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Biography of Anthony Lindsay, Sr. (1705-1777) Immigrant Ancestor
By Ken Lindsay
2. Anthony3 LINDSAY, (Samuel2, Robert1), according
to the St. Dunstan's Church Records, is the son of Samuel and
Elizabeth (_______) LINDSAY and was Christened 27 May 1705 in Stepney,
London, England. He died after 1777, probably in Baltimore Co., Maryland.
Anthony, like his father and grandfather before him was a English mariner.
Evidently, he served aboard English sailing ships plying the Atlantic between
Britain and the Baltimore colony.
It is believed that
Anthony LINDSAY married about 1725, most probably in Baltimore Co.,
Maryland,
Alice PAGE, daughter of _______ and Ann (MARSH)
PAGE. Alice (PAGE) LINDSAY was born about 1705 most probably in
London, England and died __ ___ ____ in _______ Co., _______.
Ship building was the prominent industry of Stepney during this period of
history. However,
London authorities tell us Stepney was one of the poorer parishes where many of
the unskilled laborers, who worked in seasonal jobs, such as agriculture, and
the textile industry also lived. There was a large concentrated Irish community
in the area. There were, also, many Scots living there, however, fewer in number
than the Irish and much less concentrated.
John H. BURGHER, a descendant, visited St. Dunstan's in June 1994 and was given
a guided tour by Rev. John
DRAPER. The Reverend said, "Sailors would come to the church to pray
for safe passage at sea."
There are many memorials to
various persons inside the church and the church was somewhat damaged
during the London Blitz of World War II.
Research has revealed that Anthony Lindsay and three other
men committed a burglary and robbery. One of the men turned state's evidence and
testified as to the guilt of the other three. These three men were found guilty
and sentenced to death.
The proceedings of the Old Bailey, London 1674 to 1834,
on-line for Feb.26th through Mar.1, 1735, shows the case involving Anthony
Lindsay. This is the case that got him transported, although the original
sentence, under the harsh laws of the period, was death.
Anthony was involved with three others in a burglary that
took place when he was 29 years old on 5 January 1735, late at night. There's a
full description of details surrounding the break-in, everything taken, and how
they were caught. Anthony's job was apparently to row the getaway boat, while
others committed the actual robbery, which leaves open the question of whether
or not he was yet another young man who foolishly let his friends lead him into
trouble without giving much thought to the possible consequences.
I make the above statement because at least eight witnesses
came before the court to testify to his good character, (if only we knew their
names), which might have played a role latter in getting his sentence changed,
while two others were hanged.
Lindsay Nuttall thinks it is
possible that Anthony Lindsay had a prior
acquaintance with the neighborhoods right outside of Newgate Prison which might
have led to his forming associations with the wrong people. There was a Samuel
Lindsay, son of Robert and Elizabeth, christened Feb.1, 1686 at St. Sepulchre,
London. Newgate prison stood next to this church and its bells would toll
whenever anyone was taken to be executed. [It's also where Capt. John Smith, of
Jamestown fame, was buried.]
In those days a
person could be transported for any minor offense, including just being poor, or
getting into a brawl. In 1706, David Lindsay, Gentleman, was sentenced to
Newgate Prison and reprieved on transportation to America for entering France
without a license.
Here is the Transcription of Old Bailey records:
John Sindal, Anthony Lindsey,
Ethelbert Hawks, theft : burglary.
The Proceedings of the Old Bailey Ref: t17350226-61
Trial Summary:
- Crime(s): theft burglary,
- Punishment Type: death,
(Punishment details may be provided at the end of the trial.)
- Verdict: Guilty,
- Crime Location: Ratcliff Cross
Original Text:
53, 54, 55. John Sindal . Anthony Lindsey , and Ethelbert
Hawks , were indicted for breaking and entring the House of Jane Love , and
stealing a Copper Fish Kettle, a Coffee Pot, a Frying Pan, a Sauce Pan,
eighteen Plates, four Dishes, a Pestle and Mortar, a Cane with a Brass Head,
a Hat, two Wigs, three Pair of Breeches, a Petticoat, and six Yards of
Cloth, the Goods of several Persons, Jan. 5. in the Night.
