Find Family

The Langston/Conerly/Massey/Courtney Families of Southern MS

Updated August 8, 2009

Deborah D Langston

achavez21@cox.net

~~Dedicated to Gerald Slater Langston~~

You can see my COMPLETE GENEALOGY DATABASE with notes and sources by going to related links at the bottom of this page and pressing MY DATABASE.

You may use all data on this website but remember that genealogical work is always subject to revision. If you copy some of my material, your readers will appreciate a citation to my site so that they may see if my data has been updated.

I am researching all of the following surnames: LANGSTON, CONERLY, MASSEY, COURTNEY, WEBB, TYNES, WARREN, DANIEL(S), FORTENBERRY, ARMSTRONG, SANDERS, HOLLEY, MORGAN, HENDRI(X)CKS, GAY, and RYAN.

All of my ancestors came to the United States in the 1700s and settled primarily in Virginia, North & South Carolina and then emigrated (with many other families) through Georgia (WASHINGTON & HARRIS Counties) and Alabama (MONROE & SUMTER Counties) to Southern Mississippi (JASPER, MARION, LAWRENCE, PIKE & WALTHALL Counties) and Eastern Louisiana (ST. HELENA, TANGIPAHOA & WASHINGTON Parish).

.....................a brief history...................

The DAVID LANGSTON family arrived in Old Silver Creek, Lawrence County, Mississippi after 1820 and it was David who managed the trip to Mississippi from Georgia with his wife SARAH ASKEW. David and Sarah A. Langston built a home near the Bournham crossing at Dry Creek. David's son, GIDEON LANGSTON married MELVINA A. SANDERS and this couple built their home down a lane east of the Old Silver Creek Baptist Church and very near the St. Stephens Road. It was at this location that Gideon practiced his trade of wagon maker. DAVID LANGSTON is thought to be the descendant of TIMOTHY LANGSTUN the Revolutionary soldier from NANSEMOND, VIRGINIA.

In 1822, the JOHN CONNERLY family emigrated from North Carolina to the area of Pike County Mississippi. The Conerly family has been well documented throughout this area. MAJOR OWEN CONERLY, son of JOHN CONERLY, married SUSAN TYNES and settled near the Marion and Pike County line, east of China Grove. MAJOR OWEN was a wheelwright, carriage maker and farmer, and was noted for keeping a large flock of goats.

The ENOCH COURTNEY family came from South Carolina sometime before 1824, and lived in southern Mississippi in the Amite/Pike County area. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COURTNEY, son of ENOCH, was a tall, slender man, and usually wore a short, cropped beard. He was very skillful in putting handles on knives made from bone or metal. Benjamin also served in the Bogue Chitto Guards under the 7th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Benjamin's son, LAFAYETTE COURTNEY was a planer at the Gullett Cotton Gin Company. THOMAS HENRY COURTNEY followed in his father's footsteps and was a machinist at the Gin Company with 50 years of service.

The ELIAS MASSEY family came from KERSHAW COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA along with the CATO, HOLLEY, GRAHAM, ROBERTS, HENDRIX and many other families to Monroe County, Alabama after 1816. ELIAS, born 1792 and died after 1850 in Mississippi, is thought to be the son of ALSTON S. MASSEY and Grandson of ARTHUR MASSEY. Elias and his wife ELIZABETH raised their children in Monroe County, AL until about 1845. Around this time Elias and Elizabeth left Alabama with their daughter (MARY MAHALA) and her husband WILLAM HENDRIX, and Elias' aunt and uncle, WILLIAM and SARAH CATO and relocated to a small community outside Carthage, Mississippi known as Goshen. ALFRED CLARKE MASSEY, son of Elias, and his wife MARY JANE HOLLEY stayed behind in Monroe County until about 1851 when they relocated to Leake County, MS. WILLIAM PERRY MASSEY, son of Alfred Clarke was a Methodist Minister and circuit rider and raised a large family in Rose Hill Jasper County, Mississippi.

