Hi my 'Mason" gg grandfather was an artillery gunsmith with the arsenal. They originated London/Plumstead/Greenwich. He emigreated to NZ in the late 1870's I have some but little information on his family.

Hello,
My ggg and gg grandfathers William and George Heath worked for Masons in Whitechapel as gun polishers early to mid 1800, I have them working in Goodman's Yard Whitechapel. Unfortunately we have just moved and all my research is in store, but it I have anything of interest I will post again.

Hallo Hitcham, That is very interesting and it would likely be Robert George Mason at that time. He would be elder brother of my GGfather Edward. RGM carried on the business until about 1880s and I think one of his sons then took it up and it became just a jobbing gunsmith business, Making gun locks (triggers etc) would have become a mass produced item by then by the likes of Lee-Enfield, BSA etc.
I look forward to anything else you have.Goodman's Yard and Prescott St are right addresses.
Regards

London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980
Name: Robert Wm Mason
Record Type: Burial
Estimated Death Date: abt 1827
Burial Date: 20 May 1827
Age: 54
Estimated birth year: abt 1773 **
Parish or Poor Law Union: Whitechapel St Mary
Address: caslle Alley
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Register Type: Parish Register



This is the only Births and Christening I could find in 1773

Site familysearch.org

England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

Name: Robert William Mason
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 15 Aug 1773
Christening Place: SPITALFIELDS CHRIST CHURCH,STEPNEY,LONDON,ENGLAND
Father's Name: Edward Mason
Mother's Name: Elisabeth

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C06969-2 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 592621

Yes I agree. I think the Edward Mason who is father of Robert William was a Silk Dresser. If you found that on FamilySearch it is because I put it there.
Going back any further is a minefield.
Had anybody realised that Robert William married twice.
I will come back later with details.
Regards