Lindley Genealogy Page

    This page was put together to archive the Lindley genealogy and share with others who are researching or interested in the LINDLEY surname. This page contains info on the Lindley's in North America going back to 1605. It is freely available to all who have a desire for it. Lindley Family Roots is out of print and many portions of that book is included here. An outline of the family tree follows. Any additions or corrections will be welcome. MICK LINDLEY - MICKUPI at GMAIL.COM

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    John Isacc Lindley b. 1605 d.???? is the earliest known ancestor of the Lindley family tree. John was imprisoned repeatedly in England for religious beliefs. He did not believe the way King James thought he should. It is not known what year he went to Ireland. This is all the information we have on him at this time.

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    James Lindley b. 1641 d.???? b. Ballinclash, Ireland married Alice Walsmith. Both were born, married and died in Ireland and had 5 children who were born in Ireland.

    Children: James b. 4-16-1681 d. 10-13-1726 Married Eleanor Park. Martha b. 2-14-1678. Thomas b. 1-11-1684 Married Hannah Durborrow. Mary b. 8-16-1687 Married Robert Murray. Isabella b. 1693. Married William Murray. 

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James and Eleanor Park Lindley are buried at New Garden MM Cemetery near Lancaster, PA. 

GPS Coordinates are 39.815 -75.752 

    James Lindley b. April 16, 1681 d. October 13, 1726 Was born in Ballinclash, Ireland and married Eleanor Park, b. Jan 2, 1684 died ???. All their children were born in Ireland. 

    Children: Thomas b. 2-25-1706 d. 10-21-1781 Married Ruth Hadley. Rachael b. 5-11-1707. James b. 4-30-1709. Margery b. 4-30-1712. Robert b. 4-30-1712. William b. 12-20-1714. Alice b. 2-25-1716. Mary b. 9-4-1717. Jonathan b. 3-11-1719. Elizabeth b. 8-4-1720. Hannah b. 1-11-1723. Eleanor b. 1-11-1727.

    James & Eleanor are buried in the New Garden MM Cemetery in Lancaster, PA. James was the first Lindley of our family to come to America. He arrived in Pennsylvania on August 3, 1713. He brought with him wife Eleanor and Thomas in the next generation and 4 other children. Imagine bringing 5 children to America on a months long trip by ship. Daddy, are we there yet? 

    James Lindley purchased 200 acres of land in New Garden in 1713, and 400 acres in London Grove in 1722. In 1726 he purchased another 600 acres. In the deed it is stated that he was a blacksmith. James and Eleanor had 12 children. A handwritten will is on file in Chester county, PA. By this generation after fleeing England and the oppression of the King our ancestors had become Quakers. The Quakers obeyed their "inner light", which they believed to come directly from God, refused to bow or take off their hats to any man, and refused to take up arms. I especially like the part about refusing to bow or take off their hats to any man. Is any man more important than another? Unfortunately, arms (in my opinion) are necessary to protect ones self and family from evil doers in this world.

    James Lindley was apparently a good business man and a very hard worker. He was only in America 13 years but amassed a small fortune. The following is an excerpt from a letter written by nephew Robert Parke, complete with original spelling. "Unkle James Lindley & family is well and Thrives exceedingly, he has 11 children and & Reaped last harvest about 800 bushels of wheat, he is a thriving man anywhere he lives, he has a thousand acres of Land, A Fine Estate." ,end of letter. 

    At the time of his death he had the following estate, not including his land. Purs and apparrell 22 pounds 12 shillings, 7 beds and furniture, 1 chest of drawers, 2 chests, 2 boxes, and 1 looking glass. 4 table cloths, 13 sheets, and 1 warming pan. 2 peices of stuff and 1 set of new curtains, 1 hackle and chains, salt box, iron pots, and candle sticks, 2 mens saddles, 2 weomans saddles, 1 pillion, and 2 bridles. Wool cards, sole leather, pewter, brass tin and wooden ware. Mault, indian corn, salt, wheels and a half bushel. Irons in the kitchen, Coopers ware and Earthen ware. Dressed skin, books iron, 2 steel whip saws and 1 cross saw. Carpenters tools, pincers, howers, plows, harrows and ox chains. Grinding stones, coles, bells, shovells, and forks. A cart with the Geers and Chains, hooks, and horse shoes. Oak boards, scantling, 3 guns and bullet molds. Grubing axes, well chain, wolf trap, falling axes, sickles, sythes, and doe trough. Corn in the barn, corn in the mill, and corn in the ground, and hay in the meadow. 16 horses, mares and colts. 27 cows, oxen and young cattle, 10 sheep and swine. Blacksmith's tools in the shop. 1 servant man, 5 bonds and one Bill, book debts, plantation land  improvements. Total Value: 1115 pounds 9 shillings. In his will he left his wife Eleanor the plantation as long as she lived or until she remarried. He left each son 200 acres. He left each daughter 20 pounds sterling. He left the unborn child Eleanor 20 shillings, knowing his wife was with child. He left his blacksmith's tools to James. With the exception of his wife no one could receive their inheritance until which time they reached 21 years of age. 

