Atkins Massey (1819 - 1892)

Born 3 Dec 1819 in Southwark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 28 Nov 1892 at age 72 in Oakland, Alameda, California, United States

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Biography

Atkins Massey was the son of Henry Massey and Rachel Carmine. He was orphaned as a teen, at the death of his father, Henry Massey.

An extensive biographical sketch of Atkins Massey, claims his father Henry Massey died when he was 16 years old, and gives further details on his early apprenticeship.

"Mr. Massey was educated at the public schools of Philadelphia. His father died when he was but sixteen years old, leaving the family in indigent circumstances. Being naturally endowed with great self reliance, he at once determined to relieve his mother of the burden of his support, and to seriously commence the battle of life, and to rely in the future only upon his own exertions. In obedience to this determination, he apprenticed himself to Mr. Jacob Fritz, of Philadelphia, to learn the cabinet maker's trade, which, after four years of diligent and unwavering devotion, he completely mastered and was enabled to leave the employ of Mr. Fritz"

He married Mary C. Dougherty, born in Philadelphia in 1832, fourth child of Robert Dougherty and Mary Hammell. He was named in the will of Robert Dougherty dated 6th December 1861 in Philadelphia.

Atkins and Mary had the following children :

• Harry Massey;
• Mazie Massey, m. Henry Bradbury, of New York City;
• George L. Massey, of Brooklyn, New York;
• Florence Massey, m. William Rose;
• Atkins J. Massey, of California ; and
• Robert Massey.

"Atkins Massey was a resident of San Francisco from the days of "'49" until his death in 1892. A native of Virginia, he was born in Appomattox county in 1819, son of Henry Massey [Census records consistently indicate a Pennsylvania birth]. Initially he lived in Philadelphia, but at the time of the gold rush he moved to San Francisco, California. He was the first undertaker there, and when he died, in 1892, he was one of the wealthy men of the city."

Sources

1. ↑ The Early Days and Men of California by William F. Swasey. Pacific Press Publishing Company, 1891. pp. 368-373.
2. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1907, pp. 315-316

• 1860 Household of Atkins Massey
• 1870 Household of Atkins Massey
• 1880 Household of Atins Massey
• "California Deaths and Burials, 1776-2000", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HGH2-DZ3Z : Sun Oct 15 08:02:20 UTC 2023), Entry for Atkins Massey, 28 Nov 1892.

See Also:

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104749337/atkins-massey: accessed 29 December 2023), memorial page for Atkins Massey (3 Dec 1820–28 Nov 1892), Find a Grave Memorial ID 104749337, citing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA; Maintained by ColmaKitty (contributor 51383026).