The Conundrum of Sorting John Lindseys, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Latter Half of 1700s and Early 1800s

South Carolina Colonial Plat Bk. 9, p. 1

Or, Subtitled: “’Curiouser and curiouser!’ Cried Alice”

These notes about the challenge of sorting men named John Lindsey in records of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in the latter part of the 1700s and early part of the 1800s begin with the conundrum of a 20 March 1817 deed of William Lindsey to Spencer Bobo, both of Spartanburg County.[1] I discussed this deed in detail in a previous posting. As that posting notes, William Lindsey deeded to Spencer Bobo 200 acres on which William was then living, stating that he was selling “all the plantation and tract of Land where I now live supposed 200 acres more or less with every appurtenance thereunto belonging N. adjoining said Bobo’s land, E. joining Brewton, S. joining John Lindsey, and W. joining John Crocker.” The witnesses to this deed were John Lindsey and James Brewton/Bruton.

Children of William Lindsey (1760/1770 – 1840) and Rachel Earnest — Elizabeth and Isaac

Tombstone of Isaac Lindsey, Cedar Grove Baptist cemetery, Fountain Inn, Laurens County, South Carolina, photo uploaded by gerald to Isaac’s Find a Grave memorial page created by Robin Farley Dixson Coon

Or, Subtitled: Those Darned Census Entries That Name Folks by Initials

This is the second in a series of postings discussing the children of William Lindsey (1760/1770 – 1840) and wife Rachel Earnest of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. In a previous posting, I discussed this couple’s first three children, Cassandra, John, and Nicy Malinda. These postings about the children of William Lindsey and Rachel Earnest follow two postings in which I discussed William and Rachel in detail — here and here. The following posting begins with the fourth child of William Lindsey and Rachel Earnest, their daughter Elizabeth.

The Children of William Lindsey (abt. 1733-abt. 1806): William Lindsey (1760/1770 – 1840) (1)

Or, Subtitled: Five John Lindseys Representing Three Distinct Families – Trials and Tribulations of Researching Lindseys in Spartanburg County, South Carollina, in 1700s/1800s

In a lengthy series of postings, I have followed the descendants of a Dennis Lindsey (about 1755 – 1795) who is the known son of a William Lindsey (about 1733 – about 1806) of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. As the posting I have just linked and postings about Dennis’s father William linked below state, we know that William and Dennis were father and son because records in the South Carolina Revolutionary audited account files of both men state that relationship.

The Children of Dennis Lindsey (1793 – 1855/1860): Melissa Lindsey Hester (abt. 1823-1882) and Amanda Lindsey (1839-1911)

Lindsey, Amanda, Franklin County Times (Russellville, AL), 1 June 1911, p. 2, col. 2
Obituary of Amanda Lindsey, Franklin County Times (Russellville, Alabama), 1 June 1911, p. 2, col. 2

Or, Subtitled: Censuses, Aunts, Mothers-in-Laws, and Tombstones and the Tales They Tell 

As I’ve noted previously, in addition to the two sons I’ve discussed in postings here — Miles R. and Robert D. Lindsey — Dennis Lindsey and Anna Woodruff also had daughters Melissa (abt. 1823-1882) and Amanda (1839-1911). My postings about Miles are here, here, and here, and the one about Robert is here. Continue reading “The Children of Dennis Lindsey (1793 – 1855/1860): Melissa Lindsey Hester (abt. 1823-1882) and Amanda Lindsey (1839-1911)”

The Children of Dennis Lindsey (1793 – 1855/1860): Robert D. Lindsey (1829 – 1892)

Lindsey, Robert D. Tombstone, Hovater Cem., Franklin Co., Alabama
Tombstone of Robert D. Lindsey, Hovater cemetery, Franklin County, Alabama; photo is by Find a Grave user Old Bwana at the Find a Grave memorial page for Robert D. Lindsey, created by Mollie Ann Lindsey Studenroth

Or, Subtitled: “Farewell My Wife and Children All, From You a Father Christ Doth Call”

Robert D. Lindsey, son of Dennis Lindsey (1793-1855/1860) and Anna Woodruff, was born 3 June 1829, according to his tombstone in Hovater cemetery, Franklin County, Alabama.[1] The tombstone also states that Robert died 6 September 1892. All federal censuses from 1850 through 1880 state that Robert was born in Alabama.[2] Since we know that Robert’s father Dennis Lindsey sold land that appears to have been his homeplace in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in February 1827, and then disappeared from Spartanburg County records, showing up in a record indicating that he patented land with William Moore in Franklin County, Alabama, in May 1828, it seems likely that Robert was born in Franklin County, Alabama. Continue reading “The Children of Dennis Lindsey (1793 – 1855/1860): Robert D. Lindsey (1829 – 1892)”

The Children of Dennis Lindsey (1793 – 1855/1860): Miles R. Lindsey (1820/1 – 1878/1880) (1)

Miles R. Lindsey Relationship Chart

Or, Subtitled: Land Plats and Tax Assessments as Genealogical Resources

When I finished my account of the life of Dennis Lindsey (1793-1855/1860), son of Dennis Lindsey (abt. 1755-1795) of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, I told you I’d move on to an account of the children of Dennis younger and wife Anna Woodruff. As my postings about Dennis have indicated, due to the loss of early Franklin County, Alabama, records in a devastating courthouse fire in 1890, there are many gaps in the documentation of Dennis and his family after he moved to Franklin County, Alabama, about 1827-8. No estate record naming his children has survived. Continue reading “The Children of Dennis Lindsey (1793 – 1855/1860): Miles R. Lindsey (1820/1 – 1878/1880) (1)”

The Children of Dennis Linchey/Lindsey (abt. 1700-1762): William Lindsey (abt. 1733-abt. 1806) (3)

Lindsey, William, Account Audited (File No. 4600) Of Claims Growing Out Of The American Revolution 2
William Lindsey (Lindsay), South Carolina Account Audited (File No. 4600) of Claims Growing Out of The American Revolution (indent 479)

Or, Subtitled: Land Grants and Payments for “Sarvis Done”

From the Revolution to the End of William Lindsey’s Life

We ended the previous posting, the second in our three-part series about the life of William Lindsey (abt. 1733 – abt. 1806), son of Dennis Lindsey the immigrant, noting that he acquired a 200-acre land grant on 9 November 1774 in what would become Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The land was on a branch of the Tyger River that was almost certainly Jamey’s Creek, and a number of indicators suggest that this land may have been between that creek and Ferguson’s creek near what would eventually become Woodruff, South Carolina. Continue reading “The Children of Dennis Linchey/Lindsey (abt. 1700-1762): William Lindsey (abt. 1733-abt. 1806) (3)”