    James Lindley was only 45 years of age when he died and was only in North America 13 years. It is not known what he died of at such an early age. I have wondered if an unruly horse kicked him in the head since he was a blacksmith. This is pure conjecture, I have no proof, it is just a hunch. It was thought that he settled on the land and homesteaded it, but records show that he bought 600 acres and shortly before his death he bought 600 more for a total of 1200 acres. The fact that he amassed this small fortune in so little time, while raising 11 children is quite remarkable.

    James Lindley died on October 13, 1726, five days after making out his last will and testament and some 10 weeks before his last child was born. His widow 42 years of age married Henry Jones. following is the text of his handwritten will on file at Chester county, Pennsylvania with original spelling.

    Last Will and Testament of James Lindley Born April 16, 1681 Died Oct. 13, 1726

    To all people unto whom these Presents may come, Be it known that I James Lindley of the township of London Grove in the County of Chester and province of Pennsylvania, Smith, haveing under my Confederation of uncertainty of time near on Earth, & of equal Course unto which all mankind is subject which is mortality, and for the avoiding of future trouble have made this my last will and testament thereby, Revoking all or any former will or testament & this my said Will Consists of Divided Articles, as followeth. Imprimis: I give & bequeath unto my Dear and well beloved wife this plantation which I now Dwell on, and it is to Containe two hundred Acres  of Land it being the one half of the Tract of Land that I now Dwell on together with this Dwelling House barn & all other out houses & Improvements whatsoever there unto belonging it will be the North part of the whole tract, untill she happen to marry, but if she do not marry she shall have it until She Dyes, and also I give and bequeath unto her all my personable Estates whatsoever that I have or am entitled to, Except all my Smiths Tools, and I order that my wife Shall pay all my Debts which I owe & and also shall pay for Six hundred acres of land which I have gotten an also to have it Surveyed to me of the Land of Sir John Haggs so called it being in Chester County aforesaid, & all to be paid out to my personale Estate. Item: I give and bequeath unto my Loveing Sons Thos. Lindley, James Lindley, Robert Lindley & William Lindley their heirs & assigns For Ever two hundred acres of land apeice when they Come to the age of twenty one years. The Six hundred acres above mentioned in Haggs Land so called to be Devided by my Overfoors in three tracts, Each tract to be two hundred acres and the remaining part of this tract which I now live on, it being two hundred acres. Also I order that my son Thos. Lindley shall have his Choice of any of the four tracts above mentioned and the other three shall have each of them a tract of two hundred acres of the above mentioned land as my overfoors Shall order for them, and also I do give unto my Son James all my Smiths tools. Item: I give & bequeath to my son Jonathan Lindley his heirs & Assigns for Ever the plantation whereon I now Dwell at the Marriage of his Mother or at her decease which shall happen first it being the plantation which I have left to my wife it containing two hundred acres of land. Item: I give unto my Daughter Rachael the sum of twenty pounds lawfull money of Pennsylvania, which I order my son Thos. to pay to her when she comes to the age of twenty one years out of his tract of land. Item: I give unto my Daughter Margery the sum of twenty pounds lawfull money aforesaid which I order my son James to pay to her when she comes to the age of 21 years out of his tract of land. Item: I give unto my Daughter Alice the sum of twenty pounds lawfull money aforesaid which I order my son Robert to pay to her when she comes to the age of twenty one years out of his tract of land. Item: I give unto my Daughter Mary the sum of twenty pounds of the like money aforesaid which I order my son William to pay to her when she comes to the age of twenty one years out of his tract of land. Item: I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth the sum of twenty pounds of the like money aforesaid which I order my son Jonathan to pay to her when she comes to the age of 21 years out of his tract of land. Item: I give unto my Daughter Hannah the sum of twenty pounds of the like money above which I order my son James to pay her the sum of ten pounds, it being the one half of the aforesaid twenty pounds when she comes to the age of twenty one years, & the other half being ten pounds more I order my son Jonathan to pay it to her when she comes to age out of his tract of land which makes up the above mentioned twenty pounds. Whereas at this time my wife being with child & if it pledge the Lord that it be delivered of a living Child or Childson I give unto it or them the sum of twenty pounds of the like lawfull money aforesaid to Each, which I order my wife to pay to it or when ye comes to the age of twenty one years out of my personale Estate. If it pledge the Lord that any of my  Childson that is already born die before they come to the age of twenty one years that their part or portion Shall be Equally divided amongst My Surviving Children, and also it is my will & desire that all my children shall live with their mother upon this place until they come of age or marry. If any of my overfoors think it convenient notwithstanding I have appointed Every of my Children part of my Estate, yet it is my will & desire that if any of you in their minority has or will not behave as to bring publick, and be cause of strife & trouble to their mother & friends that then any so doing shall not have above the value of ten pounds & the remaining part of it I intended you shall be Equally divided amongst the rest of my children. I also Constitute & appoint my Loveing wife to be my Executor & my Loving son Thos. Lindley to be my Executor of this my last will and Testament, & also to pay all my Debts & Legacys & perform Every part & Article herein Contained according to the true intent & Meaning thereof, I also appoint my Loveing Friends James Starr & Benjamin Roth of Morganson in the County of Chester aforesaid overfoors to see this my will well & truly performed; Signed Sealed & Published this Eighth Day of the tenth month in the year One Thousand Seven Hundred & Twenty Six: In the presence of, Susananh Willcocks, Elisha Maverick & John Jordan.

