Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 43

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 848

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able. This was Gideon Macon, who, com- ing to the American colonies in the latter half of the century just mentioned, settled at Middle Plantation, Virginia, where he soon became a prominent man in St. Peter's Parish and an extensive and prosperous tobacco cultivator. There is a record of him and his estate in 1680. This estate was known as Prospect Hill, and is even now standing in its original location, and is still regarded as one of the landmarks of eastern Virginia. Gideon Macon was the father of William Macon, who in time inherited Pros- pect Hill, and became a very conspicuous figure in the colony, being appointed colonel of the New Kent county militia, New Kent county being the location of Prospect Hill. It was of this Colonel William Macon that Martha, the wife of Colonel William Massie, was the daughter.

(V) Major Thomas Massie, a son of Colo- nel William and Martha (Macon) Massie, was born according to the parish records, August II, 1747, at Batton's Bridge, in New Kent county, Virginia. His life was a most eventful one, as was almost sure to be the life of an ardent lover of liberty, devoted to the interests of the American colonies in those troublous times. For Major Massie's lot was cast just when the long drawn out struggle between the colonies and Great Britain had reached the breaking point, and he was, indeed, just in the prime of young manhood when the revolution began. He received his commission as captain in the Sixth Virginia Regiment of the line on Con- tinental establishment, in the autumn of 1775, and with an enthusiasm characteristic of the man, threw himself into the conflict in the cause of liberty and his native land. His first service was under Colonel Buck- ner in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where he took part in many active engagements, notably those of Fort Mont- gomery, when that redoubt was captured, and at New Brunswick on the Raritan river, where the advance of the British van was checked, thus giving an opportunity for General Washington to cross the Delaware river in safety. The Sixth Virginia suffered so severely in this campaign that Captain Massie was necessarily employed in special or detached duty for the major part of the next two years, but on January 1, 1777, he was again attached to the army, this time under General Scott. in the latter's move- ment against Lord Cornwallis, who was at

that time threatening Trenton, New Jersey. Once more he was in the thick of action, en- gaging in that sanguinary fight known as the Cannonade of Trenton. For a period of five months thereafter Captain Massie was en- gaged in the severest kind of duty at Middle Post, Metuchen, under Colonel Hendricks, duty which included constant patrolling and frequent skirmishes, nocturnal surprises and the cutting off of pickets, work of a most perilous and fatiguing kind, entailing a great loss of men. After five months of this dis- tressing kind of service, his detachment re- joined the main army at Middlebrook, and yet a little later was transferred to the army under General Washington at White Marsh Hills. He seemed destined to endure the hardships of the campaign in full measure. for it was while a part of Washington's army that it passed that most bitter winter at Valley Forge, the sufferings of which were shared by Captain Thomas Massie. Detailed for duty under General Morgan, he received a partial reward for his faithful services in the form of a major's commission on February 20, 1778. He was in command of the lines near Philadelphia in the spring of 1778, and while there he took part in some historic transactions, notably that of the evacuation of Philadelphia by General Sir Henry Clinton, Major Massie being the one who first received the flag of truce from that officer, which opened the way to the nego- tiations for his departure. General Clinton no longer in Philadelphia, General Morgan, with Major Massie in his command, marched through that city and shortly afterwards joined the main army. It was not long after this, June 27, 1778, to be precise, that Major Massie was the bearer of the despatches from Washington to General Charles Lee, directing the latter officer to attack the British army in full force the following day. These orders, as all the world remembers, were not obeyed, a disobedience which was the occasion of a most brilliant piece of generalship on the part of Washington, who was forced thus unexpectedly, to bring the troops into action himself, and also of the well known rebuke of Lee. Ordered once more into New Jersey, under General Mor- gan, Major Massie took part in the hard- fought battle of Monmouth Court House, in which the British were defeated and pur- sued as far north as Middletown Heights, near Sandy Hook. From New Jersey, for- tune took him to Rhode Island, where,

