represent John Mason in a more balanced and comprehensive manner for a lifetime of public service, including many prominent accomplishments as the principal founder of the Connecticut Colony. Commander of first American Naval task force against the pirate Dixie Bull 1633 Lieutenant at Dorchester and Civil Engineer of initial fortifications at Castle Island in Boston Harbor, later known as Fort Independence, 1634 Deputy for Dorchester to Massachusetts Bay Colony General Court, 1634–1635 Captain and Commander of Colonial forces in the Pequot War 1637 Deputy for Windsor to Connecticut Court, 1637–1641 Assistant to the Connecticut Court, 1642–1659, 1669–71 [CT Civil List 35] Commander of Saybrook Fort 1647–1659. War committee for Saybrook, May 1653, October 1654 Major General - chief military officer of the United Colonies 1654–1672 Deputy Governor of Connecticut Colony, 1660–1668 Acting Governor from 1661 to 1663, while Gov. John Winthrop Jr. went to London to obtain approval of the Charter from King Charles II Commissioner for United Colonies, June 1654, May 1655, May 1656, May 1657, May 1660, May 1661 Patentee of the original Connecticut Constitution - Royal Charter, 1662 Overseer (first Indian Agent) and Administrator of Mohegan Lands 1659–1672 In honor of Norwich's bicentennial in 1859, The Mason Monument Association was formed and money was donated to erect a Founders Monument in the original burial grounds at Bean Hill. Major John Mason was their leader and this monument is also referred to as the Mason Monument but includes the names of all the 38 original settlers. Estate On February 10, 1634 "Captayne Mason" received a grant of in Dorchester. He drew of meadow beyond Naponset in lot #73. In the Windsor land inventory on February 28, 1640, John Mason held seven parcels, six of which were granted to him: "a home lot with some additions to it", ; "in the Palisado where his house stands and mead adjoining" ; "in the first mead on the north side of the rivulet, for mead and addition in swamp" ; "in the northwest field for upland" "with some addition on the bank side"; "over the Great River in breadth by the river twenty-six rods more or less, and continues that breadth to the east side of the west marsh, and there it is but sixteen rods in breadth and so continues to the end of the three miles"; "of land by Rocky Hill"; and "by a deed of exchange with Thomas