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Thomas Lindley and Ruth Hadley Lindley are buried at Spring Meeting Cemetery in Alamance county, NC

The GPS coordinates are 35.903 -79.326

    Thomas Lindley b. February 25, 1706 d. Sept 14, 1781 was born in Ballinclash, Ireland married Ruth Hadley, b. Dec 6, 1712 d. Dec 4, 1785. 

    Children: Katherine b. 9-22-1732 d. 5-1-1811 Married William White. James b. 9-22-1735 d. ?-4-1779 Married Mary Cox. Simon b. 1-5-1737 d. 1760. Thomas b. 8-7-1740 d. 2-28-1833 Married Sarah Evans. William b. 12-27-1742 d. 9-29-1784 Married Mary Morton. Ruth b. 12-25-1745 d. ?. Married Joshua Hadley. John b. 11-13-1747 d. ?-11-1790 Married Sarah Pyle. Eleanor b. 9-15-1750 d. 1-12-1783 Married George Marris. Deborah b. 6-28-1753 d. ?. Married John Newlin. Jonathan b. 6-15-1756 d. 4-5-1828 Married Deborah Dix & Martha Henley.    

    Thomas & Ruth are buried at the Spring Meeting cemetery in Alamance county, NC. Thomas and Ruth's first 8 children were born in London Grove, PA. The family moved to Orange county N.C. sometime after 1750 where the remaining 2 children were born. Thomas built a gristmill known as Lindley's Mill in Alamance county, NC that is still in operation by Henry Lindley and some of his other descendants. He was active in the Revolutionary War, where sadly some of his family fought on opposite sides. Actually I only have scant evidence of this, and several have disputed it, but I felt like it was worth mentioning. He died on the day of the battle of Lindley's Mill. For information on this see "The Battle of Lindley's Mill" by Algie I. Newlin or "Lindley Family Roots in PA, NC, SC, GA, and AL" by Terry M. Lindley. Both of these books may be in your library. Both are long out of print.

    When the above picture was taken the cemetery was directly behind me. Land for the church as well as the cemetery was given by Thomas Lindley and Ruth Hadley. The church is now on the register of U. S. National Historical Sites The cemetery is on the opposite side of the road from the church, directly behind the spot where this picture was taken. Thomas and Ruth are buried there, and their old house place is about 200 yards to the right of the spot where the picture was taken.

    It has been said all the Lindley's in the United States came from the members of this family. As with anything you hear you have to sit back and ask yourself if it makes any sense. That would perhaps be right in a sense, but would that not also apply to James Lindley & Eleanor Park who bravely made the months long trip from Ireland and stepped off the ship in Pennsylvania in 1713?  If not for these two brave souls we all might all still be in Ireland. 

