George Mason Manuscript Collection
Mason-Thompson Family Arms
According to the accompanying note, John Mason, the son of George Mason, in 1789, received from Joshua Johnson of London a copy of a letter written to him by George Mason, c. 1784. This document and drawing were apparently copied from that copy. The letter excerpt refers to an order for these arms to be engraved on pieces of silver. Mason instructed that the Mason arms be quartered with the Thomson arms belonging to his mother's family. He also changed the Mason family motto from Pro Patria Semper (always for the fatherland) to Pro Republica Semper (always for the republic) to reflect the political changes after the American Revolution. In research conducted at the British College of Arms in the 1960s it was determined that the Mason arms used for this drawing were similar to arms granted to Nathaniel Mason of Stratford upon Avon in 1728 (image on right). The link between Nathaniel Mason and George Mason has not been uncovered.
