William Pinckney Mason

For other people called William Mason, see William Mason.

William Pinckney Mason
Born	William Pinckney Mason (1843-01-10)January 10, 1843 Alexandria, Virginia
Died	Rockville, Maryland
Resting place	Rockville Union Cemetery
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	European American
Citizenship	United States of America Confederate States of America
Occupation	Confederate States Navy officer
Known for	commander of the iron hull gunboat CSS Beaufort during the American Civil War
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Ruthven McGill
Children	Wardlaw McGill Mason Lucius Randolph Mason Shirley Carter Mason Prescott
Parent(s)	Richard Chichester Mason Lucy Bolling Randolph
Relatives	great-grandson of George Mason IV

William Pinckney Mason (10 January 1843–16 December 1922) was a Lieutenant in the Confederate States Navy, ultimately serving as commander of several ironclad gunboats. Mason was a great-grandson of George Mason, author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, and his wife Ann Eilbeck.

Early life and education

Mason was born on 10 January 1843, in Alexandria and was the youngest child of a large family born to Dr. Richard Chichester Mason and his wife Lucy Bolling Randolph.

American Civil War

Mason resigned from the United States Navy as an acting midshipman on 19 April 1861. Mason enlisted in the Confederate States Navy where he became an acting midshipman on 11 June 1861 and served on the CSS United States. On 7 January 1864, Mason was promoted to master in line of promotion and was made 2nd Lieutenant on 2 June 1864. Mason later served as commander of the CSS Beaufort and CSS Virginia II.

Marriage and children

Mason married Elizabeth Ruthven McGill on 29 January 1873 and they had three children:

• Wardlaw McGill Mason (1876–1936)
• Lucius Randolph Mason (28 January 1886–23 November 1984)
• Shirley Carter Mason Prescott (12 October 1891–21 March 1972)

Later life

After a brief illness, Mason died on 16 December 1922 at his residence in Rockville, Maryland at the age of 80. He was buried after 16 December 1923 at Rockville Union Cemetery.

Ancestry

Family of William Pinckney Mason

16. George Mason III               8. George Mason IV                       17. Ann Stevens Thomson               4. Thomson Mason                             18. William Eilbeck               9. Ann Eilbeck                       19. Sarah Edgar               2. Richard Chichester Mason                                   20. Richard Chichester               10. Richard Chichester                       21. Ellen Ball               5. Sarah McCarty Chichester                             22. Daniel McCarty               11. Sarah McCarty                       23. Sinah Ball               1. William Pinckney Mason                                         24. William Randolph, Jr.               12. Peter Randolph                       25. Elizabeth Peyton Beverley               6. Robert Randolph                             26. Robert Bolling               13. Lucy Cocke Bolling                       27. Anne Cocke               3. Lucy Bolling Randolph                                   28. John Carter               14. Charles Carter                       29. Elizabeth Hill               7. Elizabeth Hill Carter                             30. Charles Carter               15. Mary Walker Carter                       31. Mary Walker