Looking for Paternal Great Grandfather, surname Mason

[villy]

Hello everyone. New here, so please forgive any mistakes

Looking into my family tree, especially details of my Paternal Great Grandfather, surnamed Mason, who I gather might have come out from the UK in 1857 or so? And who might have settled first in the eastern cape before moving to farm in Heilbron OFS (at the time, now Free State).

I surmise he moved to Heilbron to farm coz my grandfather (mentioned below) was born there in Heilbron – I found a pic of my grandfather’s gravestone online, with DOB and place.

My grandfather (William Thomas Mason, born in 1880) carried on farming at the Sunnyside farm in Heilbron, and my dad was born there, so I wondered if anyone had any knowledge of this or where to steer me. I am trying to locate relatives too, for any info they may have, but for now this is all the info at my disposal.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Nookie]

Welcome to rootschat!  Do you have any idea of your paternal grandfathers' names?

[GrannyM]

Villy's other thread on same topic
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=731633.0

[braw]

Here is the Estate file reference for a William Thomas held in the Free State archive

Depot:VAB
Source: MHG
Reference:26775
Description:Mason, William Thomas. Spouse Catherine Hamilton (Born Tanner)
Date: 1935

[braw]

Here's another file for a William Thomas  held  at the Cape Town archive who died c 1915
Depot:KAB
Source:MOK
Volume:1/1/247
Reference:487
Description: Mason, William Thomas, Deceased Estate papers
Date:1915

[villy]

Hi Nookie - no, trying to find my PGG's names!

Granny, tks for cross reference ...

Braw, tks for the  Estate file reference. The first one is definitely my grandfather, not the 2nd. I have a pic of my grandad's gravestone, and while indistinct, his date of death could be 1935. Would this then be a Deceased Estate? (ie Estate file reference 1935 makes sense)

It seems difficult to find my grandfather's *parents*, which seems strange. Surely there would be some record somewhere?

Tks again to all.

[braw]

I will go to the Free State archive  sometime this week and and see whats in the file;

[villy]

Thanks braw! Much appreciated. Hope it's not too much bother

[braw]

The Death Notice of William gives his father as Charles Frederick Mason and his mother Elizabeth Ann Oates.
William died on his farm Sunnyside in the Heilbron district aged 55 yr on 17 May 1935.
Children listed on DN are:
Katharine Helen Mason
Charles Frederick Mason
Phyllis Isabel Mason b 26/10/1915
William Tanner Mason b 1/11/1921
Marianne Gertrude Mason b 13/8/1924.

The grand parents of his wife are John Alexander Hair and Isabella Hair born Hamilton
Her mother was Catherine Hamilton Hair and her father Vere Herbert Tanner.
Her mother died in Heilbron on 14/3/1910 aged 60yr 1mnth.
Her siblings are:
James Newman Tanner
Isabella Jersie Tanner
Vere Herbert Tanner
Frederick Tanner
Gertrude Lucy Tanner
Mary Helen Tanner
Anna Evelyn Tanner
John Alexander Tanner
Norman Courtney Tanner


Regards