Missing Ancestor Report - UPDATE

Female ancestors are hard enough to trace when you only have their married name and their maiden name is unknown.  Typically in those cases you look to obituaries, death certificates, marriage licenses, and census records (hopefully their is an in-law living in the home).  But, my situation is different.  I’d call it unique, but I’m sure, while I feel alone in this, there are many that have also come across a situation or two like mine.

BACKGROUND

My Great Grandparents Walter Cleveland LINDSEY and Marguerite Ethel LEARN divorced in April 1919.  They had four children: Mary, age 11; Walter, age 10; William (Bill), age 9 and Maretta, age 6.  Theirs was not an easy “Mayberry” childhood.  They lived in rural central Pennsylvania and their economic status was very lean.  While I only once met my Great Grandmother, Marguerite, before her death, I grew up hearing my Grandfather’s stories of his tough childhood.  The two older children – Mary and Walter were, as my Grandfather described it, “farmed out” to neighboring farms to live, work and earn their keep – room and board.  And, the two youngest – Bill and Maretta – were relinquished to the care of the Children’s Home of York and York County.¹    The children were never re-united with their parents.  Mary and Walter continued working the farms earning their room and board until adulthood.  Bill lived in the Children’s Home until the age of 18 and Maretta was adopted by Milton Henry and Katherine Elizabeth Bailey of Shrewsbury, York, Pennsylvania, sometime shortly after she was placed in the care of the children’s home.

In 2013 I '”reported” the disappearance of my Grand Aunt, Mary LINDSEY, and posted this Missing Ancestor Report. Recently some new, albeit scant tantalizing clues have come in, so I’m filing posting this update.

Click to enlarge

My unique challenge in 2013 was, and now, is:

• Where did Mary go?
• Did Mary marry?
• Was Mary married more than once?
• Did Mary have children?

These challenges make the “traditional” search for female ancestors, well, challenging, and it’s why, back in 2013, I embarked on a different and somewhat unique approach and filed posted a Missing Ancestor Report asking the genealogy community for help in finding Mary.
In the past month, as I mentioned, new tantalizing clues were discovered . . .

• Maretta’s Grandson, Michael, an Ancestry subscriber uploaded a photo of Mary dated [. . .mber] 18, 1926

Written on the back of this photo appears the following information:  Mary’s name. Once as Mary LINDSEY, age 18.  Once as Miss Mary LINDSEY, Machincsburg (sic), PA.  And, written next is what I believe the mailing address [201 6th] . . . "[Miff . . .].  “I was born July 10, 1913” is also written on the back.

The writing appears to have been written by three different hands.  Having nothing more to go on, at this point, other than these scant clues written on the back of this photo and my own knowledge and research of the LINDSEY family, I believe the following.

__ Mary sent the photo of herself and the return address, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is hers

__That Mary was sending her photo to someone by the name of “Maryf. . .” who resides in “[Miff. . .],” Pennsylvania.

Based on my research, I know that the LINDSEY family predominately lived in York and Cumberland counties throughout their lives.  During the specific time period of interest, for this research, Mary and her brother Walter were in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; working and living on separate farms.  The family, the Crones, that Mary lived with during the 1920’s continued to live in Cumberland County until their deaths in 1957 and 1965.

The mailing address, "[Miff . . .]” could be Upper Mifflin, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Or, it could be Mifflinville, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.  The corner of the photo is torn, as you’ll see, so I have nothing more to go on right now other than my “geni senses” and my knowledge of the family.  My “geni senses” have me leaning fairly strongly in the direction of Upper Mifflin.  Why?  Mary grew up and lived, since the age of 12, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, strongly “suggesting” that whoever she was sending her photograph to was residing in nearby Upper Mifflin.  While Mary had maternal family living in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, I think it unlikely that she was sending any of them her photograph.  Mary and her siblings are not known to have ever connected with their mother’s family.  However, because she did have family in Columbia County, Mifflinville, cannot be ruled out.

The birthdate mentioned, July 10, 1913, is Mary’s sister, Maretta LINDSEY’s birthdate.  It is unknown by her Grandson, Michael, how Maretta came to have this photo in her possession.