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always in the thick of battle, he was engaged in the siege of Newport. His next post was on the Hudson river, a few miles above West Point, and then later he was sent back into New Jersey, this time to Hackensack, from which the British forces had just re- tired, and where, under the command of Colonel Febiger, he was stationed. Shortly after this Colonel Febiger was called else- where, and Major Massie was left in com- mand at Hackensack of the Second Vir- ginia Regiment on Continental establish- ment. Not long after this the eight old Continental regiments of Virginia were con- solidated for the defence of Charleston, and Major Massie became a supernumerary officer. With the permission of General Washington he now returned to Virginia, from which he had been absent for so long, holding his commission as major, ready, however, for service wherever and when- ever required. It is told how Major Massie's commission as captain had been actually worn out through long carrying it in his pocket on the field and march and in the camp, by constant exposure to rain, hail, snow and the weather generally. During the winter of 1780-81, Major Massie acted as aide-de-camp to General Nelson in Vir- ginia, and it was during his employment in this service that Benedict Arnold invaded that State and destroyed the public stores and houses at Richmond and the arsenal and foundry at Westham. The war was nearly over, but Major Massie remained in active service to the very last moment and was present at the capture of Yorktown and the final surrender of the British armies under General Cornwallis, in October, 1781. In return for the gallant and tireless serv- ices he had given his country during the long and sanguinary struggle for freedom, congress voted to Major Massie a tract of land lying in the states of Kentucky and Ohio, amounting to five thousand three hun- dred and thirty-three and a third acres. This he exchanged later for lands belong- ing to Nathaniel Littleton Savage, lying in Virginia, some in his home region, New Kent county, and some in Frederick county, besides other valuable property, such as a water grist mill and other improvements.

Major Massie was married, August II, 1781, to Sarah Cocke, born March 8, 1760, at "Turkey Island," died April 20, 1838, at "Level Green," daughter of Bowler Cocke, a prominent resident of Turkey Island, Vir-

ginia. To Major and Mrs. Massie were born three children, all sons: Thomas Jr., Octo- ber 21, 1782; Henry, mentioned further ; William, March 3, 1789. In 1803 or 1804 they left Frederick county and went to Level Green, in Nelson county (then Am- herst), where they lived on lands acquired on Tye river, an estate which at the time of Major Massie's death comprised more than nine thousand acres. Major Massie was at the time of his death, February 2, 1834, at "Level Green," Nelson county, Vir- ginia, one of the largest landowners and wealthiest men generally in Virginia. His whole personal estate, including seventy- five slaves, etc., was valued at over a hun- dred and thirty-one thousand dollars, while his lands must have been worth still more, representing a fortune very large for that time, and this, together with his personal characteristics and the reputation as a dis- interested patriot, made him a prominent man of the new and still struggling nation. (VI) Captain Henry Massie, the second son of Major Thomas and Sarah (Cocke) Massie, was born October 16, 1784, died January 12, 1841, at "Falling Springs" val- ley. He was the grandfather of William Russell Massie, of this sketch, the repre- sentative of the present generation of that distinguished family. From his father, Major Thomas Massie, Captain Henry Massie, as he was generally known, received a grant of land of three thousand acres in the Falling Springs valley, Bath county, Virginia, for the sum of ten thousand dol- lars. On this noble estate Captain Massie built a handsome residence known as "The Oaks," and there lived with his family dur- ing the remainder of his life. He married (first) October 22, 1810, Susan Preston Lewis, born August 22, 1792, died Novem- ber 22, 1825, and (second) Elizabeth Daggs. Children of first wife: 1. Mary, married, December 15, 1829, John Hampden Pleas- ants; children: James, married Carrie T. Massie, and Ann Eliza, married Douglas H. Gordon. 2. Sarah C., married, October 18, 1827, Rev. Stanley. 3. Henry, mentioned at length below. 4. Thomas Eugene, born 1822, died 1863; married Mary James, of Ohio. 5. Eugenia S., married Samuel V. Gatewood. 6. Susan Lewis, born May 4, 1824, died October 30, 1824. Child of second wife, Hezekiah, to whom his father left his homestead known as "The Oaks."

