by Robin Rankin Willis
Introduction
This article is about Joseph and Leonard Lindsey, brothers who lived in the Nutbush Creek District of Granville and Warren counties in the last half of the eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth century. If you trace your Lindsey family back to the northern tier of counties in central North Carolina around that tine, I hope there is some information here that helps you out! I also plan to post a conventional outline descendant chart for this family. It will take these Lindseys as far down to the present as I could get it — or until I grew weary of tracking them.
Before getting down to the facts, let’s speculate about the unproved past. The records don’t prove where Joseph and Leonard came from before appearing in North Carolina. They don’t seem to be connected to any of the other nearby Lindsey families about that time, including both the Lindseys of Peachtree Creek and the Dennis Lindsey who lived in Granville County.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t any clues in the records. Circumstantial evidence suggests a possible link between the Nutbush Creek Lindseys and William Lindsey of New Kent, Brunswick and Lunenburg counties, Virginia (hereafter, “William Lindsey of New Kent”).[1] Here are the facts:
- William Lindsey of New Kent owned land in Virginia in what was then Lunenburg County on Miles Creek (also known as Crabtree Cr.), a short tributary flowing into the Roanoke River from north to south near the North Carolina border.[2] Joseph and Leonard owned land in Granville County, North Carolina – which was adjacent to Lunenburg at the time – on Nutbush Creek. That creek flows into the Roanoke from south to north, joining the river just a few miles west of the mouth of Miles Creek. Geographic proximity frequently, though not always, indicates a family connection.
- William Lindsey of New Kent witnessed two mid-century deeds with men named Moss, a fairly unusual surname.[3] Several decades later, Leonard Lindsey’s son Elisha named a son John Moss Lindsey. The middle name strongly suggests a family connection.[4] So does witnessing each others’ deeds.
- Leonard Lindsey acquired a tract in Halifax County, Virginia (which then abutted Granville) on Russell’s Creek.[5] Often, creeks were named for families owning land on the creek. Back in Brunswick and Lunenburg, William Lindsey of New Kent was associated in at least three deeds with Richard Russell.[6]
- Leonard Lindsey sold a Granville County tract to a George Tilmon or Tilman of Brunswick County, Virginia.[7] Some years earlier, a John Tilman had witnessed a Brunswick deed along with William Lindsey of New Kent.[8]
These may just be coincidences. But … these kinds of records frequently weave a web pointing toward extended family relationships. I suspect, but cannot prove, that Joseph and Leonard may have been sons of William Lindsey of New Kent.
YDNA testing has improved somewhat the odds that this is correct. Recent test results for a male descendent of Joseph Lindsey of Granville prove that he is genetically a member of “DNA Group 3” in the Lindsey/Lindsay DNA project.[9] One of the two main branches of DNA Group 3 traces its likely origins back to New Kent County, Virginia. The second branch of DNA Group 3 is my own, the Lindsey families of Peachtree Creek in Franklin and Nash Counties. So far, none of us in the Peachtree Creek group have been able to prove our roots any earlier than a William Lindsey who also lived in Brunswick County, Virginia in the mid-1700s. That William moved to Edgecombe County, North Carolina by 1758, and did not appear to be connected to either William Lindsey of New Kent or Joseph and Leonard of Granville.
Back to the subject: here is a summary of information about the families of Joseph and Leonard Lindsey and their sons.
Joseph (about 1727 – 1794) and Rachel Lindsey (circa 1735? – 1806)[10]
Joseph Lindsey and his wife Rachel (last name unknown) first appeared in the North Carolina records in 1749. That year, Joseph obtained a land grant in Granville County for 350 acres on Anderson’s Swamp, a tributary of Nutbush Creek.[11] Joseph must have been born no later than 1728 in order to have been of legal age to obtain that patent. The North Carolina state census for 1786 shows Joseph in the twenty-one to sixty age category, indicating that Joseph was born 1726 or later.[12] Taken together, the 1786 census and the 1740 deed narrow Joseph’s birth to 1726-1728.