FAN Research

One of my favorite research strategies is Family/Friends, Associates, and Neighbors (FAN) research.  Often when an ancestor is elusive or goes missing, it is helpful to research all known family, friends, associates and neighbors, as often,your missing person didn’t go far afield from them.  Keeping that in mind and now using these recent clues, I set out to see what I could learn about the Crone family that Mary lived with in 1920.

US Federal Census Records

__ In the 1920 Census²,Emanuel Crone and his family are living in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Emanuel is aged 42; Minnie, his wife, aged 43; Laura, their daughter, aged 21 and Chester Lancaster, their Grandson, aged 8.  Emanuel is a manager of a local fruit farm.

__ In the 1930 Census³, Emanuel Crone and his family are living in Upper Allen, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Emanuel is aged 52; Maria, his wife, aged 53; and Chester Lancaster, their Grandson, aged 19; Rhoda E Smith, aged 13, is listed as a servant and Chester M Weaver, aged 24, is listed as a sibling to the Head-of-Household. Laura Crone and Mary LINDSEY aren’t listed.  Emanuel is a local fruit farmer.

__ In the 1940 Census⁴, Emanuel Crone and his family are still living in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Emanuel, aged 62; Maria, aged 63; and Rhoda E Smith, aged 23 and now recorded as the Crone’s foster child.  Their Grandson, Chester Lancaster and Chester M Weaver aren’t listed.  Emanuel is a local farmer.

Note: Curious about the name “Minnie” recorded in the 1920 census and the name “Maria” recorded in the 1930 and 1940 census, I GOOGLED and learned that “Minnie” is traditionally a nickname for Mary.  And, “Maria” is the Latinised form of the name “Mary.”

Death Certificates

__ I next learned that Emanuel and Maria’s daughter Laura Crone married Paul Moyer Sipe and that Laura died young, aged 28.  Paul, Laura’s husband, was the informant for her death certificate⁵ and he indicated that he lived at RD #3, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  The Death certificate provides the place of death as Cumberland County, Upper Allen Township.

__ Emanuel Crone died in October 1957.⁶  Maria was the informant and she provides her current address as RD #3, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  The death certificate provides the deceased’s usual residence as Pennsylvania, Cumberland County, Upper Allen Township, Mechanicsburg, RD #3

__ Maria Crone died December 1965.  Lulu May Klinedinst was the informant and provides her current address as RD #3 Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  The death certificate provides the deceased’s mailing address as RD #3, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Note:  Emanuel and Maria’s Grandson, Chester Lancaster, married into the Klinedinst family.

Knowing that my Grandfather – having formed a bond -  kept in touch with the farming family he lived with, worked for and alongside, well after he came of age, married and started a family of his own, I suspect; I’m hoping, that Mary too formed a bond with the Crones.  Working with that as my hypothesis, I strongly believe a case can be made that Mary continued to live with, or near, the Crones at least until 1926.  The recent photo uploaded to Ancestry was dated “. . .mber” 18, 1926 with “Mechanicsburg” written on the reverse. I strongly believe that Mechanicsburg is Mary’s return address.  My research, as presented above, shows that Emanuel and Maria Crone, their daughter Laura Crone and her husband, and their Grandson, Chester Lancaster, all reside in Mechanicsburg and still continued to do so long after Mary turned 18 in 1926.

Circumstantial?  Yes.  But, right now, it is what I have to work with.

The search continues . . .

City Directories

Unfortunately, US City Directories for Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County; Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County; and Upper Mifflin, Cumberland County are not online at Ancestry, Find My Past, or FamilySearch for the 1900’s.

I took a look at the FamilySearch.org’s online catalog and found the following reference:

• Hauck’s Centennial Directory of the Borough of Mechanicsburg (Cumberland County, PA); Film #6045222

This collection is on microfilm and only available to view at a local Family History Center.  However, due to the FamilySearch digitization project, I believe that I will now have to wait until that project is complete and the directory is made available online.  So, no help there.  I did search both the Internet Archive and GOOGLE Books websites for the centennial directory with no luck.

I’ve taken a look at the Cumberland County Historical Society Website to see if they had city directories in their collection.  I did not see them listed, I do however still want to call their research department to be sure that I didn’t miss something.  The Cumberland County Public Library has in their catalog the “Guide to 1930 Pennsylvania City and County Directories.”  I need to contact the Librarian to learn more.  I am hoping to find City Directories for 1925 – 1927 for Cumberland County  in the hopes of perhaps finding Mary.

