Today in Wheeling History: June 8—Samuel Mason, captain of the Ohio County Militia, Virginia State Forces, and later a notorious river pirate, wrote a letter from Wheeling's Fort Henry to Brigadier General Edward Hand detailing the challenges faced by the fort's defenders (1777).
Samuel Mason, born in 1739 in Norfolk, Virginia, was a complex figure in American history, known both as captain of the Ohio County Militia, Virginia State Forces, and a notorious river pirate. Mason's early life saw him serving as a militia officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was assigned to the western frontier post of Fort Henry, located in present-day Wheeling, West Virginia. On June 8, 1777, Mason wrote a letter from Fort Henry to Brigadier General Edward Hand at Fort Pitt, detailing the challenges faced by the fort's defenders. Mason's leadership was tested during a Native American attack on Fort Henry on August 31, 1777, where he narrowly escaped death and continued to command the fort for several years. After the war, Mason's life took a darker turn. He moved to the Ohio River Valley and became involved in criminal activities, including river piracy. Mason and his gang operated along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, preying on flatboats and travelers. His criminal career came to an end in 1803 when he was captured and killed by Spanish authorities in New Madrid, Missouri. Mason's legacy is a blend of heroism and infamy, reflecting the turbulent times in which he lived. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia.
To learn more: Lincoln Herald (https://tinyurl.com/3x3xnk9m), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Mason)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
Samuel Mason, born in 1739 in Norfolk, Virginia, was a complex figure in American history, known both as captain of the Ohio County Militia, Virginia State Forces, and a notorious river pirate. Mason's early life saw him serving as a militia officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was assigned to the western frontier post of Fort Henry, located in present-day Wheeling, West Virginia. On June 8, 1777, Mason wrote a letter from Fort Henry to Brigadier General Edward Hand at Fort Pitt, detailing the challenges faced by the fort's defenders. Mason's leadership was tested during a Native American attack on Fort Henry on August 31, 1777, where he narrowly escaped death and continued to command the fort for several years. After the war, Mason's life took a darker turn. He moved to the Ohio River Valley and became involved in criminal activities, including river piracy. Mason and his gang operated along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, preying on flatboats and travelers. His criminal career came to an end in 1803 when he was captured and killed by Spanish authorities in New Madrid, Missouri. Mason's legacy is a blend of heroism and infamy, reflecting the turbulent times in which he lived. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia.
To learn more: Lincoln Herald (https://tinyurl.com/3x3xnk9m), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Mason)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons
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