Massey Family

[Curley]

Hi Gilly
Have you the 1911 census for Down.
Listed at 35 Ballyfinaghy are Joseph aged 55,Emma,56 Alfred 21 and Emma Matilda 17.
This is on www.nationalarchives.ie,1911 census.
Hope this helps
Curley

[Gilly25]

Hi Curly

Yeah checked out the census a few days ago, but because i don't know the names of Joseph and emma's other children i'm not sure what other Masseys on the 1911 census are my massey. I've asked my great aunt and she does not know either, she thinks one was called Johnny or Jackie, so i'm a bit stuck, as i'm not even sure what sex the other children are.

Thanks for you help
Gilly

[mazmick]

Hi,

Im a bit perplexed here as i have following information from our family tree.

" At the time of his death his address was given as 19 City Street, Sandy Row, Belfast where he had lived with his wife Sarah Massey. Three of Sarah’s brother also served with the forces during the war and they resided at 99 Roden Street, Belfast, their father worked as an engine driver with the Great Northern Railway."

The family at Roden Street were the Smith family and were my Grandfather and his brothers.  I cant understand were the maiden name "mcnee" comes in if these are the same people.  Any thoughts?
Mike

[mazmick]

Here is a photo that seems to link the family

Michael

[mazmick]

Photo from Belfast Telegraph

[BallyaltikilliganG]

hi Gilly25.  as you have been searching since before 2009 I have used https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ intensely to make more factually information for anybody interested.  Please don’t rely on my quick transcriptions from it.  I make mistakes as my eyesight worsens.  look up each bmd yourself and agree conditions and make your own copy or acquire copy from them.
hi Mike of mazmick. I may have found a solution please discover Mary or Polly Smith a daughter of Daniel who married a William Massey a widower aged 31 so b~ 1882 in England and a fireman  living at fire station Chichester St  son of an Edward Massey a labourer m 28 Aug 1913 St Annes Cathedral by licence both aged 31 so b~1882 a Polly Smith a spinister of 90 Roden Street dau of Daniel engine driver.

Gilly25  A draft incomplete tree filled with various avenues to explore as my attempt  to commemorate Private Alfred Massey
possible ancestors
a John Massy married an Isabella Mercer 1 Jun 1822 at Dromore Church of Ireland Cathedral nevertheless I start with evidence
1. James Massey named in JJ’s birthcert below.   bbb 1840 probably a farmer but there more than one in the wider area
children
1.1.  Joseph John Massey b  1857-8 co down 44 in 1901 55 in 1911 a farmer in 1877 later a gardener m 9th June 1877 Presbyterian Church Magherally ancestryireland/  Emma Reily later Reilly of Magherally ?aged 44 in 1901, 56 in 1911 witness at marriage John Mills  and Annie Reily.
residence Skeagh Dromore registered in Banbridge union
children 6  note [irish language crossed out on original census form1901] I add in a twin.
1.1.1.  Robert James Massey b 4th Aug 1880 Skeagh Dromore Church of Ireland Downin 1901 a Gardner m 1908 Susanna Mulholland was he in WW1see Massey, Robert Corps: Royal Irish Rifles Regiment No: 4/6792 or Medal card of Massey, Robert Corps: Army Cyclist Corps Regiment No: 3464 and Royal Irish Rifles 7/9359.
1.1.2.  Anna Mary Massey b 10th Mar 1883  Skeagh  Dromore in 01 a porter framer.
1.1.3.  Joseph Henry Massey b 17th Feb 1886 Skeagh Dromore  in 01 Church of Ireland Down a Gardener-m Emma Reilly https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/cert_amends/cert_1886/1966009a.pdf
1.1.4.  William H Massey b~1888 Church of Ireland Down, Was he William Hanna Massey d 1914 was he 6th battalion RIR in photo from mazmick or was he Medal card of Massey, William Corps: Royal Irish Rifles Regiment No: 16/461 16/461 d 27 june 1918, or was he Medal card of Massey, William Corps: Royal Irish Rifles Regiment No: 14/6516.
1.1.5.  [W] Alfred Massey b 4th Sept 1889  4pm Skeagh Dromore a labourer in 1911 21 in 1911 m St Annes Cathedral Belfast CofI 02/06/1915. Sarah McKee dau of Thomas McKee a tailor .  In 1911 Sarah McKee living in 64 Sloan, Lisburn Antrim b co down.   Alfred no 33 Saran no 35 Kensington St  witnesses Henry Fitzgerald and Agnes Noitel   Kensington st 1918 has 33. Reid, Mary Ann and  35. Ferris, Jos., labourer . in 1912 31. Caldwell, Mrs. 33. Reid, Mary Jane. so they must have been boarders. So the McKee evidence is strong unless she was previously married to a Smith or perhaps her mother was a Smith.    Later she remarried possibly 1919 James Griffiths. www.ancestryireland.com ?
Alfred’s military history from LJReb123 ie David.  Platoon No unknown ? 14th Service Battalion RIR 'Young Citizen Volunteers'. service no 14/7491. medal card is availableThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission named him as as W A Massey with Sarah, his widow living at 19 City Street, Belfast, in 1917 [no 19 in 1918 st directory is another name] I think he probably appears in a platoon photograph taken at Bramshall Camp Aldershot which appeared in an album pub on the 14th Battalion by Gale and Polden Ltd Aldershot Sept 1915, d Battle of Messines on the 07/06/1917.bur Spanbroekmolen British Cemetery, Belguim, grave D1. His mother applied for medals 1921 from  Hendersons Row Belfast ?I cant find a  Hendersons row in Belfast diewctories You can apply free of charge yourself for his war record at https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/18361579/private-alfred-massey-royal-irish-rifles/  What surprises me is he appears not to be named on an irish memorial.
1.1.6  unnamed female twin of Alfred b 4th Sept 1889  4.15 pm [has no note to say if living] I think if she lived more would have been known about her.
1.1.7.  Emma Matilda Massey  [in 1901 Martin instead of Matilda is a census transcription error ] 7 in 1901 17 in 1911 a hankerchief printer in 1911 did she m 1913 a James  XXXX or 1918 a Joseph  XXXXX?
 to be continued