John Faucet . The Prisoners and I went to Madam
Love's House, beyond Ratcliff Cross. The back side is next the Thames. We
went first to the fore side, and finding all abed, we went to the back
part, and got up a Ladder next the Sea Side into the Yard. Then Nathan and
I hoisted up the Sash of the Kitchen, or Dining Room Window, and cut the
Shutter, and then Hawks got in - This was between one and two in the
Morning.
Hawks. My Lord, There stands a great
Thief-Catcher, he was the first that contrived the way of knocking at
Folk's Doors, and so getting in and robbing their Houses. He robbed Col.
Ronaines, and then turned Evidence and hang'd his Comrades, and now he's
turn'd Thief Taker, and wants to hang us. I desire he may not stay in
Coure to hear what the rest swear.
Court. If he's a Witness, let him go out, and
wait till he's called.
Faucet. Hawks handed out the Goods to me, and
Jack Sindal and we carried them to Lindsey, who waited in the Boat. We all
row'd through Bridge, and landed at some Stairs near Somers's House. I and
Hawks and Sindal carried the Pewter and Brass to Morris's House, right
against Somers's (Somerset) House, and left Lindsey to look after the
Apparel. We got a Guinea and a half for what we sold there, and we all
cross the Water and went into the Mint, where we divided the Money, and
bid Hawks carry all the Cloths but the Wig. to his House. Sindal put the
Wig on, and he and I and Hawks left Lindsey in the Mint, and went into the
Burrough, where we met Ralph Mitchell , who was just now put out of Court.
We offered to sell him the Wig for a Guinea, but he would not buy it.
Hawks carried it to a Barber by Tooly's Watergate, and sold it for half a
Guinea.
Mary Plater , the Prosecutor's Maid . I barred
the Kitchen Window about twelve at Night, and found it broke open in the
Morning, and the Goods taken away.
Christopher Phillipson . This is my Wig. I found
it by Faucet's Information at a Barbers at Tooly's Water-gate - I went to
Hawkes in the Compter, and he had then got my Coat and Breeches on.
Hawks . I was arrested and put into the Compter,
and Faucet brought the Coat and Breeches to me there.
Ralph Mitchell . I met Sindal, Hawks and Faucet
in Bridewell Alley, by the New Goal in Southwark. They all asked me to buy
this Wig which Hawks had on his Head. They said the Price was a Guinea.
Hawks. Faucet swore that Sindal had the Wig on
his Head.
Mitchell. Hearing of the Robbery, I acquainted
Mr. Lawrence, the Constable, that I suspected those Persons. I tax'd
Faucet, and he confest and inform'd against the others. We took Lindsey
and Sindal at the Seven or Fourteen Stars in Rosemary Lane - says Lindsey,
What am I taken up for? Is Faucet in custody? I answered, No. Then he said
he had been concern'd with Faucet but in two Things, but did not name
particulars.
This Evidence was confirmed by George Holderness and
Robert Gregory .- Loyd, the Keeper of the Burrough Compter. Madam Love
came to Hawks, in the Compter, and said, she would not prosecute him if he
would not put her Brother in his Information - Her Brother is now in the
New Jail with three more.
John Truss . I arrested Hawks on the tenth of
January - Faucet came to see him there and treated him - And Will.Roberts
(the Prosecutor's Brother) brought this Coat and Breeches to Hawks. The
Cloaths were wet, and he said he had fell over board in them
Seven or eight Witnesses appear'd for Lindsey, and
gave him a very good Character; as two or three did for Sindal.
The Jury found all the Prisoners Guilty . Death .
Explanation of the times:
Burglary was defined as breaking into a dwelling house at night with intent
to commit a felony (normally theft), or actually doing so. Such offences not
committed at night were defined as Housebreaking. "House" in this context could
also include attached buildings, including shops and warehouses. This was
considered a serious offence, because there were likely to be sleeping
inhabitants in a house, and those convicted of this offence were often sentenced
to death.
Many, in fact most, death sentences were not carried out.