In 1754, Joseph sold part of his Anderson’s Swamp tract to Leonard Lindsey.[13] That sale and subsequent connections between their families provide convincing evidence that Joseph and Leonard were close relatives and members of the same generation. First, since Leonard was old enough to buy land in 1754, he was born by at least 1733, compared to a birth year of about 1727 for Joseph. Second, the two men both served in the same militia unit at the same time (1754, Leonard as a private and Joseph as a Sergeant).[14] I think that Joseph and Leonard were brothers rather than cousins. Leonard’s only proved son, Elisha Lindsey, named as his executors Joseph’s sons Laban and Caleb, even though Elisha lived in a different jurisdiction when he died (Granville County) than Laban and Caleb (Warren County).[15]
Joseph appeared regularly in the Granville deed records beginning in 1749, buying and selling land in at least ten different transactions.[16] His last appearance in that county was in 1786, when he appeared on the tax list for the Nutbush District.[17] By the time he died, he held approximately 1,000 acres, assuming that I found all of the deeds and grants to which he was a party. So far as I can tell, however, he never sold all of the “home tract” on Anderson’s Swamp with which he started. He definitely remained in the Nutbush District until he died – the name of the jurisdiction in which he lived just changed when Bute County was created from Granville and again when Warren County was created from Bute.[18]
I only found one piece of information that revealed anything about Joseph’s personal life other than his militia service: he was Presbyterian.[19] This has genealogical significance. Joseph’s religion is evidence that his family came to the colonies either from Scotland or from the Ulster Plantations of Northern Ireland, home to Scots-Irish. Both place were the source of Presbyterian immigrants to the colonies in the latter part of the seventeenth century and first half of the eighteenth.
Joseph and his wife Rachel had at least two sons and seven daughters.[20] Laban, the elder son, was born in 1756;[21] Caleb was born between 1760 and 1765.[22] Joseph and Rachel’s daughters Mary and Darcas each married men named Searcy, a surname that appears frequently in the records of these Lindsey families.[23] Two of their daughters had husbands named Riggin, alternatively spelled Regan or Ragan.[24] Joseph and Rachel probably also had a son Elisha who predeceased them, because there were clearly two related Elisha Lindseys who appeared in Granville at the same time.[25] One of the two Elishas was definitely Leonard’s son, and was likely the eldest of the three surviving sons of Leonard and Joseph.[26]
Joseph and Rachel’s son Laban was born in July 1756, according to his Revolutionary War pension application, probably in Granville County.[27] He married Susanna Johnson in 1782 in Warren County.[28] Laban’s line appeared in Warren County tax lists from 1782 through 1789.[29] By 1802, he lived in Surry County.[30] He applied for a pension for his Revolutionary War service as a resident of Surry.[31] Laban was enumerated in the census in Surry County in 1810 through 1830, and left a will probated there in 1840.[32] Laban and Susannah had sons named Anderson (born about 1786) and Johnson (born about 1790), both of whom also appeared in Surry County.[33] Laban and Susannah also had a son Leonard who predeceased his father, leaving children.[34] After 1850, some from Laban’s line (his daughter Charity and his son Leonard’s widow and their children) were living in Yadkin County, created in 1850 from Surry County.[35]
Joseph and Rachel’s son Caleb, born during 1760 – 1765, married Temperance Howse (or House, daughter of Dudley Howse), in 1803.[36] Caleb and Temperance last appeared in Warren County in the 1810 census, then moved to Rutherford County, Tennessee.[37] Caleb’s will was proved there in 1839, naming his wife Temperance and four children: sons Joseph and Dudley H. Lindsey and daughters Fanny G. Cooper and Elizabeth V. Cooper.[38] I have not identified any children of Caleb’s son Joseph, whom I last found in the census in Rutherford County in 1860 along with his mother Temperance.[39] His brother Dudley Howse Lindsey married Charlotte Puckett in Rutherford County and moved to Upshur County, Texas.[40] Dudley and Charlotte had twelve children, a number of whom stayed in Upshur or Camp County.
