Thomas Massie (1747-1834) was an American
planter,
Continental Army
The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...
military officer, and magistrate from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
during the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
who also served as an aide-de-camp to General
Thomas Nelson at the
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...
.
Biography
Thomas Massie was born August 22, 1747, in
New Kent County,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
to
William Massie and Martha Lucy Bland. Both his father and grandfather,
Thomas Massie
Thomas Harold Massie (born January 13, 1971) is an American politician and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, Massie has been the United States representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district since 2012, when he defeated Bi ...
, had been members of the
Virginia House of Burgess. Massie attended the
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...
, starting at the age of 13 before withdrawing three years later to assist in the maintenance of his family's estate—the Windsor Forest Plantation in New Kent County—following the death of his father in 1751 and mother in 1759.
When the American Revolution broke out, Massie would serve with the Elizabeth City District Battalion of Virginia minutemen in September 1775 before entering service with the Continental Army.
Military career
In March 1776 Massie was appointed as a captain in the
6th Virginia Regiment
The 6th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775, at Williamsburg, Virginia, for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown ...
of the Continental Army, joining the unit in the defense of
Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 55,436. Perth Amboy has a Hispanic majority population. In the 2010 census, th ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
, following the
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn and the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, was an action of the American Revolutionary War fought on August 27, 1776, at the western edge of Long Island in present-day Brooklyn, New Yo ...
. The task of the 6th regiment at Perth Amboy was to ensure the town and surrounding countryside remained impenetrable by British forces who were present in Brooklyn and had already engaged with Continental Army forces on Long Island.
Following the defense of Perth Amboy, the unit was ordered out back toward
Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
, from where the regiment attached to the remainder of
General Washington’s army making their way through New Jersey on the retreat from British forces following the Battle of Long Island. The 6th Virginia fell into the rear of the retreating troops and were appointed to cover the retreat up through
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
,
Scotch Plains, and eventually to
New Brunswick
New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
along the
Raritan River
Raritan River is a major river of New Jersey. Its Drainage basin, watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.
History
Geologists assert that the lower Rar ...
. At the Raritan, the unit came under fire by the British where the Americans, using artillery and small arms fire were able to hold the British off for the entire day, allowing General Washington’s army to cross the Delaware on the night of December 24.
The 6th Virginia Regiment would continue onward with then Captain Massie leading elements of men during the
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton was a small but pivotal American Revolutionary War battle on the morning of December 26, 1776, in Trenton, New Jersey. After General George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American m ...
. Following the action at Trenton, marching under command of
General Charles Scott on January 1, 1777, the unit settled near
Princeton
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine ...
at Maidenhead, where nearby a van of
General Cornwallis's men made an encampment not far off—detached from the 12,000 man strong British main army also located nearby. At dawn, the British attempted to flank the left side of the Americans, however, having deployed two artillery pieces the Americans were able to fire and retreat toward a creek where they destroyed a bridge and join up with other American forces preparing for the
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought near Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777, and ending in a small victory for the Colonials. General Lord Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops under the comman ...
.
Following action at Princeton and in the
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American Continental Army of General George Washington and the British Army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777, as part of the Ame ...
, Massie was put under command of Colonel James Hendricks and moved toward duty at Middle Post,
Matuchen. Assignment to the post was especially difficult, with constant patrols, frequent skirmishes, and setting up ambushes against the British as frequent tasks.
Sometime after his time with Colonel Hendricks, Massie and five other officers from Virginia were given orders to return to Virginia and await further orders. He returned to join the army under General Washington at White Marsh Hills. That winter, the Continental Army marched from the gulf toward
Valley Forge
Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army's main body, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the B ...
where Captain Massie was detailed to
General Daniel Morgan, who was ordered to take post at
Radnor, about half way between Valley Forge and the mouth of the
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River ( , ) is a river running northwest to southeast in eastern Pennsylvania. The river was improved by navigations into the Schuylkill Canal, and several of its tributaries drain major parts of Pennsylvania's Coal Region. It fl ...
.
In February 1778, Massie was promoted to Major and transferred to the
11th Virginia Regiment
The 11th Virginia Regiment was a Continental Army regiment that fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Authorized by the Second Continental Congress on 16 September 1776, it was organized on 3 February 1777 and consisted of four companies from ...
where he commanded troop elements in the
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth, also known as the Battle of Monmouth Court House, was fought near Monmouth Court House in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. It pitted the Continental Army, co ...
. Massie was again transferred in September 1778 to the
2d Virginia Regiment and returned to the Virginia colony in 1779 when the unit was ordered back south. In June of 1779, following years of service in combat throughout the war, Massie began a bout with
rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including art ...
