Author: William D. Lindsey

I'm a retired academic, with a Ph.D. and M.A. in theology from Toronto School of Theology, an M.A. in english from Tulane University, and a B.A. in English from Loyola University, New Orleans. Published work includes Fiat Flux: The Writings of Wilson R. Bachelor, Nineteenth-Century Country Doctor and Philosopher (Fayetteville: Univ. of Arkansas Press, 2013), and (with William L. Russell and Mary Ryan) A Family Practice: The Russell Doctors and the Evolving Business of Medicine, 1799–1989 (Fayetteville: Univ. of Arkansas Press, 2020).

Moses Birdwell (1769-1849): Madison County, Mississippi Territory Years, 1811/2 – 1818

September 18, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “Opend a door for the reception of members and receivd Brother Moſes Birdwell by Experience” In the previous posting, I trace the life of Moses Birdwell, son of George and Mary Birdwell, from his birth in 1769 in Augusta (later Botetourt County), Virginia, through his years in Sullivan County, North Carolina (later Tennessee) … More Moses Birdwell (1769-1849): Madison County, Mississippi Territory Years, 1811/2 – 1818

Moses Birdwell (1769-1849): Virginia, North Carolina/Tennessee, and Georgia Years to 1811/2

September 13, 2024

Or, Subtitled: Family Bibles and Handwriting Conundrums Moses’ Birth in Augusta (Later Botetourt) County, Virginia, 15 October 1769: Notes on Birdwell Bible The date of birth of Moses Birdwell, father of James G. Birdwell – 15 October 1769 – is recorded in the register of a bible that is thought to have belonged to his … More Moses Birdwell (1769-1849): Virginia, North Carolina/Tennessee, and Georgia Years to 1811/2

Children of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard of Alabama and Louisiana – Frances, Sophronia, and Mary Ann Birdwell

September 5, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “Methodist; farmer, ginner, plantation owner in Louisiana and Texas” 7. Frances C. Birdwell, the seventh child of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard, was born about 1836-1837 in Jackson County, Alabama. This date of birth is suggested by the 1850 and 1860 federal censuses. As a previous posting notes, the 1850 federal census … More Children of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard of Alabama and Louisiana – Frances, Sophronia, and Mary Ann Birdwell

Children of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard of Alabama and Louisiana – DeWitt Clinton, Thomas, and Camilla Birdwell

September 1, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “Steem” Mills and Malignant Fevers 4. DeWitt Clinton Birdwell, the fourth child of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard, was born about 1831 in Limestone or Jackson County, Alabama. I have very little information about this son of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard who is named as their child in Hardin Harville’s … More Children of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard of Alabama and Louisiana – DeWitt Clinton, Thomas, and Camilla Birdwell

Children of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard of Alabama and Louisiana – Elvira, Hannah, John B. Birdwell

August 26, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “Died at the ripe old age of 85 years at the residence of her son, J. C. Harville” As the previous posting states, the combined succession documents of James G. Birdwell and his wife Aletha Leonard give us the names of the six youngest children of James and Aletha: Dewitt Clinton, Thomas, Camilla, … More Children of James G. Birdwell and Aletha Leonard of Alabama and Louisiana – Elvira, Hannah, John B. Birdwell

James G. Birdwell (1795-1849): Louisiana Years

August 18, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “The cholera has reappeared at several plantations on Red River” As the previous posting notes, after James G. Birdwell and wife Aletha R. Leonard sold their land in Marshall County, Alabama, on 30 November 1839, they moved their family to Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. The linked posting states that the 1883 family history written … More James G. Birdwell (1795-1849): Louisiana Years

James G. Birdwell (1795-1849): Georgia and Alabama Years

August 12, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “A farmer and a sober, steady man of good habits and of good family” I’ve spent lo these many months now on this blog documenting the ancestry of my paternal great-grandmother Mary Ann Green Lindsey (and here). I followed Mollie Green Lindsey’s Green line back from her father Ezekiel Samuel Green (that series … More James G. Birdwell (1795-1849): Georgia and Alabama Years

When Thomas G. Birdwell Becomes James G. Birdwell: The Need to Dig Continously in Genealogical Research

August 8, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “The 18th Regiment, commanded by Col. Thomas G. Birdwell, will parade at Tuskaloosa” Having worked intensively here for quite some time now to share the information I have about my interlinking Green, Calhoun, Kerr, Pickens, Montgomery, and other family lines, I’m now going to “climb down” my family tree to a line that … More When Thomas G. Birdwell Becomes James G. Birdwell: The Need to Dig Continously in Genealogical Research

Family Stories and Surprising Ways New Documentation Can Confirm Them: The Story of Robert Allen Sumrall and Margaret and Catherine Ryan

August 6, 2024

Or, Subtitled: “May her soul rest in peis.” This posting tells a story. It tells a story about a story, one told to me in my formative years. It also tells a story about how sudden genealogical surprises can either confirm or disprove our long-cherished family traditions. So that we do well to keep ourselves … More Family Stories and Surprising Ways New Documentation Can Confirm Them: The Story of Robert Allen Sumrall and Margaret and Catherine Ryan

Daughters of James Montgomery (abt. 1690 – 1756) of Catawba Creek, Augusta County, Virginia? Some Notes

August 2, 2024

In what follows, I want to provide some notes (nothing more) about proposed daughters of James Montgomery who died before 19 November 1756 on Catawba Creek in Augusta County, Virginia. My last posting offered some brief notes on James’ sons. To be specific: my focus in that posting was not on tracing James’ sons and … More Daughters of James Montgomery (abt. 1690 – 1756) of Catawba Creek, Augusta County, Virginia? Some Notes