Calvin Massey (abt. 1813 - 1903)

Born about 1813 in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Feb 1903 at about age 90 in Lancaster, South Carolina, United States

Biography

The Masseys and McManuses were a landed family from their earliest appearances in Chesterfield District, South Carolina prior to 1800. It seems that both Calvin and wife Catherine, married about 1836, acquired their own separate inheritances (Catherine by known Will of her father), thus; both were well endowed throughout their lives. Things became a little sparse for Calvin towards the ends of his life, due to over-extension of land management.

Calvin and Catherine adopted and/or "took in" a number of children after the war who helped them farm. Their only known natural child was Napolean Bonaparte McManus who was conceived prior to their marriage. He was never acknowledged directly, even in the bequests of his mother's estate. Among the other children are varying relationships, currently unsourced.

Calvin and brother in law Richmond donated the Oak Hill AME Church in Chesterfield to the African American Baptists in 1887. Richmond signed as R. E. McManus, a name never found in another record.

Plat of Church land donated to Oak Hill Missionary Church

Deed of Oak Hill Missionary Baptist Church

• Many thanks to Woodrow McManus of Charlotte for locating and sharing the images of the church transaction.

Censuses

1840 Colvin McMassey is 20-30 with a same-age wife and a male under 5 years in Chesterfield Dist., South Carolina. Since this was an alphabetized census, neighbors are undetectable. However, Sarah Massey and Mary Massey are nearby, both 50-60 years. ["United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB7-289?cc=1786457&wc=31S2-HZS%3A1588669885%2C1588670329%2C1588665902 : 24 August 2015), South Carolina > Chesterfield > Not Stated > image 135 of 178; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).]

1850 Calvin, 30 and Catherine Massey, 32 a farming family with Real Estate $2000 and Personal Estate $4800. A mulatto Jerry Funderburk, 6 yrs is also in the household. Calvin and Catherine live next door to bros-in-law Wm and "Richard" (aka Richmond) McManus. ^[1] [1]

1860 Calvin Massey hh.^[2] ["United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBS6-9DL6?cc=1473181&wc=7QMS-CNL%3A1589435701%2C1589436037%2C1589422206 : 24 March 2017), South Carolina > Chesterfield > Not Stated > image 142 of 172; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).]

1870 Calvin 54 yrs and Catherine Massey 53 yrs still in Old Store twp. He is a planter with Real estate of $1745 and a Personal estate of $1000. He could not read or write. Next to B., Seaburn and Samuel McManus households of varying relationships. ^[3] ["United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-66YS-TQV?cc=1438024&wc=92K6-RMS%3A518655201%2C519031901%2C519043101 : 13 June 2019), South Carolina > Chesterfield > Old Store > image 19 of 40; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).]

1880 Calvin, 65 and Catharine, Massey, 63, again in Old Store twp. ^[4] [2]

1900 SC Chesterfield, Old Store, ED27, p6, hh107 this census is the cause of his birth year confusion. It shows 75 yrs which forgets there was a twenty-year break between the two censuses - this 1900 census only added 10 years to his age. [3]

Calvin, then a widower, had boarders John and Effie Roberson, newlyweds. This may be the John W. listed with him and Catherine in an earlier census. This census shows him living near the grandson of deceased Richmond McManus, i.e. one Richard McManus Armstrong and wife, Thetis.

Calvin is not found in the 1910 census, but his son Napolean B. is found, now using the name Massey rather than McManus as he had while his parents were living.

However, in 1910 Napolean B. MASSEY is found in the census, the first time he recorded his name as he knew it to be.

Marriage Husband Calvin Massey. Wife Catherine McManus. Child: Napolean Bonaparte McManus-Massey. Child: Elizabeth Terrell. Child: Jerry Funderburk. Child: Milus Baker. Child: Amos Cato. Child: Catharine Robertson. Child: Alice Cunnington. Child: Blair Funderburk. Child: John W Robertson. Child: Judah Massey was not a daughter. She was a known slave purchased by Calvin and has been recorded in Oak Hill Baptist Church (white, Lancaster County) records as an exceptional woman highly respected by the community. She was cared for in her later years by the John Arant family, another family closely associated with McManuses in Pageland, Chesterfield Co., SC. Judah is buried at the Oak Hill Baptist AME church donated by Calvin Massey and R.E. McManus.

Acknowledgments

Others have added to this profile but without sources. They have been removed until sources are located. This was a gedcom upload originally. Researched and written by Breece-42

1. ↑ 1850 SC Chesterfield Co., p161b, household 965 b: SC, a farmer unable to read or write.
2. ↑ SC, Chesterfield Co., Old Store twp, p142 (printed 164) hh 986
3. ↑ SC Chesterfield, Old Store twp, p19 (printed 355) hh 127
4. ↑ SC, Chesterfield, Old Store Twp., hh 331