MASSIE.
The Massie family was a numerous one which in early
times migrated from New Kent, and was widely scattered over
Albemarle, Nelson and Amherst. The first of the name that
settled in Albemarle was Charles. His home was in the southwest
part of the county on the waters of Lynch's Creek, on
what was long known as the Wakefield Entry. The plantation,
Spring Valley, became noted from the perfection of
its Albemarle Pippins, and though now held by other hands,
it is still designated by the Massie name. Charles Massie
commenced the purchase of this place in 1768. He died in
1817. His children were Thomas, Charles, John, Elizabeth,
the wife of a Smith, and Mary, the wife first of Robert Ware,
and secondly of William Lobban. His son Charles succeeded
to the place, and died in 1830. His wife's name was Nancy,
and his children were Hardin, Nathaniel, Charles G., Sarah,
the wife of a Ragland, Elizabeth, the wife of a Bailey, and
Nancy.
Hardin was a physician, who came to Charlottesville in
1824, and for many years practised in partnership with Dr.
Charles Carter. He was largely interested in the real estate
of the town. He lived on Fourth Street next to the old Baptist
Church, the site of which he sold to that congregation.
He was himself an earnest member of that Church, and for a
time acted as its Clerk. He never married, and died in 1848.
Nathaniel was for a considerable period of his life a successful
merchant in Waynesboro, but as his years increased, he returned
to the old homestead on the borders of Nelson, where
he died in 1871. He was twice married, first to Susan, daughter
of Michael Woods, son of Colonel John, and secondly to
Elizabeth, daughter of Matthew Rodes. His children by the
first marriage were James, Professor in the Virginia Military
Institute, N. Hardin, of Charlottesville, Susan, the wife of
Robert B. Moon, and Hetty, the wife of William Patrick;
and of those by the second marriage were Rodes and Edwin.
Charles G. died in 1857.
An Edmund Massie lived in the county the same time
with the first Charles. His home was in the vicinity of
Brown's Cove. He died in 1782. He and his wife Judith
had several children, of whom the only one mentioned was
Thomas. It may be he was the Thomas Massie, who in 1792
rented from the representatives of Hugh Moss a large tract
of land on the Rivanna, in the Buck Island neighborhood.
In that neighborhood he died in 1799, leaving six children,
Martha, the wife of Hugh Pettit, Nancy, the wife of Reuben
Mansfield, Susan, James, Thomas and John.