Leonard Lindsey (circa 1730 – 1785) and wife Sarah Searcy (d. 1796) of Granville
Leonard Lindsey first appeared in the records in 1754 when he acquired a tract on Anderson’s Swamp from his brother Joseph.[41] Leonard’s wife was Sarah Searcy, daughter of John Searcy.[42] Like Joseph, Leonard was active in land transactions in Granville County, beginning with his 1754 purchase of 120 acres on Anderson’s Swamp.[43]
Leonard left a Granville County will dated April 29, 1782 and proved in May 1785.[44] The will devised only the tract where Leonard lived in Granville: 144 acres to his wife Sarah for life, and 143 acres to their only son Elisha.[45] Leonard left the remainder of Sarah’s life estate to Elisha and his “daughters then living,” not named. The names of Leonard’s daughters are confirmed in a partition of his land on Fishing Creek: Mary Guest, Elizabeth Lindsey, Ann Searcy, Phebe Lindsey and Sarah Hopkins, wife of Charles Hopkins.[46]
Leonard and Sarah’s only son Elisha first appeared in a deed in 1777, suggesting that he was probably born in the early 1750s and in any event by 1756.[47] Elisha married Elizabeth Loyd or Lloyd in December 1779.[48] He died in 1793, leaving a Granville County will naming his wife Elizabeth and his two underage sons Wyatt and John Moss Lindsey.[49] In 1802, Elizabeth and Wyatt sold their interests in Elisha’s land and moved to Tennessee with her son John Moss Lindsey and some of Elizabeth’s Lloyd relatives.[50]
Elisha and Elizabeth’s son John Moss Lindsey lived in Sumner County, Tennessee as of 1805, but left no further records there that I have found.[51] John’s brother Wyatt also lived in Sumner County.[52] Wyatt subsequently bought a tract on Round Lick Creek in Wilson County, Tennessee about 1814 and was listed in the 1820 census in that county.[53] Wyatt left a will in Wilson County in 1822 naming his wife Betsy and six children: Mary (Polly), Margaret (Peggy), John, Elisha, Wyatt and Joseph Lindsey.[54] Wyatt (Jr.) moved to Williamson County, Illinois along with his sisters Polly and Peggy. I have not found further records for John, Elisha or Joseph.
* * * * * * * * * *
[1] See the discussion of William Lindsey of New Kent-Brunswick in an article on this website titled “Three William Lindseys of Brunswick Co., VA in the mid-1700s.”
[2] Lunenburg Co., Virginia Deeds, Books 5 & 6 (1757-1761), Books 7 & 8 (1761-1764) (Miami: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1990), abstract of Deed Book 6: 1, deed of 4 May 1760 from William Lindsey of Brunswick to Rease Brower, 400 acres in Lunenburg on both sides of Crabtree Cr., witnessed by Hugh Franklin, Charles Humphries, Richard Russell and John Ezell.
[3] Stephen E. Bradley, Jr., Brunswick County, Virginia Deed Books Volume 2 1744-1755, 1764 (Lawrenceville, Virginia: 1998), abstract of Deed Book 3: 395, deed of 7 Apr 1748 from Richard Russell of Brunswick to William Lindsy of New Kent Co., witnessed by Thomas Twitty and Stephen Moss; abstract of Deed Book 5: 615, 11 May 1754 deed from William McKnight of Brunswick to Thomas Merriot, witnessed by William Lindsey and David Moss.
[4] Zae Hargett Gwynn, Kinfolks of Granville County North Carolina 1765 – 1826 (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Co., 1992), abstract of Deed Book S: 39, deed of 30 Mar 1805 from John Moss Lindsey of Sumner Co., TN to James Hamilton of Granville Co., NC, land devised to grantor by the will of Elisha Lindsey, dec’d, after the death of Elizabeth Lindsey.
[5] Marian Dodson Chiarito, Halifax County Virginia Deed Books 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 1759-1767 (Nathalie, VA: 1986), abstract of Deed Book 6: 278, deed of 4 Nov 1766 from James Cox and wife Elizabeth of Halifax to Leonard Linsay of Granville Co., NC, 400 acres on Sugar Tree Cr. and Russell’s Creek.
[6] Notes 2, 3 and 8.
[7] Timothy W. Rackley, Granville County North Carolina Deeds 1766 – 1772 (Kernersville, NC: 1999), abstract of Deed Book H: 328, deed of 1 May 1767 from Leonard Linsey and wife Sarah of Granville to George Tilmon (also spelled Tilman/Tillman) of Brunswick, 200 acres adjacent Linsey.
[8] Bradley, Brunswick County, Virginia Deed Books Volume 5, abstract of Deed Book 5: 493, deed of 22 Jan 1764 from William Johnson & wife Elizabeth of Sussex Co. to Richard Russell of Brunswick, 175 acres south side Totero Cr. Witnessed by William Lindsey, John Tillman and William Parham.
