Missing Ancestor Report - SOLVED?

Click on image to enlarge

Well . . .

Here’s the deal.  I know what ultimately became of Mary, more about this in a bit.  But . . . there is a significant 10-year gap where she is (sigh) still “missing.”  Her gap years are 1935 and 1937 - 1946.  The 1930 US Federal census and Mary’s Social Security Application (SS-5), completed and signed by Mary in 1936, place her in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania and in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania respectively. 

In the Missing Ancestor Report - UPDATE the attached flyer included a plea to please contact me if anyone had information about Mary’s whereabouts, or had information that could help further the “investigation” (research) and help me re-unite Mary’s “leaf” with her family tree.  After publishing the blog and flyer, I received many supportive comments and emails.  There were several who did some sleuthing and I’d like to thank you ALL.   Special gratitude to two in particular – Elmer and Marilyn whose clues yielded results.

Okay, here is what I now know about Mary.  To recap, for those that may be new to Family Preserves, Mary Telthia LINDSEY was born in York, York County, Pennsylvania, 2 January 1908, to Walter Cleveland LINDSEY and Marguerite (AKA Margaret) Ethel LEARN.  Walter and Marguerite were living at 181 East Cottage Place, York, York County, Pennsylvania, at the time of Mary’s birth.¹  In 1910, Mary, her brother Walter and her parents were living at 35 South Street, York City, York County, Pennsylvania.  And, in November of that same year, Mary had a new baby brother, William (Bill) Gordon LINDSEY; they were still living in the same home.² Over the intervening years, 1911 – 1919, the Lindsey family is living at: ³ 

1911: 938 East Philadelphia Street, York, York County, Pennsylvania
1913: 561 West Clark Avenue, York, York County, Pennsylvania
1915: 143 East Maple, York, York County, Pennsylvania
1917: 529 MacKenzie, York, York County, Pennsylvania
1919: 305 North West Street, York, York County, Pennsylvania

Mary’s parents were divorced by 12 June 1919.⁴  And, by 1920 the children were separated; Mary living in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland, Pennsylvania, with the Emmanuel Crone family, with whom she lived until the age of 18.⁵  Mary’s siblings, Walter Galloway LINDSEY is living with the Beard O. Sharretts family in Cumberland Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania;⁶ William Gordon LINDSEY is living in the Children’s Home of York and York County, York County, Pennsylvania;⁷ and Maretta Grace LINDSEY is living with her adoptive parents, M. H. and Catherine Bailey, in Shrewsbury Township, York County, Pennsylvania.⁸  And, their father, Walter Cleveland LINDSEY can be found still living at 305 North West Street, York, York County, Pennsylvania.⁹  After their divorce, Marguerite “farmed out” her two eldest children to work local farms and to earn their room and board.  She placed the two youngest children in the York & York County Children’s home, located in York County, Pennsylvania; Bill would live there until the age of majority and Maretta would be adopted by the Bailey’s soon after her arrival at the home.  The US Federal 1930 census shows that Marguerite married her third husband, Robert J Harris at the age of 33; Marguerite was born 1887 making their wedding year 1920.  I have, however, not been able to locate the Harris’ in the US Federal 1920 census.¹⁰ 

We know from the US Federal 1920 census that Mary is living with the Crone family on their farm located in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.  Emmanuel Crone is the Head of Household.  His wife, Minnie; daughter, Laura; and Grandson, Chester Lancaster are also living in the home.  In the Missing Ancestor Report - UPDATE  I noted that the grandson of Mary’s sister Maretta uploaded a photo of Mary, dated 1926.  It is my belief that the photo may be Mary’s graduation picture.  In that post I noted that the Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School (MASH) served several communities to include the borough of Upper Allen Township.  I did an initial search for MASH 1924 – 1926 yearbooks online at E-Yearbooks.com and Classmates.com; no luck.  My search for yearbooks continued.  I contacted the Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School and spoke to the school librarian.  The earliest yearbook that the school library has in their collection is 1930.  I then contacted the Joseph T. Simpson Public Library in Mechanicsburg and learned from the Librarian the following . . .

“What we have pre-1930 is a 1926 yearbook and a 1920 Commencement Booklet that does list the names of some of the younger classes (not the entire class list however). Unfortunately, I’ve looked through both of these items and have not found your Grand Aunt’s name!  I have a sneaking suspicion that she somehow fell in the ‘gap’ that these two items do not cover.”

I had learned from the MASH school librarian, that a retired teacher, within the district, purchased a home from which he operates the Mechanicsburg Historical Archives.  It was suggested I reach out to him to see if he might have the MASH school yearbooks for 1924 – 1926; Bill got back with me a short time later.  Unfortunately, he did not have those years in his yearbook collection.  I next reached out to the Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School Alumni on their Facebook Group of the same name and learned of a local Mechanicsburg restaurant, Dieners, located at 135 West Main Street Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania that has a collection of MASH yearbooks on display.  It was suggested that it might be worth contacting them to see if they had the yearbooks for the years I’m looking for.  This is still on my “to-do” list. 

This brings us to reader contributed clues.  

After reading the Missing Ancestor Report - UPDATE  , Elmer contacted me after having spent some time sleuthing.  Using what we did know, Elmer discovered Mary in the Reclaim the Records, NYC Marriage Index – Staten Island 1945 – 1946 at Archives.org.  And, Marilyn too, using what we knew, discovered an obituary for Mary’s sister Maretta.  The obituary mentioned a sister, Mary Perugini.  YAY!!!  Using these two promising clues I requested the marriage record; a three-page document consisting of the application, the affidavit, and the marriage license, from New York City.  Here is what I learned.