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    James Lindley b. Sept 22, 1735 d. April 1779 was born in London Grove, PA married Mary Cox

    Children: Thomas b. 1754 d. ?. Married Elizabeth Hall. Ruth b. 1756 d. ?. Married Benjamin Smith. Catherine b. 1759 d. ?. Married Abraham Box. William b. ?. d. 1782. Rebecca b. 8-9-1763 d. ?-3-1783 Married David Smith. Mary b. 1764 d. 7-11-1785 Married Colvil Abercrombie. John b. 1766 d. 3-22-1821 Married Sarah Smith & Nancy Mitchell. Jonathan 7-2-1772 d. ?. Married Nancy Blair.

    James & Mary are buried in Laurens county, SC. James was a captain under Colonel David Fanning in the Revolutionary War and fought in various battles at and around Fort Ninety Six in SC and in Georgia. James was an active Loyalist. (Loyal to the British) He was captured at the battle of Kettle Creek in Georgia. He was tried for treason and hung at Ninety-Six, SC. He was reportedly buried at the Ninety-Six Jail Cemetery. Other accounts have him buried at Hickory Tavern (Laurens county) SC. Visit this fort in SC and imagine your ancestor there fighting for the cause he believed in. 

    James Lindley was a native of Chester County in PA, but moved and settled in Rabun's Creek in 1768. This area later became the "Ninety Six District" This is present day Laurens County in South Carolina. He lived here during the Revolutionary War. This was located in a community called Rabun's Creek. If you go there today you will see a large water tank with bold letters proclaiming it to be Rabun's Creek Water Authority. The community is known today as Hickory Tavern, South Carolina. While doing research I found various spellings: Rayburn's, Raebun's, Rayborn's, Rabun's, Raborn's, and Reaborn's. It is a tributary of the Reedy River. Lindley's Fort was built on his land. Ruins of the fort have recently been found and a marker placed. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. He was a Captain under Colonel David Fanning and was at various battles at Ninety Six (Colonel Fanning was in command at the Battle of Lindley's Mill). The Ninety Six was a fort shaped like a star held by the Loyalists. The Whigs were determined to take the fort. For the full story visit the fort which is now a National Historical Site in Ninety Six, SC and imagine your ancestor there fighting for the cause he believed in. James Lindley was an active Loyalist until his capture at the Battle of Kettle Creek in Georgia on February 14, 1779. At Ninety Six the fate of some captured Loyalists was decided in one of the largest Loyalist trials ever held during the American Revolution. A large number of Loyalists were being held by the Whigs and all were released except five who were sent back to Ninety Six to avoid their being rescued by the British. Aquilla Hall, Charles Draper, Samuel Clegg, James Lindley, and John Anderson, the five remaining condemned Loyalists, were hanged by Sheriff William Moore at Ninety Six near the end of April 1779. The reason these five men were singled out and executed is not known. Aquilla Hall was the father in law of Thomas Lindley in the next generation. James had a son who was also a Captain under Fanning who was named William Lindley. He was "murdered by the Rebels at the mountains" in early 1782. The rebels were Loyalist deserters. James Lindley was a well to do landowner, Justice of the Peace, and militia officer before the war, and an active Loyalist leader throughout the struggle. He was captured by the Whigs at least once before, during the famous "Snow Campaign" of 1775. At 44, he left a widow and children.

    During the Revolutionary War there were about 3 million able bodied men. Many could have fought in the war but refused to do so. They were afraid of the King, or had religious beliefs that prohibited it. Some such as James fought on the British side. Lets don't fault him for that. He done what he thought was right and the best thing for him and his family. Take a look at the above picture. Click on it for a full size picture. It is a replica of a British poster used for recruiting soldiers for the King. It offers 50 acres of land and $5 at the end of the war. Of the 3 million men only 200,000 fought in the war. That is only 6%. Of that 6% approximately 50,000 died. I don't know about you but I am eternally grateful for these men and women. Remember our Isaac Lindley? He was thrown into prison just because he did not believe the way the King thought he should believe. Is it any wonder that many of their descendents to this day are wary of the government? Remember the Trail of Tears and the atrocities against the great Cherokee Nation? Thomas in the next generation, born 1754 changed over to the American side.

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Thomas Lindley and Elizabeth Hall Lindley are buried in the Lebanon Methodist Church Cemetery.

