THIS BOTTLE LIKELY A PRODUCT OF THE BALTIMORE WORKS. OF THE FEW KNOWN AT LEAST TWO WERE EXCAVATED IN VIRGINIA. Born in England, Massey's father was a brewer from Stoke who moved his family to Philadelphia when William was still quite young. Seeking a brewing apprenticeship, his first position was in Philadelphia's Gray's Brewery at Sixth above Chestnut. Eventually he found himself in the employ of M.L.Dawson as an agent selling malt liquors in the city of New Orleans. This was in the period before refrigeration when the vast number of beers consumed in the south were brewed in northern states and sold through agents like Massey. Apparently William's work was highly valued and he was offered a partnership in 1849. Massey is listed in New Orleans as early as 1846. By 1851, Massey, Poultney and Collins are listed as brewers at 214 Tchoupitoulas.
