Appendix XXI
4.Elijah Eleazer Massey:Military Rank

This forthright statement has been made: "... he was Colonel in the Maryland Line.  His commission was framed, and hung in the residence of E.T. Massey of Gondomar.  It bore the signature of General Washington."(1) Note.  George Massey thus positively claims personal knowledge of the existence of this commission, and that 59.Elijah Eleazer Massey was in fact entitled to the rank of Colonel.[Ed.]

On 7 Jun.1781, an Eliazer Massey was commissioned Ensign in Captain William Falconer's Company, 5th Battalion of Militia, of Queen Anne's Co., Maryland.(2) Note.  As apparently 4.Elijah Eleazer Massey was already a Colonel in the Maryland Militia, it seems probable that the Eleazer Massey commissioned Ensign was his son," 59.Elijah Eleazer Massey, d. 1795. [Ed.]

In his 1908 records, J. G. Massey has this observation: "Colonel Massey, on Washington's Staff ... last owner of "Massey's venture," the family Manor in Kent Co., Maryland in its entirety - 20,000 acres."(3) Note.  Diligent search of records of the Revolutionary War has uncovered no records whatsoever of an Elijah Eleazer Massey ranked Colonel.(4)  The statement that he was on Washington's Staff still awaits proof.[Ed.]

Sources Page 1 George Massey: undated note to Mrs. James Alan Massey.    p.0043 2 Maryland Archives: Vol.45, p.465.    p.0007 3 J.G. Massey: 1908 Notes: 1936 to GL,Jr., p.1 p.0025 4 Heitman: Historical Register of the U.S. Army.    pp.0110, 0111