[9] http://www.clanlindsay.com/dna_group_3.htm
[10] David B. Gammon, Records of Estates Warren County North Carolina, Vol. II, Estates Found in Court Records (Raleigh: 1989), Feb 1806, inventory of the property lent by Joseph Lindsey, dec’d, to Rachel Lindsey, now dec’d, by Caleb Lindsey, executor. That establishes Rachel’s date of death as about 1806. Her date of birth (circa 1735) is just a guess.
[11] Zae Hargett Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County North Carolina (Spartanburg, NC: The Reprint Co., 1992), Deed Book D: 190, state grant to Joseph Linsey on 25 March 1740, 350A north side of Anderson’s Sw.
[12] A. K. Register, State Census of North Carolina, 1784-1787 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1973), listing for Joseph Lindsey. The household consisted of two white males ages 21 – 60 (presumably Joseph and his son Laban), one white male either less than 21 or over 60 (Joseph’s son Caleb), and 4 white females, ages not stated (probably Rachel and three unmarried daughters).
[13] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville, Deed Book B: 284, deed dated 5 Mar 1754 from Joseph Lyndsey and wife Rachel to Leonard Lindsey, £15, 120A on Andersons Sw. at Joseph Lyndsey’s line, witnesses Ruben Searcy and Saml Henderson.
[14] Walter Clark, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, The State Records of North Carolina, Vol. XXII, Miscellaneous (Goldsboro, NC: Nash Brothers, Book and Job Printers, 1907; reissue Wilmington, NC by Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1994), at pp. 370-371 , 366-367. Joseph Lindsay and Leonard Lyndsay appeared on the 8 Oct 1754 muster roll of Capt. John Glover’s Company.
[15] Zae Hargett Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County North Carolina 1746 – 1808, Vol. I (Rocky Mount, NC: 1973), abstract of Will Book 2: 301, will of Elisha Lindsey naming executors Laban and Caleb Lindsey, both of Warren County.
[16] Notes 11 and 13; Timothy W. Rackley, Granville County North Carolina Deeds 1763 – 1766 (Kernersville, NC: 1999), Deed Book G: 204, 205 (Feb 1764 purchase of 135A on Great Nut Bush Cr. and 241A on Crooked Run, and sale of 230A on the north side of Anderson’s Sw.); Deed Book G: 323 (Jan 1765 sale of 135A on both sides Great Nut Bush Cr. and 241A on Crooked Run); Deed Book G: 325 (Feb 1765 purchase of 240A on Wooley’s Br. and White Dirt Br.); Rackley, Granville County Deeds 1766-1772, Deed Book H: 196, 194 (Nov. 1766 sale of 240A on White Dirt Br. and purchase of 230A on Anderson’s Sw.); Timothy W. Rackley, Granville County North Carolina Deeds 1772-1778 (Kernersville, NC: 2001), abstract of Deed Book I: 407 (Oct 1772 purchase of 420A on the waters of Anderson’s Sw.); Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville, Deed Book F: 113 (Jan 1763 purchase of 100A on Anderson’s Sw.)
[17] Register, State Census, listing for Joseph Lindsey in 1786.
[18] Bute Co. was created from Granville Co. in 1764 and was abolished in 1779 to form Warren and Franklin Counties. The Handybook for Genealogists, Tenth Ed.
[19] Rackley, Granville North Carolina Deeds 1766-1772, abstract of Deed Book H: 335, deed of 7 Jul 1767, James Pettegrew Sr. of Granville to Howell Lewis, Joseph Lindsey, Robert Lewis, Chisley Daniel and John Oliver, also of Granville, on behalf of the Presbyterian Congregation, 1 acre on Grassey Cr.
[20] David B. Gammon, Abstracts of Wills Warren County, North Carolina 1779 – 1844 Volume I (Raleigh, NC: 1995), will of Joseph Lindsey dated 5 Mar 1793, proved Nov 1794. Son Caleb Lindsey, 305A where I now live and 70A in the southeast corner of my tract. Wife Rachel, life estate in half of estate and one slave. At her death or marriage, her life estate to be divided among my two sons and seven of my daughters if living, namely Laban and Caleb, Zillah Ragan, Mary Hartgrove Searcy, Rebecca Ragan, Milly Thurman, Darkas Lindsey, Sary Lindsey and Fanny Watkins. Son Laban Lindsey, 220A where he now lives. Executors son Caleb Lindsey, friend Dennis Paschal. Witnesses Dennis Paschal, Mary Paschal.