[BallyaltikilliganG]

continuedcontinued
proni st directories I couldn’t find mention of any Massey in Dromore entries
1917 City St residence for widow  in 1918  no18 was occupied from 1912- 1924 by Archibald Moore.
BACK IN TIME
Books listed about Massey family history see 3 books listed by John grenham https://www.johngrenham.com/surnamescode/familyhistories.php?surname=massey&search_type=full
Massey of Killinure/Killynure ie Saintfieldparish see
https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.massey/139?viewType=FLAT_VIEW&page=2
Massey of Moneyslane in wikitree
Genes Reunited
John Massey 1886 Ballykeel, Co Down, ... treeholder Sandra

1796 Flax Growers of Ireland no Massy/Massey
1823-37 Tithe Applotment Books  in 6 counties see Irish Genealogy Hub website
Massey, Jas.   Townland: Ballykeel Year: 1834   Dromore   Down
Massey, Wm.   Townland: Ballykeel Year: 1834   Dromore   Down
Massey, Alexr.   Townland: Leapoks Year: 1834   Dromore   Down
Ballykeel most eastern townland in dromore
Leapoks / Leppogues;/ Lappoges has the river Lagan flowing thru it, its a western neighbor of Ballykeel.see a map of Dromore townlands on Ros Davies website
 
1863 Griffiths Valuation the spelling entries are all Massy in Dromore
MASSY JAMES Down Dromore Drumaghadone map ref 18nw ontop of Skeagh   
MASSY WILLIAM Down Dromore Killallen map ref 33 s of lLappoges   
MASSY JOHN Down Dromore Skeagh map ref 45-46-47-he is landlord of 45a unoccupied, also landlord of 46a with a Wm Cunningham  his map ref ‘s in printed book missing it is 45,46,47 office land total 18 acres. 45 has Ho valued £1 -5 shillings pa. 
UNOCCUPIED Down Dromore Skeagh map ref 45-   
CUNNINGHAM WILLIAM Down Dromore Skeagh map ref 46-4th townland sw Ballykeel
MASSY JOHN Down Dromore  Growell map ref 5  sits above Ballykeeel 
MASSY ALEXANDER Down Dromore Lappoges map ref 12
you can look up all these map references and a map with boundaries marked of the homesteads and you can print them out . You can walk through all these twonland from one end to the other shows its almost a claggan area for Massy but its neighbouring parish townland do have a massy or two.
Griffiths thereafter
griffiths valuation continuation books  online at PRONI show
map ref 46 Skeagh is a John Massy in 1884 rent pa increased by 15 shillings
my eyes gave up hoping that helps


Mike to conclude and hopefulluy to clear some of your concerns ps quote
1911 census   there are several Smith families living in Roden St
Daniels family has a Bernard in photo so this family
46 in Roden Street (St. Anne's Ward, Antrim)
Smith Daniel 51b~` 1861 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic Co Meath Railway Engine Driver Read and write English Married 30th June 1883 - 28 12 12 speculation m 30th June 1883 St Peters RC chapel Drogheda
Smith Mary [Gray Speculation]49 Female Wife Roman Catholic Co Louth - Read and write English Married - 28 m~1883 12 12
children only 9 listed y census3 missing one girl m a massey to become a son in law
I went searching look for  a Smith Polly or Mary b 1882-3 Drogheda Co  Louth the hunch paid up
Smith Mary Jane b 10th Apr 1884 at Railway Terrace Drogheda daughter of  Daniel Smith  Fireman and Mary Grey  I think fireman is a railway meaning the railway engine stoker
see https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1884/02692/1991423.pdf this Mary as Polly Smith m William
Smith Bernard 24b~1889 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Meath Leather Cutter Read and write English Single - - - -
Smith William 22 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Meath Fitters Helper Read and write English Single - - - -
Smith John 19 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Meath Engine Cleaner Read and write English Single - - - -
Smith Daniel 18 Male Son Roman Catholic Dublin City Engine Cleaner Read and write - Single
Smith Joseph Patrick 14 Male Son Roman Catholic Belfast City - Read and write English Single
Smith Roseann[typo ]20 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Co Meath - Read and write English Single  didn’t findmarriage
Smith Norah A 10 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Belfast City Scholar R and w - Single m Benny Egan Mack Namara a soldier 24 sept 1917
Smith Winfred 9 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Belfast City Scholar Read and write - m James Gough 
Smith Lucy 7 Female Daughter Roman Catholic Belfast City Scholar Read and write - Single

good luck to all

[mazmick]

Dear lord, you have been busy.
Daniel left Drogheda apparently after refusing to doff his cap to his social betters resulting in him ending up in Roden Street.  His son Bernard died 3rd September 1916 during the Somme offensive, his brother in law William as you say died at Messiness.  Daniel Jr died after the war due to breathing difficulty sustained during service, Joseph survived and was my grandfather.  I’m still trying to process the William Sarah Massey connection but am flabbergasted by your search.

Mike

[BallyaltikilliganG]

thank you Mike. I am becoming sure there are two william massey so i wish you luck onwards