 On 14 January 1946 Mary and Richard H. Davis applied for license to marry.  The groom was living at 35 Andrews Street, South Beach 5, Staten Island, New York.  Richard was 30 years of age, born 8 November 1915 and employed as a seaman.  He was born in Newton, Massachusetts and his parents are Roscoe W Davis, born in the United States and Anne Curtin also born in the United States.  Richard had not been previously married.

Mary Telthia LINDSEY lived at 35 Andrews Street, South Beach 5, Staten Island, New York.  She was 38 years of age, born 2 January 1908 and employed as a waitress.  Mary was born in York, Pennsylvania and her parents were Walter G. [C] LINDSEY, born in the United States, and Margarita [Marguerite] Ethel LEARN, born in the United States.  Mary had been previously married once before.  Her former husband was Marland C. Rudy and he, at the time of Mary’s and Richard Davis’ application for marriage, was still living.  Mary and Marland Rudy were divorced 7 January 1946 in Richmond County, New York.  The grounds for divorce?  Adultery.  According to the application for marriage, Marland Rudy was served a summons in Meflinburg [Mifflinburg], Pennsylvania and did not appear in court in person; an attorney did not appear on his behalf or file for a waiver.  John J. Demane, Deputy City Clerk, solemnized the rites of matrimony, 16 January 1946 in the presence of Mary’s daughter, D. Marie Rudy and Joseph A. Diminico.¹¹

This IS my Mary!  YAY!!  Mary records her father’s name as Walter “G” LINDSEY.  Her father’s name was actually Walter Cleveland LINDSEY.  However, her brother’s name was Walter Galloway LINDSEY.  Mary didn’t grow up with her father, she was 12 when her parents divorced, it is reasonable to assume that she either didn’t know her father’s middle name or perhaps forgot it.  Whereas, Mary had recently, between 1941 – 1946, briefly reconnected with her brother, Walter, so perhaps when recording her father’s name on the license and affidavit she mistakenly wrote her brother’s, rather than her father’s, middle initial. 

Mary states that her former husband, Marland Rudy, was served a court summons in “Meflinburg” Pennsylvania.  Marland was born,¹² and indeed lived, the majority of his life in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania,¹³ except for a stint in the U.S. Army¹⁴ and his death in a New Jersey Tuberculosis Sanatorium, in 1953.¹⁵

To Do:  Order a copy of the divorce records.

Remember, I still have no clue as to Mary’s whereabouts 1935 and 1940 – 1946.  Now having the name of Mary’s 2^nd husband, Richard H. Davis, and learning from their marriage records that she and Richard are living at 35 Andrew Street, South Beach 5, Staten Island and recognizing that to be the same address that my Grandmother, Mary’s sister-in-law, recorded on the back of this photo.  

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

I now wondered if Mary and Richard might be found together at that Staten Island address in the US Federal 1940 census?  No such luck.  I was not able to find Mary anywhere in Staten Island, New York.  I searched by the address, 35 Andrews Street, South Beach, Staten Island, New York; using her maiden name, Mary T. LINDSEY; using her married name Mary T. Rudy; using the name she recorded on her 1936 Social Security Application (SS-5), Marie T. LINDSEY-Rudy;¹⁶ and though I knew from the New York City marriage records that Mary and Richard were not yet married in 1940, I still searched for Mary using the name Mary T. Davis.  I also searched for Richard H. Davis in Staten Island, New York.  Nothing!  I did however, find Richard H. Davis living with his parents in Belmont, Middlesex, Massachusetts on 35 Alma Avenue.  He was living in the same household in 1935.¹⁷  I searched all 367 of Staten Island, Richmond County, New York’s enumeration districts image-by-image . . . nothing!

I should note here that I also looked for Mary in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, as that is where she was living and working at the time she applied for her social security number.  No luck.  And, I did the same here, searched all 72 of Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania’s enumeration districts image-by-image.  And, I also searched for 626 Chew Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania as that was her address in 1936.  And, I broadened the search. I looked for any Mary T. LINDSEY, Mary T. Rudy, Marie T. LINDSEY-Rudy and Mary T. Davis in any town or city in the United States.  You can imagine with a common name such as Mary and common surnames such as LINDSEY, Rudy, and Davis the daunting task.  I didn’t find her.

Had Mary returned to her husband and daughter, is she perhaps with them in 1940?  No.  Marland Rudy is living with his daughter Doretta M. and his parents, Elmer C. and Emma J. Rudy, in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania.  The date was 10 April 1940.  According to The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, dated 23 August 1940, Marland accepted a carpenter position in Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia.¹⁸ And, on 16 October 1940, Marland reported to the Local Draft Board No. 1 Lowndes County, Georgia.  The address that Marland provides is 303 East Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia.  He indicated that the person “who will always know your address” was his father, Elmer Charles Rudy.¹⁹  I also looked to see if Mary could be found in 1940 with her mother, Marguerite and her husband Robert J. Harris.  No.  Robert and Marguerite are living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 1628 Sydenham Street. ²⁰ 

Lastly, I also looked to see if Mary had returned to the Upper Allen Township or Mechanicsburg area, where she had grown up with the Crone family.  No.

