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Rare Books

The Method of Teaching and Studying the Belles Lettres [vol. 1-3 only] by Mr. Rollin, 1778 [Dublin], eleventh edition

This work was designed to improve the understanding, manners, and religious affections of students. The work is seperated into six parts: grammer, poetry, rhetoric, history, philosophy, and educational administration and procedures. This set has the signature of John T. Mason, Jr. and dated April 12, 1812. A gift of Mrs. Price Gripekoven, President of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America.

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New acquisition for the Archives.

Gunston Hall has acquired at auction, through a generous donation by former First Regent Ruth Wyman of Massachusetts, a bond signed by George Mason and dated May 16, 1751. The bond commits Dettingen Parish members Mason and William Ashmore to the administration of the estate of James Whaley, on behalf of Thomas Redman and Isaac Forgusson, for the amount of £1,500. Mason, Ashmore, Whaley, Redman and Forgusson are all recorded in the Parish Vestry book. Mason is recorded as ‘Mr. George Mason’ while other members of the parish were simply referred to by their first and last names. This is also the parish of George’s widowed Mother, Ann Thomson Mason. The Dettingen Parish Church was located on Quantico Creek near the future town of Dumfries, Virginia.