103 



His love of independence, and liatred of tyranny, had shone 

 through his ^vLolc life, and with these qualities was blended the 

 most intrepid resolution. There lived no one in whose heart 

 glowed a warmer love for the liberties of his country — and 

 none more ready to peril, and if need be, to sacrifice his life in 

 support of her cause. In a Avord, he was just the man for an 

 emergency ; of cool, determined bravery.— calm and collected 

 in the hour of danger. These qualities inspired every one w^ith 

 confidence in his ability successfully to control, and direct any 

 daring enterprise, or forlorn hope, which his inclination prompted 

 him to lead. 



Among other prominent friends of liberty — men of standing, 

 weight of character, and influence, was Colonel David Mason, 

 universally esteemed and respected by his felloAV townsmen. 

 He was a native of Boston, but for the last nine years had been 

 a resident of Salem. He was a self made man ; one of nature's 

 nobility ; courtly and refined in manners and address. In 

 early life he manifested great fondness for learning, and a 

 public education was contemplated for him. But the death of 

 his father when he was but fourteen years of age, defeated this 

 purpose. The inquiring mind of young Mason, and his thirst 

 for knowledge, could not however be checked by this disap- 

 pointment. Although apprenticed to a mechanical trade, he 

 made himself proficient in the science of military tactics and 

 gunnery, for which he had great taste, and in due time received 

 an appointment and served as lieutenant of British Artillery in 

 the French war in Canada in 1756. He commanded a battery 

 of brass cannon at Fort Wm. Henry, in 1757, when it was 

 taken by the French, and fired the last ball in that fort. In 

 1763, he organized and commanded an artillery company in 

 Boston, which it is believed is still in commission. Previously 

 to entering the army he had also studied the then newly discov- 

 ered science of electricity, Dr. Franklin having been a particu- 

 lar friend in his father's family. He had lectured upon that 

 subject in Boston, Salem, and elsewhere, and made some valu- 

 able discoveries, which he was prevailed upon to journey to 

 Philadelphia, to communicate to Dr. Franklin. He had shown 

 himself on all occasions, when the expression of public and 

 private opinion was called for, a consistent and high minded 

 patriot. His active mind was constantly employed either in 

 promoting directly the cause of his country, or in subverting the 

 iniquitous schemes and stratagems of its oppressors. He was 

 appointed by his townsmen one of a committee to prevent tea 



