Massey Migration to Texas

Family legend states that Warren (Wahren) Massey came from South Carolina through Georgia and Alabama on his way to Texas.

Census records show that Warren, his wife Elizabeth, and both sets of their parents were all born in South Carolina.

It is not known when Elizabeth died or where Sallie E Osborn married Warren.

---------------------------------------

1840 Census - location unknown
Warren would have been about age 3, but we can’t find him on a census record.

---------------------------------------

1850 Census
Warren would have been about age 13, but we can’t find him on a census record. There are several Massy family members listed in the Greenville County census of South Carolina, but no one with the name Massey.

---------------------------------------

1860 Census of Pickens County, South Carolina
It does show a Warren and Elizabeth Massey, but the ages are wrong to have been our branch of the family tree.

Page/line LAST First Age Birth Place
19b/25 MASSEY James 21 So Ca
30a/11 MASSEY Major 32 SC
30a/12 MASSEY Louisa 27 SC
30a/13 MASSEY Ruth J. 5 SC
30a/14 MASSEY Warren T. 2 SC
30a/15 MASSEY William J. 8/12 SC
40b/25 MASSEY James 53 SC
40b/26 MASSEY Sarah 56 SC
40b/27 MASSEY James 19 SC
40b/28 MASSEY David 23 SC
40b/29 MASSEY Vardry 16 SC
47a/29 MASSEY Ezekiel 22 NC
47a/30 MASSEY Margaret 20 NC
47a/31 MASSEY James 3 NC
50b/17 MASSEY John 28 SC
180b/27 MASSEY Warren 22 Greenville SC
180b/28 MASSEY Elizabeth 17 Pickens SC
180b/29 MASSEY Sarah A. 1 Pickens SC
182b/3 MASSEY Stephen 30 Greenville SC
182b/4 MASSEY Sarah 24 Pickens SC

---------------------------------------

1870 - location unknown

---------------------------------------

1880 Census of Hall County, Georgia:
Warren Massey - age 44 - Wood Hauler - born SC
Elizabeth Massey - age 35 - Keeping House - born SC
James F Massey - age 19 - Farm Hand - born SC
Martha E J Massey - age 12 - At Home - born SC
Mary H S Massey - age 12 - At Home - born SC
John S M C Massey - age 10 - Laborer - born SC
George W S Massey - age 8 - - born GA
William Ham Massey - age 3 - - born GA

---------------------------------------

1890 Census of Collin County, Texas:
The records were destroyed by fire, but his children Edward (1890-1958) and Susie (1893-1976) were born in Collin County near the town of McKinney.

---------------------------------------

1900 Census of Montgomery County, Texas
Warren Massey is listed in “Conroe Town” as a widower with his children:
•Elizabeth Massey
•Mcfarland Massey
•Edward L Massey
•Susie Massey

---------------------------------------

Warren’s headstone shows that he died on August 08, 1900. His grandson Leveritt said that Warren lived near Caney Creek in Grangerland, Montgomery County, Texas.

Wahren Massey 1837-1900

Little is known of Wahren or where he came from. There is also some debate as to how many children he had, how many wives he had, and even on the spelling of his name. Although there are conflicting theories from a few of the family branch, Leveritt was told that his Grandfather Wahren lived near the Caney Creek, east of the current Massey Farm and that Wahren died from eating "green peaches."


It is believed that Wahren's first/second wife was Elizabeth O'Share, that she was part Cherokee, and that she died in Carolina from pneumonia. (Not sure why a Cherokee would have been in the Carolina area).


Wahren's last wife was Salie Osburn and she had three daughters from her marriage to Mr. Culhbertson; he died of pneumonia. Salie died near a river in the area of Waco, Texas and was buried next to a tree by or near the river.


Was said to have never shaved his beard by Coon Massey's wife Annie Mae. Per Maggie Massey Yocham (15Apr2000 interview), it is believed that Wahren had seven brothers and that they left Europe due to the Potato famine.


Since his son Edward Larls Massey was born in Collin County as the family entered Texas, we assume that they traveled south on the Shawnee and Preston Trails. These trails come through east Oklahoma from Illinois and Missouri, down through the present day Texas cities of Dallas, and Waco. With Wahren settling in Grangerland, he may have traveled toward Houston from Waco, crossing back over the Brazos river. Leveritt Massey's bible (25Dec1974) states "Edward was born near Ray's Mills, 12 miles west of McKinney, county seat of Collin County. Susie was born in Sherman." We believe that he was referring to Rhea Mills, Texas.
Family legend has it that Wahren's wife Salie Oakley died while they were near a river in the Waco area. The actual site has been lost over time but she was buried by a tree at the river and it is most likely to have been the Brazos river. If it was the Brazos, we still don't even know the general area since they would have crossed north of Waco and then again east of Waco on the way to Montgomery County.
Wahren's body is buried at the Dry Creek Cemetery north of Grangerland, Texas in Montgomery County.


“Warren Massey was born on 26 Dec 1835 in Greenville County, SC and he married Elizabeth Molly O'Shields - b 22 Sep 1844 in Pickens County, SC. "I show that she died in 1926. I do not have any other information on them. I do have their children if you need them. Warren and Elizabeth are my gggrandparents." "I am not even sure if Elizabeth's name is correct - I have not been able to find any information on her at all,” wrote Bonnie Baker. smyles200us@yahoo.com


“Warren Massey is on the 1870 Census, Pickens Co., SC. and is listed as being 35 years old. His wife, Elizabeth (M.V. O'Shields), is listed at 26 and his children, James S. (8), Mary (3), Martha (3), and John (4/12) were also listed. Warren is on the 1880 Census Hall Co., Georgia and "Elizabeth Georginia Massey" was John Terrell's Grandmother and Warren was his G Grandfather. John Terrell also noted that Warrens 1st wife was "Elizabeth Mary Victoria O'Shields" while his 2nd wife was a Miss Culbertson.. Warren "moved from SC to GA, then Louisiana (Leesville Area) then to Texas,” John Terrell. bcet@att.net

There is much debate over the list of children, so we will cover that in future blog postings.

Source:
• Family tree information collected by Raymond Leveritt Massey.
• 15Apr2000 interview with Maggie Massey Yocham
• 21Apr2000 interview with Annie Mae Collier Massey, wife of "Coon" Massey
• Joanna Wiggins has the Massey Family Bible