As noted previously, Family Preserves reader, Marilyn, ran across an obituary for Mary’s sister, Maretta Grace LINDSEY Ziegler, that ran in the Thursday, 12 August 1982 York Daily Record, York, Pennsylvania, on page 7.  The obituary states “she was the daughter of the late Walter C. and Margaret LEARN LINDSEY.  Additional survivors are: . . . a sister, Mary Perugini, Staten Island, New York; three brothers, William LINDSEY, New Jersey; Maurice Bailey, Mount Joy, and Walter LINDSEY.”²¹

Click on image to enlarge

This IS my Mary! Mary’s and Maretta’s parents, Walter C. LINDSEY and Margaret LEARN are identified, as are their brothers, Walter LINDSEY and William LINDSEY.  Maurice Bailey?  The Bailey family had adopted Maretta circa 1920.

So, by 1982 Mary is remarried.  Did she and Richard Davis divorce?  Or, did Richard pass away?  When did Mary remarry? 

To Do: 

• Look for divorce and/or death records for Richard H. Davis
• Look for New York City / New York marriage record for Mary and [?] Perugini

So where in the WORLD did Mary Telthia LINDSEY Rudy go?  Mary, PLEASE STOP being so contrary!!

But . . . there’s a silver lining!!!  I found Mary’s granddaughter!  Note, to protect her privacy, I will only refer to her as “A.”  I was able to locate her via social media and reached out to her, sending her a letter introducing myself (hoping that she didn’t think I was a crazy loon!).  I included a copy of the Missing Ancestor Report - UPDATE .  And, she phoned!!!  We had a lovely conversation - getting to know one another and sharing information.  I learned . . .

• Mary’s third husband’s name was Arthur Perugini

• Mary had reconnected with her mother, Marguerite and, at the time of Marguerite’s death, Mary invited her step-father Robert Harris to live with her family

• Mary died 28 January 1983 in Staten Island, Richmond County, New York (I’ve requested a copy of Mary’s death certificate from New York City.  I will have to wait though until the city’s government offices are open and operational again.)

And, “A” has thoughtfully remembered me, when she recently discovered some of Mary’s old photos and scrapbooks.  With her permission, I've posted a couple of them here.  There are three that we believe to be Mary, but "A" wasn't sure.  Looking over them closely and also asking for a "second opinion" from an unbiased party, the conclusion is we "believe" the photos in question to be her.   Click on image to enlarge.

Sadly, she does not know where Mary was in 1940; she too thought she must have been in Staten Island.

I thought about marking this “case” solved, but I am a huge proponent of striving to meet the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) of an exhaustive research – leaving no proverbial stone unturned – and with Mary still “missing” in the “gap” years of 1935 and 1940 – 1946, I must continue to try and find her.

In addition to looking for her in the US Federal 1940 census, I’ve looked to see if she might be listed in the city directories for Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania; Upper Allen, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania and Staten Island, Richmond County, New York for the gap years in question.  No such luck.  I’ve also searched the usual newspaper online sites – Newspapers.com; Genealogybank.com; and ChroniclingAmerica.com.  Nothing!

To Do: Search the newspapers at Fultonhistory.com

If you are interested in a challenge, I welcome another set of eyes on this.

Tracy

Copyright © 2020 Family Preserves; Tracy L Meyers

___________________________________________

SOURCES:

¹ Ancestry.com, Pennsylvania, Birth Records, 1906-1908 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com.  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, birth certificate, (1908), Mary Telthia Lindsey; Bureau of Vital Statistics, New Castle

² 1910 U.S. census, York County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, York City, ward 1, enumeration district (ED) 114, sheet 1-A, dwelling 10, family 10, Walter Lindsey; NARA microfilm publication T624_1435

³ Ancestry.com, U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com. 1911 page 469; image 239. 1913 page 497; image 246.  1915 page 498; image 252.  1917 page 491; image 233.  1919 page 593; image 301

⁴ Pennsylvania, York, Protonotary Court Files, Protonotary 93, April 1919 Docket Entry, scanned copy. 3 March 1919 Walter C LINDSEY vs Margaret E Lindsey, reference divorce from Margaret Ethel LEARN.

⁵ Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Reco), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1920; Census Place: Upper Allen, Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1557; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 43; Image: 533.

⁶ Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Reco), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1920; Census Place: Cumberland, Adams, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1507; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 9; Image: 200.

⁷ Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Reco), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1920; Census Place: York Ward 2, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1669; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 120; Image: 220.

⁸ Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Reco), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1920; Census Place: Shrewsbury, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1668; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 91; Image: 586.

⁹ Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Reco), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1920; Census Place: York Ward 11, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1669; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 139.

¹⁰ Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626.), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2116; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 721; Image: 111.0; FHL microfilm: 2341850.

¹¹ New York, Richmond, Staten Island, Affidavit for License; Marriage License; and Marriage Certificate to Marry, City of New York Municipal Archives, 31 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007, Affidavit for License to Marry, 0072, 16 January 1946; Richard Harding Davis and Mary Telthia Lindsey.

¹² Ancestry.com, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, The National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Georgia, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147.

¹³ Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Reco), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1920; Census Place: Mifflinburg, Union, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1655; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 185.

Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626.), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1930; Census Place: Mifflinburg, Union, Pennsylvania; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 0014; FHL microfilm: 2341884.

Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1940; Census Place: Mifflinburg, Union, Pennsylvania; Roll: m-t0627-03615; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 60-17B.

¹⁴ Ancestry.com, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, The National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Georgia, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147.

¹⁵ New Jersey, State Department of Health of New Jersey, 244 E Hanover Street, Trenton, NJ, Death Certificate, 20228, 13 May 1953; Marland Rudy.

The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pennsylvania (online archive), "Marland C Rudy, Former Mifflinburg Man, Dies," 14 May 1953, accessed 8 September 2019, obituary for Marland C Rudy.

¹⁶ Social Security Administration, Applications for Account Numbers, Form SS-5, Marie (Mary) Telthia Lindsey Rudy, 171-03-9334, filed 24 November 1936.