The problem is, I don’t know if Mary married.  In 1926 she was 18 and it would not be uncommon for her to have married and started a family.  But, I just don’t know.  IF she married, I have no chance of finding her in the city directories, as I don’t know what her married name would be.

Mary could have, at the age of 18, continued to live with the Crone family. IF so, I’m guessing it isn’t likely they she will be listed in the city directory under her full name Mary LINDSEY.  So again, the likelihood of my finding Mary is, well, unlikely.

However, Mary could have set out on her own and still be living in Mechanicsburg near the family she grew up with.  And, perhaps, thought of Emanuel and Minnie as parental figures and their daughter, Laura, and Grandson, Chester, as siblings.  If this is the case, it might be possible that she is listed in the city directories under her name . . . Mary LINDSEY

Lastly, I posted a query to the Cumberland County PA Genealogy Facebook Group, 10 August 2019, inquiring if any were aware of where else I might look for the Hauck’s Centennial Directory?  Or, for Cumberland County city directories for the 1925 – 1927 timeframe?  As of this date, I have not received any reply or suggestions.  Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that this group is very active, the most recent post before mine is dated 22 May 2019.

Year Books

The recently discovered photograph of Mary at age 18, looks like it could be a school photo – senior photo . . . maybe?  I GOOGLED Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania High Schools and learned that there are two.  Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School, also referred to as Mechanicsburg Hight School, and Cumberland Valley High School.  WiKipedia tells me that the Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School serves several communities, including the boroughs of Mechanicsburg and Shiremanstown, Upper Allen Township and the villages of Grantham and Bowmansdale.  The School was founded and held its first commencement in 1875.⁷

I looked at E-Yearbook.com, a subscription site, to see what they might have for the Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School.  While they do have yearbooks online for the school, sadly they do not have one for the mid-1920’s.  In fact, the only yearbook they have online for the 1920’s is, the 1920 yearbook

I also looked at Classmates.com.  While they have a handful of Mechanicsburg High School yearbooks online, they, like E-Yearbook.com only have the 1920 yearbook available to view.

My next steps are to contact the Mechanicsburg High School; the Mechanicsburg, public library and/or the genealogical or historical societies to see if they may have yearbooks for the 1924 – 1926 timeframe.  I don’t want to restrict myself to 1926; I don’t want to miss “snaring” Mary in my “geni net.”

Newspapers

Next up?  I’ve looked at the following newspaper websites Newspapers.com; genealogybank.com and Chronicling America.  I did not find an obituary for Laura Crone Sipe.  But, did locate a very brief death notice.  Unfortunately it did not mention surviving family members nor any persons who may have been in attendance at her funeral.  No mention of Mary.

I was unsuccessful in finding an obituary, death notice or funeral announcement for Emanuel Crone who died in 1957.

I did find the following mention of Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Crone in the Harrisburg Evening News:

• 17 October 1941 – Barbara Kay Lancaster, daughter of Chester Lancaster celebrates her first birthday

The birthday announcement notes that Barbara is the great-granddaughter of Emanuel Crone of Mechanicsburg, RD #3.

Note: this is the same address listed for both Laura Crone Sipe and Emanuel Crone on their  1926 and 1957 death certificates.

Photographs

As I noted in the 2013 Missing Ancestor Report my Grandfather had three photographs of Mary.

1. Photo with the 35 Andrew Street, South Beach, Staten Island, New York (undated)
2. Photo dated 21 April 1946 and simply labeled “Mary”
3. Photo labeled “Mary” (undated)

With these photos and the new photo that Michael, the Grandson of Mary’s sister, Maretta, uploaded to Ancestry, I’ve created a “photo line-up,” if you will.  While asking if these could be all of the same person is subjective, I’m wondering about your thoughts.

Note: photo #4 used with Michael's permission

Here is the line up; I’ve included the reverse side of each photo and the shared thoughts of a geni friend.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Such tantalizing clues. 

