Origins of a Name: Gunston Hall

By Jackie LaRaia

House Guide 

After years of answering the question, “Where does the name Gunston come from?”, I finally visited the original  namesake in late June 2010. 

The inspiration for our own Gunston Hall is located in Codsall, Staffordshire, England.  As you can see from the picture, our Gunston Hall hardly resembles the original.  That building dates back to the 15^th century and the smaller portion of the house, shown here, is what survives.

The original spelling of the home’s name adds an ‘e’ to the end, becoming “Gunstone, ” and it’s presently a livery. In all, it’s a beautiful place that has been owned by the Fish family for the last 30 years.

Samantha Fish graciously welcomed me and was quite happy to show me around. She and her husband, Bill, live in the original part of the building, while her mother-in-law lives in the newer part. Of course the word newer is relative here to centuries ago. What is most fascinating about Gunstone Hall is the original fireplace that was discovered behind a plaster wall in the kitchen. As well, visitors walk on the same flooring laid when the Hall was built. 

The original Gunston Hall was initially owned by the Fowke family, cousins of the Masons.  Gerard Fowke, brother of the owner, and George Mason I came to Virginia following the defeat of Charles II in the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Many of Charles allies, including the Fowkes and Masons, sought refuge in the New World. Subsequently, three Gunston Halls were built, one in Maryland and two in Virginia. 

It was thrilling for me to see Gunstone Hall.  Though most of the original is long gone, the beautiful surroundings make it easy to image the Fowke and Mason families going about their daily lives, oh so many years ago.

Who Did Not Sign?

By Frank Barker
Assistant Education Coordinator 

The Assembly Room at Independence Hall, photographed 
by Antoine Taveneaux.  Reproduced with permission of the 
photographer.

In the summer of 1787, George Mason of Gunston Hall traveled to Philadelphia to serve as a delegate to a “Grand Convention” to help improve the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation. The delegates in attendance soon turned this convention into a constitutional convention that drafted the Constitution for the 13 United States.

Though he spoke often as the delegates hammered out the details of that document, in September, when it came time to sign, George Mason refused, famously saying that he would rather cut off his right hand than sign the document as it was written.

By the spring of ’87, the states appointed had 73 delegates to attend the Philadelphia convention. Eighteen of those delegates refused their appointments, leaving 55 delegates to gather at Independence Hall. Because of the traveling distances involved, by the appointed commencement date of May 14, only eight delegates were in attendance It wasn’t until May 23 that a quorum of seven states had arrived and the Convention could begin in earnest. On September 17, their work was done and the document was ready to be signed.

Was George Mason the only one who did not sign? Below is a state-by-state listing to find out.
Connecticut—Three delegates attended. Only delegate Oliver Ellsworth did not sign, because he left the Convention on August 23 and did not return. He did support ratification, however, and was elected as one of Connecticut’s first two senators.

Detail of the Delaware signatures, including George Read
 and John Dickinson.  Courtesy of the National Archives and 
Record Administration.

Delaware—All five delegates signed.  Except John Dickinson; he left the Convention on September 14 with a migraine and did not return. However, he authorized George Read to sign for him, making George Read the only man to sign the Constitution twice.
 
Georgia—Sent four delegates. Two did not sign. William L. Pierce left the Convention in July to represent Georgia in the Confederation Congress.* William Houstoun did not arrive until June 1 and did not return to the Convention after his departure on August 6.

Maryland—Two of the five delegates did not sign. Luther Martin and John F. Mercer both opposed the Constitution and a strong Federal government, and they walked out of the Convention; Mercer in August and Martin in early September.

Independence Hall where all the
great documents are wrought.
Historic American Buildings Survey,
Frederick D. Nichols, Photographer.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Massachusetts—Four delegates attended. Two did not sign. Caleb Strong supported a strong Federal government, but he was called away in August because of family illness and never had a chance to sign. Elbridge Gerry stayed at the Convention until the end, but he refused to sign because did not think the Constitution provided adequate protection for the rights of individuals and states. He later argued against ratification. From 1813 to until his death in 1814, he served as President James Madison’s Vice-President.

New Hampshire—Both delegates signed

New Jersey—Five delegates; only William Churchill Houston did not sign. He was present only May 31 and June 1, and was absent for the duration of the Convention due to illness. He would die of tuberculosis in August of 1788.

New York—Three delegates arrived; only Alexander Hamilton stayed until the end to sign the Constitution. Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr. believed the delegates were in Philadelphia simply to amend the Articles of Confederation. They stayed six weeks, then left, explaining in a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton that they opposed any system that would consolidate the United States into one government. Both Yates and Lansing vigorously fought against ratification.

