MASSEY FAMILY

Page 187

THOMAS MASSEY doubtless came from Cheshire, England, where the family had been numerous and prominent for a long time. He was probably the Thomas Marsey who came over in the employ of Francis Stanfield, of Garton, in Cheshire, and arrived in the Endeavour, of London, George Thorp, master, 29th of 7th mo. 1683. In 1692 he married Phebe, daughter of Robert and Mary Taylor, she having been a passenger on the same vessel; and in 1696 he purchased 300 acres of land in Marple, adjoining that of Francis Stanfield. His death occurred 9, 18, 1708, in the 45th year of his age; after which his widow married Bartholomew Coppock, 3, 10, 1710, and died 12, 27, 1749. The children of Thomas and Phebe Massey were Esther, Mordecai, James, Hannah, Thomas, Phebe and Mary.

Thomas Massey, Jr., b. 11, 21, 1701; d. 6, 13, 1784; m. about 1724, his cousin Sarah Taylor, b. 1, 9, 1703; d. 9, 28, 1786; dau. of Isaac and Sarah Taylor, of Springfield. For their marriage "by a priest," and being first cousins, they made an acknowledgment to Chester Monthly Meeting, 4, 27, 1726. They settled in Willistown and had fourteen children, Sarah, Mordecai, Phebe, Hannah, Mary, Isaac, Elizabeth, Thomas, Jane, Joseph, Esther, Levi, Rebecca and Aaron.

Isaac Massey, b. 2, 5, 1732; d. 2, 6, 1792; m. 6, 9, 1763, at Goshen Meeting, Phebe Ashbridge, b. 10, 16, 1739; d. 11, 27, 1774; dau. of George and Jane Ashbridge, of Goshen. They had children, Jane, Hannah, George, Mary, Sidney and Daniel. Isaac Massey devised œ20 toward rebuilding Willistown Meeting House.

George Massey took a certificate from Goshen to Chester, dated 3, 10, 1786, and thence to Uwchlan, 3, 26, 1790. He settled in West Whiteland, where, in 1799, he was assessed with 100 acres of land, a stone and log house, ditto barn, tanyard, chair house, &c. He was appointed clerk of Uwchlan Monthly Meeting, 8, 4, 1796, in place of William Milhous, and was succeeded by Nathan Sharpless, 1, 7, 1802. By his will he devised all his personal estate to his daughter Rachel V. Massey, except the Bible, containing the family records, and an ivory-headed cane which had belonged to his grandfather and bore his initials T. M. These he gave to his son Robert V. Massey.