¹⁷ Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1940; Census Place: Belmont, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01603; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 9-69.

¹⁸ "Many People Now Visiting Mifflinburg; Other Items," 23 August 1940, accessed 11 September 2019, Marland Rudy. Marland Rudy accepted a position in Valdosta, GA, as a carpenter. https://www.newspapers.com/, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, online images (https://www.newspapers.com).

¹⁹ Ancestry.com, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, The National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Georgia, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

²⁰ Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Year: 1940; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3750; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 51-2025.

²¹ Maretta G. Lindsey Ziegler, 12 August 1982, accessed 23 August 2019. https://www.newspapers.com/, York Daily Record, York, Pennsylvania, online images (https://www.newspapers.com).

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

The Tale of Three James

Are you researching your LINDSEY ancestry?  Do you believe that you descend from Archibald LINDSEY?  The Massachusetts Revolutionary War Patriot, documented in the annals of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution (DAR); Ancestor #A070563?¹  If so, I encourage you to go slow and proceed with caution. 

Archi’s father, according to the DAR application, is purported to be James LINDSEY born Londonderry, Ireland, 1680; died Nutfield (Londonderry) New Hampshire, 1774 and, was married to Ann Gypson (widow).  However, nowhere in the application are there any source citations provided as to how they “know” that James Lindsey of Londonderry, Ireland and Londonderry, Rockingham, New Hampshire is Archi’s father. Let alone, how they know that he emigrated from Ireland and more specifically, Londonderry.

Before I delve into the specific subject of this post – the Tale of Three James – a little background is needed.

I began the research of my LINDSEY ancestry in 2013; starting from my Grandfather, Walter Galloway LINDSEY and working backward.  In 2014 I hit a “bump in the road.”  Archibald LINDSEY was purported to be my third Great Grandfather, Edwin G LINDSEY’s father.  And, the son of James LINDSEY.  But there appeared to be nothing more than hearsay, to support that assertion.  I first learned of this “relationship” from Margaret Isabella Lindsay’s book “The Lindsay’s of America.²”   More research followed and I learned of an Archibald LINDSEY who served during the American Revolutionary War as a Private, from Massachusetts, September 1777 – October 1777.  Armed with that information, I went to the DAR website and searched for applications that may have been submitted listing Archi as their Patriot.  I found three, an original and two supplemental applications.  All three sorely lacked source citations. 

A lot of assertions and assumptions were made based on, as far as I can tell,  hearsay. The original application was clearly reviewed; you can see several notations throughout.  But, again, no source citation is provided, nor anything indicating where the information was derived. This has been my research focus ever since. 

I have been able to prove, to my satisfaction, that my third Great Grandfather, Edwin Galloway LINDSEY and all his siblings named in both sources previously mentioned here, are indeed the descendants of Archibald LINDSEY.  I have since obtained actual pay and muster rolls documenting Archi’s service during the Revolutionary War.  More on that research and my findings in a future post.  So, now it was time to focus the research on, and to document, Archi’s parentage.

A note to the reader: I affectionately refer to Archibald LINDSEY as “Archi” throughout.

As I mentioned, the initial DAR application, dated 4 November 1953, asserts that James LINDSEY was born in 1680, Londonderry, Ireland and died in 1774, Londonderry, Rockingham, New Hampshire.  The application also asserts that Ann Gypson (widow) was his wife.  There are no citations provided and no original documents included in the applicant package.  So, where did this information come from?  What information, documents, research was used to substantiate it? 

I needed to learn more about what information was out there; what documents did James create during his life?  What documents were created about or for James, during his life?  Did anyone else who descended from James LINDSEY, his son Archi, or another of his children (Archi’s siblings) have information, and more specifically, documentation that would support or refute their connection?  Sadly, every single tree and message board, etc. that I found, simply provided the same flimsy resources that I’ve noted here.  Everyone cites, attaches and refers to the DAR application which asserts that James is Archibald LINDSEY’s father.  And, Ann Gypson was his wife.  To support the Ann Gypson connection, everyone cites the New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847 – 2011, which states, “James Lindsey (bachelor, married an Ann Gypson (widow), 16 January 1727/8."³   In addition, all cite the Find-a-Grave memorial for James which notes that he is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry, Rockingham, New Hampshire.⁴

SLOW; proceed with CAUTION! 

It would appear, that the information within the New England Historical & Genealogical Register was a compilation of historical ministerial records from throughout New England.  The specific notation, reference James Lindsey’s and Ann Gypson’s marriage, comes from the Hon. Samuel C Adams, of Newfield, Maine. He notes that he is “in possession of the original record of Mr. Adams [Reverend Hugh Adams], and believing it may afford some interest . . . I send a copy of the record of marriages, baptisms, admissions to the church, etc.”   

James is a common given name and Lindsey a common surname.  There is not enough identifying data in this entry in the cited register to definitively conclude that this James Lindsey is Archi’s father.  The entry doesn’t tell me where either party are from.  It doesn’t include birth date; birth place; nor where either party lived at the time of marriage.  There is nothing, nothing at all, to distinguish this James Lindsey from any other male by the same name. As this historical and genealogical register records marriages, baptisms, admissions to the church, etc. from throughout New England, I took the time to browse the book.  That is, I looked from its cover and at all 504 pages (518 images) of it.  Scouring the pages for any other mentions of the LINDSEYs. There were only two: Joel Harvey Linsley (page 88; image 97) and James LINDSEY (page 180; image 191).  There was nothing else in the register that shed light on just who this James Lindsey was.