[21] The State Records of North Carolina, Vol. XXII, Miscellaneous (Goldsboro, NC: Nash Brothers, Book and Job Printers, 1907; reissue Wilmington, NC by Broadfoot Publishing Co., 1994) at p. 73, Revolutionary War pension application of Laban Lindsey.
[22] Caleb’s birth year range can be derived from several census records. In the 1800 census for Warren County, p. 815 (before he married Temperance), he is listed with his mother and (probably) two sisters and is shown in the 26 < 45 category, born 1755 – 1774. In the 1810 census for Warren Co., p. 304, he is listed in the over 45 age bracket, i.e., born by 1765. That narrows his birth range to 1755-1765. In the 1830 census for Rutherford Co., TN, p. 303, he is age 60 < 70, i.e., born 1760-1770, with a female the same age (probably his sister Sarah), a male b. 1800-1810 (his son Joseph), a female b. 1780-1790 (his wife Temperance, who was b. 1780), and females 10 <15 and 15 < 20 (daughters Fanny and Elizabeth). Assuming these census records are correct, Caleb was born during 1760-1765. An internet source gives dates of birth and death for Caleb (27 Apr 1763 – 23 Dec 1838) and his sister Sarah (28 Feb 1761 – 10 Dec 1841). The precise dates suggest cemetery or Bible records which I have not seen.
[23] Note 20, will of Joseph Lindsey naming daughter Mary Hartgrove Searcy; Frances T. Ingmire, Warren County North Carolina Marriage Records 1780 – 1867 (Athens, GA: Iberian Publishing Co., 1993), marriage bond for Darcas Lindsey (daughter of Joseph) and William H. Searcy dated 24 Dec 1805; 15 Jun 1787 marriage bond for Ann Lindsey (daughter of Leonard) and Richard Searcy; Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County, Deed Book B: 376, deed dated 4 Dec 1754, Leonard Linsey and wife Sarah to Reubin Searcy, 120A on Andersons Sw. at Joseph Linsey’s line. Witnesses Wm Searcy, John Bird.
[24] Note 20, will of Joseph Lindsey naming daughters Zillah and Rebecca Ragan.
[25] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County North Carolina 1746 – 1808, Will Book 1: 281, John Guest bought 287A from Elisha Linsey on the condition that John Guest will maintain Leonard Linsey and wife Sarah for their lifetime. Witnesses Reuben Searcy, Elisha Linsey.
[26] The 1785 tax list for Granville County included Elisha Lindsey along with Joseph Linsey and Leonard Linsey. Clarence E. Ratcliff, North Carolina Taxpayers 1701 – 1786 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1984).
[27] State Records of North Carolina, Vol. XXII, Revolutionary War pension application of Laban Lindsey, pension file No. S7153: NC Line, soldier was born 14 Jul 1756, lived in Granville Co., NC at enlistment and later moved to Surry Co., NC. He applied there 6 Aug 1832.
[28] Jordan R. Dodd, ed., North Carolina Marriages Early to 1800 (Bountiful, Utah: Liahona Research, Inc., 1990).
[29] David B. Gammon, Tax Lists Warren County, North Carolina 1779-1790 Vol. I (Raleigh, NC: 1994).
[30] Carol Leonard Snow, Surry County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts Volume I 1800 – 1803 (Toast, NC: 1995), abstract of Surry Co. Deed Book I: 302, deed dated 14 Jan 1802 from Isaac Hudson to Laban Lindsey of Surry Co., 348.5A on the waters of Deep Cr. and Hunting Cr.
[31] Note 27.
[32] Hester Jackson, Surry County, North Carolina Will Abstracts Book 4 (1827-1853) (Dobston, NC: 1991), Will Book 4: 169b, will of Labon Lindsey dated 23 Sep 1838 proved May 1840, naming son Anderson, daughter Charity, son Johnson, the heirs at law of Leonard Lindsey, the children of Anderson Lindsey (Eliza, Matthew, Lucinda, Thomas, Evaline and Polly, wife of John Sturdivant), and granddaughter Susannah Moon. The will abstract omits Anderson’s son Laban.
[33] Id.; 1850 census, Surry Co., NC listings for Anderson Lindsey and Johnson Lindsey at p. 161.
[34] Id., will of Laban Lindsey naming as beneficiaries the heirs of Leonard Lindsey.
