The
Legend of the Waif and Our Heritage.
Legend tells us that the first Musick was discovered as an orphan
lad, wandering on the shores of Wales. He knew only that his name
was "George", and because he was quite fond of musick
(as the noun was then spelled in archaic English,) he became known
as George Musick. There is doubt as to the authenticity of this
romantic tale.
Our family, both Music and Musick,
is widely believed to be of Welsh descent, and that has been written
for a long time. Our first family historian contended we are of
German origin, but he gave little authority for that claim. Others
say there is a Huguenot line, and it was widely written and passed
along that we are "Scotch-Irish". There is not apparent
certainty. A long term objective of the Association is to research
and resolve this question.
George Musick, Sr. "The Pioneer." Although
there were earlier Musicks in America, George Musick, Sr. who
was born about 1664 and died about 1754, is the common ancestor
of all of us. Little is known about the earlier Musicks, or about
his ancestry. He received an early land grant in Spotsylvania
County, Virginia, from King George II, granting him his plantation
known as "Plentiful Run", where he grew and exported
tobacco as a Virginia planter. That title was not one of nobility
or birthright, nor a sign of gentility or prosperity, but was
really the equivalent of being a farmer. His wife may have been
Ann Allen, though that has never been established. Plentiful Run
was at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where Governor
Berkeley encouraged settlement as a barrier against the hostile
Indians. The first roads to Plentiful Run were called "Rolling
Roads", because they were designed to permit a tobacco grower
to roll barrels of tobacco behind a mule, to the wharfs and warehouses
on the river, for shipment to Mother England.
The Nine Children of George Musick, Sr. We know
from the Last Will and Testament of George Musick, Sr., probated
in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, that he left nine children,
named there in the following order: Daniel, Ambrose, George Jr.,
Abraham, Elizabeth Trustey, Agnes Lynes, Electious (or Elexious),
Kezia, and Ephraim. Kezia never married, and little more is known
of the daughters. Many descendants of the sons are well established,
and the Association's Family Tree Maker database will provide
much information for interested Members.
Early Migrations. George Musick, Sr. died at Plentiful
Run in about 1754. His children were probably born n the following
order: Electious (or Elexious) was born about 1718 in Spotsylvania
County, resided in Henry County, then Washington County, Virginia
in 1778, then in North Carolina, and to Russell County Virginia
in 1782, where he died in 1798. He took the Oath of Allegiance
to Virginia and the United States in 1778. He was co-executor
of his Father's Will with his Mother Ann.
Ambrose was born about 1720. He left Virginia, perhaps as the
first son of George Sr. to leave Virginia, and resided in Georgia,
where he was granted land.
Abraham was born about 1722 in Spotsylvania
County, Virginia. He later lived three miles from Charlottesville,
left there in 1763, moved to South Carolina in 1765, and then
to Rutherford, North Carolina, He and his sons Lewis, William
and David fought at the Battle of Cowpens in the Revolution. Abraham
later was the patriah of a wagon train of about one hundred persons,
led by his son David, who travelled slowly through the Cumberland
Gap to Georgia, Kentucky, and Illinois in 1794. He and others
crossed the Mississippi to Spanish Louisiana (later Missouri)
in 1795, and some went north to Logan County, Illinois, where
they were associated with Abraham Lincoln.
Ephraim was born about 1724, in Sportsylvania
County, Virginia, moved to Albemarle County, on the Mechum River
thirteen miles West of Charlottesville, in 1776, and died there
about 1806. He was a neighbor of Thomas Jefferson, and knew George
Washington. He was the only son of George Sr. who remained in
Virginia. His sons Rev. Thomas R., John, and Abraham were Revolutionary
War soldiers.
George Jr., was born about 1726 in Spotsylvania
County, left there in 1775-76 and moved to Rutherford County,
North Carolina, where he died.
Elizabeth Trusty.
Daniel was born in 1734 at Spotsylvania County,
Virginia, and probably moved to Georgia or the Carolinas, or maybe
to Pennsylvania or north of Virginia. He was a Revolutionary soldier.
The "Yankee Doodle" fife and drum background music to
this Homepage is our tribute to these Colonial Patriots.
The Gold Rush. Several Musicks sought their fortunes
in the San Joaquin Valley of California, with the gold rush. While
some returned home disillusioned, others remained there, and have
become prominent in the affairs of that state. By the present
time Musicks have scattered across our nation.
We
want to gain contact with all Musics and Musicks everywhere!