Joseph Massey sen. explained

Joseph Richard Massey (July 1827 – 14 February 1900), referred to in his lifetime as Joseph Massey sen., was an Australian musician and founder of a family of musicians, best known as church organists.

History

Massey was born in London, a son of Sarah Massey and Joseph Massey, a cabinetmaker, who emigrated to Sydney as free-settlers on the ship Richard Reynolds, arriving 14 August 1833 with their children Elizabeth, Sarah, James, Bass, and Joseph, the subject of this article.[1]

He was engaged in business as a tailor in Mudgee, New South Wales around the year 1875, and while in that town was choirmaster of the Wesleyan church and conductor of the town's philharmonic society. The family left for Sydney for the sons' musical careers.[2]

He became conductor of Sydney's first philharmonic society[3] and the Sydney Choral Society, which met at the Sydney School of Arts, and produced the well-known oratorios Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus and others.He was choir master at St John's Anglican Cathedral in Parramatta.[4] In later years he played double bass with an orchestra at St Thomas's Church, North Sydney, where his son Joseph Massey jun. was organist.

He died at his residence, 347 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst, and his remains were interred at the Waverley Cemetery. Four sons and two grandsons, Harold and Hilton, were present at the funeral.[5]

Family

Massey married Mary Patrick (c. 1835–1898) in Sydney on 21 June 1853.[6] They had one daughter and four sons,[5] all musicians:

There is no reason to believe the English organist Roy Massey is a relation.

Notes and References

  1. News: Shipping Intelligence . . III . 188 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 August 1833 . 12 April 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: A Former Mudgeeite . . XIII . 808 . New South Wales, Australia . 23 February 1900 . 12 April 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: 60 Years an Organist . . 21,297 . New South Wales, Australia . 6 January 1945 . 11 April 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Joseph Massey Recital . . 30,830 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 October 1936 . 9 May 2021 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: The Late Mr Joseph Massey, Sen. . . 19,323 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 February 1900 . 12 April 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  6. Web site: AustralHarmony, A biographical register of Australian colonial musical personnel . Dr Graeme Skinner . . 11 April 2022.
  7. News: Mrs Joseph Massey . . 26,254 . New South Wales, Australia . 27 February 1922 . 12 April 2022 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Cathedral Organist . . 26,534 . New South Wales, Australia . 20 January 1923 . 11 April 2022 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Men & Women . . 1576 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 July 1915 . 11 April 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: A Fighting Family . . 42 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 January 1918 . 12 April 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: Death of Mr Joseph Massey . . 7940 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 June 1943 . 11 April 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Warm Tributes to Organist . . 33,107 . New South Wales, Australia . 3 February 1944 . 11 April 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: New Oratorio . . 29,591 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 November 1932 . 11 April 2022 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Church Music . . 30,609 . New South Wales, Australia . 10 February 1936 . 11 April 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: Family Notices . . 14,601 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 January 1885 . 11 April 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Organ Recital . . 30,604 . New South Wales, Australia . 4 February 1936 . 11 April 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: St John's Church, Mudgee . . New South Wales, Australia . 21 March 1935 . 11 April 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Organ Recital . . New South Wales, Australia . 24 December 1928 . 13 April 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  19. News: Weekly Organ Recital . . New South Wales, Australia . 1 May 1929 . 11 April 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  20. Web site: Musical — Massey, Alfred James Massey . Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts] . 3 June 2024.
  21. News: Gisborne Herald . 16 August 1949 . Deaths . 1 . LXXVI . 23,025 . PapersPast . 12 April 2022.
  22. News: Music and Drama . . 28,496 . New South Wales, Australia . 4 May 1929 . 12 April 2022 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  23. News: Advertising . Poverty Bay Herald . 8 February 1895 . 1.
  24. News: Mr Massey Dead; Organist For 60 Years . . 21,878 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 November 1946 . 9 May 2021 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: Newcastle Composers . . 6079 . New South Wales, Australia . 9 June 1937 . 9 May 2021 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  26. News: The Victorian Deficit . . 8448 . New South Wales, Australia . 30 June 1894 . 13 April 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  27. News: Cathedral Organist . . New South Wales, Australia . 20 March 1895 . 13 April 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  28. News: Personal . . New South Wales, Australia . 1 December 1908 . 13 April 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  29. News: Local Brevities . . XIII . 913 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 March 1901 . 13 April 2022 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
  30. News: Presentation . . 14,100 . New South Wales, Australia . 17 January 1920 . 13 April 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  31. News: Cathedral Has Noble Organ . . 21,902 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 December 1946 . 13 April 2022 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  32. News: Family Notices . . 7128 . 1587 . New South Wales, Australia . 4 February 1899 . 11 April 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  33. News: Mr. Massey Dead; Organist For 60 Years . . 21,878 . New South Wales, Australia . 16 November 1946 . 13 April 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  34. News: Family Notices . . 9972 . New South Wales, Australia . 13 May 1911 . 12 April 2022 . 12 . National Library of Australia.