MASON, BRYANT

The evidence points to Bryant and his younger brother, Will, being born out of wedlock. We can’t find any record of matrimony for their mother, Bedie Mason (1868–1958), before her midlife marriage to John Atwater in 1909.¹Birth and death dates: Mrs. Beatie Atwater obituary: Rocky Mount Telegram (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) 2 Jun 1958, p 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/336670266/ : accessed 20 Nov 2021.

Marriage: John Atwater marriage certificate: “North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHK-4SPZ-C?cc=1726957 : 28 November 2018), > image 1 of 1; North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History. Both sons bear their mother’s maiden name, as did Bedie herself until she married Atwater.²“United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68FN-JQ?cc=1325221&wc=9BWW-4WY%3A1030551601%2C1032311101%2C1032348701 : 5 August 2014), North Carolina > Durham > ED 30 Durham Township Durham city > image 22 of 48; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

It’s possible that Bryant did not get along with his new stepfather. A year after the marriage, Bryant was living with his aunt Fidelia and her husband, Rev. J. M. (Jerry) Latta.³“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RVY-XXJ?cc=1727033&wc=QZZ4-6NQ%3A133642301%2C137874101%2C137991701%2C1589088925 : 24 June 2017), North Carolina > Durham > Durham Ward 4 > ED 40 > image 17 of 60; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). (See Fidelia’s life story.)

Bryant’s exact birthdate is in question. The 1900 Federal Census lists it as Jan 1894, with Will’s birthday in Feb 1896.⁴“United States Census, 1900,” Durham, ED 30. These seem the most reliable dates for both. The 1910 census claims his age to be 17, and his death certificate shows him as 21 in 1912. He seems to have started work while still quite young, and may have added a few years to his age to improve his chances of getting hired.⁵Work: He was a “factory operator” in 1911. Seeman’s Durham (North Carolina) Directory 1911-1912 (Durham, N.C.: Seeman Printery, 1911-1912) p. 213, Mason surname; digital image, “North Carolina City Directories,” DigitalNC (https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/25154 : accessed 14 Nov 2021).

Bryant Mason death certificate: “North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1JP-NM?cc=1609799&wc=MJWY-K68%3A1042616601 : 3 May 2019), 004217919 > image 1110 of 3119; State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh.

One thing that is clear is that Bryant died of consumption (tuberculosis), and died much too young, probably at age 18. His death certificate raises more questions than it answers. Bedie Atwater, his mother, is listed as informant, but gives no information about his parents or his birthdate. His address is given as 607 South Street (currently under the Durham Freeway), which is not associated with any Mason, Latta, or Atwater family members that we can find.⁶Bryant Mason death certificate.

The sense we get is that Bryant was something of an outsider within his immediate family, first living with his aunt, then on his own, paying his own way with the tobacco factory job—where he may have contracted the disease that killed him.

On the other hand, his brother Will—William Lockett Mason—perhaps inspired by his uncle Jerry, went on to a highly successful career as a minister, earning a Doctor of Divinity degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, and leading congregations in Concord and High Point, among others.⁸Rev. W. L. Mason obituary: Rocky Mount Telegram (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) 20 Jun 1970, p 2.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/336670266/ : accessed 20 Nov 2021. From 1937 to his death in 1970, he was pastor of St. James Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, and his son Australia became a teacher and pastor in Columbus, Ohio.⁹Rev. W. L. Mason obituary: Rocky Mount Telegram (Rocky Mount, North Carolina) 20 Jun 1970, p 2.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/336670266/ : accessed 20 Nov 2021. Bedie left Durham to join Will and his family in 1926, and died in Rocky Mount in 1958.¹⁰Mrs. Beatie Atwater obituary.

BORN: Jan 1894?¹²“U. S. Census, 1900,” Durham, ED 30.

DIED: 7 Oct 1912¹³Bryant Mason death certificate.

BIRTH PLACE: Durham, NC?¹⁴“U. S. Census, 1900,” Durham, ED 30.

DEATH PLACE: Durham, NC¹⁵Bryant Mason death certificate.

SPOUSE: N/A

PARENTS: Father N/A. Mother Bedie Mason.¹⁶“U. S. Census, 1900,” Durham, ED 30.

CHILDREN: N/A

OTHER FAMILY: Brother Wm L. Mason¹⁷“U. S. Census, 1900,” Durham, ED 30.

FAMILY BURIED IN GEER CEMETERY: Aunt Fidelia Mason Latta, Stepfather John Atwater¹⁸Fidelia Latta death certificate: “North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1XW-K4?cc=1609799&wc=MJ49-7M9%3A1042616201 : 3 May 2019), 004217916 > image 2786 of 3329; State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh.

John Atwater death certificate: “North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F369-Y7K : 20 February 2021), Bedie Atwater in entry for John Atwater, 04 Mar 1926; citing Durham, Durham, North Carolina, reference CN 271, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,894,036.

OCCUPATION: Tobacco factory worker¹⁹Bryant Mason death certificate.

CHURCH: N/A

AFFILIATIONS: N/A

ADDRESS: 607 South Street, Durham, NC²⁰Bryant Mason death certificate.

MILITARY SERVICE: N/A