Yet, every tree, message board, etc. that I’ve come across cites this as their source – their only source – making the connection between this James Lindsey and Ann Gypson to Archi.  Really?  How’d they make that leap?  Because it was recorded on an approved DAR application?  Because it is on another family tree?  Because others believe that they descend from James LINDSEY and repeatedly quote this connection?

Let’s take a look at that Find-a-Grave memorial.  James LINDSEY is buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery, located in East Derry, New Hampshire in section K Lot 61.  However . . . there are couple of things that should immediately jump right off the page for any discerning genealogist or family historian. 

1. The memorial page includes the name of his spouse, Martha Lindsey

2. A VERY IMPORTANT note left by the photographer, DJ Goldman.  DJ notes that this is “an unusual stone in that his wife, Martha, is on the other side of the stone.  This is not commonly seen in gravestones of this era.”

Transcription:  Here lyeth the body of James Lindsay who died on the 17 June Anno Domini 1774 aged 94

On the opposite side of James Lindsay’s headstone . . .

Transcription: Here lyeth the body of Martha Lindsay wife to James Lindsay who died on the 29 of January Anno Domini 1743.  Aged [the age is not visible]

Did no one see that there is clearly something rotten in the Province / state of New Hampshire?  We have a James LINDSEY said to be married to an Ann Gypson in 1727/8 and who they attach to their family trees.  And, we also have a James LINDSEY buried with his wife Martha in the Forest Hill Cemetery, whose Find-a-Grave memorial they also attach to their trees.

Did no one ask themselves . . . was James married more than once?  Did Ann die?  Did Ann and James divorce? Did James remarry; when?  What happened to Ann?  Where is she?  Is there more than one James Lindsey in the area?

My goal was to determine if there really was a connection between James Lindsey and Archibald LINDSEY as noted on the DAR application.  In order to do this however, I needed to untangle this new mystery . . . is there one James who was married first to Ann and then Martha?  Or, is there more than one James Lindsey in the Londonderry, Rockingham, New Hampshire area and surrounding local? 

It so happens at this point, I was scheduled to travel to New England, specifically Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York, on a research trip.  I planned to focus on my LINDSEY family.  Specifically, Archi.  And, I was hoping to really dive into research on James as well.  In preparation for this trip, I went back over every single piece of evidence that I had on Archi to this point.  From Archi “forward” I had not been as successful in untangling which of Archi’s wives were the mother of which of his children.  More on this in a future blog.  But while doing this, I came across hints (shaky leaves) or clues when searching other parts of the LINDSEY line that were either new to me, or I just hadn’t really focused on them before. 

One clue was particularly interesting, and I came across this about a week before my trip.  This ended up being the best time to run into it, because it was fresh and foremost in my mind when I traveled to New Hampshire.  The Clue?  The US and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s – 1900s.⁵  This abstract from the original record says that a James LINDSEY and his wife, Martha arrived on these shores, in New Hampshire, in 1720.  Now, this is an index; an abstract, and it clearly notes “date and place of first mention of residence in the New World extracted from several sources, mainly ‘New Hampshire Provincial Deeds, 1641 – 1771,’ which are on microfilm at the New Hampshire Historical Society.”  Well, isn’t that convenient.  It just so happened, that a week after finding this, I would be in New Hampshire visiting the New Hampshire State Archives.  The New Hampshire Historical Society was now added to my list of places to visit.

So, here’s the thing, the DAR application, and everyone thereafter, has been recording that James LINDSEY was married to an Ann Gypson (widow) 16 January 1727/8.  This abstract alone, calls that information into question.  First, note the year James arrived in New Hampshire; 1720.  Note who he arrived with; wife, Martha.  Now, go back and look at that headstone in the Forest Hill Cemetery and attached to the Find-a-Grave memorial.  Do you see a problem?  Martha and James were married when they arrived on these shores in 1720; the Rev. Hugh Adams’ records included in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847 – 2011, mentioned above, records a James Lindsey marrying an Ann Gypson (widow) 16 January 1727; and, Martha Lindsey, according to the headstone that she SHARES with her husband James LINDSEY, didn’t die until 1743.

So, are we looking at the same man, James LINDSEY, married twice and buried, at the time of his death in 1774, with his first wife, Martha?  Or, are we looking at two different men?  Time to look at those deeds mentioned in this latest clue.

When visiting the New Hampshire State Archives, I mentioned my interest in Land Deeds, and my specific focus on the James and Martha Lindsey mentioned in the Passenger and Immigration Lists Index. Here’s what I found.

The Royal Town Charter for Londonderry, in the new Province of New Hampshire, dated 1 June 1722.⁶ 

Samuel Shute, Esq., Governor; and Commander and Chief, Province of New Hampshire, on 1 June 1722, signed the Royal Town Charter, which granted “. . . equal shares unto sundry of our beloved subjects whose names are entered unto a schedule hereunto annexed that inhabit or shall inhabit. . . .” 

James LINDSEY was among the sundry [many] granted equal shares of land.

To view the Londonderry Royal Town Charter, click here.  Note, this novice blogger is using Google Docs for the first time, so fingers crossed that it works “as advertised.”  If it doesn’t, I am sure that it is 100% operator error on my part.

The fourth and fifth page of the Royal Town Charter provides a “Schedule [list] of Names of the Proprietors of Londonderry.  A list of approximately 122 “neighbors” of James LINDSEY.  This will be helpful later.