GPS coordinates 34.561 -82.266

    Thomas Lindley b. 1754 d.???? married Elizabeth Hall

    Children: Elizabeth b. ?. in SC. Hannah b. ?. Married James Johnston. Sah b. ? in SC. Mary b. ?. in SC. Married John Abercrombie. William b. 1785 in SC. d. 8-9-1869. Married Elizabeth Ridgeway. Nancy b. 1788. in SC. Married John Bolt. Thomas b. 1790 in SC. d. 3-24-1853. Married Sarah Anderson. Aquilla b. 1790 in SC d.? Married Parmelia Armstrong. James b. 1795 in SC. d.? Married Elizabeth ????. John b. 5-12-1796 d. 2-17-1881 Married Frances Henderson. Henry b. 1799 in SC. d. ?. Married Charity ????. Jonathan b. 1800 d. ?. Married Dorcus ????. 

    Thomas & Elizabeth are buried in the Lebanon Methodist Church cemetery near Rabun's Creek in Laurens county, SC. The cemetery has a memorial list of soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War and contains the name of Thomas Lindley. It is not known for sure if his wife Elizabeth is buried there. Beginning with this generation this line of the family had changed over to the American side in the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth's father Aquilla Hall was hung at Ninety-Six along with James.

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Thomas Lindley is buried in Moonfield Cemetery in Randolph county Alabama. 

This stone, still in the box in the picture, was placed there by a small group of people in 1990.

The same stone at the cemetery.

    Thomas Lindley b. 1790 d. March 24, 1853 Married Sarah Elizabeth Betsy ????. b. 1798 d. 1852 

    Children: Aquilla b. 1-?-1811 d. 7-19-1901 Married Mary E. King. Sarah b. 1814 d. 5-?-1980 Married Reuben Mize. Rhoda b. 1825 d. ?. James R. b. 1828 d. ?. Married Elizabeth New. Letitia b. 9-11-1829 d. 5-5-1844 Married John F. Young. Jemima b. 1830 d. ?. Married Elijah S. New. William b. ?? d.??. Thomas M. b. 11-15-1834 d. 10-17-1918 Married Elizabeth Ball & Sarah Smith.

    Thomas & Betsy are both buried in Moonfield cemetery in Randolph county, AL. The cemetery is located on private land once owned by Thomas Lindley. It is out in the woods with nothing around except for a farmhouse about 1/4 mile away from the cemetery. To see the location and related pictures you may Click Here.

    Thomas served in the War of 1812 as a private in the South Carolina militia in Capt. John Nabors Company. He was honorably discharged and received 80 acres of bounty land in Randolph county, AL.

    He was married in South Carolina about 1810. On the 1850 Randolph county Alabama census Elizabeth's name is listed as Sally. People in the family called her Betsy. An Elizabeth Lindley on the 1820 Walton county Georgia census is believed to be the same person, so she was probably Sarah Elizabeth. Thomas and Sally (Betsy) had children in Laurens county South Carolina before they moved to Walton county Georgia. Elizabeth appears as head of household on the 1820 census of Walton county, Thomas was probably still in South Carolina. Thomas and his family left Walton county sometime in the 1830's and appear on a state census in Newton county Georgia in 1838. Thomas and his family also lived in Campbell and Carroll counties in Georgia before moving to Randolph county Alabama. In 1852 under the military act of 1850 Thomas received 80 acres of land in Randolph county Alabama for his service in the War of 1812. Also in 1852 Betsy died and was buried in the family cemetery now known as Moonfield Cemetery. She was the first person buried there. She has a modern marker that was placed there by grandson, Tom Craft. Thomas died the next year on the 24th of March 1853. He is buried next to Betsy. A military marker was ordered and placed there in 1990. How the cemetery received its name is an unusual story. According to members of the Lindley family, shortly before Betsy died she saw a light in the woods near their cabin one night. She gathered her family to show the light too them, they watched it until it disappeared. Betsy, believing it to be a sign told her family that she wouldn't live much longer and that she wanted to be buried on the spot where they saw the light. Soon after this episode Sally died and was buried on the spot where they saw the light. This light was possibly the moon, or light reflected by the moon. In any event it must have been something highly unusual. That is how the cemetery got its name. Thomas and his family appear on the 1850 Randolph county Alabama census.

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Aquilla Lindley head stone at Mt Hope Cemetery in Arley, AL

GPS coordinates 34.058 -87.214

    Aquilla Lindley b. Jan 1811 d. July 9, 1901 Married Mary Elizabeth King b. 1812 in NC d. ????