(VII) Henry Massie, eldest son of Cap-

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tain Henry and Susan Preston (Lewis) Massie, was born July 4, 1816, in Bath county, Virginia. His father conveyed to him property known as "Rock Hill," con- sisting of eleven hundred and fifty acres and situated within the boundary of a county just then being formed, known as Alle- ghany county. He continued the rural mode of life followed by his ancestors, and farmed this large estate. He finally made his home near the town of Charlottesville, Virginia, and there died April 22, 1878, at the age of sixty-two years. He married, March 23, 1841, Susan Elizabeth Smith, a native of Savannah, Georgia, born February 5, 1822, died November 25, 1887, at Copeley, Albe- marle county, Virginia, only child of Charles Bolton Smith, of Savannah, Georgia, and his wife, Caroline S. R. (Thomson) Smith, of St. Matthews Parish, South Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Massie were born eight children : Henry Lewis, O. S. P. 1887; Caroline Thomson, the widow of James Pleasants, grandson of Governor James Pleasants, of Richmond, Virginia; Sarah Lewis (Lulie), O. S. P., 1878; Thomas, O. S. P., 1863; William Russell, mentioned at length below; Susan E., O. S. P., 1868; Charles Philip, O. S. P., 1863; Eugene Car- ter, mentioned below.

(VIII) William Russell Massie, son of Henry and Susan Elizabeth (Smith) Massie, and of the eighth generation in direct de- scent from Alexander Massie, the founder of the family in this country, was born Feb- ruary 24, 1852, in Orange county, Virginia. When he came of an age to attend school he was sent to those of Albemarle county, whither his father had moved in his early childhood. The new home of the family was in Charlottesville. the seat of the famous University of Virginia, and the boy went to two of the best known schools of the place at different times, those of W. R. Abbott and H. W. Jones. After complet- ing this more elementary portion of his studies, and having adequately prepared himself for college, he matriculated in the law school of the University of Virginia. an institution whose reputation draws stu- dents from all parts of the United States, and, indeed, from the rest of the world. At the age of twenty-three he began the prac- tice of law in Richmond, Virginia, and re- mained there for three years. Then in re- sponse to a belief that an opportunity in his profession awaited him in the west greater

than at home, he removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, but remained there for a year only, then returned to Virginia. On his return to his native state, he entered the banking business, and has continued in this ever since. Mr. Massie has been eminently suc- cessful in banking, and has come to fill a very important position in the financial world of Richmond. He held for some time the position of cashier for the Union Bank of Richmond, but in 1896, after an associa- tion of two years with this concern, with- drew and in connection with a number of other prominent men founded the banking firm of Hobson, Massie & Leigh. It is from the inception of this concern that Mr. Massie's prominence in the business world has dated, for with the great growth of the house, its principals have come more and more into the notice of the industrial and financial leaders of that region, and, indeed, are now recognized as such themselves. Mr. Massie's reputation is an enviable one, and he is regarded as one of the most substan- tial men of business and affairs in the city, his integrity is recognized as unimpeachable and his ability of the very first water. But Mr. Massie does not confine himself entirely to the duties involved in the management of his great banking business, a tendency only too prevalent among the successful business men and financiers of this day and genera- tion, and whereby their sympathies and understanding is woefully narrowed. On the contrary, he gives generously of both time and attention to many of the depart- ments of the life of the capital city. He is a member of the Democratic party, and takes a keen interest in all political ques- tions, whether these involve issues of national or local import, and watches with an intelligent eye the whole political field, alike regarding the great social and eco- nomic movements which fill with both threat and promise the age we live in, and the insistant questions of city policy, which it is the duty of a democratic people to be ever alert to. Mr. Massie is also a promi- nent club man in Richmond, and a member of the most important clubs and societies in that city, among which may be mentioned the Commonwealth Club, the Westmore- land, the Country Club, the Hermitage, the Golf Club and many others. His religious affiliations are with the Episcopal church, of which he is a devoted and active member. He and Mrs. Massie attend St. James'

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Church of that denomination, in Richmond, and are material supports to its general work and the many benevolences in con- nection therewith.

