Appendix VIII
Family Traditions

Family Beliefs.  I have always felt that a genealogical historian is obligated to make full use of family traditions, treating them carefully and wisely.  It is only logical to feel that a belief, sincerely held, sometimes for generations, has every chance of being a fact, and should be given every chance of being proven.

But, a traditional belief must also be tested objectively; it must be proven by documentation and records, before it can be accepted.

When I have researched a family tradition, and have not been able to substantiate it, I have simply elected to say so, just that way.  I do not say that it is a falsely held tradition, I say only that at this time I have been unable to prove it true.  It is always possible that later researchers will have better success.

The Family Traditions: Asserted.  For the record, here is how some of these family traditions have been spelled out:

J. G. Massey, in his 1908 notes, transmitted to me in 1936, quotes an un-named member of the Massey family: "It is further stated by the Masseys of Maryland that ... in 1644 there were two brothers Hugh and Peter (or Pierre), who settled in Kent Co., Md. in that year, on a grant of land of 20,000 acres, called "Massey's Venture", from Lord Baltimore, ... came from the Island of Guernsey, although it is believed that they were of an English or Cromwellian Irish family."(1)

Wilbur Fisk Massey, perhaps the source quoted above, in a 1908 letter to J.G.Massey, says: "It is said by one of the Maryland Masseys that ... so far as I have been able to ascertain, all the Masseys of Maryland, Delaware, and the South are descended from Peter Massey, who settled in Kent Co., Md. about 1644, coming from the Island of Guernsey, where he had gone to avoid the troubles in the North of Ireland, being Scotch-Irish."(2)

In 1880, G. Betton Massey and his father, B.H.C. Massey, made notes, copied in 1909 by Harriett S. Massey, wife of G. Betton Massey.  They offer a variation: "Pierre, or Peter Massey, who settled in Kent Co., Md. in 1644, came from the Island of Guernsey, although  it is believed that he was of an English or Cromwellian Irish family.  He was the younger brother of Lord Hugh Massey, who descended from Duncan the Massey, Baron of Durham in A.D. 1111."(3)

In 1922, Dr. Wilbur Fisk Massey, already once quoted above, sent notes to Nina (Massey) Hough, adding this:- "The Clarinda Masseys (not Clarina) originated in the marriage of the first Lord Massey's daughter to Lord Clarinda, who took the name as well.  But the older branch is still Lord Massey and not Clarinda.  The tradition is that the brothers fled to Guernsey during the Cromwellian sway in Ireland and that the elder returned after the Restoration and was made Lord Massey.  This according to Burke's Peerage.  The younger brothers came to America about 1644 and settled in Kent and Queen Anne's Cos., Md. and in Delaware.  The James Massey branch and the Peter Toas branch intermarried for years until the James Massey line ran out in Queen Anne's."(4)

In his 1908 notes J. G. Massey notes: "Benjamin Massey, 1767-1835, and his wife Elizabeth, 1776-1835, had silverware on which was embossed the same crest as that on the "Clarina" arms, and also the initials "E & E.M."(5)

Source Page 1 J.G.Massey: 1908 Notes: 1936 to GL,Jr..    p.0037, 0038 2 Dr. Wilbur Fisk Massey: 25 Jan.1908 Letter to J.G.M.    p.0038 3 G. Betton Massey & B.H.C. Massey: 1880 notes: copied 1909 by Harriett S. Massey; quoted  by J.G.Massey.   p.0047 4 Dr. Wilbur Fisk Massey: 10 Oct.1922 Notes to Nina (Massey) Hough.    p.0052, 0053 5 J.G.Massey: 1908 Notes: 1936 to GL,Jr.    p.0026

Peter Massey, traditional 1644 Immigrant to Kent Co., Md.  As an aid to researching for generations of Masseys earlier than 1.Nicholas Massey, d. 1726, Q.A.Co., I set up a couple of diagrams that were based on the earliest documented birth dates available:  The two grandsons of 1.Nicholas Massey, d. 1726 Q.A.Co.: 11.John Massey, b.1720. 3. Peter Massey, b.c.1714- d.c.1759.

Genealogists commonly use twenty-five years between generations as a sort of standard for research purposed.  But, in early Colonial days, when large families were commonplace, twenty-five years could be the difference in age between the oldest and the youngest child, so it is difficult to decide what between-generation figure to  use.  So I (below) set up research diagrams two ways; one with a twenty-five year generation gap, the other with thirty-five.  The bracketed birth dates are the hypothesized birth dates of each man: Both of these diagrams appear plausible.  The traditional Peter Massey, 1644 immigrant, would at that point be either age 24 or 29.

The marriage of 2.James Massey at age 19 would make him a pretty young bridegroom, but it is of course entirely possible.

A Will made by Peter Massey, 1644 Immigrant would settle our questions, but to date none has been found.  The Maryland Calendar of Wills includes many during the period when Peter might have died; but none for Peter.

A search through 60-odd volumes of the Maryland Archives turned up not even one reference to any Peter Massey.

There was one reference that might possibly apply to our Peter Massey: 9 Dec.1676, Peter Masse De Masso attests the Will of Henry Fletcher, probated 15 Jan. 1676[sic] in Charles Co., Md. So, I have had to abandon Peter Massey, 1644 Immigrant as an earlier ancestor of this line; to keep him as a family tradition; and to hope that further research by others will have better success.

The "Clarina" Crest on the Silverware.  J.G. Massey had this to say, referring to the research that he and E.T. Massey did in 1908 in Maryland: "Benjamin Massey, 1767-1835, and his wife Elizabeth, 1776-1835, had silverware on which was embossed the same crest as that to the "Clarina" arms, and also the initials "B. & E.M." J.G. Massey did not note whether he had personally actually seen the embossed silverware, or whether he was quoting a Massey family member who had seen it.  But there seems to be no reason to doubt its existence.  A haunting suspicion exists that perhaps, even in those days, families displayed Arms and Crests with their family name thereon, much as they do today.

So, it remains a fragile link between the Maryland Masseys and the "Lords Clarina" Masseys of Co. Chester, England, for later historians to work on.

Peter Massey, "Younger Brother to Hugh Massey, Lord Clarina:"

In Sir John Bernard Burke: General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales:, p.667, is this statement: "Massy (Ireland)  Ancestor of Lords Massy, Lords Clarina, the barts. of Doonas, etc. Certified by Roberts, Ulster, 1648 to Hugh Massey, descended from an ancient family by that name in C. Chester, who came to Ireland as Capt. of a troop of horse."

Over the years, when I had easy access to the Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill., I searched all of their largest collection of "Peerages," "Baronetages," and "Landed Gentry's," etc. for a Peter Massey, younger brother to Hugh Massey. Lord Clarina.  I was totally unsuccessful.

I also searched all the famous "Visitations" for a Peter Massey who could be our man.  Zero success.

The Many published genealogies and genealogical articles on the Massey family also yielded nothing.

Perhaps additional research will verify this family tradition.