[35] 1860 federal census, Yadkin Co., NC, p. 331, Charity Lindsey, 70, b. NC; p. 343, Winnie Lindsy (Leonard’s widow), 55, Miriam Lindsy, 27, and Wade Lindsy, 25; p. 343, Label Lindsy [sic ], 42, with his wife and nine children; p. 344, Pinkney Lindsly, 35, b. NC, with wife and three children.
[36] Zae Hargett Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County North Carolina 1808 – 1833, Vol. II (Rocky Mount, NC: Joseph W. Watson, 1976), Will Book 8: 17, will of Dudley Howse proved Feb 1817 naming daughter Temperance Lindsey; Mary Hinton Kerr, Warren County, North Carolina Records, Vol. I (Warrenton, NC: 1967), Warren County marriage bond for Caleb Lindsey and Temperance House dated 28 Jun 1803.
[37] 1810 federal census, Warren Co., NC, listing for Caleb Lindsey, p. 304; 1830 census, Rutherford Co., TN, listing for Caleb Lindsey, p. 303, 000010001-001100101 b. 1760 – 1770 (Caleb), 1 female 60 < 70 (Temperance Howse Lindsey), and 1 female b. 1780 – 1790 (probably Caleb’s sister Sally, mentioned in his will, see note 37).
[38] Helen C. & Timothy R. Marsh, Wills and Inventories of Rutherford County, Tennessee Volume 2 (1828-1840) (Greenville, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1998), abstract of Will Book 10: 264, will of Caleb Lindsey of Rutherford County dated 13 Jan 1837, recorded 7 Feb 1839. Wife Temperence Lindsey; my four children, sons Dudley H. and Joseph Lindsey and daughters Fanny G. and Elizabeth V. Cooper. Sister Sally Lindsey.
[39] 1860 census, Rutherford Co., TN, p. 52, dwl 731, listing for Jas. [sic, this is Joseph] Lindsey, 56, T. Lindsay, 80, female, b NC (Temperance), L. T. E. Cooper, female, 21, b. TN (a niece), and W. A. Cooper, 20, male, b. TN (a nephew). For confirmation that this is indeed Joseph and his mother Temperance, see 1850 census for Rutherford Co., TN, p. 170, dwl. 310, listing for Joseph Lindsey, 46, M.E.C. clergyman, b. NC. Household included Temperance Lindsey, 70, b. NC, and some Cooper nephews and a niece (Wm. H. Cooper, 13, b. TN, Wise A. Cooper, 10, b. TN, and Sarah F. E. Cooper, 12, b. TN).
[40] Edythe Rucker Whitley, Marriages of Rutherford County, Tennessee 1804-1872 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981), marriage bond of Dudley H. Lindsey and Charlotte T. Puckett, 12 Oct. 1829; Upshur County Book Committee, Upshur County, Texas: a Sesquicentennial History (Gilmer, TX: Upshur County Sesquicentennial Committee, 1996).
[41] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County, Deed Book B: 284, deed dated 5 Mar 1754 from Joseph Lyndsey and wife Rachel to Leonard Lindsey, £15, 120A on Andersons Sw. at Joseph Lyndsey’s line, witnesses Ruben Searcy and Saml Henderson.
[42] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County, Granville Will Book 2: 1, will of John Searcy dated 15 Mar 1783 proved Feb 1787 named among others his daughter Sarah Lindsey; Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County, Deed Book B: 376, conveyance dated 4 Dec 1754 from Leonard Linsey and wife Sarah to Reubin Searcy, tract on Andersons Sw. at Joseph Linseys line.
[43] In 1760, Leonard acquired via state grant another 640 acres on the east side of Andersons Swamp; he sold that tract six months later. Gwynn, Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville County, Deed Book D: 155, 230. Also in 1760, he received a grant for 420 acres on Falling Creek. Id., Deed Book G: 164. Two years later, he bought another 215 acres on Anderson’s Swamp. Id., Deed Book E: 245. In 1763, Leonard acquired another 395 acres. Id., Deed Book F: 419. In 1767, Leonard sold about 620 acres. Rackley, Granville North Carolina Deeds 1766-1772, Deed Book H: 326, 328. In 1768, he bought 300 acres on Flat Creek. Id., Granville Deed Book H: 418. In 1760 and 1771, Leonard sold 215 acres on Anderson’s Swamp and 300 acres on Flat Cr. Id., Deed Book I: 45 and Rackley, Granville County North Carolina Deeds 1772-1778, Deed Book K: 57. This is probably not a complete list of Leonard’s Granville County land transactions.