, experiencing debilitating joint pain that took him off of the front. He resigned his commission after correspondence with General
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
who was in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
at the time, writing:
“From a late rhuematick illness, I have been detained in Virginia, and still find myself incapable of Military Service, therefore request your Excellency’s permission to retire from the Army—I have had no Commission since the arrangement of the Virginia Line. Otherwise, should have inclosed it, My present indisposition, increased by the fatigue of travelling, prevents my waiting on Your Excellency, in Person.”
General Washington replied back, accepting his resignation on June 25, 1779:
“I have received Your Letter of the 11th Instant—and I am extremely sorry to hear, that you have been so much afflicted with the Rheumatism.1 Your situation will not permit me to refuse your request to retire from the service; and I have only to regret the circumstance, which deprives the States of an Officer of your merit.”
Following the acceptance of his separation at the rank of Major, Massie would go on to serve as an aide-de-camp to
General Nelson beginning in the winter of 1780. Massie would continue in that capacity until 1781, where serving in capacity as an aide to the general, he was present at the
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...
and at the surrender of General Cornwallis.
For his service in the war he was gifted land in the Scioto Valley in
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
near what is the current city of
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States. Located along the Scioto River 45 miles (72 km) south of Columbus, Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio. It is the only city in Ross Count ...
,
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...
, and
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
.
Family, Marriage, and Post-War Life
After the war, Thomas Massie married Sarah “Sally” Cocke (1760-1838) in 1781. Sarah who was born at
Bremo in
Henrico County
Henrico County , officially the County of Henrico, is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 334,389 making it the fifth-most populous county in Virginia. Henrico County is incl ...
—the plantation owned by her family—was first-cousin once removed of brigadier general
John Hartwell Cocke
John Hartwell Cocke II (or Jr.) (September 19, 1780 – June 24, 1866) was an People of the United States, American military officer, planter and businessman. During the War of 1812, Cocke was a brigadier general (United States), brigadier genera ...
and great-granddaughter of
Richard Cocke
Richard Cocke (1597–1665) was a prominent colonial Virginia planter and politician. He established a political and social dynasty that firmly seated itself as among the most prominent in Virginia. Among his more prominent descendants are Geor ...
, an early Virginia planter who established a great social dynasty and who is an ancestor to many prominent Americans including Presidents George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...
,
George H.W. Bush
George Herbert Walker BushSince around 2000, he has been usually called George H. W. Bush, Bush Senior, Bush 41 or Bush the Elder to distinguish him from his eldest son, George W. Bush, who served as the 43rd president from 2001 to 2009; p ...
,
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
, and to
General Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War, towards the end of which he was appointed the overall commander of the Confederate States Army. He led the Army of North ...
. During their marriage, Sarah and Thomas had three sons together: Thomas Jr. born 1782, Henry born 1784, and William born 1795.
In the 1780s, Thomas and Sarah moved the family from
Millwood in then
Frederick County (now
Clarke
Clarke is a surname which means "clerk". The surname is of English and Irish origin and comes from the Latin . Variants include Clerk and Clark. Clarke is also uncommonly chosen as a given name.
Irish surname origin
Clarke is a popular surname i ...
) to
Nelson County, which was then still part of
Amherst County
Amherst County is a county, located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The county is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is also named Amherst. ...
. Although gifted land in
Covington, Virginia
Covington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,737, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. It is surrounded by Alleghany County, of which it is also the county seat. ...
, Ohio, and in Kentucky after the war, as administrator of his step-father-in-law’s estate, he traveled to Nelson County to settle the estate before deciding to stay and purchase an addition 9,000 acres and built his plantation home called Level Green. When Nelson County was created from Amherst County in 1807, Thomas became one of the county’s first magistrates.
Around 1814, using slave labor, he ordered the construction of
Pharsalia
''De Bello Civili'' (; ''On the Civil War''), more commonly referred to as the ''Pharsalia'', is a Roman epic poem written by the poet Lucan, detailing the civil war between Julius Caesar and the forces of the Roman Senate led by Pompey the Gre ...
, the plantation home built on the Massie estate in Nelson County as a wedding gift to his son William along with 1,400 acres of land. Thomas also gifted his son William his first twenty-one slaves for the property as part of the wedding present.
He continued to live at Level Green on the
Massie estate until his death in 1834 at the age of 86.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Massie, Thomas
1747 births
1834 deaths
American planters
Continental Army officers from Virginia
Massie family of Virginia