Through benefit of clergy, use of pardons, and respited sentences due to
pregnancy or in order to perform military or naval duty, many of those sentenced
to death were not actually executed. Since these mitigations often took place
after the Proceedings were published, this information is usually not
included in the trial texts, though it sometimes can be found in the texts for
subsequent sessions. Names of those executed are regularly reported in
the summaries of punishments provided at the end of each sessions between 1743
and 1792. Where this information was provided in the same edition of the
Proceedings, we have inserted a note to this effect at the end of the trial.
To determine if any information about executions was provided in a subsequent
edition of the Proceedings, it is necessary to use the crime, verdict and
punishment search page, where you can search by punishment type 'executed' and
by defendant surname.
By the end of our period there were serious reservations
about the use of the death penalty for any but the most serious offences. It was
removed from pickpocketing in 1808, and from many more offences in the 1820s and
1830s. But the death penalty was still regularly imposed for murder, violent
assault, burglary, housebreaking, robbery, and coining.
Death Respited for Pregnancy - Women who claimed they were
pregnant at the time they were sentenced to death could "plead their belly".
Such women (and there were many) were then examined by a jury of matrons (chosen
from women present in the courtroom), and, if found to be "quick with child" (if
movement could be detected, signalling the beginning of life), their punishment
was respited until after the baby was born. In principle, the punishment could
then be carried out, but in practice concern for the cost of caring for the
newborn child meant that the mother was normally subsequently pardoned. The
eventual outcome of such cases is not necessarily recorded in the Proceedings,
but it is worth searching later sessions for the convict's name. The verdicts of
the jury of matrons were sometimes recorded in the punishment summaries.
Most defendants sentenced to death were to be hanged at
Tyburn (where Marble Arch stands today). Execution was a public spectacle, meant
to act as a deterrent to crime: convicts were drawn in a cart through the
streets from Newgate, and, after they were given a chance to speak to the crowd
(and, it was hoped, confess their sins), they were hanged, surrounded by huge
crowds.
The convict was placed in a horse drawn cart, blindfolded,
had the noose placed around his/her neck, and then the cart pulled away. Until
the introduction of a sharp drop in 1783, this caused a long and painful death
by strangulation (friends of the convict often helped put them out of their
misery by pulling on their legs).
After the execution there were sometimes struggles for
possession of the corpse between assistants to the surgeons, who wanted it for
teaching anatomy, and friends of the convict, who wanted to give it a proper
burial. Concern at the disorder which occurred at such scenes led to the
transfer of executions in 1783 to outside Newgate Prison.
Some of the most serious offenders were hanged near the place
of their crime, as a lesson to the inhabitants of that area. Others were
punished by more brutal punishments:
Burned at the Stake
Women found guilty of either treason or petty treason
were sentenced to be burned alive at the stake, though it is thought that
merciful executioners sometimes strangled women with a cord before lighting
the fire. Burning at the stake was abolished in 1790.
Drawn and Quartered
Men found guilty of treason were sentenced to be drawn to
the place of execution on a hurdle, hanged, cut down while still alive, and
then disembowelled, castrated, beheaded and quartered. It was alleged that
merciful executioners allowed men to die on the gallows before being
dismembered. This punishment was rare during our period, but occasionally
those convicted of coining and petty treason were sentenced to be drawn on a
hurdle only, but not quartered. For examples of the latter, search by death,
or death by hanging.
Anthony Lindsay is reprieved and transported to Maryland Colony
Anthony LINDSAY
was lucky. Probably because of his many character witnesses save him from
hanging as were two others in the group. The records reveal Anthony's sentence
was reprieved and he
was immediately transported to Annapolis in the Maryland Colony from
Newgate Prison in London 12 April 1735 aboard the ship, "Patapscoe," captained
by Darby LUX.
I suspect that Anthony followed the same occupation as mariner upon arriving
in the colony and was once the earliest ancestor that I can absolutely tie to my
branch of the Lindsay family. However, through the efforts of my distant cousin,
Lindsay Nuttall, we now know Anthony's father and grandfather. We think the
family line will lead to Thomas of Glensk.
