Historical Materials: People

John Mason drew map of Gloucester and it was sold in town by WEP Rogers. It was printed by Senefelder Lithographic Co. of Boston. The company was named after the inventor of lithography and begun by Abel Bowen & William S. Pendleton.

"MAP OF GLOUCESTER. – The public are indebted for a very fine map of this Town and Cape, to Major JOHN MASON, who, with great industry and perseverence, [sic] has examined every spot, whether importance or otherwise, and has delineated them, as we think, very successfully. A few specimen copies of the map, uncolored, have reached town; the general appearance was in good style, and no doubt the succeeding copies will be much better. It will be recollected that this map is only $1,25 per copy, and our townsmen cannot do better than obtain one of them, which will go to defray the labour and expense of furnishing a correct map of this town and vicinity."

When Massachusetts decreed that each town be mapped, John Mason drew the map of Cape Ann in 1830. This drawing was sent to the Senefelder Lithographic Company of Boston (owned by William Pendleton) to be printed, and then sold in Gloucester by W.E.P. Rogers, whose Gloucester Telegraph of February 12, 1831 announced, "A few specimen copies of the map, uncolored, have reached the town" and that they cost $1.25. Perhaps this business arrangement between Pendleton and Rogers provided Lane with his introduction to Pendleton.

"Drawn on a scale of one hundred feet to an inch. By John Mason 1834–45 from Actual Survey showing every Lott and building then standing on them giving the actual size of the buildings and width of the streets from the Canal to the head of the Harbour & part of Eastern point as farr as Smith's Cove and the Shore of the same with all the wharfs then in use. Gloucester Harbor 1834–1835."

This section of the map shows the location of the Pavilion Hotel and ropewalk along the beach.

"Drawn on a scale of one hundred feet to an inch. By John Mason 1834–45 from Actual Survey showing every Lott and building then standing on them giving the actual size of the buildings and width of the streets from the Canal to the head of the Harbour & part of Eastern point as farr as Smith's Cove and the Shore of the same with all the wharfs then in use. Gloucester Harbor 1834–35." 

This map shows the location of F. E. Low's wharf and the ropewalk. Duncan's Point, the site where Lane would eventually build his studio, is also marked.

The later notes on the map are believed to be by Mason.