Author: Terry Anderson

I am related to a famous actor! That was my first thought as I was watching the opening of a recent airing of The Learning Channel’s “Who do you Think You Are?”. As the show was opening, Matthew Morrison, of the TV show “Glee”, was being interviewed. I heard the announcer say that Matthew had an ancestor that helped shape our country so as a DAR member my ears perked up. Then I saw a name on a document in the background. James Lindley. Could it be MY James Lindley? This branch of my tree has always intrigued me. My Lindleys owned a mill where a famous battle took place. They were a Quaker family but some took up arms as patriots and some took up arms as Loyalists. James was my 5 times great uncle and a Justice of the Peace. I had heard the story of him being a Loyalist and that he met with a bad ending but to have professional researchers tell his story to Matthew Morrison was exciting. During the first advertisement I opened my Ancestry account on my phone and got out a pen and some paper. Yes, it was my James. As they were recounting his story I didn’t listen as much to the events as I was paying attention to the sources they were using. After years of research I was hearing my genealogist friends voices in the back of my head saying, “get the sources”. There were a few new pieces I can now add to my story but I feel better about having the dates and the sources. In 1775 Lindley signed an oath to the king. Capt. James Lindley was arrested for “Taking the Powder of 96” 96 is a district of South Carolina. He was imprisoned in Charles Town. In order to be released he signed an oath to the rebellion. He was later caught plundering patriot forts and was again imprisoned. He and another man managed to escape. General Boyd recruited men to help out in Georgia. Lindley brought his militia with him. Boyd was killed and the Loyalists lost the Battle of Kettle Creek. There had been 700 Loyalists against 400 Patriots. My story states that Lindley and his men were marched in chains back to 96. There they were imprisoned as they watched the gallows being built. He was hanged with the town’s people watching. He left behind a widow and 6 children. I was disappointed when the show ended as this family has so many more stories. 2 Lindleys fought in Texas. Both of them, Samuel and Jonathan, are said to have fought at the Battle of Bexar. Jonathan went on to fight and die at the Alamo. There is a Lindley House that was used as part of the Underground Railroad. I now am in the genealogy whirlpool. I know a little bit more but now this branch that I had put to bed for awhile has awakened and is begging me to dig deeper. The quest for getting the rest of the story continues.