Wilkes-Upson County GaArchives Biographies.....LINDSAY, JOHN 1750 - 1808
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Larry C. Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 November 7, 2008, 2:45 pm

Author: Larry C. Knowles


PATRIOT PROFILE-MAJOR JOHN LINDSAY, WILKES COUNTY, GEORGIA--

In 1973 the remains of Major John Lindsay were moved from an obscure family 
cemetery to the site of the Battlefield at Kettle Creek in Wilkes Co. 
Ironically there is no real proof that he fought in that battle, but he fought 
in other battles with many of the men who did. Lindsay owned land in the 
Kettle Creek vicinity, near Phillip Mills on Little River. After his death in 
1808, deacons of the Phillip Mills Church petitioned his estate for clear 
title to the land recently deeded by him, but not yet conveyed-they got the 
parcel. Though there are conflicts in some records, there is no question that 
John Lindsay was a true American Patriot. He finally did receive an annual 
$25.00 pension after getting Elijah Clarke-and others, to intervene on his 
behalf-through powers-of-attorney in Wilkes, to the War department then in 
Philadelphia. There is also a record that indicates that he ultimately 
received a total of $4200.00 plus, which no doubt included his per diem 
benefits for being a prisoner of war aboard the British ship "Whitby" in 
Savannah River, near Cockspur Island. This fact was shown in a deposition 
Lindsay made before the Georgia General Assembly in Augusta, opposing the 
pending citizenship of a British doctor-Donald McCleod, who had supposedly 
ministered to American prisoners. The Assembly finally voted "nay" 18 to 16 
for citizenship. For details see page 58 of-"Georgia Citizens and Soldiers of 
the American Revolution"-(at Nancy Guinn)by Robert S. Davis, one of our most 
recent speakers. [Note: John Lindsay received some Georgia land grants. Very 
early pension records were lost in a War Department fire]

Edward McCrady's, 1901-"The History of South Carolina in the Revolution, 1775-
1780"-[Google books online-pg. 832]-notes that Lindsay was wounded three 
times, and a hand was severed by British Dragoon Captain Lang in the Battle of 
Long Cane, near Ninety-Six, SC. Somehow, Major Lindsay survived those wounds, 
and was known the rest of his life as "old Silver fist", for an attachment 
fixed to his wrist. Colonel(Elijah)Clarke, and Lt. Col. McCall were also 
wounded in that battle, while under the command of Colonel Benjamin Few-all 
Georgians, who had joined forces with South Carolina units to harass British 
Colonel Cruger in a garrison at Ninety-Six. Lindsay named one of his sons, 
Jackson Clarke Watkins Lindsay, and another Benjamin Few Hamilton Lindsay, no 
doubt for his compatriots. Later, Lindsay became a member of the General 
Assembly, and was appointed in session, August 4, 1782, to the Governor's 
Executive Council. Earlier, the Assembly had voted to award Lindsay "two good 
Negroes..at any public sale..that the award be over and above allowance made 
by law...for suffering in the cause of his country"-and that he be allowed to 
purchase a third for Dr. Timothy Russell, who had ministered to him.[The 
Revolutionary Records of Georgia--Vol III-Journal of the House of Assembly"-
1908-pp. 183-84, by Allen D. Chandler, Georgia Archives]. John Lindsay was 
born in Halifax Co., VA in 1750. His place of honor at Kettle Creek was nobly 
earned. In Wilkes Co., he and wife Clarissa(Bullock)Sims, had two sons and 
five daughters. A brother-Benjamin Lindsay, also lived in Wilkes Co.  Some 
believe James M. Lindsay of Wilkes was John's son from an earlier marriage. 
The surname is often spelled Lindsey.                 [Revised 11-06-2008]

[Rockdale Co. Genealogical Society Newsletter-Nov. 2008]


Additional Comments:
Additional comments:

This brief summary was included in the RCGS newsletter as an example of 
Revolutionary War service in Georgia. I am not a descendant of John Lindsay; 
but I did extensive research with my late best friend Harry E. Alexander who 
was-through Major Lindsay’s son, Jackson Clarke Watkins Lindsay, who settled 
in Upson Co. GA. The Wilkes Co. GA records offered numerous items on John 
Lindsay & his estate. His will named wife Clarissa, his brother Benjamin 
Lindsay, father-in-law Nathaniel Bullock, oldest son from a previous marriage-
James M. Lindsay of St. Mary’s(above)-and seven younger children[five 
daughters and two sons]. Elijah Clarke was named in an early Wilkes Co. Power 
of Attorney to aid in obtaining War benefits for Lindsay, which included his 
per diem of $2700 for his imprisonment near Savannah. He was captured there 
Dec 29, 1778 by the troops of Archibald Campbell. There are no conflicts in 
the records! Major Lindsay evidently quickly rejoined the patriot effort after 
his release, and was wounded at Long Cane on December 11, 1779. In the 
deposition noted above, Major Lindsay accused Dr. McCleod of placing ground 
glass in medicines for the Americans, as determined by several patriot 
doctors, who were imprisoned with him. [Text references “Nancy Guinn” 
and “NCL” indicate the local libraries in Rockdale & Newton counties] 



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/wilkes/bios/lindsay968gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 5.5 Kb