Anthony was my Great-Great-Great-Great-Great
Grandfather. One important bit of evidence I wish to submit is the will of
Francis Tolson. Tolson called Alice Lindsay his daughter-in-law and forgave
her husband, Anthony Lindsay, all debt owed. Her son, Samuel Lindsay was also
named. (See Francis Tolson Will Abstract: 1730-31 Maryland Colonial Wills,
Prince Georges County, folio 20, page 158.)
This is the first record, as far as I know, that gives mention of Anthony in the
Maryland colony. Apparently his wife, Alice, was a stepdaughter of Francis
Tolson. From the text of Tolson's will, it seems that Anthony was indebted to
Tolson and was freed from this obligation by Tolson in Tolson's will.
The connection between Francis Tolson and Anthony Lindsay is a bit complicated;
but, I'll try to explain it in a chronological manner:
11 Jan 1644 Gilbert March (Marsh), father Francis and mother Elizabeth,
was Christened at Saint Dunstan, Stepney, London, England.
22 Apr 1686 Francis Tolson, father Henry, was Christened at Bridekirk,
Cumberland, England.
About 1690 Ann Marsh, daughter of Gilbert Marsh, was born, perhaps at
Stepney, London, England.
1 Aug 1694 Gilbert Marsh leased 400 acres on the east side of the Potomac
River from Edward Turner of Charles County for 11 years.
22 Sep 1707 Francis Tolson married Mary Clark.
In earlier days,
I thought that Anthony might be a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Vincent)
Lindsay. I believed this because there was a Thomas Lindsay listed as a planter in
Prince Georges County, Maryland, in 1702. Thanks to the discovery of Lindsay
Nuttall, I now know better.
Lindsay Nuttall of Bloomington, Indiana, found the Christening record of Anthony
Lindsay at Saint Dunstan, Stepney, London, England.
There comes a time, when research must stop, and results put to print. With this
in mind and outside the Lindsay DNA project, I will leave any future research to
others. Personally, I think they will find the English history of the Lindsay
families most interesting. I only wish I could be around for the enjoyment of
the chase. It is as close to "time travel" as earthlings can ever expect.
When Anthony married Alice, the Maryland colonists were expanding inland and the town of Baltimore was
established. This provided the inland planters with a seaport from which they
could ship their tobacco. It is believed that Anthony Lindsay died sometime
after 1777. More than likely, his death occurred in Baltimore County; however,
both date and place are uncertain.
For over a hundred years there has been many disputes concerning the originating
founder of the Lindsay family in America. Most of these stories originated with
the Lindsay Family Association of America. During its twenty years of existence,
several reports were issued. This Lindsay Family Association was abandoned
before many satisfactory conclusions were documented. Over those years, the
association did some valuable work. In fact, once I had worked back to John C.
Lindsay, their work greatly helped locate his brothers and sisters.
In the later part of the last century, there were several conflicting, yet
similar, stories of the origin of this branch of the Lindsays. Margaret Isabelle
Lindsay, author of The Lindsays of America, wrote the following three accounts
about this particular branch of the Lindsay tree. In her book, she wrote,
"Having been furnished with two or three records of this family, in justice to
those who kindly sent each to me, I insert them all."
The following accounts of these different versions are in Margaret Isabelle
Lindsay's own words:
The First Version
"The first was that the early ancestor of the family, a wealthy Scotch
sea-captain, who was lost at sea, had several sons who settled in America long
before the Revolution; one in Maryland, twelve miles from Baltimore; some in
Virginia, and some in South Carolina."
"The one who settled in Maryland being the parent tree of this branch, and whose
name was Anthony, and who married a daughter of one Lloyd Dorsey of Maryland, he
first moved to Pennsylvania, and then to Kentucky, with part of his family,
about the year of 1784."
In regards to this first account, which appears in The Lindsays of America, page
257, there seems to be some basis for fact. For instance, several years ago, I
spent two weeks in Baltimore searching for my Lindsay origins.
I found that an Edmond Lindsay's estate was appraised by James Smallwood and
Ralph Shaw September 24, 1677. In the appraisal, there was no mention of Edmond
Lindsay being a sea-captain; however, it did say he was lost at sea.