I learned from the staff that the New Hampshire County Registries of Deeds has digitized the land deeds for Rockingham County and those records can be found on their website..  When I returned from my trip, land deeds were my sole focus.  Remember, the Passenger and Immigration index noted “Provincial Deeds, 1641 – 1771.”  I wanted to search both the “Verified Grantor” and “Verified Grantee” lists for 1629 to present.  I searched for James LINDSEY using all known variants of the surname to include the four most common spellings I’ve seen throughout my research:  LINDSEY; LINDSAY; LINSEY; and LINZEY. 

I then set about reading and transcribing each deed – every single one.  Forty-one deeds from 1722 – 1771.  Then I went back and read through them again.  I wanted to pick out pieces of information from each deed that I thought may be helpful in learning more about James and I took notes.  I was looking to identify James’ FAN Club.  That is, I was looking for his Family / Friends; Associates; and Neighbors.  People that lived, worked, and associated with James and his family on a daily basis; people, that if found in a given place and time with a James LINDSEY, would later help me identify whether there was only one James Lindsey or whether there might be more than one.  So, to that end, I made note of who James purchased land from or sold land to.  Whether his wife was mentioned in the deed as relinquishing her dower and power of thirds. The boundaries - that is, who the neighbors were.  And, I noted both who witnessed James’ signature and who signed as Justice of the Peace.  I then took my notes and created an excel spreadsheet which would greatly assist in helping me to contrast; compare; and document my findings.  Again, I was looking to learn whether there was one James LINDSEY or more than one.

To view the resulting spread sheet click here.

Okay, before getting into what I found, keep in mind we are wanting to determine if there is one James Lindsey, married twice?  Or, whether there is more than one James Lindsey, in the same geographical area during the same time?  And, we are looking to confirm, or deny, the assertion by many that James Lindsey is Archi’s father.

In the deed dated 15 June 1730⁷ (see image below), James LINDSEY and his wife, Martha, sell property to their daughter, Jenat and son-in-law, John Wallace.  The witnesses to this transaction were John Anderson and John McMurphy.  James Mckeen, Justice of the Peace.

“To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, greeting.  Know ye that I James LINDSAY of Londonderry, within his Majesty’s Province of New Hampshire in New England for and in consideration of love and good will and affection which I have and do bear to my son, John Wallace, of the Town and Province aforesaid . . .”

“ . . . that Jenat Wallace the wife of the aforesaid, John Wallace, out live or survive her husband, John Wallace, that the aforesaid lands with all the improvements that shall or may be upon the same at his decease shall return and fall unto the said Jenat Wallace, wife to the aforesaid John Wallace and DAUGHTER to the aforesaid James LINDSEY . . .”

“. . . and Martha, the wife of the said James Lindsay, doth hereby give grant yield up and surrender all my right of dower and power of thirds . . .”

The 3 February 1746 deed⁸, has James LINDSEY of Londonderry and his wife, Margaret, engaged in the sale of their land to James Rodgers.  The witnesses were Thomas Cochran and John MacMurphy.  The Justice of the Peace was John MacMurphy.

“ . . . Margaret, the wife of the said James Lindsay, doth by these presents give, grant, yield up, and surrender all her right of dower and power of thirds . . .”

On 16 October 1749⁹ a James Lindsey “transferred” property to his daughter.  The witnesses to this transaction were James Scales and Susanna Scales.  The Justice of the Peace was James Scales.

“To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting.  Know ye that I James Lindsey of Canterbury in the Province of New Hampshire in New England, Cordwainer, for and in consideration of the paternal love and affection which I bear to MY DEARLY BELOVED DAUGHTER AND ONLY CHILD Elizabeth Lindsey of Canterbury aforesaid, spinster.”

On 12 June 1750¹⁰ a James Lindsey “transferred” property to his step-daughter.  The witnesses to the transaction were James Scales and Susanna Scales.  The Justice of the Peace, James Scales.

“To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting.  Know ye that I James Lindsey of Canterbury in the Province of New Hampshire in New England, Cordwainer, for and in consideration of the love and affection which I bear to my beloved DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ELEANOR GIPSON, the daughter of my present wife by her first husband . . .”

What we have:

1. A James LINDSEY, an early resident of Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire. (Royal Town Charter, dated 1 June 1722)
2. A James LINDSEY and his wife, Martha, of Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire, selling land to their son-in-law, John Wallace (15 June 1730)
3. A James LINDSEY and his wife, Margaret, of Londonderry, Province of New Hampshire, selling land to James Rodgers
4. A James Lindsey, of Canterbury, Province of New Hampshire, transferring land to his beloved daughter and only child, Elizabeth (16 October 1749)
5. A James Lindsey, of Canterbury, Province of New Hampshire, transferring land to his beloved daughter-in-law [step-daughter], Eleanor Gipson, the “daughter of my present wife by her first husband” (12 June 1750)

Out of forty-one land transactions James LINDSEY of Londonderry, Rockingham, Province / State of New Hampshire,  bought and sold land from 1722 – 1767, a total of 12 times.  And, all within Londonderry or Windham which was a part of Londonderry from 1719 – 1742.  His land transactions never took him outside these two locals. 

We have two James Lindseys of Canterbury, who both bought, sold, or “transferred” land.  One James Lindsey “transferred” land to his only child, Elizabeth, 1749.  And, in 1752, James purchased land from his daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Nathaniel Perkins.  Both transactions were within Canterbury.

The other James Lindsey on 12 June 1750, “transferred” land to his step-daughter, Eleanor Gipson. The land sold was located in the town of Canterbury.  And, the deed notes that both Eleanor and her step-father, James Lindsey, were both from the town of Canterbury.

I have found no transaction for the purchase or sale of land outside of Canterbury for either of these James Lindseys.

