Huntley
Upon the death of his grandfather George Mason on 7 October 1792, Mason's father Thomson inherited a portion of the Gunston Hall estate. Around 1817, Mason's father Thomson divided the property into two plantations: Dogue Run farm for Mason's younger brother Richard Chichester Mason (1793–1869) and Hunting Creek farm for Mason. On his Hunting Creek tract, Mason constructed his secondary home known as Huntley between 1820 and 1825. Huntley never served as a permanent residence for Mason who owned a number of houses in Alexandria including Colross, his chief homestead.
Mason died on 21 December 1838 in Alexandria at the age of 53. Originally interred at Colross graveyard in Alexandria, Mason's remains were reinterred at Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery, also in Alexandria. Twenty years after Mason's death, his widow Betsey attempted to sell Huntley and its accompanying Hunting Creek farm in 1859. When she was unable to sell the property, Betsey transferred ownership on 7 November 1859 to her sons John "Frank" Francis Mason and Arthur "Pen" Pendleton Mason. In 1989, Huntley was acquired by the Fairfax County Park Authority and it is currently boarded and fenced until restoration funds are made available.
Read more about this topic: Thomson Francis Mason
Famous quotes containing the word huntley:
“Ye say they all have passed away,
That noble race and brave;
That their light canoes have vanished
From off the crested wave;
That, mid the forests where they roamed,
There rings no hunters’ shout;
But their name is on your waters,
Ye may not wash it out.”
—Lydia Huntley Sigourney (1791–1865)