    Children:  Sarah b. 1837 in GA. Martha b. 1840 in GA. Mary Elizabeth b. 1843 in GA. Married Samuel F. Morse. William T. b. 7-29-1846 d. 5-2-1918 Married Mary Ann Henderson. Lucinda b. 1848 in GA. Married Henry Strickland. John b. 1850 in GA. Caroline b. 1853 in GA. Married Henry Strickland. Note two daughters married Henry Strickland.

    Aquilla is buried at Mt. Hope cemetery in Arley, AL. Mary is not buried there, and no one seems to know much about her. Aquilla was not yet in Alabama when she died, so it is presumed she is buried in GA. Notice the headstone states he is 87 years old. You do not see this very often an a stone. His date of birth has been verified on census records, so it would seem that he was 89 years old. 

    I have evidence that our Aquilla fought in the Civil War in the first Georgia Confederate Regiment. The evidence contains no birth dates, but notice the request came from the Dismal, AL P.O. which was near Arley, AL. The request was made two years before that post office closed. See link at Alabama Archives. Note the request was made in 1899, but the request states he was 81 years old. He would have been 87 years old. Did he forget how old he was? He did indeed serve in the Civil War. He was in the 1st Confederate Regiment, 2nd Co. C from Fulton county GA. Aquilla has a very interesting epitaph on his marker at the gravesite. It reads as follows, "BEHOLD DEAR FRIEND AS YOU PASS BY, AS YOU ARE NOW SO ONCE WAS I " I have seen this epitaph, or a variation of it at several other cemeteries I have visited.

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William T. Lindley & Mary Ann Henderson Lindley

Buried at Mt Hope Cemetery in Arley, AL  GPS coordinates 34.058 -87.214

    William T. Lindley b. July 29, 1846 d. May 2, 1918 Married Mary Ann Henderson, b. Jan 9, 1849 d. Feb 18, 1935. 

    Children: James H. b. 1-23-1868 d. 2-5-1916. Married Viola Lansford. William J. b.10-6-1872 d. 7-17-1940 Married Sarah E. Hamner. Mary P. b. 1875 d.?. Melissa V. b. 1877 d. ?. Married Claude Tickner. Minnie T. b. 1880 d.?. Married Jesse Tickner. Tom M. b.1882 d. 12-27-1956 Married Gracie L. ????. Dave M. b. 2-18-1884 d. 1-5-1968. Lottie b. ???? d.???? Married ????, Stevenson. Julie b. ? d. ?. Married ????, Hendon

    William and Mary Ann are buried at Mt. Hope cemetery in Arley, AL. William was a huge landowner and the elected Sheriff of Douglas county, GA in 1881. He and his family left Georgia under some bad circumstances and moved to Alabama. For this story see " Lindley Family Roots in PA, NC, SC, GA, & AL " by Terry M. Lindley at your library. William stood up for what he thought was right and never stopped short of letting his voice be heard. In June of 1882 he personally brought suit against the town of Douglasville, GA because he thought a trial was not legal.

    He was also a very harsh sheriff. In the 1880's if you broke the law you were in real trouble and the "High Sheriff" came looking for you. By nature they were a tough breed, and could be pretty mean. See link from Douglas County Sheriff Dept. Mary Ann is in the same plot at the cemetery. It was told to me by my great Uncle Winfred Lindley that Mary Ann requested she not be buried next to him because he was "too mean", and she is indeed buried in the same plot but 25 feet away. William T was a Mason in Arley, AL.

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William J. & Sarah Hamner Lindley with daughter Dessa in 1896

William J and Sara Hamner Lindley are buried at Bennett's Cemetery

GPS coordinates 33.985 -87.330 * Lamons Chapel Rd, Jasper, AL 35503

    William J. Lindley b. June 10,1872 d. July 17, 1940. He married Sarah E. Hamner, b. Oct 19, 1874 d. Oct 8, 1961. 

    Children: Dessa b. 9-20-1895 d. 12-18-1980 Married Jesse Wadsworth. Howard b.? d.? Married Clyde Burgess. Gordon b. 8-3-1899 d. 3-17-1980 Married Gertrude Piper. Hattie b.? d.?. Married Floyd Green. Winfred b. 5-12-1915 d. d.?. Married Pansy Debson. Raymond b.? d.?. Married Mary McAnnally. Emmett b.?. d.?. Married Hazel Lawson. Williard b.? d?. Alice Knight. Eunice b.? d?. Married Onie Scoggins.  Orbie b?. d?. Married Elsie Falls.