Edit Your Page

Family Photos

  • Five Methodist Preachers (203 KB)
    R to L - Rev. Swope, Rev. Cook, Rev. William Perry Massey (confirmed), Rev. Matthew R. Jones (confirmed), and Rev. Walters. Picture possibly taken at a Methodist Campground in Southern Mississippi. (Photo provided by Don Harris Dec 2007)
  • Marion F. and Malvina Virginia Ryan Roberts (70 KB)
    Photo provided by Glover Roberts February 2008
  • Massey Brothers & Sisters (44 KB)
    This is a photograph from one of the many Massey family reunions held on a regular basis in Laurel, Mississippi. The living children of William Perry & Eliza Massey: Bottom Row (Left to Right) George Ryan, Willie Clark, Jennie Elmira, Peyton Lawrence, Burl Edwin, Florence Mae. Top Row (L to R) Ben Lewis, Milton Asbury, Commie Vandevnor, Joel Holly and Lawrence Ray.
  • Eliza Booth Roberts (195 KB)
    Circa 1910. Photo provided by Glover Roberts, February 2008.
  • Melissa A. (Holyfield) Fowler 1839 - 1927 (17 KB)
    Photo was taken abot 1909 when she was 70 years old. (Photo provided by Jan Lundy March 2008)
  • Goshen Church, Leake County, Mississippi (69 KB)
    Goshen Church is the burial place of Alfred Clark Massey and Matilda Rogers Massey. (Photo provided by Joe Massey Jun 2000)
  • Bobbie Jean (Conerly) Langston 1931 - 1999 (24 KB)
    In memory of Bobbie Jean Langston.
  • Alice Conerly and Children (55 KB)
    Alice and children, Bobbie Jean and Henry at Audubon Park, New Orleans, Louisiana circa 1938.
  • Cotton Gin from Gullett Gin Company - Amite, LA. (62 KB)
    Amite Museum Exhibit of Gullett's Cotton Gin Sept 2001. (Photo provided by Charles R. Clark)
  • The Sons of Thomas M. Langston (42 KB)
    Left to Right: Leston (Dave), Clarence (in back), Marvin (in front), Holly Shan (in back) and Albert Byron (aka AB, in front).
  • George Washington Ryan (52 KB)
    This photo was pasted inside a very old book, Biblical Geography that belonged to Ouida Mae Massey Langston.
  • Alice Courtney (23 KB)
    Baby picture of Alice found in her bible. Alice was the daughter of Thomas and Maud Courtney and was born in Amite, Louisiana.
  • The Daughter-in-laws of Thomas M. Langston (37 KB)
    Ouida Mae Massey (Holly Shan), Ina Pierce (Clarence), Ouida Baker (Marvin), Theatis Grice (Leston), and Mary Louise Peavey (Albert Byron).
  • Hill Hardware, Columbia Mississippi (120 KB)
    George Massey worked at Hill Hardware all of his life and is pictured here with his wife Annie Massey inside the store.
  • Shan Langston and Sons (22 KB)
    Shan Langston with Bob, George Glyn and Tommy.
  • Rev. Peyton L. Ryan & Family Pleasant Hill, LA (36 KB)
    This picture was taken about 1895 and shows the Reverend and family in their Sunday best with probably Peyton's favorite horse taking up half the picture. (Picture and comments provided by Michie Cavuoti)
  • Rev. Peyton Lawrence Ryan (19 KB)
    Peyton L. Ryan 1850 - 1927 (Photo provided by Michie Cavuoti Nov 2003)
  • Milton Asbury & Nancy Elizabeth (Scaggs) Ryan (14 KB)
    Milton and wife Nancy. (Photo provided by Michie Cavouti Nov 2003)
  • Hendrix Family Photo from Sumter County, Alabama (81 KB)
    Jonathan, wife Arbella and son Robert D. Hendrix circa 1900.(Photo provided by Judie Funderburk May 2003)
  • Mom and Friends (Jennie Massey Davis) (93 KB)
    Jennie E. Massey, Wirt Ryan, Etta Fowler & Ima Chatham (Photo provided by Marvin E. Davis Mar 2005)
  • Eliza Ann Ryan (41 KB)
    Eliza Ann married William Perry Massey and the couple made their home not far from the Green Valley Congregational Church in Rose Hill, MS.
  • Tom & Mary Langston (27 KB)
    Tom & Mary Langston 50th Wedding Anniversay. Picture believed to be taken in 1951.
  • William Perry Massey Family (circa 1900) (280 KB)
    Top Left: Elvira Ellen Ryan Holyfield (Aunt) Top Right: Robert Holyfied (Uncle) Children: Top Row L to R: George Ryan, Jennie Elmirah, William Clark and Peyton Lawrence. Middle Row L to R: Burl Edwin (twin), Lou Ellen (twin), Milton Asbury, and Bennie Lewis. Bottom Row L to R: Joel Hollie, William Perry Massey (Father), Commie Vandevnor , Eliza Ann Massey (Mother), Florence Mae (twin) and Lawrence Ray (twin) who also appears to be cut out of the picture but is holding hands with Florence.
  • Rebecca Hendrix (19 KB)
    Rebecca was married to Jonathan D. Hendrix who died within 10 years of marriage and Rebecca never remarried but raised their family in Sumter County Alabama. She is thought to be the daughter of Jacob Allen and wife Sarah and is so mentioned in Jacob's will.
  • Martin Van Buren Morgan 1860 - 1935 (22 KB)
    Martin Morgan was the father of Curtis & Annie Morgan.
  • Henry & Mary Langston w/grandson Gerald (52 KB)
    Gerald was 4 years old when this picture was taken with his paternal grandparents, Henry Thomas Langston and Mary Adelaid Watts Langston. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston May 2003)
  • Clinton M. and Jennie (Massey) Davis (38 KB)
    December 24, 1905 Rose Hill, Mississippi (Wedding photo provided by Marvin E. Davis Mar 2005)
  • Oliver Cromwell Conerly 1870 - 1951 (56 KB)
    Oliver Cromwell Conerly and his wife Fannie lived in Kokomo, Mississippi and raised five children.
  • Noah Massey 1851 - 1935 (20 KB)
    Photo provided by Marvin E. Davis Mar 2005
  • The Cassie Conerly Family - Kokomo, Mississippi (60 KB)
    Alice, Cassie, Henry and Bobbie Jean Conerly, photo taken circa 1947.
  • The Sons of William Perry Massey of Rose Hill, MS (58 KB)
    This is a collage of pictures from Marvin E. Davis of all of William Perry's sons except Commie Vandevnor.
  • Maud Lawson Courtney (16 KB)
    1893 - 1972
  • Thomas Henry Courtney 1891 - 1972 (34 KB)
    Thomas Henry Courtney worked at the Gullet Cotton Gin Company in Amite, Louisiana for 50 years. He married twice, 1st Maud Lawson and 2nd Ceola Conerly. Ceola preceded him in death in 1958.
  • China Grove Methodist Church (96 KB)
    China Grove Methodist Church located in Walthall County, Mississippi. Major Owen and Susan Conerly are both buried in the church cemetery.
  • Watts Hotel (1905) Monticello, Mississippi (77 KB)
    This is Uncle Charlie's original hotel. I was told that it was located near the R.R. track, North West Monticello. At some point, it burned. A brick Watts Hotel was built in a different location, middle down town. The building still stands, has been converted to a furniture store, street level with apartments upstairs. Mrs. Anne was quite a charecter. She would put her car in reverse to back out from the hotel, without looking and curse anyone who got in her way. (Photo and description provided by Gerald Slater Langston May 2003)
  • Rev. William Perry Massey and Eliza Ryan Massey (42 KB)
    Rev. William Perry Massey & Eliza Ryan Massey (Photo from Ouida Massey Langston)
  • John Henry Oates (94 KB)
    John Henry Oates. Vet. of war 1812, Indian fighter. There is a bronze plaque at his grave honoring him. He is buried in the Oates, Watts Cemetary in Jeff. Davis Co. Ms. (Photo and description provided by Gerald Slater Langston May 2003)
  • Lewis Dempsey Langston Family (32 KB)
    Lewis, Miranda, Mary and Clara Langston. (Photo provided by Celeste Ward Oct 2003)
  • The Children of George & Annie Massey (39 KB)
    Della (1908), Byron (1911) and Ouida Mae (1914) (Photo from Ouida Massey Langston)
  • Old Silver Creek Baptist Church (12 KB)
    Old Silver Creek Baptist Church is located in Lawrence County, Mississippi. Picture taken November 1999.
  • David and Sarah (Askew) Langston Grave Marker (44 KB)
    David & Sarah are buried in the Langston Cemetery in Lawrence County, Mississippi. David died without leaving a will and Sarah put a provision in her estate papers that reserved one-half acre for the family cemetery. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston June 2003)
  • Sarah Tynes O'Rourke (115 KB)
    Sarah was the twin sister to Susan Tynes. (Photo provided by Shirley Reddoch Roesch)
  • Isaac & Elizabeth Fortenberry Grave Marker (78 KB)
    Isaac & Elizabeth (Langston) Fortenberry are buried at the Langston Cemetery in Lawrence County, Mississippi. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston June 2003)
  • George Washington Massey 1832 - 1883 (70 KB)
    G.W. Massey was born in North Carolina and died in Defeated, Smith Co., TN. (Photo provided by Donna Massey Dixon November 2005)
  • Bathing in Old Silver Creek (32 KB)
    Unknown children swimming in Old Silver Creek, MS. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston)
  • John Henry Oates Marker (74 KB)
    Original tombstone is a heart pine board, barely legible. The DAR placed the bronze marker at his grave. (Photo and description provided by Gerlad Slater Langston June 2003)
  • Sarah Katherine (Burnett) Massey 1830 -1923 (46 KB)
    Katherine was married to George Washington Massey and she lived many years past G.W. Her last years were spent in her log cabin in Ashopper Hollow. (Photo provided by Donna Massey Dixon November 2005)
  • Kettle Pot from the Estate of David Langston (120 KB)
    This kettle pot was probably manufactured after 1830 and was used for not only cooking but washing as well. The pot was manufactured by the Savery & Co. of Philadelphia. (Photo provided by Gerald Langston Apr 2004)
  • George & Annie Massey (35 KB)
    Wedding photo from 1906, they were married in Rose Hill Jasper County, Mississippi in a buggy according to Annie Massey.
  • Steam Driven Cotton Gin - Silver Creek, MS (100 KB)
    This is a very early steam driven cotton gin in Silver Creek. I believe the picture was taken about 1900, no trucks, just horses and mules. You will notice they are firing the boiler with wood slabs from a saw mill. The people know they are getting their picture taken. (Photo provided by Kay Allen June 2003)
  • Unidentifed Massey Family Photo (261 KB)
    I believe this is William Perry Massey seated in the center with his brothers and sisters surrounding him. (Photo provided by Marvin E. Davis)
  • CSA Marker for J. W. Morgan (144 KB)
    Lauderdale Springs Cemetery, Lauderdale, MS family plot of the Morgan Family.
  • 4 Generations of the Henry Thomas Langston Men (27 KB)
    Gerald Jr., Gerald Sr., Buford Rawls and Henry Thomas Langston. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston Jun 2003)
  • St Philip's Church Charleston South Carolina (104 KB)
    Photo taken March 2006. Side entrance and old grave markers.
  • School Group from Old Silver Creek, MS (105 KB)
    Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston
  • Henry T. Langston's Grist Mill (53 KB)
    Image drawn from memory by James E. Langston, Henry's grist mill was located a few feet from a little stream called "Meeting House Branch" in the Old Silver Creek Community. (Provided by Gerald Slater Langston July 2003)
  • St Philip's Church Charleston SC Cemetery (112 KB)
    Old grave markers at St. Philip's Church Charleston South Carolina. Photo taken March 2006.
  • Cotton Gin, Silver Creek, Mississippi (43 KB)
    This cotton gin belonged to Albert Harris, Maude Berry Thompson and son Kirby Berry Thompson. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston Aug 2003).
  • Green Valley CM Church, October 16, 1904 (2827 KB)
    This photo was provided by M.E. Davis and was in a collection of photo's owned by his Mother Jennie (Massey) Davis. William Perry Massey is the 5th man kneeling from the left on the second row, the others are unidentified.
  • Della E. Massey (50 KB)
    Della was born in 1908 to George and Annie Massey. She married first, Howard Langston and then Theron Palmer. Della died at an early age leaving two children.
  • Langston Fortenberry House - Silver Creek, MS. (91 KB)
    The road that led to the Langston Fortenberry House was lined with trees on both sides, including a chinaberry tree. The house had a porch across the front with banisters and the kitchen was a small separate building, to the rear (east) with a walkway between the buildings. The walkway could be removed in case of fire. (Photo provided by Gerald Slater Langston Aug 2003)
  • Collage Ft. Mims, Alabama August 2006 (369 KB)
    Ft. Mims was occupied by white settlers before 1813 where most of them lost their lives during an Indian uprising.
  • China Grove Methodist Church Historical Marker (61 KB)
    Photo taken August 2001
  • Old Silver Creek Cemetery and Church (156 KB)
    Photo taken August 2006
  • Alfred Fowler Jones and Mary Jane (Carter) Jones (35 KB)
    Photo provided by Don Harris from his personal collection, inscription on back reads "Grandpa and Grandma". November 2007
 

Related Files

 

Related Links

 
Created with Family Tree Maker

The content shown on this page has been submitted by a Genealogy.com customer, and is not subject to verification by Genealogy.com. Neither Genealogy.com nor its affiliates are responsible for the accuracy of any information contained on this page. The opinions expressed on this page are the author's alone and not the opinions of Genealogy.com.

Home | Help | About Us | Site Index | Terms of Service | PRIVACY
© 2009 Ancestry.com