Mr. Massie was married, November 17, 1910, to Susan Williams, a native of Rich- mond, Virginia, where she was born, the daughter of T. C. and (Peatross) Williams, of that city. Mrs. Massie has two brothers and one sister living, they are T. C. Williams, Jr., A. D. Williams and Mary Williams, all of whom are residents of Richmond. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Massie.

(VIII) Eugene C. Massie, son of Henry and Susan Elizabeth (Smith) Massie, was born in Orange county, Virginia, May 27, 1861. He prepared for college at the acad- emy of Major Horace W. Jones, at Char- lottesville, Virginia; was a student in the University of Virginia, 1876-83, from which he graduated in law and other departments. He was admitted to the bar in 1884, and was partner with James Pleasants in the law firm of Pleasants & Massie. Mr. Pleasants died July 16, 1898, since which time Mr. Massie has practiced alone in Richmond, with offices in the Mutual Assurance build- ing. He has been a member of the Virginia National Guard for many years, from 1906 to 1910 was chief of staff with rank of colo- nel on staff of Governor Claude A. Swan- son. For the same period of time he was a member of the Virginia house of dele- gates ; was commissioner from Virginia on uniform state laws, under Governors Swan- son and Mann ; is chairman of committee on Torrens system, in conference of commis- sioners on uniform state laws, and was made chairman of the executive committee of the conference of commissioners on uniform state laws at the twenty-fourth annual con- ference held in Washington, D. C., October 14-21, 1914. He is a member of the Rich- mond Chamber of Commerce, American Bar Association, Virginia State Bar Association, Bar Association of City of Richmond, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, Westmoreland Club and Business Men's Club. He is an Epis- copalian in religion, and a Democrat in poli- tics.

Mr. Massie married, November 16, 1897, Laura Roy Ellerson, of Richmond. Chil- dren : James Pleasants, born July 10, 1899, and Ida Watkins, born January 4, 1901.

(VI) Dr. Thomas Massie, son of Major Thomas (q. v.) and Sarah (Cocke) Massie,

was born October 21, 1782, died at "Blue Rock," Nelson county, Virginia, May 6, 1864. He studied under the preceptorship of Dr. McCaw, of Richmond, was gradu- ated in Philadelphia, then spent four years in study in Edinburgh, London and Paris. Upon his return to the United States in 1807, he settled in Richmond, Virginia, mak- ing frequent trips to Chillicothe, Ohio where he had a large estate, and after a time returned to Nelson county, Virginia. During the war of 1812 he was in active service as a surgeon. He was a member of the house of delegates, 1824-27, 1829-30; a trustee of Washington College. Dr. Massie married (first) December 14, 1809, Lucy Waller, his cousin, who died August 31, 1822, and (second) August 3, 1826, Sarah Carrington, a daughter of Colonel William and Anne ( Carrington) Cabell. By first marriage: A daughter, who lived only a few weeks ; Sarah, married Hon. Williani O. Goode, member of the Virginia convention of 1829-30, and of the United States con- gress; Elizabeth Waller; William Henry ; Martha Anna; Juliet A., married Henry C. Boyd; Lucy Cornelia ; Thomas Waller. By the second marriage: Ann C .; Patrick Ca- bell, see forward ; Paul.

