My 3x great grandfather, George Gourly Mason, is said to have been “of Masonbrook, Galway”. He was born in about 1800, but there is no baptism record for him (at Loughrea) and I don’t know who his parents were. The first record I have is of his marriage to Emma Lea at Bristol in 1829. He was an army officer at or shortly prior to that time. Any information would be very welcome. Thanks, Tim
Tim:
Masonbrook is a 298 acre townland just south of Loughrea and the civil parish is Kilteskil. You did not mention whether George was Roman Catholic or Church of Ireland. The RC baptismal records for Kilteskil parish start in 1836 and Loughrea RC records start in 1810. Church of Ireland records for the area go back to the late 1700s. The subscription site Roots Ireland does not have any George Mason baptismal records around 1800.
Roger McDonnell
TimM,
I attach a photo of Masonbrook House. Credit Galway University.
I assume it was you who contributed to Family Tree Forum in relation to George Gourly Mason.
Regards,
Yes. That was me. I think George would have been baptised in the Church of Ireland. Could it have been a private chapel or a parish other than Loughrea? He was certainly married and buried in C of E churches in Bristol. Some family trees show his parents as being John Monck Mason (the politician) and Catherine Mitchell. However, they did not have any children (and would also have been 75-80 years old when George was born). There are plenty of other Monck-Masons! Apart from family anecdote, the only evidence making the connection of which I’m aware is George’s daughter Emma’s 1911 Missouri death certificate, which states that her father was Captain George Mason and that he was born at “Masonbrook, Ireland”. The information appears to have been provided by her grandson (Mason Price). All very mysterious!
TimM,
Thanks for that information.
According to Landed Estates - Galway the original Robert Mason was an agent for the Browne's of Westport, Co. Mayo.
You probably have the attached, but others in the locality may not!
Regards,
Thank you McKoy. I knew the history, but hadn’t seen the portrait. I’m sure we’re related!