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Descendants of James David Lindsay

Generation No. 1

      1. James David⁵ Lindsay (William⁴, George³, William², Alexander¹)^1,^2,^3,⁴ was born 20 March 1810 in Musselberg, Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland ⁵, and died 13 December 1873 in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina⁵. He married (1) Janet White 26 December 1830 in St Cuthberts Church, Inveresk, Midlothian, Scotland ⁶. She was born 28 January in Langstone, Collington, Scotland, and died Aft. 30 August 1835. He married (2) Mary M McCullough 15 April 1856 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She was born Abt. 1825 in North Carolina, and died Abt. 1890 in Humboldt, Tennessee.

Notes for James David Lindsay:
      James David was born in a small village called Musselburgh in the parish of Inveresk in Scotland. In December 1792, the population was only 235 in the village proper. It would be fair to say that most of the people were related to each other.
      In 1811, one year after James David was born, the population in the whole parish of Inveresk was 6393. The parish church, St Michaels(probably a division of the Church of Scotland, or Presbyterian), was built on the site of an ancient Roman fort. It was opened in 1806, to replace the previous small church(which was 102 feet by 24 feet, with 2 aisles on each side) which could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. The pastor was Leslie Moodie, who was installed on 27 Jun 1806, and was probably the one who christened James David. He served until his death on 27 Jul 1840. John Gardiner Beveridge was ordained as his assistant and successor on 16 Feb 1836. As it appears that James David was a religious man, we can be sure that he heard many sermons preached by both men!
      The kirkyard(cemetery) contains memorial stones from about 1700 to about 1890. It seems probable that many monuments were moved, lost or destroyed during the building of the present church. Of those stones still readable, several are of the Lindsay family. One stone with the first name unreadable is that of an Lindsay who died 16 January 1750. Others are of Bailie Lindsay, died 10 August 1756, and Samuel Lindsay, died 15 December 1755. We don't know what relation they were to James David as our records of the Lindsay Family are very sparse for that time.
      The fact that there were stones on the graves lets us know that the family must have been fairly well off, as only the well-to-do could afford such monuments!
      There were a number of Craft Guilds(unions) in Musselburgh. Baxters(bakers) Fleshers(butchers) Gardners, Hammermen(blacksmiths) Shoe makers, Tailors, Weavers, and Wrights(millers). It appears that James David belonged to the Wright guild in Musselburgh. His children by both wives were all born on streams, indicating his profession. From the information that we have been able to gather on life in Scotland during the mid 1800's, millers were members of the middle class and considered important people. The records from Musselburgh, Inveresk, Scotland indicates that dues were paid to millers.
      Family legend has it that James David was one of twelve children, although we can only find information on one other. It is believed that his first wife, Janet (White) Lindsay, came to America with him. She died in 1855 at Fosters Mills(no state or other place information known), according to the family Bible, and David remarried within the year. Maggie John (Lindsay) Cook said family legend had it that he was a person of some means in Scotland and brought his son John to America with him.
      Although many years have been spent in searching shipping records, nothing is yet known as to the port he landed in when coming to America, nor what year. We have always wondered why he chose to settle in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina. Did he have family or friends already there? This is still a mystery at this time, but family members are hard at work attempting to solve it!
      One branch of the family has a legend that he landed in Texas and walked to North Carolina, but we think this is not true.
      While bound for the New World, there was a great storm at sea and all his possessions got soaked. The family Bible shows signs of water damage. In 1979 the Lindsay family Bible was in the possession of Ervin Lindsay, Monroe, Union County, North Carolina.
      He and his second wife, Mary (McCullough) Lindsay joined the Presbyterian church in Union County, North Carolina.
      Maggie John said James David and his eldest son John quarreled over his marriage to Mary and as a result, John took his family and moved to New York. One of John's sons is supposed to have been named Scott.
      Maggie John (Lindsay) Cook had part of the family tartan from Scotland that James David brought with him. Jim Beshires saw it in 1978.


