Hi Lana,
I'm a Mason descendant from Sussex, Southampton or Greensville County area. Not sure where Robert Mason b. around 1820 was from. I know that he was a mulatto, a free issue and was literate. I have not been able to find him on the census prior to 1870 so I'm questioning the free issue statement.

I do know that there were many, many Masons from that area of VA. The Honorable John Y Mason had a plantation named 3 Creeks that was on the Sussex and Southampton Co. border.

I was told by the Clerk of Court of Sussex Co. that trying to find information on the Mason family and who their owners might have been would be extremely difficult because the Mason slaves were so prolific. To add insult to injury, there may also be a connection between the Mason families from this area of VA to Campbell and Henry counties as well as Stafford County and northern VA.

Linda