CAPT. JOHN MASON was the first, and, during his life, the chief military officer of Connecticut. He was trained as a soldier in the Netherlands, under Sir Thomas Fairfax. He was born in England in 1600, and came to Dorchester as early as 1632, at which time he is first mentioned on the records as in command of an expedition for the capture of the pirate, Bull. He is called Lieutenant, his rank under Fairfax, doubtless. He removed, in 1635, to Windsor, Connecticut, with Mr. Warham's company, and after that was identified with all the leading events in the history of the Connecticut towns. He was the commander, and the hero, in the Pequod war, as we have noted above. 

From 1637-1641, he was representative to the General Court, Assistant from 1641-1659, then Deputy Governor to 1669. He was appointed Major of the militia of Connecticut Colony, holding that office until his death, Jan. 30, 1672, in his 72d year. He removed from Windsor to Saybrook, 1647, and from thence to Norwich upon its settlement in 1659. His first wife (???) died at Windsor. He married second wife (???) Peck, at Windsor, July, 1639, and had, perhaps, Isabel, certainly Priscilla, b. October, 1641; Samuel, July, 1644; John, August, 1646; Rachel, October, 1648; Amy, June, 1650; Daniel, April, 1652; Elizabeth, August, 1654. Isabel, m. June 17, 1658, John Bissell, of Windsor; Priscilla, m. Oct. 8, 1664, Rev. James Fitch; Elizabeth, m. May 8, 1671, Thomas Norton; Rachel, m. June 12, 1678, Charles Hill. John was the captain of the Norwich Company, at the Narraganset Fort Fight, and was there so severely wounded that he died next year. Samuel settled at Stonington, and, in 1673, was Lieutenant of the militia there, and, in 1683, Assistant. Capt. Mason left a numerous posterity through sons and daughters. Hon. Jeremiah Mason, the eminent jurist of Massachusetts, was doubly descended from the Major, through Daniel, the son, and Priscilla (Mason) Fitch, the daughter.