So, as you can see, we do, in fact, have more than one James LINDSEY living at the same time in the same geographical location.  There was indeed a James Lindsey married to an Ann GIPSON.  A James Lindsey buying and selling land with his first wife, Martha and then after Martha’s death in 1743, with his second wife, Margaret.   And, there was also a James Lindsey, selling land to his beloved daughter and only child, Elizabeth.

So, who is Archi’s dad?  Well, I know who his father isn’t.  It isn’t the James Lindsey who had only one child, a daughter, Elizabeth! 

I’m scratching my head.  These records were created in the 1700’s; they were witnessed, recorded and filed.  And, they aren’t the only records that existed for that time and place for either of the three James LINDSEYs, For instance . . .

The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883¹¹ which records the Officers of the Provincial Government. 

James LINDSEY of Londonderry is serving as a Town Officer of Londonderry / Windham in 1722.  Now, I could be wrong, but I’d think, business, at the Provincial level, on a fairly regular basis would be taking place.  And, the Government would be creating, recording and filing records.  All of which “could” lead to information about James and his family.

Just in this one snippet, James LINDSEY is surrounded by his FANS.  James McKeen and John McMurphy, Judicial Officers (Justice of the Peace) whom James appeared before to acknowledge that the transaction was his “free act and deed.  James McKeen, John Goffe, James Gregg, Samuel Graves, Samuel Moore, James Alexander, John Cochran, all were not only witnesses to James Lindsey’s, Martha’s and Margaret’s signatures on the various land transactions from 1722 – 1771, but they also frequently bought land from and sold land to James Lindsey as well.

Our ancestors didn’t live in a vacuum, without any connection to other people or events.  All of these records were available in 1953, when the first applicant applied to DAR for membership, citing Archibald LINDSEY as their Patriot Ancestor. They were available, when DAR’s genealogist reviewed, examined, and vetted the application and the supporting evidence, or as we’ve seen, the lack thereof.  Yet, as far as I can see, to a person and organization, what was included in that application was taken as, and promulgated in every family tree, story, and conversation, as gospel.  The irony is – without getting too involved with this analogy – that no matter your personal beliefs, we all know that there are many that would argue the validity of what Christians refer to as the Gospel (the Bible).  They cite that it is just a collection of stories; that there is seemingly no documentation, nothing to support it’s accuracy, etc., etc.  Yet, many a genealogist and family historian take what they see in print and online, in DAR applications; authored genealogies; family trees; family lore, etc. with no supporting evidence, or at least none cited, as . . .  “gospel.” 

Can James Lindsey be added to the family tree?  Which James Lindsey?  NOT MY FAMILY TREE!!!  Not yet!  There is nothing, nothing to substantiate the claim.  And, I am not in the habit of adding anyone to my family tree that hasn’t been thoroughly researched and “proven” to a reasonable degree of certainty.

SLOW; PROCEED WITH CAUTION!!

We now know which James Lindsey is not Archi’s father, but we have two remaining candidates.  The first, James Lindsey married to Martha, who was in Londonderry, Rockingham, New Hampshire as early as 1720; who remarried after Martha’s death in 1743.  His second wife is known to be Margaret. 

And, then there is the James Lindsey of Canterbury, who, as we’ve seen is indeed married to the widow Ann Gypson, and is the father of his beloved step-daughter Eleanor.

Two James Lindsey’s and three potential women that could be Archi’s mother.  Ann Gypson; Martha; or Margaret.  That will have to be a future blog post.

A lot more research required.

I am not a fan of lineage societies as a whole, but what I find particularly troubling about DAR is, they have, since their founding in 1890, set themselves apart by restricting membership to those who can “prove” their descent from an American Patriot.  That is, an applicant must  provide documentation proving relationship from the patriot down to themselves.  DAR also sets themselves apart, insisting before an applicant is approved, a DAR genealogist must review and vet the submitted information and genealogies for accuracy.  Unfortunately, and what is maddening, is this leads everyone to falsely conclude that if an applicant is admitted into the prestigious ranks of the Daughters of the American Revolution, their lineage is “golden” – err, proven.  And, DAR does nothing to discourage this. 

DAR allows for an applicant to “piggy back” on a so called, proven Revolutionary Ancestor with whom they share a “proven” common lineage.  So, unless an applicant has anything to add . . . but, why would they?  Why do research when it has already been done for you, right?  Why go back and review what had been previously submitted; to oh, I don’t know, check on that pesky and glaring discrepancy mentioned above – you know Martha? Ann?  Three James Lindseys?  Why they should is obvious to any seasoned and discerning genealogist and family historian.  However, the reality is, many, far too many, don’t and these errors persist causing tree rot.

And, therein lies the root – pun intended – of my problem.  I’d be far more impressed with DAR if they stopped the practice of allowing new applicants to “piggy back” onto an existing application; an application that as we’ve seen can be with error.  I’d be far more impressed if they’d insist that an applicant must do their own research or hire a professional to do so, of their genealogy and lineage back to the Patriot ancestor.  If an applicant wishes to use the approved application package of a former member and the information contained within, they may do so with the knowledge that they be used as hints only.  There will be nothing from the existing package accepted as “proof” that cannot be duplicated by research today.  And, I’d be very impressed if they were a little more obvious then they currently are, that their “proven” patriots and lineage files are not without error, some more glaring than others.  Far too many are susceptible to the notion that if an application has been approved by DAR the lineage is “proven” and without error.  Well, it has to be, right?  Or, DAR wouldn’t have accepted it.  That is the perception DAR promotes when it states that only applicants with a “proven” lineage will be accepted for membership to their august organization.