    Both are buried in Bennetts cemetery in Walker county, AL. William built a fabulous house (8801 Highway 195, Jasper, AL) for the era on Highway 195 near the Thatch community. It is located on the left 10.3 miles from Jasper, AL, about 50 yards past present day Maple Lane, and about 200 feet off the road. It had a porch all the way around so you could sit in the sun in the winter and the shade in the summer. In 1940 William J. died and the house was sold to Dennie Handley Gay. Today it is owned by his son Melvin T. Gay who lives next door.

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Gordon Lindley, his Mother, & wife Gertrude Piper Lindley

Lindley family, Gertrude, Gordon, Harold, Alvin, Aura, & Ulas

Gordon H and Gertrude Piper Lindley are buried at Bennett's Cemetery

GPS coordinates 33.985 -87.330

    Gordon H. Lindley b. Aug 3, 1899 d. Mar 17, 1980 Married Gertrude E. Piper b. Oct 18, 1897 d. Sept 1, 1960.  

    Children: Aura b. Oct 19, 1925 d. Dec 22, 1944. Ulas b. Dec 26, 1928 d.?. Married Elizabeth Daniels. Alvin b. Feb 2, 1930 d. Jan 10, 2001. Married Ethelene Knight. Harold E. b. Apr 22, 1936 d.Apr 17, 1947. Note the first three children had no middle name.

Gordon & Gertrude are buried in Bennetts cemetery in Walker county, AL. Gordon, as most farmers was a hard worker who farmed 40 acres near Thatch, AL. His main crops were corn, and tomatoes.

    My grandfather was a gentle man, but according to relatives he would argue with a fence post. He would scope you out to find your position on something and then likely disagree with you just to get you riled up. After this he would sit back and have that smirky little Lindley grin on his face while you were all bent out of shape. Thinking back as a small boy I can remember that grin as him and others sat around an old pot belly stove at Pearcy J. Lowery's store on Hiway 195 near Thatch, AL, They would get into what I thought was some very heated arguments. At the time I thought they were real mad at each other. It was not until much later in life when I learned that this was their "entertainment". They did not have social media like we have today. This and church was their social media.

    My Granddad told me the story about paving AL 195 for the first time in 1921. The road builders paved portions of the road near Jasper with concrete. After finishing and smoothing it out everyone thought it looked great. He and others said, "this road will be here from now on". That was not the case. It started breaking up because of an insufficient base and had to be completely removed within a year.

    My grandparents lost a son Aura (see picture) in December of 1944. He was killed in WW2. They had a picture of him on the wall, but I cannot recall them or my Dad ever mentioning him in any way. In later years I asked my Mom about this. Her answer was, "they just didn't talk about it". The pain of losing a child has to be the most horrible thing a parent can face.

    He was a hard worker and farmed 40 acres of land near Thatch, AL on either side of what is today Duncan Road off Hiway 195. He was quick to experiment with different techniques such as cross seeding and grafting. He had several bee hives and as a child I was never allowed to be outside when he was working the bees. He grew some golden delicious apples that were great. The only problem is that they were new to the area and everyone wanted red delicious apples. So one year he dumped a large amount of the crop to the cows. 

    My grandmother Gertrude Piper was a very small Cherokee woman standing about 5 feet tall. Once when I was a child she had a fire under a big cast iron pot making some hominy. As a little boy of 5, I wanted to play in the fire real bad, so I did. After repeated warnings, Michael keep your feet out of that fire, she insisted on calling me Michael, I kept playing in the fire. Finally, she grabbed me by the arm, jerked me around, looked me right in the face and said "now I said, stay out of the fire", when she did this I kicked her real hard on the shins. That fit of rage by a fiesty 5 year old was a big mistake. She got a hickory switch and by the time she was finished with me I no longer had any desire to play in the fire. I had a tremendous amount of respect for her after this, if she said to do something, I did it. I hope to say I'm sorry about the kick, and give her a big hug one day in the hereafter. Is this what the world needs more of today when it comes to raising children.

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Alvin and Ethelene Knight Lindley are buried at Forest Grove Cemetery in Pleasant Grove, AL

GPS coordinates 33.469 -86.975

    Alvin Lindley b. February 2, 1930 d. January 10, 2001 Married Aug 20, 1949 to Ethelene W. Knight b. Dec 28, 1933 d. Oct 3, 2006.  

