William Massey (1743 - 1841)

Born 1743 in Brunswick County, Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth Rives — married 1762 in Brunswick County, Virginia

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1841 at about age 98 in Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Williamson [send private message]

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel and Deputy Quartermaster General William Massey served with South Carolina during the American Revolution.

William Massey is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A075138.

William Massey is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: 242843
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel / Patriotic Service / Civil Service

Find A Grave Memorial
The Honorable William Massey served as member of the Second Continental Congress. -- S.C. Gazette (No. 2041), Sept. 7, 1775.

He moved to Lancaster Co, S.C. just prior to the Revolutionary War. He was a patriot, held the rank of Deputy Muster Master General in the Revolutionary War and Lt. Colonel in the Continental Establishment. -- S.C. Historical Magazine Vol. VIII, p.789; Virginia Magazine of History Vol. 261, p.163.

His sons Henry and Benjamin served in the Revolutionary War in Colonel Kershaw Sumter's Brigade.

A Government Marker has been placed at his grave in theold cemetery at The Waxhams in the present County of Lancaster, SC.

William Massey came to The Waxhaws from Brunswick Co. with an original land grant from King George of England.

Other references can be found in Ramsey's "History of South Carolina."

Children of Elizabeth Rives and James (Williams's brother) and adopted by William after James died:

Charlotte Massey 1760 – 1812
James Everard Massey 1762 – 1837
Henry Massey 1763 – 1836

Children with Elizabeth Rives:

William Andrew Massey 1765 – 1804
George Massey 1771 – 1815
JOSEPH MASSEY 1773 – 1836
Elizabeth Betsey Massey 1774 – 1807
Benjamin Capt Massey 1775 – 1846
Polly Massey 1776 –
Jane Massey 1783 –
Temperance Massey 1786 – 1854

Notes

Note NI107Texas DAR, Rev. Ancestors Vol III, p. 1452-1433

William moved into the Waxhaw District about 1772-73, the same area from whence came Andrew Jackson. During the Revolutionary War he was

Muster-Master General for the state and held the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was captured by the British when Charleston fell in 1780. From a book on South

Carolina Revolutionary War Soldiers I learned the following: He was Adjutant of the 1st South Carolina Regiment of Infantry. On Sunday, 27 Aug 1780,

Col. William Massey, a prisoner on parole in Charleston, was taken from his home by armed British troops and conveyed to the ship, Sandwich, moored near

Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor. A few days later he was transported to St. Augustine where he remained a prisoner with others who would not swear

allegiance to the Crown. On 31 December 1780, the Edict of Col Balfour, Commandant of Charleston, banished all who would not take protection of the

British. Col. Massey's family was among those forced to leave the city.

William was also a member of the 2nd Provisional Congress for the District Eastward of the Wateree (Catawba) River.

William died 21 March 1841 in Lancaster County and is buried along with his wife in the Massey-Cureton Graveyard in the Waxhaws District of Lancaster

Co.

Sources

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 26 Feb. 2021), "Record of Lieutenant Colonel William Massey", Ancestor # A075138.
• Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC, Data provided by the website Carolana.
• William Massey on Find A Grave: Memorial #51027310 Retrieved 16:30, 19 September 2017 (EDT).
• 1840 United States Federal Census
• Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots
• North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890
• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820
• U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
• War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815
• Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC, Data provided by the website Carolana. (accessed 13 Aug 2022)

Acknowledgments

Massey-2271 was created by David Williamson through the import of DEW1.GED on Jan 4, 2015.