North Carolina—Five delegates attended. William R. Davie left the convention on August 13, but would later fight for ratification. Delegate Alexander Martin also resigned in August. He was not staunchly Federalist, but would later serve as one of North Carolina’s first two senators.

Pennsylvania—All eight delegates signed.

South Carolina—All four delegates signed.

Rhode Island—not one delegate from Rhode Island signed the Constitution. Nor did Rhode Island send any delegates to the Convention. In 1790, Rhode Island became the last of the states to ratify the Constitution.

Virginia—sent seven delegates. Four did not sign: Dr. James McClurg wanted a President to serve for life and thought the Federal government should be able to override state laws. He left the Convention on July 21. George Wythe left on July 2 to take care of his ill wife in Williamsburg. Edmund J. Randolph was present at the end of the Convention but refused to sign, calling for a second convention. He disliked the power of a single president and thought the new Constitution was not republican enough. He did, however, support ratification, went on to become U.S. Attorney General under President Washington, and later replaced Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State after Jefferson resigned the post in 1793. The final non-signing delegate from the Old Dominion was George Mason.

Though Mason was the fifth most prolific speaker at the Convention and had initially supported a stronger central government, he withdrew his support toward the end of the deliberations. Late in the proceedings he wrote his “Objections to This Constitution of Government” to explain himself. His first objection was “There is no Declaration of Rights….” Mason would later oppose ratification of the new Constitution as a delegate from Stafford County. He took no positions in the new government. Though he was appointed to succeed Senator John Grayson when Grayson died in 1790, Mason refused because of his own ill health.
Of the 55 men who spent all or part of that hot summer in Independence Hall, 16 did not sign the new Constitution. Only three, Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph, and George Mason were present and refused to sign.

Howard Chandler Christy's 1940 painting Scene at the 
Signing of the Constitution of the United States.  The
painting currently hangs in the U.S. Capitol.

*Pierce’s contribution to the Convention is invaluable, as he wrote insightful character sketches of each of the delegates that were published after his death, giving historians eyewitness descriptions of even the lesser-known delegates. Pierce described George Mason as “... able and convincing in debate, steady and firm in his principles, and undoubtedly one of the best politicians in America."


Sources

"America's Founding Fathers - Delegates to the Constitutional Convention." America's Founding Fathers - Delegates to the Constitutional Convention. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.<http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_founding_fathers_new_york.html>.
 "George Mason & Historic Human Rights Documents." Gunston Hall. Web. 04 Sept. 2013. <http://www.gunstonhall.org/library/archives/manuscripts/objections.html>.
"Individual Biographies of the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention | Teaching American History." Teaching American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013. <http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/alpha/>.

Khayaking on Mason Neck

 by Janet Cole

Mason Neck Resident

George Mason's "Hole in the Wall," this break
in the bluff allowed Mason access to the shore, as
described by his son John.

Visitors arriving by car at Gunston Hall may find it difficult to comprehend the significance of its location on Mason Neck and the Potomac River.  One gets a hint by standing at the west entrance to the great hall, where a bit of the river and the Maryland shoreline can be seen.  In George Mason’s day, however, when fields were cleared, the river view would have stretched from north to south.  He must have been able to watch the passing ships from his study window.

Col. Mason knew this land intimately, for much of it had been in the Mason family for nearly 100 years.  For his manor house, he chose one of the two highest locations on Mason Neck and picked the other one for Lexington, the home he built for his son and heir, George V.  What’s more, the river curves around both of these sites and provides multiple spots for fine landings, a valuable asset as nearly all the commerce of the day was carried out by ships.  Maps show that the 5,500 acres owned by Mason were surrounded on three sides by the river or major creeks and coves.  A narrow neck of land, about a mile in width, allowed the property of be easily enclosed.

A watercolor of the landing at Gunston Hall.

Mason himself had at least five major landings, places where the natural slope of the land provided easy access to water that was deep enough to carry small boats to the larger ships standing offshore.  Most wharves were associated with his several “Quarters,” or farms:  Upper and Lower Gunston, Hallowing Point, Dogue’s Island (on the Occoquan), and Dogues Neck (at Sycamore Point).  Numerous other wharfs and landings developed through the years and reflect the names of their owners or location:  Barn Landing, Iona Wharf, Causeway Landing, Gabriel’s Tobacco Bed Landing, Maills Landing, Halfway Landing, Crawford’s Landing, and Bronaugh’s Landing.

A modern day view of the Potomac from the Gunston Hall
landing.  Click on the image to read the legend identifying
the landmasses.