As you research your family, strive to review everything with a critical eye. There are tools, from the simple, such as the excel spreadsheet I’ve linked above - they need not be fancy, it can be as simple and basic as pencil and paper - to the technical.  .  And, there are best practices and standards - the Genealogical Proof Standard - that are available to guide the novice to the professional.  Insist on knowing where the information came from.  As we’ve seen, just because it is in print or accepted by a prestigious and established organization and lineage society does not mean that the information is full-proof.  Humans created the documents; humans assessed the documents and humans are not without error!  And, lastly, even if supporting documentation is available, you / we should all read through it, transcribe it, critically review it and make our own determination as to the accuracy of the information.  And, as to the information in toto. 

Yes, this means hours upon hours of work.   In some cases creating spreadsheets, or what have you, to contrast and compare.  Collecting documents not only on who we believe to be our ancestor, but as you’ve seen, collecting documents created by their FANs and most importantly, in the case of our ancestors with common names, collecting documents that were created by any person with the same name, in the same general local, and really reading them; transcribing them; dissecting them; comparing the information they contain, against what we’ve learned about others with the same name; creating a timeline to see where there are gaps, overlaps, impossibilities and probabilities.  ALL of this will help to find OUR ancestor and document them.  And, of course, it will ultimately help us climb OUR family tree and not someone else’s!!! 

A note to the reader: To learn more about the Genealogical Proof Standard, I highly recommend viewing a series of YouTube videos put together by Ancestry’s Corporate Genealogist, Crista Cowan.  They are no more than 30 minutes in length and are choc full of information, tips, etc.  Crista’s presentation style is such that the novice to the professional can all learn something; they are not collegiate and you feel as though Crista is in the room and talking directly to you.  The series is free and I highly recommend saving them to refer back to.  Here is a link to the series.

Crista also has an excellent video presentation on the “FAN Club” method of research.  That is researching the Family / Friends, Associates, and Neighbors of our ancestors.  Here is the link.

Another professional genealogist and speaker that I highly recommend is Mr. Warren Bittner, CG.  I first heard him speak at the 2014 NGS Genealogy Conference in Richmond, Virginia.  He was AWESOME!!!  If you ever get the opportunity to hear him speak in person, GO to hear him!!  Do NOT pass go; do not collect $200.00, go directly to hear his presentation!!  You will not regret it.  Warren Bittner, during his 2014 NGS session, presented a very interesting topic reference proving identities, and did so in an entertaining way.  What I got out of that presentation was better understanding of what is meant by a reasonably exhaustive search.  Hint . . . the research that I’ve done and what I have written about here is just the beginning phases of my foray into a reasonably exhaustive search on James LINDSEY.  As they say . . . I’ve only just begun!

For those that have a Legacy Family Tree Webinars subscription, you can access archived presentations by Warren in their webinar library. 

I challenge each of you, as you research, to go SLOW!  And, PROCEED WITH CAUTION! 

What similar challenges have you had in researching your ancestors and how did you ultimately resolve the conflict?  Or, is the “jury still out?”  I look forward to learning what worked for you.  I am all about “collecting” tips and tricks that will help me and others further their research and ultimately documenting all of our ancestors.

Tracy

Copyright © 2017 Family Preserves; Tracy L Meyers

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SOURCES:

¹Membership application, Frances E Whitney, National No.336908, on Archibald Lindsey (1744 – 1835), approved 4 November 1953; Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, DC

²Margaret Isabella Lindsey, The Lindsays of America, (1889; reprint, Westminster, Maryland: Heritage Books, Inc, 2008), pages 141 – 143

³Ancestry.com. The New England Historical & Genealogical Register, 1847 – 2011 (database online). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Image 191

⁴Find A Grave, database with images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 6 April 2014), memorial 18369952, James Lindsey (1680 – 1774), Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry, Rockingham, New Hampshire; gravestone photograph by  D J Goldman

⁵Ancestry.com and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s – 1900s [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2010. COPELY, WILLIAM. “Scotch-Irish Settlers in New Hampshire, 1719 – 1776.” In Historical New Hampshire (New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord), Vol. 50:3/4 (Fall/Winter 1995), pp. 213-228 (page 221)

^6”New Hampshire, Royal Town Charter, Province of Londonderry, 1722,” Land Deeds, New Hampshire State Archives, Concord

⁷“New Hampshire County Registries of Deeds,” database, nhdeeds.com (http://www.nhdeeds.com : accessed 26 August 2017) entry for James Lindsey, Rockingham County Registry of Deeds; citing verified Grantor 1629 – 2017, digital images, volume 0017:360-361

⁸“New Hampshire County Registries of Deeds,” database, nhdeeds.com (http://www.nhdeeds.com : accessed 23 August 2017) entry for James Lindsey, Rockingham County Registry of Deeds: citing verified Grantor 1629 – 2017, digital images, volume 34:117-119

⁹“New Hampshire County Registries of Deeds,” database, nhdeeds.com (http://www.nhdeeds.com : accessed 23 August 2017) entry for James Lindsey, Rockingham County Registry of Deeds: citing verified Grantor 1629 – 2017, digital images, volume 70:340-342

¹⁰“New Hampshire County Registries of Deeds,” database, nhdeeds.com (http://www.nhdeeds.com : accessed 23 August 2017) entry for James Lindsey, Rockingham County Registry of Deeds: citing verified Grantor 1629 – 2017, digital images, volume 40:274-275

¹¹Ancestry.com.  The History of Windham in New Hampshire (Rockingham County), 1719-1883 : a Scotch Settlement (Commonly Called Scotch-Irish), [database online],  Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.  2005