On 20 Sep 2002. Bettie requested information on the ancestryof Drury Massey who had will in Cumberland Co., NC. In my 27 Sep post, I did a summary of all known Masseys named Drury or Drewry of the Surry and Prince George Co., VA Branch of US MASSEYs with an indication that I'd do a follow up on Drury (4) Massey b. 1750 his wives, children, military service, residences, census reports, and differing accounts of his date of death. My principal sources were: Ref1: Judge Frank A. MASSEY, MASSEY GENERALOGY ADDENDUM (1979) Ref2: William W. Massey, MASSEY GENEALOGY 2000 (2000) 1. Richard (1) Massey (1661 England - abt. 1799, VA) of co. Chester, Eng. and Charles City Co., VA, emigrant ancestor of the Surry and Prince George Co., VA MASSEYs [based on Ref2.] Ref2 also gives an exhaustive account of many ancestors of Richard(1) which offers a fresh alternative to the many accounts seen on the Internet. 2. Hezekiah Massey (1680/5 VA - 1727 NC) 3. William Massey 4. Drury Massey of Johnston and Cumberland Co., NC (b. abt. 1850 - 1820 Cumberland Co., NC) Ref1 has two accounts of this Drury, incorrectly placed in both accounts: (1) Ref1, 295, placed this Drury as son of Wm(4); John(3); Hez(2) (2) Ref1, 304, placed this Drury as son of John(4) of Lincoln Co., NC; [from John(3); Hez(2) as above] with 2d wife, Barbara Needham [sic! should be Barbara BRYAN] Ref2, 76, placed this Drury(4) as son of William(3), etc. Correspondent Len Thomas (a descendant of Needham) had earlier placed Drury in the William(3) in the Hezekiah(2)/William(3) branch but concluded that there should be two Williams between Drury of Johnston and Cumberland Co., NC and Hezekiah(2), making this one Drury(5.) Len made a good case for Drury (4) being married twice and it was noted that Ref1 had two accounts of this Drury, also an indication that he was probably married twice. First, to a daughter of Thomas Hunt with whom he had a son: 5. Josiah Massey whose wife appear to be Rebecca ---- An apparent 2d marriage and the only one noted by his descendants was abt. 1778 to Barbara BRYAN [not Barbara NEEDHAM] daughter of William Bryan (probably descended from Needham Bryan) and Edith SMITH. Five children mentioned: 5. Needham Massey (spelling later changed to MASSEE), b. 1779; d. 22 July 1859, Marshallville, Macon Co., GA; m. Sarah Little. 11 or 12 children. One of whom was: 6. Dr. Drewery Washington Massee (1819-1903 Mason Co., GA) [Ref1, 295 and 304] 5. Drewry W. Massey, b. 1785/6, d. 1844/52, Cumberland Co., NC m. Sophia Porter; no children; said to have raised Warren's children. [Ref1, 295 and 304] 5. Warren Massey; maybe n. twice(1811, Nancy McDougal; 1816, Anne Martinlean?; 2 children (Christilla and Duncan G. McKeva MASSEE) who were adopted by their uncle, Drewry 5. Mary Massey m. ---- ROSS 5. Elizabeth Massey; m. Thomas Algiers (Bettie's ancestor.) The statement in Ref1 that Drury(4) was an officer in the Revolution may be incorrect. Len mentioned that Drury and his son Needham were members of the Society of Cincinnatus on the strength of William(3) being an officer in the Revolution. Bettie Edwards recently stated that Drury was in the Revolution with descendant(s)in the DAR. Len Thomas's research indicated that Drury lived in Granville, Bute (later Franklin), Wake, Johnston, Wake, and Cumberland Cos., NC 1790 Johnson Co., NC census: Drury Massey 14301 (indicates 4 sons, wife, 2 daus, and 1 slave) 1800 missing in NC census 1810 Cumberland Co., NC: Drury Massy 20201-20111-2 slaves 1820 Cumberland Co., NC: Drury Massey Sr. 100021-01001 Apparently Drury Massey(4) owed a debt to the estate of Captain William Jeffreys of Franklin Co., NC. Stephen E. Bradley Jr's 1994 FRANKLIN NORTH CARLINA LOOSE ESTATE PAPERS, p. 37, footnote 241, reportedly stated or implied that Drury Massy was dead as of 13 Dec. 1802. This reference was the basis for the statement in Ref2 that this Drury "died between 1799 when he witnessed a deed and 1802 ..." Almost certainly, Drury did not die by 1802. It's possible the administrator of the Jeffreys estate preferred that the family think the debt was not collected because Drury had died rather than knowing that he moved away. Len Thomas examined the original reference to Drury's debt in Franklin Co., NC (Will Book B, p. 90) and quoted it as saying that Drury "had moved away or was deceased." Other references and strong family traditions indicate that indeed Drury had moved away - to nearby Cumberland Co., NC. Rather certainly, the Drury in question was the one who bought land in Cumberland Co., NC 1803. His Cumberland Co. Will is dated 27 Feb 1820, but was not probated until Dec, 1843 after his wife died. Son, Needham Massee, was also named in the will. Regards to all, Theron Smith