Individual Details
Richard Massey
(13 Aug 1661 - 5 Jun 1740)
From GEDCOM files by Deney Pugmire and Gwen Bjorkman
Confirmed on original parish register of Burton-in-Wirral, Richard Massy, son of Edward Massy of Puddington Esq.
Primary source of information, Massey Genealogy 2000, published by William W. Massey, Jr. One of the tenets of genealogical research is to research all possible sources. This was done in English records, which brought a total of 14 men named Richard Massey within a probable age span to be our American Richard. At first it seemed that all 14 had been proven not to be ours, until a more exhaustive research was undertaken on records in Burton-in-Wirral, where it first appeared that their Richard, born in 1661, died there in 1699. A more complete look at the original parish records revealed that the man who died in 1699 was not the man born in 1661, but instead his uncle Richard.
No further records were found for Richard born in 1661 beyond February, 1685, when it was noted that both he and his uncle of the same name had not been present at the Catholic church for three Sundays past. The older man remained, and died there in 1699, but evidently our Richard did not, he had gone to Virginia!
He was a second son, his father died in 1674 leaving the real property to his older brother William, and he only received an equal share with his other siblings and mother of the remaining estate value. He was only mentioned not by name but as one of "my four children" by his father Edward. Christening records prove Richard was Edward's son. The rest of his family (two sisters besides brother William) continue to be mentioned in records in Cheshire, he does not. He received his inheritance in 1682, at his coming of age. He undoubtedly was a witness to the execution of their family priest, whose only crime was remaining true to his faith, with the pieces of his body being returned to Puddington Hall, the family home. His brother, who supposedly never married, remained a staunch Catholic in spite of royal opposition and persecution. The family had already lost much of it's holdings and position, lives were at stake. Richard really had nothing left in Cheshire to look forward to.
It is unclear whether he married in England and perhaps had his first child there, or if he married after arrival in Virginia where the rest of his family was born. Since there is no record of the marriage or a child in England, I tend to believe he left England single. The only mention of his name in connection with a headright of James Thweat in 1703, (usually much later than actual emigration) is for him only, another clue that he came here single. The first evidence of Richard in Virginia is a fragment of a Court Order in Charles City Co., VA, regarding his guardianship of an orphan 1691-93, indicating by then he was a family man, and a landowner of good character. In 1702 he served as a private in Capt. Joseph Wynn's company of dragoons, or mounted troops, a cut above foot soldiers. The men supposed to be his sons, Richard Jr., Hezekiah, and Joseph, all remained in close proximity to each other, as did their children, even as they moved away from Charles City Co. into Brunswick Co., and later North Carolina.
WILLIAM MASSEY JR. [billmasseyii@prodigy.net]
Richard1 Massey of Puddington was born 13 August 1661, at
Burton-in-Wirral, Cheshire, England. His older brother, William, had
inherited the family estate in 1674, was devoutly Catholic, joined an
uprising in Lancashire in favor of the exiled James Stuart in late
1715. When the rebel army was soundly beaten and surrendered at
Preston on 14 November, William returned to Puddington only to be
seized and cast into a cell at Chester Castle. On 6 Feb 1715/6, he
willed his estates to the Catholic infant Thomas Stanley of Hooten.
William was buried at Burton-in-Wirral on 25 February 1715/6.
Richard, seeing no future for his family in Cromwellian England, had
emigrated to Virginia in 1684. He first appeared in records of Charles
City Co., VA in 1693 when he was ordered for the second time to bring
to court the orphan under his guardianship. Richard?s headright was
finally claimed by James Thweatt in 1703. By 1702, Richard had been
well acquainted with the men whose descendents peopled southside VA
and northern NC counties—he served in Capt. Joseph Wynn?s company of
dragoons with several who later appear in related records, including
William Pettipool, whose daughter Anne would later marry Richard?s son
Richard2. Date of death of Richard1 is unknown
Benjamin B. Weisiger III, Prince George County, Virginia Wills and
Deeds 1713-1728, (Richmond, VA: Weisiger, 1973), pp. 101, 132.
p. 767 9 Nov 1724 John Sroud of Pr. Geo. Co. to Richard Massey of
same, for L5, 80a on south side of Monks Neck Creek.
p. 768 9 Nov 1724 John Stroud of Pr. Geo. Co. to Richard Massey pf
same. 46a on south side of Monks Neck Creek.
p. 991 Richard Massey of Pr. Geo. Co. to Richard Herbert of Henrico
Co., for L13, two tracts on south side of Moccosoneck Creek in Pr.
Geo. One of these is part of a large parcel granted by patent formerly
to Henry King of Pr. geo. and transferred to Joseph Stroud, and from
Stroud to said Massey. Bounded by the Licking Place, 80a. The other
parcel of 40a was patented 15 Jul 1717 by John Stroud of Pr. Geo. Co.
and conveyed to Richard Massey. Bounded by first tract above.
Signed: Richard (X) Massey. Wit: William Hamilin, Richard Skoggin,
John Holloway. Recd: 13 Jun 1727. Ann, wife of Richard Massey,
relina. dower rt.
Confirmed on original parish register of Burton-in-Wirral, Richard Massy, son of Edward Massy of Puddington Esq.
