Maria Mason

GEDCOM Note

Resident St. Petersburg RUS

GEDCOM Note

Robert and Helena Masson, both Russians, lived in St. Petersburg(now Leningrad), and had five children. The elder daughter,Sarah, married an Englishman, Leonard Cooper, solicitor, livingin London. The younger daughter, Maria, married a Russian, Jeande Smirnoff, a civil servant, living in St. Petersburgh. Someyears later Leonard and Sarah Cooper with their family movedto Madras in India, where Leonard established a legal practiseand was appointed an Attorney of the Supreme Court. He alsoheld the high rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Honourable EastIndia Company. Jean de Smirnoff, by royal decree, was giventhe title Chevalier and appointed Consul-General for Russia,Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Courtof Holland. Jean and Maria moved to Amsterdam with their family.

Sarah and Leonard Cooper had four children and the eldest wasgiven his father's christian name - Leonard. Maria and Jeanhad six children and the eldest, a daughter, was given her mother'schristian name - Maria. It is believed that the parents of eachfamily arranged a betrothal of Leonard and Maria after the latterattained her twenty first birthday.

When only forty eight years of age, Jean de Smirnoff died froma sabre wound inflicted by a Russian officer in Amsterdam. Thebody of Jean was interred in the Cathedral at Rotterdam on 4thAugust,1815, in hiregrave No.66 Chancel, Great Church. Hismurderer was found guilty by a Russian Court and he paid thefull penalty; (vide photostat copies of translations from theGovernment Archivist in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at TheHague in 1936).

The bereaved mother, Maria, and her children returned to St.Petersburgh where they were taken under the immediate protectionof Emperor Alexander. Maria, the daughter, then only eightyears of age, was taken to the Czar's palace and there hereaftershe received a similar education and training as other juniormembers of the royal family. A reference from the School ofSt. Catherine, Petersburgh and a given testimonial dated 27thFeb 1823, testifies to her good conduct and diligent attentionto the curriculum subjects which included language and handicrafts;an English translation appears on these pages.

After having lived in the glamour of the Russian Court withits graces and splendour for thirteen years, Maria was twentyone years old, and the time had come for marriage to her betrothed;to her cousin, an Englishman, Leonard Cooper, a solicitor, livingin Madras. She sailed in the British ship 'Rose' which wasunder -the command of Captain Marquis-

On 18th September,1828, Maria and Leonard were married at the Cathedral of St. George, Madras- Captain Marquis was one of the official witnesses to the ceremony and a silver tureen given by him and inscribed: "Presented to Miss Smirnoff by her sincere friend, Captain Thomas Marquis H.C. ship Rose on her marriageday", is treasured by Dr. Alfred and Mary Cooper in their homeat Manly: Alfred is a great grandson of Maria and Leonard (II).

In 1829, at the age of 51 years, Sarah (nee Masson), wife ofLeonard (I), died; she was buried in St. George's Cathedral,Madras. In 1834 Leonard (I) retired and returned to England, where he remarried and lived in Lower Halliford, Middlesex.In 1853, and at the age of 70 years Leonard (I) died; he was buried in Twickenham, Middlesex.

In 1845 Maria Louisa, the eldest child of Leonard (II) and Maria, married Major General Thomas Chalon and they continued to livein Madras for some years.