Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/355

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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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 jMassie 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 JMassie 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 ]\Iajor 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 11, 1 78 1, to Sarah Cocke, born March 8, 1760. at "Turkey Island," died April 20, 18.^8, at "Level Green," daughter of Bowler Cocke, a prominent resident of Turkey Island, Vir-

ginia. To Alajor 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. iSIajor 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: i. 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. Plenry, 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. Hczekiah, to whom his father left his homestead known as "The Oaks."

(\'II) Henry Massie, eldest son of Cap-