Massey Chrisman Medaris was born in Essex County, Virginia around 1752; he died 21 January 1843. His will was recorded on May 10, 1843.
Massey was a private during the Revolutionary War where he fought against the British as well as against the Indian threat to the colonists. Massey filed a pension from his service in the Revolution. This document details his service in the Continental Army.
Massey was a Blacksmith by trade according to his will, where he leaves his tools to his son John Wesley.
It was orginally thought that Massey's middle name was Christmas. His name is recorded as "Massey Chrismus Medearis" on the will of John Jenkins, where Massey appears as a witness, 20 Feb. 1790 (Orange County, North Carolina). There was a family in early census records living near the Medaris's with the last name Christmas. Massey, however appears to have been named after his grandmother, Jane Chrisman. Research has not found Christmas to be a comman name in early Virginia and the census record may be a phonetical error in spelling. Chrisman, however is a very common name in Colonial records and remains in Virginia today.
Massey was married twice, but nothing is known about his first marriage. The wife's name is unknown, but we know that he had at least two children by this marriage.
1. Elizabeth Medaris (6) b. 1796 in Guilford County, North Carolina. She married Henry Knott.
2. Massey Medaris Jr. (6) b. abt. 1800 in Guilford County, North Carolina. Appears to have died before 1840. Was found in the 1830 Guilford County, North Carolina Census. Nothing further is known about him at this time. One must wonder if his mother died from complications of his birth. His father appears to have remarried within a year or less after his birth, which was not uncommon.
Massey married 2) Celia Bell, on 12 Aug. 1800 in Guilford County, NC. Celia is possibly the sister in law of Sarah Hicks Bell, wife of Massey's brother John (5). Celia is listed as Selah on their marriage bond.
Massey and Celia had 2 children:
3. Delaney Medaris (6) b. August 26, 180l, d. April 15, 1869. She married Caleb Jones.
4. John Wesley Medearis (6) b. 1806, d. 1880. He married 1) Nancy Oliver, 2) Nancy Jones.
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Roster of North Carolina Soldiers in the American Revolution, Guilford County, North Carolina
Massey C. Medaris Do 120.00 N.C. Continental Line Do 79
"rank also listed as Private in other references." (see under 1820 & 1830 N.C.)
(Also listed as Masey C. Medaris Private in List of Pensioners)
Transcript of the Revolutionary War Pension Application of Massey Medaris
Transcribed here by Brian Kelly Madaris from a copy of the original document obtained by Lester Medearis donated by David Medearis (credits 00, 28, 61 ).
* ________ indiscernible word
State of North Carolina
County of Guilford
On this 20th day of November AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the court of pleas and quarter sessions for the county & state aforesaid (being a court of records) Massy C. Medaris aged Seventy Seven years and then was, a resident of the county of Guilford and state aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law doeth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832 ---- That he entered the bond of the United States under the following named officers and served as follows - Some time in the summer of 1780, he became a volunteer in the county of Chatham in which Cty he then resided under Col. Littrell & Capt. Richardson and was marched from the barracks near Chatham Court house for the purpose of joining the Southern army under Genl Gates. He was marched to Coles bridge on drowning creek when given men from each of the three companies under Col. Litrell was detached to remain at that place and collect buf 1 and provisions, and establish a store for the supply of the army, this declarant was one of the seven detached from Capt. Richardsons company, and remained at Coles bridge till after Gates' defeat at Camden. The rest of his company went on to the South, and many returned as a company to his knowledge. After Gates defeat, this declarant and the company with him marched back in Chatham County to Ramsey Mills where they were put under the command of Col. Ramsey & Capt Gregory, from Ramsey's Mills he was marched by Col. Ramsey, down into the county of Wake & Granville with two hundred & fifty head of cattle and a large number of hogs which Col. Wade had brought on from SC. The object of taking this circuitory 2 route was to prevent their provisions from falling into the hands of the British army which was at that time lying at Hillsboro. In the county of Granville this declarant to parting with the rest of Col. Ramseys men was joined by Genl Eaton with forces going to join the army of Genl Greene, with whom he marched to the High Rock where he joined Greens Army. From this place this affiant was marched with Genl Greens army to the old iron works when he was discharged two days before the battle of Guilford.
This declarant volunteering for the term of three months, but actually was in service at this time for upwards of seven months before he was discharged.
This declarant again entered the service of the United States under the command of Genl Butler & Capt Clark shortly after the battle of Guilford. On account of the British army having passed through this county and during this time of their continuances in the same county the Tories became very much insubordinate, and committed a great deal many outrages. This declarant at this time volunteered for the purpose resisting the tories and putting an end to these outrages. From Chatham Court house he was marched to Crowsford on the Haw river. The tories but a short time before had taken the town of Hillsboro, from which placed they returned to Lindlys mill on Cain Creek. About two hours before day this declarant marching with two hundred & fifty volunteers with him from Crowsford to attack the tories on Cain Creek. In this engagement the tories to the number of seven hundred was defeated with loss of one hundred men & completely dispersed. The loss of the whigs being on Seventeen. The success of this attack was chiefly owing to the skill and good management of Col Mebane an officer of the Continental army, who had been previously taken prisoner by the Brittish, and was about this time passing through this secction of county to join Genl Greens Southern army. Hearing of the intended expedition against the tories, and being fond of the short, he took command of this expedition which ended as above stated. Shortly after this engagement this declarant went under the command of the same officers in pursuit of a band of tories who had taken Chatham Court house, and afterwards returned down toward Cross Creek near Fayeteville. At Rock High this declarant and the forces with him joined Genl Rutherford with fifteen hundred men, and was marched by him down into the low country where he remained for a considerable time in scouring, the raft swamp this swamp on Drowning Creek. the brown marsh he at a place cutting the three bridges or seven bridges, a slight skirmish 3 took place with tories and the right hand of Genl Ruthersford. And account of the considerable force of Genl Rutherford which very much intimidated the tories, they were unwilling to encounter him, so that no engagement of any note took place. This affiant was involved in excursions of similar from this time, of turning out as above mentioned till the end of this war, with the privilege only of returning home for a few days only.
This declarant was born in Essex County in Virginia from which place his brother after the death of his father moved him to Chatham County NC when he was quite young. He does not know in what year he was born, the family record of his age having been as he has been informed destroyed. About six or seven years after the war this declarant moved into this county of Guilford where he has ever since that time resided.
He never received any written discharge from service at any time that he has now any recollection of.
He is known in his neighborhood to the Rev. Travis Jones, James Nelson Esqr 4, James McNary Esqr & Philip Jean who can testify to his character for veracity 5 and their belief of his services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid
A.E.Hammer f f f 6
Massey C. (his X mark) Medaris
State of North Carolina
County of Guilford
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace for Guilford County in the State of North Carolina Massy C. Medaris who being duly sworn diposith & sayeth, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades
For 7 months as a private at one time
For 5 months as a private in another tour
and for such service I claim a pension
Sworn to & Subscribed Massy C (his X mark) Medaris
JA Midans AJP
Massey Chrisman Medaris 
- b.~ 1620 in Maderia, Portugal or Virginia d.1680