Regardless, nobody by the name of Lindsay is listed as a Maryland sea-captain in
Captains and Mariners of Early Maryland, by Raphael Semmes, published at
Baltimore in 1937. This leads me to have some doubt as to the validity of the
first account given in The Lindsays of America. Besides, Anthony Lindsay was
born fifty-nine years after Edmond Lindsay was lost at sea.
The Second Version
"The second was that three brothers Lindsay landed in Charleston, South
Carolina, from Scotland, and that one of the three went to Virginia, whose son
emigrated to Kentucky at an early day, and was the founder of this family, his
name also being Anthony."
This account could be true, if we change one word. That single word would be
"Maryland," in the place of "Virginia."
The Third Version
"The third was that three brothers came over from Scotland long before the
Revolution, one, Anthony Lindsay, settling near Baltimore, the other two going
into Virginia; that said Anthony Lindsay was in America long enough before 1775
for his eldest son, John C. to be born and attain sufficient age to serve in the
American army. At the close of the Revolution, the family removed from Maryland
to Scott county, Kentucky, having bought a farm with the Continental money
received for the one in Maryland. He took with him a wife, five sons and three
daughters."
This third account appears to be true, with one exception. That single exception
appears in the first sentence. I don't think that the Anthony, referred to, was
born in Scotland. Although, his name happens to be Anthony, too. The Anthony in
the third account would be his son. It is the son, whose eldest son John C.
Lindsay, who had attained sufficient age to have served in the Revolutionary
war. This John Lindsay happens to have been my great-great-great grandfather,
who died in Hancock Co., Kentucky.
The Fourth Version
The fourth account in The Lindsays of America is the most complete and probably
the most reliable as it was given to Margaret Isabella Lindsay by Eudora
(Lindsay) South. Eudora was well educated and well traveled. Anthony Lindsay of
Lindsay's Station was her great grandfather. Margaret Isabella Lindsay's account
is as follows:
"In the fourth, The record states that Anthony Lindsay and wife nee Dorsey
emigrated from Maryland county Maryland to Heyden's Station on the Kentucky
river, just above where Frankfort now stands, in 1784. They had twelve children,
viz.:"
Margaret Isabella goes on to list the names of the children and a little bit
about each. The names of the children, I found to be correct; however, the
chronological order of birth is incorrect. Perhaps they weren't intended to be
in order as no dates were given.
The Clue in Mrs. South's Account to The Lindsays of America
Mrs. South stated that Anthony Lindsay's first child, Kate Lindsay, married her
first cousin, John Lindsay. She further wrote that they lived in Baltimore
county. If this is true, then, we know that Anthony Lindsay had, at least, one
brother. Since she said they lived in Baltimore county, I looked at the 1790
census.
There is a John Lindsay living on a plot of ground called "Judah's Delight"
located in "Gunpowder Manor." Research revealed that this John Lindsay was
married to Elizabeth Baldwin, daughter of Silas Baldwin. Both John and Elizabeth
(Baldwin) Lindsay are buried in the Old Baptist Cemetery, on Baldwin Mill Road
in Hartford county. Their tombstone's say that John Lindsay died June 17, 1814,
aged 55 years; and, Elizabeth Lindsay, born 1764, wife of John Lindsay, died May
23, 1838.
Obviously, this isn't the John Lindsay who is a nephew of Anthony Lindsay.
Therefore, we must look at places other than Baltimore county. There is only one
other John Lindsay listed in the Maryland 1790 census. That John Lindsay is in
Prince George's county. In my opinion this county is the most likely place to
look, since there was an Anthony Lindsay living there in 1738 who was at the
proper age to be the parent of the Kentucky Anthony Lindsay.
The 1790 Federal Census of Prince Georges County
Following are all the Lindsays who are listed as heads of families in Prince
Georges in 1790. They are:
Charles Linsey, p. 95, (1 male over 16 & 3 females)
Charles Linsey, p. 95, (1 male over 16 & 1 male under 16)
Charles Linsey, p. 95, (1 male over 16 & 1 female)
John Linsey, p. 95 (1 M over 16, 1 M under 16, 3 F, & 2 sl)
Samuel Linsey, p. 95, (1 M over 16, 1 M under 16 & 2 F)
As you can see, there is no Anthony listed; however, the Samuel Linsey is Samuel
Lindsay, the first son of Anthony and Alice (Page) Lindsay. Samuel was born
about 1728.
