Looking for Origins of Mason Family Who Were Gunmakers IN Whitechapel London England

By oriole August 4, 2010 1851 views 6 comments

The furthest back I can go so far with my MASON family is around the start of 19th century when Robert Wm MASON was in Castle Alley, Whitechapel. Cant find his birth yet. Has anybody else researched this line or know anything about what type of guns would be made there at that time. They were variously called Gun Polishers, Gunlock Polishers or Gunmakers.

Related Surnames:
MASON

Comments (6)

Katherine2417

this is nice information need to know more

sthwkns

Hi my 'Mason" gg grandfather was an artillery gunsmith with the arsenal. They originated London/Plumstead/Greenwich. He emigreated to NZ in the late 1870's I have some but little information on his family.

Hitcham

Hello,
My ggg and gg grandfathers William and George Heath worked for Masons in Whitechapel as gun polishers early to mid 1800, I have them working in Goodman's Yard Whitechapel. Unfortunately we have just moved and all my research is in store, but it I have anything of interest I will post again.

oriole

Hallo Hitcham, That is very interesting and it would likely be Robert George Mason at that time. He would be elder brother of my GGfather Edward. RGM carried on the business until about 1880s and I think one of his sons then took it up and it became just a jobbing gunsmith business, Making gun locks (triggers etc) would have become a mass produced item by then by the likes of Lee-Enfield, BSA etc.
I look forward to anything else you have.Goodman's Yard and Prescott St are right addresses.
Regards

noggin

London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980
Name: Robert Wm Mason
Record Type: Burial
Estimated Death Date: abt 1827
Burial Date: 20 May 1827
Age: 54
Estimated birth year: abt 1773 **
Parish or Poor Law Union: Whitechapel St Mary
Address: caslle Alley
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Register Type: Parish Register

This is the only Births and Christening I could find in 1773

Site familysearch.org

England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

Name: Robert William Mason
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 15 Aug 1773
Christening Place: SPITALFIELDS CHRIST CHURCH,STEPNEY,LONDON,ENGLAND
Father's Name: Edward Mason
Mother's Name: Elisabeth

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C06969-2 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 592621

oriole

Yes I agree. I think the Edward Mason who is father of Robert William was a Silk Dresser. If you found that on FamilySearch it is because I put it there.
Going back any further is a minefield.
Had anybody realised that Robert William married twice.
I will come back later with details.
Regards