There is considerable confusion
as to whether 48.Nicholas
Massey had one wife or two wives; and additional
confusion as to name or names.
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Source
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J.G. Massey records:
"Nicholas Massey moved to North Carolina in
1770. Wrote his brother Elijah, 4 Jun.1774, saying his wife
Henrietta died 4 Dec.1773; that his daughters Hannah and Sarah had
married; and that he was then left with three sons and five daughters."
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1
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But J.G. Massey, in these same
notes records:
"In his letter dated Rowan Co., Nor. Car.,
4 Jun.1774, addressed to his brother Elijah Massey, in Kent Co.,
Maryland, he refers to his wife, Catherine, who died 4 Dec.1773; to
her children; and names two of them, Hannah and Sarah, as having
married."
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2
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These uncharacteristically
conflicting names of the wife who died 4 Dec.1773 initiates our
confusion.
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Wilbur Fisk Massey wrote:
" ... Nicholas Massey, the brother of
Elijah Massey ... moved to North Carolina about 1770. As evidence
of this, the Maryland Masseys have letters written by Nicholas Massey
from Rowan Co., N.C. to his brother Elijah in Md."
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This statement seems to confirm the existence of the 1774 [letter -
GL,III, ed.] but unfortunately names no names. The letter seems
to have existed, all right, but it is not known to have survived, so
exactly what his wife's name was can not be checked.
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6
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There was a Kent Co., Md. Deed
dated 1765 that reads:
"Cath. & N. Massey to Joseph Massey;"
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a small and shaky piece of evidence that Nicholas Massey had a wife
Catherine, if indeed "N. Massey" is our Nicholas Massey.
[That deed
(DD:2:157)
actually says:
October 9, 1765: Joseph Massey, farmer of
Kent County, buys for £200 a 100 acre tract called Partnership
from
Catharine Massey, spinster, and Nicholas Massey, farmer, and Henrietta,
his wife, also of Kent County. Courses: Beginning at a small Spanish
oak marked with nine notches standing near the head of a drain that
proceeds out of a branch called Pudding Branch running North two
hundred and forty eight perches and South thirty one degrees West
one hundred and eight perches thence South twenty two degrees West
forty two perches and South fourteen degrees West one hundred and
twenty four perches thence with a straight line to the beginning tree
containing one hundred acres. Witnesses: James MacLachlan and Samuel
Thompson. Acting for the Crown: Mssrs. MacLachlan, Thompson and
Nicholson; Kent County Clerk is Dennis Dulany.
Abstracted by GL III, ed.
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So Father was correct in his ultimate conclusion that Henrietta is the
correct wife. Note added 6 Jan.2016, GL III, ed.]
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3
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Quoting:
"A descendant who has been of great aid;
Mrs. Edwin McMann, 4115 N.W. 40th., Oklahoma City, Okla.; Judge
Massey notes: "Nicholas m.1st. Henrietta _______, who died 4
Dec.1773. By 1774 letter to brother Elijah Eleazer, he told of
his wife's death and stated that his daughters Hannah and Sarah had
married and that he was left with 3 sons and 5 daughters. He may
have married afterward and had son Ebenezer, for census show his birth
between 1770-1780."
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5; 4
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So, now we have Catherine and
Henrietta as candidates for Nicholas Massey's first wife. In view
of J.G. Massey's statements; first that Catherine was the wife's name;
and then again that her name was Henrietta; we are left dangling.
But, Mrs. McMann, who is Judge Massey's valued source, says her name
was Henriettta; and I am inclined to string along and agree with her.
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As to a second wife, as the
mother of Ebenezer Massey, born between 1770 and 1780, we have very
slim evidence: let's say more likely than unlikely; but we have
no clue as to her name.
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