1. The likelihood that Mary LINDSEY was living in Mechanicsburg with or near the Crone family she grew up with 
2. Photo of Mary at 18 (1926) sent from Mechanicsburg to “Maryf . . .” in “Miff. . .” – Mifflin, most likely.  Perhaps a school – graduation – photo?
3. Photograph of Mary a few years later with her address, 35 Andrew Street, South beach, Staten Island, New York, written in my Grandmother’s hand on the back.  My Grandmother simply labeled the photo “Mary LINDSEY”

But, Mary is still missing.  While I follow up on these tantalizing leads, hoping to locate city directories and high school yearbooks for the 1924 – 1926 timeframe, I file post this Missing Ancestor Report (UPDATE), in the hopes that someone with information on the “whereabouts” of Mary LINDSEY will see it.  

IF YOU KNOW “where” Mary is or have any information that can help the investigation research, please contact me immediately.

If you are a Crone descendant and have information about about Mary; if you went to school with Mary and have any information that may lead to the discovery of what became of her; or, if you are a descendant of Mary LINDSEY, I’d LOVE to hear from you!!!!!

I also welcome comments, thoughts, suggestions, or information from anyone in the genealogy community – anything that may ultimately help re-unite Mary Telthia LINDSEY’s leaf with her family tree.

Tracy

Copyright © 2019 Family Preserves; Tracy L Meyers

__________________________________________

SOURCES

¹ 1920 US Census, York County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, York & York County, enumeration district (ED) 120, sheet 17, house 300, William G Lindsey; NARA microfilm publication T625

² 1920 US Census, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Upper Allen Township, enumeration district (ED) 43, sheet 42B, dwelling 42, family 42, Mary Lindsey; NARA microfilm publication T625

³ 1930 US Census, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Upper Allen Township, enumeration district (ED) 21-49, sheet 10A, dwelling 224, family 236, Emanuel Crone; NARA microfilm publication T626

⁴ 1940 US Census, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Upper Allen Township, enumeration district (ED) 21-58, sheet 9B, house 174, Emanuel Crone; NARA microfilm publication T627

⁵ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate no. 68615 (1926), Laura Catherine Crone Sipe; Bureau of Vital Statistics

⁶ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate no. 117814 (1965), Maria T Crone; Vital Statistics

⁷Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate no. 89504 (1957), Emanuel Crone; Division of Vital Statistics

⁸ Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanicsbug_Area_Senior_High_School)

⁹  Mary Lindsey Photograph, . . .mber 18, 1926, unidentified photographer; privately held by Michael, 2019, personal collection

My Collateral is Good!!

col·lat·er·al /kəˈlatərəl,kəˈlatrəl/ noun: collateral; plural noun: collaterals a person having the same descent in a family as another but by a different line

____________________________

Wouldn’t it just be nice to sit down to research your ancestor(s) and work your way back from what you know and to follow them in a direct line?  You know, generation to generation – finding all the necessary documents to prove a direct relationship to you – with no hiccups or detours down rabbit holes.  No ‘missing persons.’   Easy peasy!!  A genealogist can dream can’t they?  That’s how my LINDSEY research began; sitting at the computer and . . .

My August post, My Gut Tells Me I am on the Right Track, helped me to document what I was learning and to formulate a research plan; while – as the title of that post would suggest – I felt that I was on the right track, there were some nagging questions and concerns.  For the reader’s convenience, that research plan is outlined here.

Research Plan:

1. Search for civil / church marriage records for Adrian G LINDSEY and Annie M Wilson
2. Contact West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
3. Search for Adrian LINDSEY’s death certificate
4. Contact Philadelphia County Coroner’s Office
5. Trace Adrian LINDSEY’s parents; Edwin G and Rosanna LINDSEY and his siblings
6. Contact NARA for Adrian’s civil war and pension files

No longer living in the stomping ground of my and my ancestor’s youth, I gathered pencil, paper, computer and cell phone and began my work . . .

While I initially found Adrian G LINDSEY’s marriage to Annie E Wilson on 2 February 1865 recorded in the Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708 – 1985 I have not been able to find any other marriage document – license, bann, certificate online.  A few queries later to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Facebook Group and I learned that Philadelphia did not start keeping marriage records until 1885. 
Having contacted the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania I learned Adrian is buried in section PENCOYD 100; there is no headstone; and that he is buried with Etta English, Lizzie English, George English and George LINDSEY.  Now, this is interesting.  (More on this in my next post.)

