James Addison Massey (1811 - 1893)

Born 11 Aug 1811 in Patrick, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Susanna Jane (Martin) Massey — married 27 May 1832 in Henry Co.,VA

Descendants

Died 14 May 1893 at age 81 in Patrick, Virginia, United States

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Biography

James was born on May 14, 1811 in Patrick, Virginia, United States. James married Jane Martin on 27 May 1832 in Henry, Virginia, United States.^[1] In the 1840 census James was in Patrick, Virginia.^[2]

In 1850, James was living with his wife, Susan and his children in the North District of Patrick County, Virginia. He was a farmer. His closest neighbors according to the census were H.H. Hall and John Bryan Massey.^[3] Note: On the 1850 census, his name was transcribed on FamilySearch as "Makey" but looking at the digital copy of the record it is clearly Massey. In the 1860 census James (age 49), Farmer, was in North Division, Patrick, Virginia.^[4]

In the 1880 census James (age 70), Farmer, was the married head of household in Dan River, Patrick, Virginia, United States.^[5] James died on 14 May 1893 and was buried in Massey Cemetery, Patrick County, Virginia, United States.^[6]

James and his Nickname

Addison got his nickname "Adam" because he is recognized as the first white man to move to the western part of of Patrick County, climbing the heights of Bull Mountain and the adjoining ranges such as 'The Pinnacles of Dan', to "discover" the beautiful, higher elevations of the Meadows of Dan. This is where he cleared the land for agriculture and settled down to successful farming. Quoted from history: "James "Adam" Massey was a true pioneer . . . He was considered to be physically strong and handsome. He was highly intelligent and well-educated for his time and circumstances. Both his parents and both sets of grandparents could read and write." [wmf 2000]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1740-1850"
   Dodd, Jordan R., Et Al.; Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850; Publication Place: Bountiful, UT, USA; Publisher: Precision Indexing Publishers
   Ancestry Record 3723 #56327 (accessed 22 February 2024)
   James Adison Massey marriage to Jane Martin on 27 May 1832 in Henry, Virginia, USA.
2. ↑ 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: Patrick, Virginia; Roll: 573; Page: 28; Family History Library Film: 0029691
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #1911173 (accessed 22 February 2024)
   James A Massey in Patrick, Virginia.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1850,"
4. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: North Division, Patrick, Virginia; Roll: M653_1369; Page: 882; Family History Library Film: 805369
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #34097251 (accessed 22 February 2024)
   James A Massey (49), Farmer, in North Division, Patrick, Virginia. Born in Virginia.
5. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Dan River, Patrick, Virginia; Roll: 1383; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 157
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #12430012 (accessed 22 February 2024)
   James A Massey (70), married, Farmer, head of household in Dan River, Patrick, Virginia, USA. Born in Virginia.
6. ↑ Burial: "U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current"
   Find A Grave: Memorial #187694534
   Ancestry Record 60525 #151683193 (accessed 22 February 2024)
   James Adison Massey burial (died on 14 May 1893) in Massey Cemetery, Patrick County, Virginia, United States of America. Born on 11 Aug 1810.

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8DJ-185 : accessed 11 August 2015), Crawford L Makey in household of James A Makey, Patrick county, part of, Patrick, Virginia, United States; citing family 44, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFG1-8CT : 2 January 2021), Jas A Mapey, 1870.

• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRHK-XLV : 29 January 2020), James A. Massey, 1832.

• "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR4C-WX6 : 29 January 2020), Jas. ... Massey in entry for J. Wesley Foley, 1871.

• Death of son William Taylor Massey: "Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014"
  Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Deaths, 1912-2014
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9278 #600185639 (accessed 28 February 2024)
  Adson Massey in death record for son William Taylor Massey 7 Jan 1926, husband of Martin Massey, in Stuart, Patrick, Virginia, USA.