Primary source of information, Massey Genealogy 2000, published by William W. Massey, Jr. One of the tenets of genealogical research is to research all possible sources. This was done in English records, which brought a total of 14 men named Richard Massey within a probable age span to be our American Richard. At first it seemed that all 14 had been proven not to be ours, until a more exhaustive research was undertaken on records in Burton-in-Wirral, where it first appeared that their Richard, born in 1661, died there in 1699. A more complete look at the original parish records revealed that the man who died in 1699 was not the man born in 1661, but instead his uncle Richard.
No further records were found for Richard born in 1661 beyond February, 1685, when it was noted that both he and his uncle of the same name had not been present at the Catholic church for three Sundays past. The older man remained, and died there in 1699, but evidently our Richard did not, he had gone to Virginia!
He was a second son, his father died in 1674 leaving the real property to his older brother William, and he only received an equal share with his other siblings and mother of the remaining estate value. He was only mentioned not by name but as one of "my four children" by his father Edward. Christening records prove Richard was Edward's son. The rest of his family (two sisters besides brother William) continue to be mentioned in records in Cheshire, he does not. He received his inheritance in 1682, at his coming of age. He undoubtedly was a witness to the execution of their family priest, whose only crime was remaining true to his faith, with the pieces of his body being returned to Puddington Hall, the family home. His brother, who supposedly never married, remained a staunch Catholic in spite of royal opposition and persecution. The family had already lost much of it's holdings and position, lives were at stake. Richard really had nothing left in Cheshire to look forward to.
It is unclear whether he married in England and perhaps had his first child there, or if he married after arrival in Virginia where the rest of his family was born. Since there is no record of the marriage or a child in England, I tend to believe he left England single. The only mention of his name in connection with a headright of James Thweat in 1703, (usually much later than actual emigration) is for him only, another clue that he came here single. The first evidence of Richard in Virginia is a fragment of a Court Order in Charles City Co., VA, regarding his guardianship of an orphan 1691-93, indicating by then he was a family man, and a landowner of good character. In 1702 he served as a private in Capt. Joseph Wynn's company of dragoons, or mounted troops, a cut above foot soldiers. The men supposed to be his sons, Richard Jr., Hezekiah, and Joseph, all remained in close proximity to each other, as did their children, even as they moved away from Charles City Co. into Brunswick Co., and later North Carolina.
WILLIAM MASSEY JR. [billmasseyii@prodigy.net]
Richard1 Massey of Puddington was born 13 August 1661, at
Burton-in-Wirral, Cheshire, England. His older brother, William, had
inherited the family estate in 1674, was devoutly Catholic, joined an
uprising in Lancashire in favor of the exiled James Stuart in late
1715. When the rebel army was soundly beaten and surrendered at
Preston on 14 November, William returned to Puddington only to be
seized and cast into a cell at Chester Castle. On 6 Feb 1715/6, he
willed his estates to the Catholic infant Thomas Stanley of Hooten.
William was buried at Burton-in-Wirral on 25 February 1715/6.
Richard, seeing no future for his family in Cromwellian England, had
emigrated to Virginia in 1684. He first appeared in records of Charles
City Co., VA in 1693 when he was ordered for the second time to bring
to court the orphan under his guardianship. Richard?s headright was
finally claimed by James Thweatt in 1703. By 1702, Richard had been
well acquainted with the men whose descendents peopled southside VA
and northern NC counties—he served in Capt. Joseph Wynn?s company of
dragoons with several who later appear in related records, including
William Pettipool, whose daughter Anne would later marry Richard?s son
Richard2. Date of death of Richard1 is unknown
Benjamin B. Weisiger III, Prince George County, Virginia Wills and
Deeds 1713-1728, (Richmond, VA: Weisiger, 1973), pp. 101, 132.
p. 767 9 Nov 1724 John Sroud of Pr. Geo. Co. to Richard Massey of
same, for L5, 80a on south side of Monks Neck Creek.
p. 768 9 Nov 1724 John Stroud of Pr. Geo. Co. to Richard Massey pf
same. 46a on south side of Monks Neck Creek.
p. 991 Richard Massey of Pr. Geo. Co. to Richard Herbert of Henrico
Co., for L13, two tracts on south side of Moccosoneck Creek in Pr.
Geo. One of these is part of a large parcel granted by patent formerly
to Henry King of Pr. geo. and transferred to Joseph Stroud, and from
Stroud to said Massey. Bounded by the Licking Place, 80a. The other
parcel of 40a was patented 15 Jul 1717 by John Stroud of Pr. Geo. Co.
and conveyed to Richard Massey. Bounded by first tract above.
Signed: Richard (X) Massey. Wit: William Hamilin, Richard Skoggin,
John Holloway. Recd: 13 Jun 1727. Ann, wife of Richard Massey,
relina. dower rt.
Events
| Birth | 13 Aug 1661 | Burton-in-Wirral, Cheshire, England | |||
| Marriage | Est 1681 | Sarah | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1715 | Prince George Co., Virginia, British America - Ann | |||
| Death | 5 Jun 1740 | Brunswick, Virginia |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah (1660 - ) |
| Child | Hezekiah Massey (1685 - 1727) |
| Child | Joseph Massey (1690 - 1760) |
| Child | Richard Massey Sr (1696 - 1740) |
| Spouse | Ann (1670 - ) |
| Father | Edward Massey (1612 - ) |
| Mother | Alice Brathwayt (1623 - ) |