Having located two separate newspaper articles detailing the circumstances of Adrian’s death, I set about finding his death certificate. (see right).  The death certificate was signed by William S Janney, MD, Coroner.  So, the next step was to contact the Philadelphia County Coroner’s office to see if they had the original or copies of the Coroner’s reports dating back to the mid-1800’s.  In early September, I spoke to the Jeannette, Office Administrator, Records Room, Philadelphia County Medical Examiner’s Office in Philadelphia, PA and learned (sadly) that their office does not maintain medical examiner’s reports dating back to 1882.  The oldest record they have on file is dated 1900.
Turning my attention to Adrian’s parents and siblings . . . 
Edwin G LINDSEY:  Born: about 1800 in New York (census records) and died 19 August 1872 in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (obituary and Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records).  Edwin was married to Rosanna M RANKIN (Rosanna’s Return of Death Physician’s Certificate) and together they had seven children:  Helen Mar LINDSEY; Edwin Franklin LINDSEY; Adrian G LINDSEY; Orilla M LINDSEY; Elizabeth W LINDSEY; George W LINDSEY; and William H LINDSEY (my 2nd Great Grandfather).
Supporting Documents:


in 1850 Edwin and Rosanna are living with their six children – William H (my 2nd Great Grandfather) had not yet been born – in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and he made his living as a fruiterer; a fruit retailer.  The census records that he was born in New York; Rosanna was born in Nova Scotia; their daughter Helen was born in New York; and their other children were born in Pennsylvania.

The 1860 US Federal Census has Edwin and Rosanna and their seven children still living in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Edwin is now employed as a clerk; his daughter Helen (incorrectly enumerated as ‘E’llen) is a school teacher; and his son Adrian is also employed as a clerk.


Sadly on 21 January 1856, after a lingering illness, Adrian’s oldest brother, Edwin Franklin LINDSEY passed away at the age of 16.  The obituary invites family, friends, and members and teachers of the Christ Church Sunday school to attend the funeral.   Edwin Franklin is buried at the Christ Church Burying Grounds located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (The LINDSEY family were living at 23 Sergeant Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)


And, on 30 May 1862, at 23,  Helen Mar LINDSEY, suffering from consumption of the lungs, passes away.  She never married; still lived in her parent’s home (1016 Sergeant Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and was still employed as a school teacher.  Helen was laid to rest next to her brother, Edwin Franklin, at the Christ Church Burying Grounds.



And, two years later, on 18 January 1864 Adrian’s mother, Rosanna passes away.  Rosanna was also buried at Christ Church Burying Grounds alongside her children, Edwin Franklin LINDSEY and  Helen Lindsey.  



Recently I spoke with Allan,Christ Church Archives Researcher, and was able to confirm Edwin Franklin LINDSEY; Helen Mar LINDSEY; and Rosanna M LINDSEY were indeed interred at the Christ Church Burying Grounds.  (no headstones)


By 1870 Adrian and Annie are living in Columbia, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (they are listed on lines 39 – 40) and Edwin G LINDSEY and his youngest son, William H LINDSEY (my 2nd Great Grandfather) are living with them (they can be found on lines 1 – 2 of the next image).  Adrian, 29, is a brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad; Edwin, 70, is a cabinet maker and William, 19, works as a day laborer.


In 1872 death visits the LINDSEYs again.  Edwin G LINDSEY died 21 July 1872 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He was 72 years of age.  He was buried in Lancaster the next morning at 10:00 am.


By 1880 Adrian and Annie LINDSEY are living at 1507 North 5th Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and have two children, George M, born about 1871 and Adrian H, born about 1875.  Adrian is employed as a conductor for the Pennsylvania Railroad.


And, my 2nd Great Grandfather, William H LINDSEY is now married to my 2nd Great Grandmother, Emma T SWINGLER and they have one son, William Jefferson LINDSEY.  William and Emma live on Third Street in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and William earns his living as an auctioneer.


On the afternoon of 8 December 1882, Adrian LINDSEY, conductor of a freight train fell from his at Fifty-second street and was instantly killed.


