Susanna Hopkins Mason grew up in Maryland, with a father who was a member of the Society of Friends and a mother who was a member of the Episcopal church. Mason was fully encouraged by her parents in her educational pursuits throughout her life. Growing up, she made several visits to relatives in Philadelphia who also encouraged her education and literary talents. Around the age of twenty, Mason became a member of the Religious Society of Friends. In 1779, she married George Mason and moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mason became deeply involved in the Friends religious community. She spent a great deal of time in Philadelphia, and in the countryside to recover from several bouts of ill health. She began a school, and a relief organization for impoverished women in Baltimore. She passed away at the age of 57 in 1805. Her husband, George Mason, was the founding Virginia Governor.
This new edition is dedicated to the members of the Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C.