(VII) Patrick Cabell Massie, son of Dr. Thomas and Sarah Carrington (Cabell) Massie, was born in Nelson county, Vir- ginia, January 8, 1829, died at Lynchburg, Virginia, September 27, 1877. After an ex- cellent preparatory course of instruction, he matriculated at Yale College, from which he was graduated after a four years' aca- demic course. He then entered the law school of the institution, and studied there for a further two years. He never prac- ticed law, however, but returned to the home plantation, "Three Springs," and de- voted his time to tobacco growing, in which enterprise he was very successful, and be- came one of the most influential men of that section of the country. Mr. Massie married, June 18, 1857, Susan C., daughter of Dr. Robert W. and Susan Dabney (Alexander) Withers, and sister of ex-Senator Robert E. Withers. Children: Robert Withers, see forward ; Thomas; Patrick Cabell, attorney, married Elizabeth Mccullough Kirkman ; Thomas ; Judge Thornton L., married Mary Kent Nicholson; Douglas Gray; Withers, married Theresa Murry ; Susan Catherine, married Lucius P. Brown, of Tennessee.

(VIII) Robert Withers Massie, son of

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Patrick Cabell and Susan C. (Withers) Massie, was born at "Rock Castle," Camp- bell county, Virginia, April 24, 1858. His early years were spent at the old home- stead, "Three Springs," in Nelson county, and he became a cadet of the Virginia Mili- tary Institute, where he received a liberal education. Upon death of his father, in 1877 he returned to "Three Springs," was given charge of the management of the plantation, and did this very successfully for nineteen years. During this long period he was also engaged in the lumber trade. He went to Lynchburg in 1897, and there commenced the wholesale lumber business. For five years he shouldered all the respon- sibilities of this enterprise alone, then asso- ciated himself with a partner, A. N. Pierce, and still later incorporated the concern as Massie & Pierce, Inc. He has been the president of this since its incorporation and has succeeded. Mr. Massie was interested in the National Exchange Bank of Lynchburg, of which he was a director sixteen years, and which ceased to exist in April, 1913, at which time it was merged with the Lynch- burg National Bank. At the present time, in addition to the other offices, he is presi- dent of the Lone Jack Stone Company, Sam- son Lumber Company and the Pembroke Planing Mill Company. He is vice-presi- dent of the Virginia Society of Cincinnati. Mr. Massie married, November 1I, 1885, Mattie W., a daughter of Nathaniel C. and Polly Cary (Wilson) Manson. Children : Robert W., Nathaniel M., Catherine D., Martha Willis.

John Boulware Kidd. . A kindly-hearted man of wide acquaintance, well known by his deeds of charity and conscientious spirit, John Boulware Kidd died in the city of Richmond, October 14, 1910, aged seventy- five years. He was born in King and Queen county, Virginia, in 1835, son of John M. and Catherine Kidd, grandson of Colonel William S. Miller, an officer of the revolu- tionary war, and nephew of William Bonl- ware, United States minister to Naples under President Tyler. He was highly edu- cated at preparatory schools, Richmond College and Columbia University, and stud- ied law under the preceptorship of James S. Lyons. During the war between the states he was connected with the treasury department of the Confederate government, rendering efficient service. After the war

he engaged in farming for a time in King and Queen county, returning to Richmond later, where his after life was spent. He enjoyed the acquaintance of prominent edu- cators, was sought for as an authority on Greek and Latin classics, and was widely known and highly respected as a citizen. He was twice married and had a family of eight children.

Mr. Kidd married (second) April 4, 1873, Ellen Gertrude Tompkins, born in Rich- mond, daughter of Edmund William and Julia Mosby (Burton) Tompkins, and grand- daughter of Harry and Fanny (Taylor) Tompkins, of Richmond. Edmund W. and Julia M. Tompkins were the parents of ten children, Mrs. Ellen Gertrude Kidd and Julia Annie Taylor Jackson, of Charlottes- ville, Virginia, being the only living mem- bers of this once large family.