In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, rumors were bandied about, about a conductor on the Pennsylvania railroad named LINDSEY – who resided in Harrisburg – having been killed on the lower division.  Inquiry elicited the fact that the man was a resident of Columbia, Dauphin County, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and that the accident occurred in the yards at Philadelphia.  He was brought home to Columbia and his family were contacted.*

* It is important to note that the information was obtained second-hand; "Inquiry elicited . . . “  It is not clear from whom this information was obtained.  My assumption is that it either came from the Philadelphia County Coroner’s office or from a clerk / reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Keep this in mind as I point out that the Patriot Obituary incorrectly notes that Adrian’s body was brought home to Columbia and that his son and daughter were notified of the terrible and sudden death of their father.

As noted earlier, Adrian G LINDSEY is buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.  At the time of his death Adrian had only two known children – sons – George M LINDSEY (11) and Adrian H LINDSEY (7).  This obituary makes no mention of Adrian’s wife Annie, but as far as I can tell (currently), she is still living.  “Adrian” is a genderless name and, while not an authoritative, a google search suggests that it was both a popular male and female name.  My hypothesis is that, that is perhaps why a son and daughter are mentioned.
While I am awaiting information from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on Adrian’s Civil War and pension files and I continue my efforts to find out what became of Adrian’s sons, George and Adrian H LINDSEY and his widow, I am now confident that . . .

My Collateral is Good!

How is your collateral?  I would love to hear your stories.

---

Sources:

1. Record of Marriages: Ancestry.com - Pennsylvania, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985
2. Return of Death:  Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915 Image Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915; pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12393-173677-27 — FamilySearch.org
3. 1850 US Federal Census:  Ancestry.com - 1850 United States Federal Census
4. 1860 US Federal Census:  Ancestry.com - 1860 United States Federal Census
5. Mortuary Notice:  23 January 1856, Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA); Volume: XL; Issue: 104; Page 2.  Source:  genealogybank.com
6. Return of Death:  "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," index and images, familySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J6PF-T97 : accessed 27 Oct 2013), Edwin G. Lindsey in entry for Helen M. Lindsey, 1862.
7. Return of Death:  Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JFZK-4ZX : accessed 27 Oct 2013), Rosannah Lindsey, 1864.
8. 1870 US Federal Census:  Ancestry.com - 1870 United States Federal Census
9. Mortuary Notice:  19 August 1872, Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA); Volume: LXXIII; Issue: 126; Page 2.  Source:  genealogybank.com
10. 1880 US Federal Census:  Ancestry.com – 1880 United States Federal Census
11. Return of Death:  Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915 Image Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915; pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12393-173677-27 — FamilySearch.org
12. Sundries.  Paragraphic Summery of Happenings in and about the City:  9 December 1882, Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA); Volume: CVII; Page 3.  Source: genealogybank.com
13. Capital Chatter:  9 December 1882, Patriot (Harrisburg, PA); Page 1

My 'Gut' Tells Me I Am On the Right Track - What Say You?

Okay, I am fixated on my paternal 2nd Great Grand Uncle; he's not even in my direct line.  Has this ever happened to you?

Working my way through the LINDSEYs on my family tree, I first discover Adrian on the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Columbia, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; while tracing his brother (my 2nd Great Grandfather), William H. LINDSEY.  Living in the home are:  Adrian LINDSEY (29), his wife Annie (24), Edward G. LINDSEY (70), and William H. LINDSEY (19).  (see image below).  It should be noted, that based on the proximity in their ages and the fact that Adrian and Annie are listed first in the household, my presumption at this point, is that they are man and wife.

1870 Census

 

 





1870 Cenus (continued)

 

 

Having to this point, no other previous knowledge of Adrian, I set about searching ancestry.com and familysearch.org to see what other information / documentation I could find.  What follows is the information I was able to locate . . .

 

 

The above 1870 census listed Adrian (indexed as Adnan) and Annie; again, due to their proximity in age and being listed first in the household, my presumption is that they are married.  So my first search then was to see if there were marriage records online.  The following image, found on ancestry.com, provides their marriage information.

 

 

Record of Marriage

 

 

Adrian G. LINDSEY and Annie E. Wilson were married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 2 February 1865. 

 

 

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificate Index, 1803 - 1915 (see image below) was the last document located, on my initial search, and was found on ancestry.com. 

 

 

Death Certificate Index

 

 

You'll note that both his given name 'Adrian' and his surname 'LINDSEY' are misspelled.

 

 

Next step was to see if I could locate an obituary online.  The following two were found at genealogybank.com.  The first is from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the second is from the Patriot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Both are dated 9 September 1882.

