Section VI - Massey Data Bank

One Maryland Massey Family by George Langford, Jr. 1901-1996 ©Cullen G. Langford and George Langford, III, 2010

Maryland Land Records, Queen Anne's County, Liber STW #1, Folio 454-455
John Massey - An annual valuation of his 507 acre plantation, July 28, 1790

July 28, 1790: John Massey was a minor when this valuation was done so as to estimate the amount of yearly payment his guardian William Hathaway should pay John for operating his own 507 acre plantation, called Bridgewater.  Justice of the Peace Abraham Falconar and two good citizens, Francis Rochester and Abraham Millon, visited the land and premises to do so, coming up with a valuation of fifty pounds annually, reduced because the wife of William Falconar had a dower right to one-third of such income, leaving John Massey with 33 pounds and change per year. Note: High-resolution images of the deed at right can be viewed at the Maryland State Archives, but registration is required in advance of doing so. Once you have registered, you can access the images by entering the county clerk's initials ("STW" in this example) and volume number ("1" above) and the folio page number ("454" above).

Queen Anne's County to wit: on the twenty-eighth day of July Anno Domini seventeen hundred and ninety the following valuation was brought to be recorded to wit: Queen Anne's County, to wit:                                           Whereas we, the subscribers, being duly appointed and qualified by Abraham Falconar, Esquire, one of the justices of the state of Maryland in and for the county aforesaid, to view and estimate the annual value of part of a tract of land called Bridgewater containing about five hundred and seven acres or thereabouts and the plantation and improvements thereon, being the property of John Massey, a minor now under the care of William Hathaway, Guardian to the said minor as the law in such cases directs. These are therefore to certify that pursuant to the said appointment as aforesaid we have in the presence of the said Abraham Falconar, Esquire, entered unto the said land and premises and, carefully viewing the same, do find on the said parcel of land one plantation whereon are one hewed logged dwelling house sixteen feet by eighteen feet, shingle roof with a plank floor above and below, [illegible] work, and brick chimney in good repair, one old round logged house eighteen feet long sixteen feet wide and very bad repair, but worth repairing, one old round logged meat house, [illegible] feet long and ten feet wide, clapboard roof in middling repair, one hundred and twenty apple trees thriving and young, fencing in good repairs.  We permit the Guardian to clear 1 acre of land yearly as well, to enlarge the said plantation in a regular manner and to make use of the dead timber, also [illegible] as far as it will go towards helping the tenements and fencing thereon in repairs and for firewood. In consideration whereof we estimate the annual value thereof to be fifty pounds current money but inasmuch as [illegible] Falconar, the wife of William Falconar, hath her right of dower in the said lands, therefore we estimate the annual value to be thirty three pounds six shillings and eight pence like money to be paid by the said Guardian to the said minor or to such other person or persons as may lawfully demand the same and to return the said plantation and improvements thereon in good repairs. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 5th day of January 1790. Francis Rochester {seal} Abraham  Millon {seal} Underneath the foregoing valuation was thus endorsed to wit: Queen Anne's County to wit: These are to certify that pursuant to an application by William Hathaway, Guardian of a certain John Massey, a minor, from one of the justices of the state of Maryland assigned to keep the peace in and for Queen Anne's County aforesaid, I appointed Francis Rochester and Abraham Millon to view and estimate the annual values of the lands belonging to the said minor as the laws in such cases directs. We have in my presence entered upon the lands of the said persons and viewed the same as by the within certificate within this [illegible] estate may appear. Witness my hand this 5th day January 1790. Abraham Falconar