Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

Martin Mason, surgeon, magistrate and commander, arrived in Sydney on 18 July 1798 as surgeon in the ship Britannia, carrying female convicts.

"Mr Martin Mason late acting surgeon of the ship Buffalo is appointed assistant to the Principal Surgeon."

"Buffalo arrived at Port Jackson on 25 April 1799, having brought cattle from the Cape of Good Hope. She left for the Cape on 13 September 1799. She returned on 15 April 1800 with more cattle from the Cape..Under Kent Buffalo sailed from England to return to Australia, arriving with stores on 16 October 1802."

"HAWKESBURY.
On Friday the 31st ultimo, an examination was held before His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, the Reverend Mr. Marsden, and John Savage, Esq, when an accusation was exhibited by M. Mason, settler, against Dennis McCarthy, of the above district, of employing his labouring servants, contrary to HIS EXCELLENCY'S General Orders on that behalf, and to the extreme prejudice of the complainant; who contended that he has sustained damage, inasmuch as that his servants had neglected to perform such task as is required and directed by the established Regulations.
A number of Settlers were called upon, who agreed universally that the prescribed task was in all respects reasonable, and easily to be accomplished. It was also stated by an eminent cultivator, in answer to a question from the Bench, - Do you conceive the task pointed out in the General Orders reasonable or oppressive, as the labouring men in his employ generally accomplished twice the specified quantity. Hence it was lade clearly to appear that the complainant's work had been much neglected, as the quantities collectively fell considerably short of the required task.
The testimony of divers [sic] persons next went to prove that his labouring servants had at various times been employed by McCarthy in falling &c. whereupon the latter set up a plea in justification that the complainant had warranted the transaction, in proffering the services of his men by a general declaration that he might employ them whenever he should find occasion for doing, provided an equivalent return were made.
Upon the whole of the evidence, and in consideration of the various circumstances of the case, the Bench came to the following Resolution - That it clearly appears, from the testimony of the different settlers, that the Government Task prescribed by the Established Regulations on that behalf are just, and generally applicable throughout the Settlements; And further, that from the evidence adduced in support of the complaint, it was perspicuous that Mr. Mason's work had been neglected, by reason of his labouring servants having been employed by McCarthy without his permission; wherefore it was resolved, that the said McCarthy should make good all deficiency in the Government Task on the complainant's grounds, and no more habour or employ any of his servants."

"ADVERTISEMENT.
M. MASON, a prisoner in His Majesty's gaol at Sydney, requests that all persons indebted to him (who have not lost their grain by the floods) will pay such proportion as they can spare to Mrs. Mason, whose receipt, or that of any person by her appointed, will be sufficient acknowledgement."

"To be Let,
For the term of Ninety Nine Years,
THREE hundred acres of Land, most eligibly situate on the Banks of the South Creek well adapted either for cultivation or grazing surrounded with extensive commons, with convenient Water carriage to the Green Hills and into the Hawkesbury River; the whole may be fenced in at a trifling expense, owing to its position in a winding of the creek, and few situations can be found to equal it for local advantage. Also to be sold, a few fine wooled healthy Sheep.
Dor particulars application to be made to Mr. M. Mason, Sydney Gaol, where a plan of the farm may be seen laid down to a [illegible] that the distance to a fence in the whole may be ascertained."

"General Orders.
A STILL, together with some Wort and a small quantity of Spirits, having been found at work in the house of Martin Mason, Settler at the Hawkesbury (who came to this Country as Surgeon to a merchant vessel, and was for some time employed by Government as an Assistant Surgeon to the Colony and a Magistrate, but dismissed on account of misconduct), Lieutenant Governor FOVEAUX has directed it to be destroyed; but in consequence of it having been represented to him that the said Martin Mason has a large family in very indigent circumstances, he is pleased to remit the further Penalties incurred by this Bench of the existing Regulations of the Colony.

"BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.
Sydney, Dec. 3, 1808.
Mar. Martin mason was brought before the Bench for disobedience of a General Order, directing him to attend a General Muster the 12th ultimo.
Mr. Mann deposed, that on the morning of Wednesday the 12th ult. he met Mr. Mason by accident on the Green Hills, and said to him "Why, you have not attended Muster?" "No" was the reply; that the deponent then said to him, "if you will go with me, I will take it;" but Mr Mason making no reply to the proposal, complained of grievances under which he said he laboured; that the seizure of a still lately taken from him was oppressive; and added some remarks which the deponent considered derogatory to the honour of the LUEITENANT GOVERNOR; that the deponent remonstrated against the impropriety of such expressions, and again urged him to attend the muster, from prudential motives - but that Mr. Mason replied to him, "he would be damn'd if he would."
The deponent admitted that he did not attend the muster, or send in any return of his stock, without assigning any satisfactory motive.
The Bench referred to General Orders relative to penalties ordered in such cases of non-attendance; and from the peculiar circumstances, sentenced Mr. Mason to one month's imprisonment."

"Mr. Martin mason was the same day indicted for assaulting and beating Mr. R. Fitzgerald, chief constable at Hawkesbury. The indictment being read, and the prisoner put upon his plea, he requested to be permitted to address the Court before he should answer to the challenge. He was indulged in his request, and instead of addressing the Court, he produced a long paper containing a mass of incoherent matter, as incongruous in itself as it was irrelevant to the subject then before the Court. After patiently permitting a great part of the paper to be read, the Court found it necessary to interrupt the prisoner and to request that if he wished to make further remarks it would be necessary to confine himself a little more to the subject under consideration, to which the contents of the paper had no kind of reference.
Mr. Mason then assured the Court that he had no intention to plead to the indictment, but was ready to await any sentence that might be passed upon him. The Court endeavoured to dissuade him from so rash a project, as to refuse to plead must inevitably be attended with all the consequences of acknowledged guilt, with this great difference, that the latter may proceed from penitence and contrition, but the former could only be considered as an act of obstinacy.
Determined as Mr. Mason was, the Judge Advocate was of course obliged to record his refusal to plead; but the Court from motives of humanity sentenced him to three calendar months imprisonment only, and then to be discharged on payment of a fine of one shilling to the King."

In August 1811, passage was booked for Mason's return to Sydney on the Mary. The ship subsequently sailed from Portsmouth on 20 November 1811 and arrived in Sydney in May 1812 carrying a number of those who had gone to London to give evidence in the Bligh trial, including George Suttor.[10] Martin Mason was not on board and was not seen by his family again. This led members of the Bligh party to believe that he had been murdered prior to boarding the Mary in London. No other explanation has ever been found.

On Monday arrived the ship Mary, Captain Laughlans, from England, after a tedious passage. She sailed from Portsmouth the 20th of November, with an African convoy, under protection of the Kangaroo sloop, Captain Boyd; called at Madiera, but made no stay; and arrived at Rio the 3d of January, from whence she sailed again the 12th...
The passengers by the Mary are...Mr Martin Mason had been provided with a passage; but went on shore at Portsmouth when the ship was ready to get underway, and not returning in time lost his passage.

"On Monday arrived the ship Mary, Captain LAUGHLANE, from England, after a tedious passage. She sailed from Portsmouth the 20th of November, with an African convoy, under protection of the Kangaroo sloop; Captain Lloyd; called at Rio the 3d January, from whence she sailed again the 12th...
The passengers by the Mary are, William Gore, Esq. Provost Marshal; the Rev. Mr. Fulton; Mr. and Mrs. Devine; Mr. and Mrs. Lowe and family; Mr. Oakes, Mr. Sutter, Mr. Bradbury, Mr. Medsley and nephew, Miss Wilshire, and Miss Driver. Mr. Martin Mason had been provided with a passage; but went on shire at Portsmouth when the ship was ready to get under way, and not returning in time lost his passage."