Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

William lived in Brunswick-Greensville County in Virginia.

During this time it is believed that he married his brother's widow.

Around 1772-1773, William Massey moved from Virginia to the Waxhaws in Camden District, SC which later became Lancaster County, SC. He settled on Waxaw Creek to east from Catawba River immediately west from Union County, NC. This would be about two miles from where Andrew Jackson was born in 1767. He obtained at least 383 acres of land, and the 1830 census indicates his ownership of nineteen slaves. William Massey was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary War and a member of the second Provincial Congress of South Carolina in 1775-1776, representing the District Eastward of Wateree River. He was also a representative in the First General Assemly in 1776. In the Revolutionary War he was the Deputy Muster Master General for South Carolina and Georgia. He was captured in the occupation of Charleston and interned on a British ship in Charleston Harbor (or one record says that he was sent to St. Augustine) for most of the war years. The Seige of Charleston ... includes his name in a list of prisoners taken at Charleston and placed on board the Lord Sandwich ship on the 28th of August, 1780 after the fall of Charleston on 12 May 1780. According to this source (which is taken from Rivington's Royal Gazette, no. 415, 20 Sep 1780) they were taken to St. Augustine where they were paroled. According to this source they were poorly treated, and although it would have improved their condition, they were not even allowed to fish to relieve their impoverished conditions or to fill their time. In June 1781 there was an exchange of prisoners, and they were released and delivered at Philadelphia.

In 1788, as a delegate for the District Eastward of Wateree River, he cast his vote against ratification of the federal Constitiution. He also served as a tax inquirer and collector in 1777-1787 for the District Eastward of Wateree River. (Biographical Directory...)

In 1832 there was a petition to move the voting place from his house to that of Thomas Cureton, Sr., since William's house was not as convenient as had been anticipated.

In addition to rearing his own children and those of his wife and his brother, he became the guardian of Frances Rives, his wife's youngest sister. There is information concerning his descendants in the Rock Hill S. C. library--or at least there was at the time that Judge Massey wrote his books. (Much of this information is found in the Massey series of books written by Judge Massey).

He made claims in regard to his service in the Revolutionary War which are recorded in the Stub Entries to Indents Issued in Payment of Claims Against South Carolina Growing out of the Revolution. Number 28, book O says that 19 January 1785 he was issued 22 punds 10/ Sterling pay as Muster Master General for the State of South Carolina in 1779 and 1780. The interest was 1...10...10. Number 454, book P indicates that on 6 May 1785 he was issued 98 pounds, 5s 4 3/4 sterling for Sundries for Contls. and militia in 1779, 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783 as per one account in whole and one in part audited. The annual interest was 6 pounds,, 17,, 6 1/4.

The following information came from the Library of Congress website, http://memory.loc.gov search for William Massey, searched 9 July 2003:

Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 8 September 19, 1777 - January 31, 1778
Henry Laurens to John Rutledge
Dear Sir York 19th October 1777 I had the honour of writing to Your Excellency the 16th by the hands of Mr. G.A. Hall an abstract of which shall be Subjoined & inclosed a duplicate of the Resolve therein referred to thus doubled from an opinion that the bearer hereof will reach Charles Town 2 or 3 days earlier than Mr. Hall & in order that not an hour may be lost in a matter which Congress is pleased to declare to be of great Importance. Besides the Resolve above mentioned Your Excellency will receive with this Seven more (1) which the President has desired me to forward upon my application to him for blank Commissions for Privateers, of these the President intimates he can at present Supply only fifteen, when they come the exact number shall be mentioned.
The Board of War have entered into Resolves by which 'tis intended to take General Howe out of the Brigadiers List & to call him to General Washington's head Quarters. This arrangement will probably afford Satisfaction to the General & at the Same time remove from our State a bone of contention, every body here as far as I have been able to learn are Surprized his Command in South Carolina has given offence to any one.(2) In the Same paper Your Excellency will See that Mr. Massey is recommended for Dep. Muster Master General for South Carolina & Georgia. The Resolves are to be reported to
Page 145
OCTOBER 19, 1777...
As Laurens predicted, Congress appointed William Massey to this post on October 20. JCC, 9:823.

Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1777
Page 823
Resolved, That Mr. William Massey be appointed deputy muster master general to the continental troops raised or to be raised in the States of South Carolina and Georgia.

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1781
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon, The Committee of the week beg leave to report, That the Memorial of William Massey for a year's pay as Deputy Comr. General of Musters; and the petition of Capt. Lieut Adam
Page 845
Hoops respecting his exchange and leave of absence; be respectively referred to the Board of War.
9th. August 1781
Ordered, That a letter, of 8th, from William Massay; and A memorial of Captain Lieutenant Adam Hoops be referred to the Board of War.2

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1782
Sir, If Congress approve the measure they will please to resolve, That the Secretary at War issue his warrant on the Paymaster General for the sum of one hundred and forty dollars in favor of William Massey, Esq., late Deputy Muster Master, in part of one year's pay granted to him and the several officers of the Department
Page 736
of Commissary General of Musters on the derangement of that Department.
(Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 143. It is written upon a letter, of October 14, from John Pierce, and was read on this day.)

Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1781
Page 1022
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War September 27th. 1781.
The Board having taken into consideration the Memorial of William Massey late Deputy Commissary of Musters in the Southern Department, and are of opinion that he is entitled to the benefit of the resolution of Congress of the 12th January 1780.
That the Memorial of William Massey be referred to the Superintendent of Finance, who is hereby directed to order an adjustment of the Memorialist's account for pay due under the act of Congress of the 12th January 1780, as Deputy Commissary of musters, to the end that the sum due may be paid, when the state of the public finances will admit.
Ordered, That the memorial of William Massey be referred to the comptroller, in order that the accounts of the memorialist for pay due under the act of Congress, of the 12 January, 1780, as deputy commissary of musters, may be properly adjusted; and in the meanwhile that the Board of War draw an order on the paymaster in his favour for three months' pay.1
(Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folios 323 and 326.)

Census:
1800, NO TWP LISTED, LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINA , Series: M32 Roll: 50 Page: 8
Will Massay, 1, 0, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1, 3, 0, 1, 0, 17
There are also an Elias Massay, Ann Massay, Rachel Massey, and several families bearing the Hood name. Any relationship?

1810, NO TWP LISTED, LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINA , Series: M252 Roll: 61 Page: 7
Wm. Massey, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 12 (His wife is not listed, perhaps a son was living with him, aged bet. 26-45 - if so, who was this person? There was one other person listed, as well as 12 slaves.)

In 1820, where is he? He does not appear to be on the census for Lancaster county, unless he is residing in someone else's household or is misnamed. Also, there is a Josiah Massey appearing on some census records near the family, and an Ezekiah Massey appears near the family in 1820. Are these men family, and if so, where do they fit in?