Richard was a "Doctor of Phissick". He studied at Charterhouse, London and gained an BA and MA at Jesus College, Cambridge where he stayed on as a fellow for a few years until he was "ejected".
By 1658 he was practising medicine in Leicester and using the title "Doctor", although his MD from Edinburgh was not received until 1660.
"Richard MASON Doctor of Physick" was listed as a Commissioner for County of Leicester on a June 1657 "Act for an Assessment upon England at the Rate of Sixty thousand Pounds by the Moneth, for three Moneths". The County of Leicester needed to deliver to His Highness the Lord Protector, and Parliament, the sum of Nine hundred thirty three pounds six shillings and eight pence, each month for three months.
Richard was married to Emmet ONEBY, but no marriage record has been identified. She was mentioned in his will as Emmet, as was John ONEBY as his friend and brother-in-law. The Cambridge almuni register also records Emmet ONEBY as his wife.
There were seven children baptized in St Mary de Castro by a Richard MASON/MASSON however only three of these refer to Doctor Richard MASON/MASSON: Ann 1658, Dorothy 1663 and William 1667 (although the "Dr Richard" had been crossed out of this latter record). The seventh child, Ann, was baptized in 1771 several years after Dr Richard had died, confirming that there were two Richard MASON/MASSON baptizing children during this period in St Mary de Castro, Leicester - the parish where Richard and Emma lived. I have left the three above, but Constance 1660, Uriah 1663 and John 1668 could also be Dr Richard's.
It is not known what role Richard MASON played during the Great Plague of 1665-6 which hit much of England very hard. As a Doctor and Commisioner he would have likely been at the centre of planning the city's response. The City of Leicester implemented quarantine restrictions to ensure that goods coming into the City were aired before entering. Double gates were put up at the town's entrances and a constant day-and-night watch kept. The watchmen were paid weekly at 8d. each per day. Huts and rails were provided to keep out infectious persons. These efforts were rewarded and Leicester escaped the plague that killed nearly 70,000 in London. Only St. Martin's with a twice the normal death roll showed any appreciable increase in the burial rate. Other Leicestershire villages such as Kibworth, Skeffington, and Melton Mowbray fared much worse.
Richard survived the plague but not for long. In his will of January 1667/8 Richard left his entire estate to his wife and executrix Emme MASSON, but if she remarried then the executorship would pass to his very good friend and brother-in-law John ONEBY of Hinckley, George BURINT of Sheepey, gent, and Thomas MASSON of Rearsby, to be managed for the benefit of his children. The names of his children were not mentioned in his will. But he was much clearer with the names of his Cambridge tailors with whom he appeared to have several debts.
Richard MASON died on 26 Mar 1667 and was buried on 27 Mar 1668. Probate was given to his two friends and Thomas MASSON on 9 Jun 1668.
Other information:
A Richard son of Richardi MASON was baptised in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk on 10 Oct 1615. This would mean he was 18 when he went to Cambridge (30 miles away) and about 43 when he started his family. If correct then he had a sister Alice (11 May 1603).