 

 

Philadelphia Inquirer Obituary

 

 

Patriot Obituary

 

 

The Philadelphia obituary notes that a coroner was called and the Harrisburg obituary notes that Adrian was a resident of that city.  I will come back to this shortly.

 

I next searched for the death certificate (see image below).  Document was found on familysearch.org.

 

Return of Death

 

On this document . . .

 

Decedent's residence was listed as 1800 Fitzwater Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

The document also states that Adrian is a widower

 

Also found on familysearch.org was the 1882 Registrar of Deaths In the City of Philadelphia (see image below)

 

1882 Registrar of Deaths

 

 

On this document Adrian's given name was misspelled as 'Aduan.'

 

Turning to the 1880 U.S. Federal Census . . .



 

Adrian (38), his wife Annie (35), and their two children, George M. (9) and Adrian H. (5) are living in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania on North 5th Street.  (see image below)

 

1880 Census

 

 

Having focused on Adrian's life from where I first located him in 1870 to his death in 1882, it was now time to research and see what information could be found on him prior to 1870.

 

The 1860 U.S. Federal Census, found at ancestry.com (see image below) , has Adrian (18) residing in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his parents, Ed (60) and Rosanna (43) LINDSEY and presumably his siblings . . .

 

Ellen (22)

Orilla (15)

George (12)

Elizabeth (12)

William (9) (my 2nd Great Grandfather)

 

1860 Census

 

 

And in 1850 US Federal Census, found at ancestry.com (see image below) Adrian (7) and his family are in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Residing with him in the household . . .

 

 

Edwin G (49)



Rosanna M (32)

Helen Mar (11)

Edwin F (9)

Orilla (5)

George (2)

Elizabeth (2)

 

1850 Census

 

 Additional information found online; Army, Civil War Service, Union documents (see images below).  However, these do not, in and of themselves, offer much in the way of vital information; ie, spouse, children, residence, etc. 

 

Note:  An online friend with a fold3.com subscription was kind enough to provide these screen shots and the source information as well.  Thank you Shirley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And from the National Archives . . .

 

 

 

Research Notes:

 

1.  Residence

Patriot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania obituary states that Adrian was a resident of that city



 

1882 Phildadelphia Registrar of Deaths lists 1800 Fitzwater Street as Adrian's residence. 

 

Adrian worked for the Pennsylvania Rail Road, is it possible or likely that he may have had a residence in both cities - Harrisburg (for his family) and Philadelphia (when he was away for work)?

 

2.  Marital Status 

1880 U.S. Federal Census enumerates Adrian and his wife Annie

 

Return of Death document says that he is a widower

 

A cursory search for Annie's death certificate were unsatisfactory. 

 

3.  Children

Son and daughter referred to in Patriot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania obit

 

Two sons enumerated on 1880 U.S. Federal Census

 

According to wikinames.com (see below) Adrian was a popular boy's name in the 19th and 20th centuries.  However, it has also been used as a girl's name which may explain why the Patriot obituary referred to a son and 'daughter.'

 

Wikiname.com

 

 

Research Plan:



Continued search for civil or church marriage records for Adrian G LINDSEY and Annie M Wilson

 

Contact West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania; what historical records, if any, do they have on Adrian

 

Continued search for Death Certificate for Adrian

 

Residence at time of Death?  Hopefully information that the cemetery may be able to provide and / or information obtained from a death certificate will clear up the question pertaining to Adrian's residence at time of death

 

Contact Philaelphia County Coroner's office; do they have historical files?  Is it possible to obtain a copy of Adrian G. LINDSEY's report?

 

Marital Status; hopefully information gleaned from the above resources will answer the question of Adrian's marital status at the time of his death

 

Trace Adrian's parents (Edwin G LINDSEY and Rosanna) and siblings; specifically what happed to his brother Edwin F. LINDSEY and are Helen / Ellen one and the same?

 

Contact NARA and request Adrian's Civil War Military and Pension Files

 

While the information I have to this point is circumstantial, my gut tells me that I am on the right track.  What say you?  Do you think I am on the right track?  Did I miss any clues in these documents?

 

I am looking forward to following my research plan and seeing what I'll discover.  I'll keep you posted.

 

Tracy