Today,  no single road connects these landings, and many are on private private property.  The only way to truly understand George Mason’s plantation and how it functioned is by water, preferably by kayak or canoe.  One can quietly imagine the creaking wagons bringing bales of tobacco down to a dock, carriages arriving from the Mansion to pick up visitors who arrived by boat, sailing vessels standing offshore to unload shipments of fine goods from England, and fishing nets strung out to capture the rich marine resources of the river.

Fortunately, several places on Mason Neck do provide public access to this historical shoreline, as noted below.  Future blogs will describe the facilities available at each location and how you can reach the sites of some of these old Mason Neck landings.

1)  Pohick Bay Regional Park:  10301 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, Lorton, VA.   703-339-8585.  Large and small boat launches,  seasonal rental canoes and kayaks, swimming pool, hiking, and picnic areas.  Access to Pohick and Accotink Creeks and Gunston Cove.

2)  Mason Neck State Park:  7301 High Point Rd, Mason Neck, Lorton, VA.  703 339-2385.  Small craft (non motorized)  launch, seasonal canoe and kayak rentals, picnic area, hiking.  Access to Belmont Bay and Kanes Creek.

3}  Occoquan Regional Park:  9520 Ox Road (Rt. 123).  703 690-2121.   Access to Belmont Bay and Occoquan River (Below the dam).  No boat rentals.

George Mason and His Eponyms

By Frank Barker
Assistant Education Coordinator

Eponym (noun)

1 : one for whom or which something is or is believed to be named

2 : a name (as of a drug or a disease) based on or derived from an eponym

One measure of a person’s fame may be when he has something named in his honor. That “other George” who lived up the river from Gunston Hall (you know the one: first President, slept in a lot of places, fought a war) has his share of eponyms. A state. Counties in 31 states, including Maryland and Virginia. Cities, including the Nation’s Capital. A plethora of roads, monuments, boulevards, bridges, subdivisions, parks, a submarine, an aircraft carrier—just spending $1.25 you might see the man’s picture twice on a bill and a coin. The man even has an asteroid named in his honor.

But our man George, the master of Gunston Hall, for a man sometimes known as the “forgotten founder,” has his fair share of eponymous fame.

The Commonwealth of Virginia, for example, named two counties in Virginia after George Mason.

George Mason Postcard with an
eponymous stamp, issued in 1981.

The first Mason County was established by the General Assembly in 1788, and was formed from part of Bourbon County, way out west in the Kentucky District of Virginia. Unfortunately, Kentucky became a state in 1792 and took Mason County with it.

But Virginia knew the importance of the man from Gunston Hall, so in 1804, another Mason County was formed in the western part of the state from parts of Kanawha County. That county stayed in Virginia until 1863 when West Virginia, having voted against secession from the Union, seceded from Virginia and became a state in its own right, taking Mason County with it.

So while George Washington was honored with only one Virginia county, George Mason was honored with counties by the people of Virginia twice. Virginia just couldn’t hang on to either of them.

Along with Mason County, Kentucky; and Mason County, West Virginia; Illinois also has a Mason County named for George Mason in 1841. Mason County, Texas, was named for Fort Mason, which was named for Lt. George Thomson Mason, son of George Mason VI, who was named for George Mason V, who was named for our George Mason IV of Gunston Hall.

Mason County, Michigan, while not named for George Mason, was named for Michigan Governor Stevens Thomson Mason, who was George Mason’s great-grandnephew.

George Mason University, Center for Performing Arts

Also named for George Mason are:

• George Mason University (founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957, it became an independent institution in 1972.)
• George Mason High School in Falls Church, VA (1952)
• George Mason Elementary School in Richmond (1909)
• George Mason Elementary School in Alexandria (1939)
• The George Mason Award—since 1964 this annual award has been given by the Virginia Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists to a person who has made a significant contribution to journalism in Virginia.
• George Mason Memorial Bridge (1962. This is the southbound span of the five bridges linking Virginia with Washington, D.C., collectively known as the “14^th Street Bridge”)
• Grandchildren
• George Mason VI (son of George Mason V)
• George Mason of Hollin Hall (son of William)
• George William Mason (son of Thomson)
• George Mason McCarty (son of Sarah Eilbeck Mason McCarty)
• George Mason Cooke (son of Mary Thomson Mason Cook)

Guides and docents at Gunston Hall often get questions about other possible Mason namesakes such as:

Mason-Dixon Line—Not our guy. This line separating north from south is named for English astronomer/surveyor Charles Mason.

Mason jar—Again, not our Mason. This was invented by Philadelphia tinsmith John Landis Mason in 1858.

Masonite—This particle board building product was invented in 1924 by William H. Mason.