    Children: Terry M. b. Sept 24, 1950 in Haleyville, AL. Married Debbie Weathers. Anthony J. b. July 17, 1956 in Fairfield, AL. Married Ginger Smith, after her death married Mary Lansford.

    After working in a sawmill in Winston county, AL, Alvin decided there had to be something better so he put everything he owned on an old truck he borrowed from my Granddad Buren Knight and moved to Ensley, AL where he got a job in the steel mill. After working there only a few years he started his own company in 1954 known as Lindley Plumbing & Heating Company. Both sons Terry M. and Anthony J. worked in this business. Alvin retired in 1995. He continued to work some if he wanted to, or if it meant he could go to a friends house and visit with them. He rarely charged friends for plumbing work. Or if he did it was only a token amount. One morning at the shop Anthony and I had about 14 service calls. I asked him if he could do a couple of them and he said no. "I gotta go downtown to Berman Mercantile (a big feed and seed hardware store) and buy two horse shoes". We immediately asked what he wanted with two horse shoes. He had taught himself to weld, and he was going to weld these horse shoes together with chains and make a puzzle. He loved puzzles, especially mechanical things that looked like they would not come apart. He spent the day making this and had it ready for show the next morning. I have kept it all these years. The big ring in the middle can be removed. See a picture of it HERE. The company moved to Sumiton, AL where it remains today as his son Anthony J. Lindley operates the business.

    My Mother's full name was Ethelene Willie Knight. She never liked the middle name. I never knew why my Grandmother named her Willie. I guess she did it because she wanted to, and she could. It was said my Mother never told a lie. I'm sure she did earlier in life, but I never knew her to do so. I always wanted a little sister. One day I convinced a friend I had a little sister who lived over in Georgia who could easily whip his butt. It was a whopper of a lie I told, complete with a name I made up. I told him she knew judo, and other martial arts. One day when he and I was at my Mothers house he asked her if she had a daughter. Before she could answer I piped in with, of course she does. I already told you I have a sister, tell him Mom. She just sat there and smiled with a look of bewilderment on her face. My friend said, "I knew you didn't have a sister".

    After my Grandmother (Gertrude) died in 1960 my Granddad (Gordon) moved in with us in Birmingham. My Granddad worked some in my Dad's business. I got to go with them on Saturdays when out of school. Once I remember on a building my Dad was working on he had installed a plumbing pipe from the basement floor all the way out the roof about 35 feet in length and 3 floors up. My Dad took pride in his work, and I can remember him spending enormous amounts of time on something I thought at times to be quite trivial. My Granddad stood at the basement level and looked up at the above mentioned pipe and said, "Alvin that pipe is crooked, it's off by a foot or more". My Dad stated simply, "No it isn't". My Granddad got a ladder, a plumb bob, string, and a measuring tape. He spent the next hour or more measuring and calculating. Finally he announced proudly, "I told you it was crooked, it's off by 1 1/4 inches". That's very trivial considering it was 35 feet long.

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    Tracing the family roots is something that I have always wanted to do. Like a lot of people, I never got one of those Round To Its in my possession to enable myself to get started. Finally, in 1991, I took the plunge. I hope if you read this you will find it at least a bit interesting, and just maybe some tidbit of information contained herein will help you trace your roots. James Lindley, born 1681, who came to America with his five children from Ballinclash, Ireland, was the first sprouts that grew into what is now the Lindley tree here in  North America. I want to especially thank Robert P. Lindley, Jr. for his invaluable help in compiling info. Others include my uncle Winfred Lindley, my Dad Alvin Lindley, my Mom Ethelene Lindley, Murray Andrew of NC, Cecil Lindley of Wedowee, and Virginia  Goodwin of Arley. While doing research it was discovered that the same first names were used over and over. Not too unusual considering the fact that my own line goes back 13 generations. In my line the name James is used three times, Thomas is used three times, and William is used two times. When compiling information on any of these you must be very careful to keep them separated.

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Additional Notes

    This information as presented is copyrighted and may be used with permission. As the author of this page, due to space limitations I only included my own line here. Each family had 5 to 12 children so there are many other lines. The book, Lindley Family Roots copyrighted in 1993, Library of Congress Catalog Card # 92-82123, should be in your library, however just like The Battle of Lindley's Mill is long since out of print.