Notes for Janet White:
      The following is taken from the marriage bann book of St Cuthbert's Church.
      'David Lindsay, Miller, Residing in Water Of Seith??and Janet White, residing in No Gardners Crescent, both in this parish, daughter of James White, carter in Currie, have been three times proclaimed in order to marriage, in the Parish Church of St Cuthberts, and no objections have been offered.'

Notes for Mary M McCullough:
      Maggie John (Lindsay) Cook swore that Mary's last name was Richardson, but it was McCullough, according to marriage records for Union County, North Carolina, which are in the possession of James Beshires, and according to the family Bible. She is listed with a middle initial of 'M'. Could this be Margaret?
      There is a possibility that Mary was married before, as she was 31 when she married James David. That would have been old for a first marriage.
      Mary is supposed to have moved to Humbolt Tennessee, with her son - Joseph. Investigation in 1976 could not find any records of them there.
      Intense investigation of the 1850 census records for North Carolina turns up only 6 who might be our Mary.
1. There is a Mary McCullough, age 25, married to Joseph. This Mary's last name was Burton. Marriage records prove this. Her mother Mary Burton lived with them. This couple lived in Orange County.
2. There is a Polly McCullough, age 30, in the household of Alexander and Betsy McCullouch. Polly could be a nickname for Mary. This family lived in Orange County.
3. A Mary McCullough, age 27, lived with a Martin E. McCullough, age 68. This family lived in Lincoln County. This could be our Mary. Maybe she was taking care of an aged parent, and did not marry until he died.
4. Mary L. McCullough, age 32, lived with John and Margaret McCullough. It appears that she was married to their son, Jonas, within the year of 1850. They lived in Buncombe County.
5. Mary L McCullough, age 25, lived with Robert H McCullough, age 67. Appears to be another case of taking care of an aged parent. They lived in Gaston County.
6. The last Mary, age 21, lived with Alfred and Jane McCullough in Davie County.
      This gives us six Mary's that could be ours. As Mary listed her age on the 1870 census records as 45, this means that she was approximately 25 in 1850. We can eliminate number 2 and 4, and possibly number 6. We are left with 4 who might match. If Mary gave her right age, then we might eliminate number 3 also. This leaves us with numbers 1 and 5. With the middle initial of 'M', we can probably eliminate number 5, as she had 'L' for her middle initial.
      So we are faced with number 1, although I think Mary number 3 is still in the running as we do not know our Mary's exact birthday.
      What do you think?


Children of James Lindsay and Janet White are:

2	i.	John⁶ Lindsay, born 25 October 1831 in Paughton Mills, Casterph, Scotland.
3	ii.	Agnes Lindsay, born 18 August 1833 in Stockland Mills, Scotland; died December 1834 in Scotland.
4	iii.	James Lindsay, born 30 August 1835 in Darby Mills, Scotland; died 21 December 1835.

Children of James Lindsay and Mary McCullough are:

	5	i.	Matilda Jane⁶ Lindsay, born 12 November 1857 in Fishing Creek, York County, South Carolina. She married G W (Bud) Smith.
+	6	ii.	David Lindsay, born 25 November 1858 in Rocky Creek, York County, South Carolina; died 10 May 1925 in Toombs County, Georgia.
	7	iii.	Joseph Lindsay, born 22 November 1861 in Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina; died in Humboldt County, Tennessee. He married Alice _____________; born Abt. 1861.
	8	iv.	Christine Lindsay, born 22 November 1861 in Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina; died 02 August 1862 in North Carolina.
	9	v.	Ann Margaret Lindsay, born 20 April 1865 in Sugar Creek, North Carolina; died 31 August 1891.
	10	vi.	William Wallace Lindsay, born 1867 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; died 26 August 1872 in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina.
	11	vii.	Robert Bruce Lindsay, born 28 March 1872 in Union County, North Carolina.
	12	viii.	Jessie Janet Lindsay, born 28 March 1872 in Morgan Mills, Union County, North Carolina; died 09 February 1895. She married /unknown/ Modlin.

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