James Mason—English actor who played Capt. Nemo in 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. No relation.

USS Mason—Though the U.S. Navy does have a destroyer named USS Mason, it is not named for George Mason. However, there is an amphibious assault ship named for Mason’s home, USS Gunston Hall, LSD-44. And what about the USS Mount Vernon, LSD-39. Decommissioned in 2003! Take that, George Washington!

Sources
“George Mason.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 July 2013. Web. 26 July 2013.

“Eponym.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2013.

“Mason County, Kentucky, Miscellany & Links.” N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2013.
Robinson, Morgan P. "Virginia Counties:Those Resulting from Virginia Legislation.” Bulletin of the Virginia State Library.
     Volume 9. January, April, July, 1916.Richmond: Superintendent of Public Printing. Google Books. Web. 26 July 2013.
“The International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center.” IAU Minor Planet Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Aug. 2013.
     <http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/>.
“The SPJVA Blog.” The SPJVA Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Aug. 2013. <http://spjva.com/>.

Your Aff. Sister

A part of our program here at Gunston Hall engages our visitors with an interpretation of the personalities involved in George Mason's life.  We do this through living history and a group of volunteers known as the Gunston Hall Historic Interpreters Society (GHHIS).  These individuals portray a number of people, including George Mason's family, household, and neighbors during the time that he was in residence at Gunston Hall.  With ongoing research into these historical characters, they develop interpretations to support many of our special events and carry off a living history program that runs twice monthly from April through October.

In order to interpret, our living historians often have to get into the mindset, really into the 18th century.  Lyn Padgett, President of the GHHIS, has done so in this letter, developing a reaction to events in George Mason's life through the lens of his wife, Sarah Brent Mason.

 

Transcription:
 

Gunston Hall May 30, 1787

Dear Sister Graham

Sister, I must beg your indulgence for not having corresponded prior to this time. I fear that I have been quite burdened with preparations for the Colonel’s trip to Philadelphia and my own preparations to visit you and your dear family.

With this missive I shall endeavor to provide you with the latest reportings of Mr. Mason’s current undertaking. I offer my apologies if you have previous knowledge of any of the news that is herewith forwarded.

I am given to understand that at the recommendation of Congress a Grand Convention of all the States be convened in Philadelphia commencing on the 14^th day of May. This convention of delegates is to meet for the sole purpose of revising the articles of Confederation and reporting to Congress and the several legislatures such alterations as recommended.

The Virginia Assembly elected General George Washington to head the delegation from Virginia. Also elected as the Virginia Delegation were; Governor Edmund Randolph, Doctor James McClurg, Messrs.  John Blair, George Wythe, and James Madison, and, as well you may know, my own dear husband.

Colonel Mason departed Gunston Hall the 9^th day of May bound for Philadelphia by way of Baltimore City. He travels in the company of his Son John, whom by all of the Colonel’s accounts, is an amiable traveling companion. I received the Mr. Mason’s first missive from Baltimore City assuring me of his safe arrival and kind reception there.

Mr. Mason and Son arrived in the appointed city of the Grand Convention on the evening of the 17^th only to find that a good part of the delegates had not yet arrived, only Virginia and Pennsylvania being fully represented.   He was most fortunate in being able to secure a private room for lodging Himself and John. I fervently hope that he will be most comfortably settled there and that his recurrent affliction will not discomfort him much.

Earlier this month my husband received a warm letter from Mr. R.H. Lee expressing his accord with regard to General Washington and Mr. Mason being appointed as delegates to the Convention. Mr. Lee conveyed his sincere hopes that their efforts will be of benefit to our Nation. Mr. Lee himself declined to serve as a delegate as he too suffers from the same affliction as my husband.

Most recently, son George has received a letter from his Father in which was related the experiences of some of the delegates in their first attendance of a Catholic service. He relates that while the majority attended services out of curiosity, they found the church music exceeding fine accustomed as they are to the Anglican services that do not include music.

On the 25^th day of May a quorum of seven states was secured. The first order of business was to elect our very own General Washington as President of the Grand Convention! Very soon after the election of the President the delegates determined that all their deliberations would be held in secret until the conclusion of their deliberations. I despair that no further news will be forthcoming my way as my husband will no doubt hold to the intent of their decision.

With that I must bid you adieu and commence with haste my preparations to travel to Dumfries. It is my intention to depart Gunston Hall within the week bound for your welcoming embrace and conversation.  It is my sincere hope that this finds you and your dear family in fine health and prospering.  Please convey my kindest regards to all.

I look forward most eagerly to the time we may soon spend in each other’s company. May it be sooner rather than later.

My dearest Madam your aff sister

S Mason