Fanny (Taylor) Tompkins, wife of Harry Tompkins, and grandmother of Ellen Ger- trude (Tompkins) Kidd, was a daughter of Edmund and Ann (Day) Taylor, the latter the daughter of Major Day, who served on General Washington's staff, and his wife, Emetta (Haire) Day. Edmund Taylor was a son of George Edmund and Ann (Lewis) Taylor, grandson of John and Catherine Taylor, and great-grandson of James Tay- lor, the elder, and his second wife, Mary (Gregory) Taylor.

James Taylor, the elder, was the emigrant ancestor of this branch of the Taylor family in America, coming from Carlisle, England, to Virginia in 1658. He descends, accord- ing to Burke, from the Tayleurs, who were conspicuous at the battle of Hastings. He was a large landowner in New Kent and Orange counties. By his first wife he had three children, by his second wife seven, John being the last born and the tenth child. A granddaughter of James (1) and daughter of James (2). Frances Taylor, married Am- brose Madison and was the grandmother of President James Madison. Colonel George Taylor, grandson of James Taylor, the emi- grant, was born in 1710, was burgess for Orange county, 1774, a member of the Vir- ginia convention, 1775; twice married, and had fourteen sons, thirteen of whom served their country in a military capacity, seven of them being soldiers in the revolution. A granddaughter of James Taylor, Catherine, daughter of John Tavlor, married Moses Penn ; their son, John Penn, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Another

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descendant married Charles Carter Lee, brother of General Robert E. Lee, and an- other a brother of Bishop Whittle, of Vir- ginia. In fact, by intermarriage descend- ants of James Taylor, the emigrant, are con- nected with many of the early southern families.

John Taylor, born in 1696, tenth child of James Taylor, the emigrant, was twice mar- ried, (first) to a Miss Pendleton, (second) . to a Miss Thomas, and had ten children. His eldest child was George Edmund Tay- lor, who married Ann Lewis, daughter of Colonel Lewis, of Goochland county, Vir- ginia. Colonel Lewis commanded an expe- dition against the Cherokee Indians, and it is supposed that his son-in-law accompanied him. Colonel Charles Lewis was a son of Colonel John (2) Lewis, of Gloucester county, Virginia, and grandson of Colonel John (I) Lewis, both father and son mem- bers of council and of a distinguished Welsh family. Colonel John (2) Lewis married Elizabeth, daughter of Augustine Warner, who gave his daughter "Warner Hall."

George Edmund Taylor married twice and had nine children. The eldest son by his first wife (Ann Lewis) was Edmund Taylor, born August 16, 1741, died January 28, 1822. He married, May 16, 1771, Ann Day, born March 18, 1753, died July 13, 1835, daughter of Major Day, of the revolu- tion, as stated. Children of Edmund and Ann Taylor: 1. Sarah, born February 28, 1772, died December 20, 1850; married Major William Winston, of Hanover, Vir- ginia. 2. Ann, died young. 3. Elizabeth, born March 3. 1776, died 1858; married Samuel Redd, of Hanover. 4. Mary, born September 24. 1778, died April 18, 1854; married Christopher Tompkins, of Rich- mond, Virginia. 5. William Day, born April 14, 1781, died May 5, 1858; married (first) Sally Burnley, (second) Eliza Mar- shall. 6. Fanny, born March 13, 1783, died May 10, 1862; married Harry Tompkins, of previous mention. 7. Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund, born April II, 1785. died Septem- ber. 1823 ; married Frances Ann Richardson. 8. John I., born August 4, 1787. died Octo- ber 27, 1858; married Lorenda Shepherd. of Hanover. 9. Emily H., born August 14, 1789. died January 11, 1873; married Dr. Charles Morris, of Hanover. 10. Lewis Walker, born December 22, 1791, died Octo- ber 3. 1827; married Elizabeth Berkley, of Hanover. 11. Francis Goode, born Septem-

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 43

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn Publication date: 1915 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 848

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 848