[44] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County, Will Book 1: 438.
[45] Elisha appeared in the 1786 state census in Granville County in the Ragland tax district with his wife Elizabeth Loyd and sons John Moss and Wyatt Lindsey. See Register, State Census of North Carolina, 1784-1787, listing for Elisha Lindsey, whose household included one white male age 21-60, 2 white males who were either less than 21 or over 60, and one white female.
[46] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County, Will Book 4: 95, November 1796 report of partition of land on Fishing Creek, formerly property of Leonard Lindsey, between five daughters: Sarah Linsey, Phebe Linsey, Elizabeth Linsey, Mary Guest, and Ann Searcey. See also Gwynn, Kinfolks of Granville County North Carolina.
[47] Gwynn, Kinfolks of Granville County, abstract of Deed Book M: 41, deed of 5 Feb 1777 from Abraham Cook and wife Amey of Granville to Elisha Linsey, same, 50A on east side Tar River, Elisha Linsey’s Spring Branch. Elisha was therefore born by at least 1756. Also, on the 1769 Granville tax list, Leonard Lindsey was shown with two white polls, suggesting that his son Elisha was of taxable age by that date. Id.
[48] Brent H. Holcomb, Marriages of Granville County, North Carolina 1753 – 1868 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981).
[49] Gwynn, Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County North Carolina 1746 – 1808 Will Book 2: 301, will of Elisha Lindsey dated 16 Nov 1791, proved Aug 1792. The marriage bond for Elisha Lindsey and Elizabeth Loyd was dated 25 Dec 1779, so neither son was over age twelve when Elisha died. Elizabeth’s grandson Joseph, a son of Wyatt, was indentured to Jarrett Loyd after Wyatt died in Wilson Co., TN. See Thomas E. Partlow, Wilson County, Tennessee Circuit Court Records 1810-1855 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1988), abstract of court records 1832-33, entry of 24 Sept 1833 at p. 457: Joseph Lindsey, about 11 or 12 years old, bound to Jarratt Loyd. He may be the same Jarratt Loyd who was bondsman on the Granville marriage bond for Elisha and Elizabeth Lloyd Lindsey and was probably Elizabeth’s brother.
[50] See Gwynn, Kinfolks of Granville Co., abstracts of Deed Book R: 68 and 74, two deeds dated 11 Oct 1802 in which Elizabeth sold her life estate in the tract Elisha conveyed to her and Wyatt conveyed his remainder interest in the same tract, both interests sold to James Hamilton.
[51] Id., abstract of Deed Book S: 39, deed dated 30 Mar 1805 from John Moss Lindsey of Sumner Co., TN to James Hamilton of Granville Co., NC, land devised to grantor by the will of Elisha Lindsey, dec’d, after the death of Elizabeth Lindsey.
[52] Joyce Martin Murray, Sumner County, Tennessee Deed Abstracts 1806-1817 (Wolfe City, TX: Henington Publishing Co., 1989), Deed Book 4: 63, deed dated Dec 1805 from John Kerr to Wirt Lindsey, $400, 115A on the west fork of Goose Cr.; Deed Book 4: 291, deed dated 10 Sep 1808 from Wiot Lindsey to David Tulloch, $80, tract on east fork, west branch of Goose Cr.
[53] Thomas E. Partlow, Wilson County, Tennessee Deed Books C-M 1793-1829 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1984), abstract of Deed Book F: 202, deed from Samuel Caplinger to Wiatt Linsey, 150A on Round Lick Cr. dated or recorded 1814.
[54] Thomas E. Partlow, Wilson County, Tennessee, Wills Books 1-13, 1802-1850 (Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1991), abstract of Wills & Inventories 1814-1819 at p. 301, will of Wiatt Lindsey dated 7 Aug 1822 proved 26 Nov 1822.
Amazing work for a beginning blog. I too am a beginner and would love to follow your work for inspiration. Can you add a follow box please?
Deborah, that is so nice! I was just ripping my hair out trying to figure out how to get rid of an unattractive icon. Hang in there, we’ll both get there!!
