Truro Parish Fairfax County.
• 2. Ann Eilbeck Mason was born on Monday the 13th. of January 1755, abt. 4 O'Clock in the Morning, in Dogues Neck, & privately baptized at a Fortnight old by the revd. Mr. Charles Green.
• 3. William Mason was born on Thursday the 16th: of April 1756 about 4 O'Clock in the Morning, in Dogues Neck, & baptized by the revd. Mr. Charles Green on Monday the 14th. June following; the revd. Mr. John Moncure & Mr. Thomson Mason being God-fathers, & Mrs. Sarah Eilbeck & Mrs. Margaret Green God-Mothers. N.B. At the same Time my two eldest Children (George & Ann) had public Baptism; the same Persons being Sponsers for all the [m]
  • William Mason died of the Flux on Thursday the 4th. of August 1757. And was buried in the Family Burying Place at Newtown
• 4. William Mason (the second of the Name) was born on the 22d. Day of October 1757. abt. 3 O'Clock in the Morning, in Dogues Neck; & was privately baptized by the revd. Mr. James Scott Rector of Dettingen Parish Prince William County.
• 5. Thomson Mason was born on Sunday the 4th. Of March 1759 abt. 11 O'Clock in the Fore-noon, at Gunston-Hall, & privately baptized by the revd. Mr. Charles Green
• 6. Sarah Mason was born on the 11th. of December 1760. abt. 9. O’Clock at night, at Gunston hall, & was privately baptized by the revd. Mr. Charles Green
• 7. [Mary] Th[o]mson Mason was born on the 27th. of January [1763?. . . o'c]lock in the Morning, at Gunston-Hall, & was privately baptized [by the Rev. Charles] Green.
• 8. John Mason was born on Thursday the 4th: of April 1766, about ten O'Clock in the Morning, at Mrs. Eilbeck's, in Charles County Maryland, and was privately baptized by the revd. Mr. James Scott.
• 9. Elizabeth Mason was born on Teusday the 19th. of April 1768. about two O'Clock in the Morning, at Gunston-Hall, & was privately baptized by the revd. Mr. Lee Massey Rector of Truro Parish. Mr. Martin Cockburn standing God-father & Mrs. Ann Cockburn & Miss Elizabeth Bronaugh God-Mothers.
• 10. Thomas Mason was born on Teusday the 1st: Day of May 1770. about two O'Clock in the Afternoon at Gunston-Hall & was baptized by the revd. Mr. Lee Massey Mr. Martin Cockburn & Capt. John Lee standing God-fathers, and Mrs. Mary Massey and Mrs. Ann Cockburn God-Mothers.
• 11 and 12. Richard Mason and James Mason, Twins, were born on Friday the 4th: Day of December 1773, about eleven O'Clock in the Forenoon at Gunston-Hall, & baptized the same Day by the revd. Mr. Lee Massey; but being born about two Months before their due time (occasioned by a long Illness of their Mother) they both died the next Morning, and were buried in the new Burying Ground at Gunston-Hall; being the first of the Family who are buryed in that Place.

On Teusday, the 9th. of March, 1773, about three O'Clock in the morning, died at Gunston-Hall, of a slow-fever, Mrs. Ann Mason, in the thirty-ninth [ye]ar of her Age; after a painful & tedious Illness of more than [nine months, which she] bore with truly Christian Patience & Resignation, in [faithful hope] of eternal Happiness in the World to come. She [,it may be truthfully said, led a] blameless & exemplary Life. She retain[ed unimpaired her mental faculties to] the last; & spending her latest Moments [in prayer for those around her,] seem'd to expire without the usual [pangs of dissolution. During the whole course] of her Illness, she was never heard to utter one peevish or fretful Complaint, and [constan]tly, regardless of her own Pain & Danger, endeavoured to administer Hope & Comfort [to her] Friends, or inspire them with Resignation like her own! For many Days [be]fore her Death she had lost all Hopes of Recovery, & endeavour'd to wean herself from the Affections of this Life, saying that tho' it must cost her a hard Struggle to reconcile herself to the Thoughts of parting with her Husband & Children, she hoped God wou'd enable her to accomplish it; and after this, tho' she had always been the tenderest Parent, she took little Notice of her Children' but still retain'd her usual Serenity of Mind. She was buried in the new Family-burying-Groun[d] at Gunston-Hall; but (at her own Request) without the common Parade & Ceremo[ny] of a Grand Funeral. Her funeral Sermon was preach'd in Pohick Church by the reved. Mr. James Scott, Rector of Dettingen Parish in the County of Prince William, upon a Text taken from the 23d, 24th, & 25th Verses of the 73d. Psalm.

In the Beauty of her Person, & the Sweetness of her Disposition, she was equalled by few, & excelled by none of her Sex. She was something taller than the Middle-size, & elegantly shaped. Her Eyes were black, tender & lively; her Features regular & delicate; her Complexion remarkably fair & fresh--Lilies and Roses (almost without a Metaphor) were blended there--and a certain inexpressible A[ir of] Chearfulness, Health, Innocence & Sensibility diffused over her Coun[tenance] form'd a Face the very Reverse of what is generally called masculi[ne. This is] not an ideal, but a real Picture drawn from the Life. Nor was this be[autiful out]ward-Form disgraced by an unworthy Inhabitant:

• Free from her Sex's smallest Faults,
• And fair as Woman-kind can be;

She was bless'd with a clear & sound Judgement, a gentle & benevolent Heart, a s[incere] & an humble Mind; with an even calm & chearful Temper to a very unusual degree Affable to All, but intimate with Few. Her modest Virtues shun'd the public-Eye, Superior to the turbulent Passions of Pride & Envy, a Stranger to Altercation of every Kind, & content with the Blessings of a private Station, she placed all her Happiness here, where only it is to be found, in her own Family. Tho' she despised Dress, she was always neat; chearful, but not gay; Serious, but not melancholly; she never met me without a Smile! Tho' an only Child, she was a remarkably dutiful One; an easy & agreeable Companion; a kind Neighbour; a steadfast Friend; an humane Mistress; a prudent & a tender Mother; a faithful, affectionate, & most obliging Wife; charitable to the Poor, and pious to her Maker; her Virtue & Religion were unmixed with hypocrisy or Ostentation.

Form'd for domestic Happiness, without one jarring Attom in her Frame!

[Her . . .] irreparable Loss I do, & ever shall deplore; and tho' Time I hope will [soften my sad im]pressions, & restore me greater Serenity of Mind than I have lately enjoy[ed, I shall ever retain the most tender and melancholy] Remembrance of One so justly dear.