Daniel Crossley; Section IV  Massey Appendices One Maryland Massey Family by George Langford, Jr. 1901-1996
©Cullen G. Langford and George Langford, III, 2010


Appendix XVII
Massey - Briscoe Family Connection


The connection between these two families was worked out from the records of a very long-running suit in Chancery Court; these genealogical relationships are diagrammed below:
Massey - Briscoe family connection - 2.James Massey; 3.Peter Massey; 8.James Massey; 4.Elijah Eleazer Massey; 9.James Massey; Daniel Briscoe; Araminta Greenwood; Joseph Greenwood; 5.Benjamin Massey; 10.James Massey; Hannah Briscoe; George Briscoe; George Greenwood; Benjamin Greenwood; Elizabeth Greenwood; John Whittington; Daniel Crossley; George W. Crossley; Annl Elizabeth Crossley; Elijah Crossley.
The chronology of the records in this lawsuit is as follows:
Dates

12 Feb.1812
Letters of Administration were granted to S. Benjamin Massey on the personal estate of 4.Elijah Massey, deceased, late of Kent Co., 27 Feb. 1812: S. Benjamin Massey, John Whittington and Daniel Briscoe gave bond in the amount of $100,000.00 for the proper administration of the estate of Elijah Massey.
31 Oct.1812
Benjamin Massey submitted an inventory of the estate of Elijah Massey, valued by the Appraisers at $636.93.
Jul.1813
Daniel Briscoe died, with Will.
27 Jul.1813 Joseph Greenwood was granted Letters Testamentary on the estate of Daniel Briscoe.
7 Apr.1814 Benjamin Massey rendered an account of the estate of Elijah Massey: total $636.93.
Feb.1815
Joseph Greenwood made final account of the Daniel Briscoe estate.
11 Feb.1824
Writs copias and respondendum were issued on the bond given by Benjamin Massey et. al. for the use of James Massey, so that he could recover a proportion of the personal estate of Elijah Massey in the right of Hannah Massey, heir of Daniel Briscoe, and the late wife of James Massey.
23 Mar.1826
A judgment was obtained against Benjamin Massey, John Whittington and Joseph Greenwood (as Executor of Daniel Briscoe) in the amount of $728.74.  Joseph Greenwood died during the pendency of the suit, and judgment against him was struck off.  Later, $500.00 of the judgment was endorsed to Garrett Garrettson of Kent Co.  Because Benjamin Massey was insolvent and unable to pay, John Whittington was compelled to pay the $500.00  At this time it is noted that Araminta Briscoe, widow of Daniel Briscoe, is dead.  It is also noted that George Greenwood, devisee of the land in the Briscoe estate died 1824 or 1825 or 1826; and that George Briscoe took possession of these lands and still holds them.  The Crossleys are identified as heirs of Elizabeth Crossley, XE "Crossley: Elizabeth" formerly Elizabeth Greenwood, as sister of George Greenwood.
21 Aug.1840
William F. Smith was granted Letters Testamentory on the estate of John Whittington.  It is noted that Benjamin Massey is insolvent.  William F. Smith brought suit to recover from the heirs of Daniel Briscoe, half of the sum he paid out as Executor of the John Whittington estate.
13 Mar.1843
Smith's claim was barred on the grounds of laches and the lapse of time.
Note
The relationships of William F. Smith to John Whittington is not cleared up by the records.  The relationship of John Whittington, if any, to the other two bondsmen:  S. Benjamin Massey, and Daniel Briscoe, also remain unknown.[Ed.]
Sources

Page
Kent Co.
Chancery Records: Liber 160, folio 510-523.   
p.0147
Kent Co. Orphan's Court: Bonds: Liber 9, folio 387.  
p.0147
Kent Co. Orphan's Court: Inventories: Liber 12, folio 487.  
p.0147
Kent Co. Orphan's Court: Accounts: Liber 13, folio 30-31.  
p.0147