Deborah, After much pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth … we have added a “Subscribe” Box. Please check it out and you will be our first! Gary Willis
I was hoping that in your research that you would have run into Jacob Riley Lindsey in Rutherford County, NC, and a Susannah Lindsey who married Mathew Durham in Orange County, NC. I think our Lindseys are tied into your family somewhere…Mike
Hi Robin, Thank you for all the information in the deeds and will for William Lindsey #2 of Wild Cat Creek. Did you go to the courthouse to find these deeds and wills or were you able to access them online? I have been looking for a source to view the originals, but have not been able to find one.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you may provide.
Kathy, I did that Brunswick County research 10 or 12 years ago, before many deeds were available online. I went to the courthouse in Lawrenceville. I didn’t make any copies, or I would be happy to share — I just abstracted the Lindsey deeds and wills I had not seen in a published abstract. I assume you have looked for images of the originals at FamilySearch.org? They have digitized many of their county film records and many are available online from any computer. Some require that you be in an LDS Family History Center to view them online.
Good luck!
Stumbled upon this today and I am thrilled! Thank you INFINITY! My research brick wall stops at an Elizabeth Lindsay (b 1785/6 in NC), and thanks to you I have a reason to believe she MAY be Elisha and Elizabeth Loyd’s daughter (her bros might be Wyatt and John Moss) via Family Search under last name ‘Linsey’ BUT can’t seem to find anything to prove it. I’m a novice so I wonder how I could. I guess birth certificates back then were not a thing. Any pointers? Your research is fabulous!
Rachel, you just made MY day! Thank you for the kind words. You are right, birth certificates are out. DEATH certificates are a good source, however. Are you in a sufficiently large city that there is a genealogical library and/or a genealogy society? Here in Houston, we have Clayton Genealogical Library, one of the country’s ten best. If you can find a resource like that, go pay them a visit and tell them you need guidance on research. You might ask them a specific question (like Elizabeth Lindsey b. 1785/86), or you might just ask for “how to” tips. I can guarantee they will be helpful. I can also guarantee that among the FIRST things they will tell you is that online trees at Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org aren’t usually worth the paper it would take to print them. Family trees without source evidence are no better than fiction. The best source materials: probate records (wills and estate administrations), deeds, census records, marriage records, tax lists, death certificates (which usually name parents, and North Carolina started doing them fairly early). Go to your library and read everything you can find about your Elizabeth Lindsey and her husband among the records in the last county where they lived. I’ll bet you will find some clues.
Keep in mind that related family frequently migrated together in “clusters,” so if your Elizabeth Lindsey married, say, a Thompson, you would almost expect to see Lindseys listed near Thompsons in the census in the same county, and Lindseys/thompsons witnessing each other’s deeds and wills, and the like. Just jump in with both feet, and you will get yourself up the learning curve so fast it will surprise you.
Good luck, and thanks for the comment!
My line is thru Joseph Linsey/Lindsey through the marriage to the Regan/Riggan family. I don’t believe the William Linsey of Brunswick, VA is the one who come s from New Kent but instead is shown as William #1 in the research of the Three Williams of Brunswick. I take the William of Brunswick #1 back to Isle of Wight. The other William comes from the north. Sons, Joseph, William and John are shown disposing of his poperty in 1772 in Bute/Warren, NC. Their is a Leonard Linsey who I think is also a brother as you have shown and also a Dennis Linsey who is disputed and not yet placed with a family. Happy to compare as it is a difficult research project Georgene
Georgene, thanks for your comment. One note: William (Jr.), Joseph and John sold William Lindsey’s land on Rocky Swamp in Halifax County, NC. See Halifax Deed Book 12: 351. Would love to see evidence that William #1 of Brunswick goes back to the Isle of Wight, as I haven’t been able to figure that out!
Robin
I descend three ways from Joseph Lindsey of Warren County. Once through his daughter Fanny Watkins, and twice through his daughter Zillah/Priscilla Riggan.
I have a surprising (and unexplained) number of DNA matches to descendants of William Lindsey and wife Jane Chew of Brunswick County VA.
David Gammon
Thank you for referencing some of my abstracts in your great article! I am glad they were helpful. I descend from Joseph Lindsey through two of his daughters – Fanny Lindsey Watkins and Zillah (Priscilla) Lindsey Riggan. Some of my recent DNA matches have given some clues about the other children of Joseph and Rachel Lindsey and their descendants.
Gratefully,
David Gammon