Thomson Francis Mason and Thomas Swann Families papers
Collection
0143-MDHC
This collection encompasses the business dealings and personal lives of the extended family of Thomas Swann (1809-1883), the governor of Maryland from 1866 to 1869. The Swanns and Masons were an extended family with a long history in Maryland and Virginia. The invoices, correspondence, checks, and land deeds and indentures in the collection cover such subjects as politics, the Clapham family, and the Virginia connection between the Swann and Mason families.
This collection is open for research.
Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.
2.75 Linear Feet (1 Holligner box, 1 half-Hollinger box, 1 oversize box)
1 Items (Mapcase 15)
The Thomson Francis Mason and Thomas Swann Families papers cover the years 1745 through 1930, with the bulk of the material dating between 1745-1912. The collection contains family correspondence, financial, and legal documents. The correspondence includes topics of love, condolence, illness, and travels. The financial documents include invoices, checks, and receipts for clothing, school tuition, boarding of horses, and everyday purchases including horse equipment. The legal documents consist mainly of 18th century indentures and land records.
Thomson Francis Mason (1785-1838), a grandson of George Mason, the Virginia patriot, was a prominent Virginia lawyer whose home, "Colross", was near Alexandria, VA. In 1817, he married Elizabeth [Betsey] Clapham Price (1802-1873). Elizabeth was related to Josias (d. 1803) and Samuel Clapham (d. 1826), Virginia landowners. Following the death of her husband, she purchased "Chestnut Hill", Loudon County, Virginia and maintained it and "Colross". Thomson and Elizabeth had nine children, including John Francis (1828-1897), a doctor, and Caroline Betty (1832-1919). John Francis married Carolina Rodriguez (1842-1912). Carolina's sister, Alice (d. circa 1886) was married to John Lapham Bullis (1841-1911), a U. S. Army officer posted to the Indian Territory (now Texas and Oklahoma) in the 1880s.
John Francis Mason and Carolina Rodriguez had two children. Their son, Thomson Francis (1868-1946) was a judge. Their daughter, Carita Douglas (1867-1889) married Thomas Swann (1864-1896) in 1887. He was the son of Thomas Swann (1848-1866) and Ellen Penrose (1843-1916) and the grandson of Thomas Swann (1809-1883), a governor of Maryland. Carita and Thomas had one son, Thomas (1889-1961).
Following the death of her husband in 1866, Ellen Penrose Swann married Ferdinand C. Latrobe (1833-1911), a mayor of Baltimore. Latrobe's first wife was Louisa Sherlock Swann (1838-1865), a daughter of Thomas Swann, the governor. They had one son, Thomas Swann Latrobe (1863-1894).
The collection has been divided into four series.
The Thomson Francis Mason and Thomas Swann Families papers were purchased from John Gach Book Service by the University of Maryland Archives in 1982.
The papers were placed in acid-free folders and stored in acid-free boxes.
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives