MASSEY Family, Clayton

[Bob Dobson]

I have been looking at the marvellous book called 'An Accrington Chronology and Men of Mark, by Crossley (1924) and come across an unusual name. I wonder if any descendants can tell me by what name Arsenius Massey of Clayton was commonly known. known. He was a councillor and died 1917 aged 77. I have not come across this forename before. I cannot see it catchjng on these days, except perhaps by members of the Hall family

[cashman]

Never heard that un before Bob, Bet he never arsed about wi a nickname.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

I have been looking at the marvellous book called 'An Accrington Chronology and Men of Mark, by Crossley (1924) and come across an unusual name. I wonder if any descendants can tell me by what name Arsenius Massey of Clayton was commonly known. known. He was a councillor and died 1917 aged 77. I have not come across this forename before. I cannot see it catchjng on these days, except perhaps by members of the Hall family

Lived with his younger Bro & Sis at Woodside House Clayton, none of then ever married.
Some one has been on Ancestry, and corrected the spelling of his first name.

[Bob Dobson]

I have just realised that there is a football club manager called Arsene Wenger. He is the ArsENAL manager - or should that be ArsANAL?

[cmee]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

I have been looking at the marvellous book called 'An Accrington Chronology and Men of Mark, by Crossley (1924) and come across an unusual name. I wonder if any descendants can tell me by what name Arsenius Massey of Clayton was commonly known. known. He was a councillor and died 1917 aged 77. I have not come across this forename before. I cannot see it catchjng on these days, except perhaps by members of the Hall family

Hi Bob, You will perhaps be surprised to hear that Arsenius Massey was the brother of Winifred Blake (wife of John), so he is an ancestor of mine. Indeed, he never married (who would want to be lumbered with that name?). The family possesses a manuscript 'memoir' (full of gloom and doom) which he wrote when he was the last survivor of his family. His father was Reginald Massey, also a councillor in Accrington and at one time quite a prosperous cotton manufacturer (but he lost all his money in the Cotton Famine and left £14 when he died). And it was probably me who altered his name on Ancestry.
The name is indeed the equivalent of the French Arsene, but you can understand why it didn't catch on in the UK can't you?

[Bob Dobson]

I think it was either Atarah or Margaret R or who said to me - That name's a bummer"

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

I think it was either Atarah or Margaret R or who said to me - That name's a bummer"

[susie123]

Arsenius has connotations of strenghth and virility. It was the name of several saints and churchmen.

Arsenius (name) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bob Dobson]

Originally Posted by susie123

Arsenius has connotations of strenghth and virility. It was the name of several saints and churchmen.

Arsenius (name) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That may be so, Susie, but I'll stick with Robert

[DaveinGermany]

Originally Posted by susie123

Arsenius

And here's me thinking it meant smart arse (Arsegenius)!