Section VI - Massey Data Bank

One Maryland Massey Family by George Langford, Jr. 1901-1996 ©Cullen G. Langford and George Langford, III, 2010

Maryland Land Office, Kent County, PL #4, pp. 382-383
Peter and Nicholas Massey's patent of Massey's Venture, August 6, 1719

Peter and Nicholas Massey: patent for 200 acres. Charles II etc. To all persons: Know ye that for and in consideration that Peter Massey and Nicholas Massey of Kent County had due unto them two hundred acres of land within our said province being due unto them by virtue of a warrant for that quantity granted to the said Peter and Nicholas the sixteenth day of September one thousand seven hundred and seventeen as appears in our land office and upon such conditions and terms as are expressed in our condition of plantations of our said province bearing date the fifth day of April one thousand six hundred and eighty four and remaining upon record in our said province together with such alterations as in them are made by our further conditions bearing date the fourth day of December one thousand six hundred and ninety six and registered in our land office of our said province. We do therefore hereby grant unto them the said Peter and Nicholas all that tract or parcel of land lying in Kent County called Massey's Venture on the North side of Chester River and on the North West side of a branch called the Cypress Branch beginning at a bounded white oak standing near the aforesaid branch and on the West side of a small branch flowing out of said Cypress Branch it being the uppermost bounded tree of a parcel of land called Well Meaning and running from the said oak North sixty five degrees West two hundred and twelve perches thence North East one hundred and twenty four perches thence South sixty five degrees East one hundred and twelve perches thence with a straight line to the first bounded tree containing and now laid out for two hundred acres of land more or less according to the certificate of survey thereof taken and returned into our land office bearing date the seventh day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventeen and their remaining together with all rights, profits, benefits, and privileges thereunto belonging, Royal mines excepted. To have and to hold the same unto them the said Peter and Nicholas, their heirs, and assigns, forever to beholden of us and our heirs for our Manor of Baltimore in free and common soccage by fealty only for all manner of services yielding and paying therefore yearly unto us and our heirs at our receipts at the city of St. Mary's at the two most usual of feasts in the year viz.: The feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Michael the Archangel by even and equal portions the rent of eight shillings sterling in silver or gold and for a fine upon every alienation of the land said land or any part or parcel thereof one whole year's rent in silver or gold for the full value thereof in such commodities as we and our heirs or such officer or officers as shall be appointed by us and our heirs from time to time to collect and receive the same shall accept a discharge thereof at the choice of us and our heirs or such officer or officers aforesaid provided that if the said fine of the said sum for a fine for alienation shall not be paid to us or our heirs or such officer or officers aforesaid before such alienation and the said alienation entered upon record either in the Provincial Court or County Court where the same parcel of land lieth within one month next after such alienation then the said alienation shall be void and of no effect. Given under our greater seal at arms this sixth day of August one thousand seven hundred and nineteen. Witness our trusty and well beloved John Hart, Esquire, Governor and keeper of our said greater seal of our said Province of Maryland. John Hart {seal}