The "Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity" to the State of Maryland and the cause of
freedom was required of all free males 18 years of age or older. This became law
following the action taken by the General Assembly 5 February 1777. Records
exist that show two Anthony Lindsays taking this oath. One was in Frederick
County. This one, of course, is Anthony Lindsay, Jr., since his son, Anthony
Lindsay III, who was born 14 February 1767, would have been too young to have
taken the oath. The other Anthony Lindsay was in Baltimore County. This one, in
my opinion, is the husband of Alice Page and was the parent of the one in
Frederick County. If so, we know he was still living at the time and would have
been about 72 years old.
They had at least three known children - perhaps there were many others:
+ 3 M i. Samuel2 LINDSAY, b. about 1728 most probably in
Baltimore Co., Maryland; d. 16 Apr 1800 in Prince Georges Co., Maryland; md. about 1757
most probably in Prince Georges Co., Maryland, Sarah _______, daughter of
_______ _______ and _______ (_______) _______; b. about 1728 in
_______ Co., _______.
4 M ii. John Tolson LINDSAY, b. about 1730 most probably in Baltimore
Co., Maryland; d. __ ___ ____ in _______ Co., Virginia. (Last
track was in Ohio Co., Virginia. I don't know if he came to Kentucky or remained
in Virginia.)
+ 5 M iii. Anthony LINDSAY, b. about 1736 in Baltimore Co., Maryland; d.
__ ___ 1807 in Lindsay's Station, Scott Co., Kentucky; buried in the fort's old
cemetery back of his station.
Other Sources:
Information supplied by Lindsay Nuttall of Bloomington,
Indiana, as copied from IGI British Isles, LDS FHF.
The Lindsay Family Association of America was organized in
Boston February 16 1904 which met annually and published ten annual reports
between 1904 and 1913.. The pages of these annual reports were numbered
consecutively. Most of these reports were written by Margaret Isabella (Lindsay)
Atkinson, the Association's Historian. All these Annual Reports and her
The Lindsays of America can be found in their original form in the
Library of Congress. The Salt Lake City Genealogical Department has them on
microfilm (US) 1,016,024.
D.A.R. Records of Maude (Applegate) Rucker #108695;
Original Maryland Patent Series, Liber Q, p. 131.
General Services Administration - Washington, D.C., Revolutionary War Pension File
#S305545 (John Lindsey).
Heads of Families at the First Census 1790 Maryland
- Government Printing Office, 1907. Revised 1977 by Genealogical Publishing
Co., Baltimore, Maryland.
Maryland Calendar of Wills, page 181. The will
of Francis Tolson.
BURIAL: Kentucky Historical Society Bronze Plaque marking the site of Lindsay's
Station reads: "Lindsay's grave is 100 yards north."
MILITARY: Anthony Lindsay was a veteran of the French & Indian War, a patriot of
the American Revolutionary War, and a pioneer settler of Kentucky.
NOTES: In the book "Emigrants in Bondage, 1719-1744" by Kaminkow is listed as a
passenger of the ship "Patapscoe" which was captained by Darby Lux. It sailed
from some English port Apr 1735 bound for the Maryland Colony. (This book was
found at the National Genealogical Society in Arlington, Virginia by Janice.)
Saint Dunstan's Church, in Stepney, Towers Borough of London is part of the
London Diocesse of the Church of England. St. Dunstan is ancient, having been
founded in 900 A.D. by Saint Dunstan. It is the Church of the High Seas and
flies the English naval flag to represent itself as the patron church of all
sailors.
Stepney was where most of the ship building docks were located and many are
still there, today. It is believed that Anthony's father, Samuel LINDSAY was a
shipwright who built ships, or parts, thereof.
| Copyright © 2005 Kenneth G. Lindsay
About the Author: Ken Lindsay is a retired mining engineer, teacher,
coach, family historian, publisher and author. You may contact him by
E-mail.
This article is courtesy of Ken-Lindsay.com |
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