Finding Aid to the Lindsley Family Papers, 1697–1946 Finding Aid to the Lindsley Family Papers, 1697–1946 North Jersey History Center
The Morristown and Morris Township Library One Miller Road Morristown, NJ 07960
Overview of Collection Finding Aid to the Lindsley Family Papers H929 MSS Lindsley 1697–1946 0.25 linear foot in one manuscript box History of the Lindsley Family

The Lindsley family (also spelled Lindley, Lindsey, or Lindly) was a prominent Morris County family dating back to the earliest European settlers in the area. John Lindsley and his son Judge John Lindsley both acquired large acreages of land used for farming in what was then Hunterdon County (and became Morris County in 1739). Several members of the family fought in the Revolutionary War, and the family had close ties to the Presbyterian Church, first in Morristown and then in New Vernon (part of Harding Township).

Francis Lindsley (1624–1704) came to America with his brother John and Robert Kitchell in 1639 on what is believed to be the first ship to arrive in New Haven Harbor. He settled in Branford, Connecticut and married Susanna Culpepper (1637–1699) in 1655; they were the parents of at least 6 sons and 5 daughters. In 1666/7 he moved to Newark, New Jersey, which had not previously been settled by Europeans, with a group of 40 families. The families migrated up the Passaic and Whippany Rivers for farmland. Francis acquired assorted tracts of land in the Newark area and deeded it to his five sons.

John Lindsley (1666–1749), was born in Newark, New Jersey and acquired land there from his father Francis Lindsley. He married a woman whose name is unknown around 1692 and had at least two sons: Judge John Lindsley (1693/4–1750) and Daniel Lindsley (1700–1777). He moved to Hanover, New Jersey in Morris County (which at the time was Hunterdon County) around 1721. His second wife was Elizabeth Freeman Ford (1681–1772), the widow of John Ford (d.1721); they had no children. Elizabeth acquired 78 acres of land along the Whippany River in 1724. She was the mother of Jacob Ford, Sr. (iron manufacturer and landowner) and grandmother of Jacob Ford, Jr. (who built the Ford Mansion in Morristown on the 1724 property). John was elected an Elder of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown in March 1748. He is buried in the church’s graveyard and is the oldest known person buried there.

Judge John Lindsley (1693/4–1750) married Sarah Plum (1698–1750) in 1716 in Newark, New Jersey; they had eleven children, including Junia Lindsley (1725–1770) and Captain John Lindsley III (1728–1784). He and his family moved to Hanover, New Jersey in Morris County (which at the time was Hunterdon County) around 1721. John Lindsley and Stephen Tuttle each acquired a 1250 acre tract of land from John Alford in 1727 which marked the center of the area that later would become Harding Township. Morris County was formed in 1739, and John was appointed one of its first judges in 1740; he was also appointed Overseer of Highways in Morris Township. Judge John and Sarah Plum are both buried in the Presbyterian Church Graveyard in Morristown.

Captain John Lindsley III (1728–1784) married his first wife, Joanna Hudson, and may have had a daughter from that marriage. John then married Sarah Raynor (1736–1803) in 1755 and they went on to have at least 12 children. He was an officer in the militia and served in the French and Indian Wars. He was elected an Elder of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown in 1769 (and served for 15 years), and donated to the College of New Jersey (which later became Princeton). He was joined by his sons David, John, and Silas during the Revolutionary War. He was at the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778 and the Battle of Connecticut Farms and the 2nd Battle of Springfield in June 1780. According to family accounts, he is said to have been present for Washington’s crossing the Delaware, and to have fallen in the river, resulting in a long battle with ‘consumption’ which claimed his life. Captain John and Sarah Raynor are both buried in the Presbyterian Church Graveyard in Morristown.

Junia Lindsley (1725–1770), son of Judge John Lindsley, married Charity Haines (1730–1752) in 1750. Junia married his second wife, Hannah Nuttman (1728–1808) in 1752. They had at least four children, including Agur Lindsley.

David Lindsley (1760–1851) was one of Captain John Lindsey III’s sons. He married Tahpenas or Tuppence Pierson Lindsley (1762–1827) in 1785 and they had at least one son, Mahlon. David is buried in the New Vernon Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Harding Township, NJ.

Agur Lindsley (1765–1845), son of Junia, married Susan Fairchild (1794–1858) and had a daughter, Hannah. He is buried in the New Vernon Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Harding Township, NJ.

Adele H. Dodd Lindsley (1853–1929) lived in Orange, New Jersey and corresponded with John Milton Lindly regarding the Lindsley family genealogy. In 1880 she was employed as a school teacher. She married James Hervey Lindsley (1835–1899) in 1885.

John Milton Lindly (1864–1951), was born in Pennsylvania. He was a banker and pharmacist in Winfield, Iowa, and author of The history of the Lindley-Lindsley-Linsley families in America, 1639–1930 (1930).

References:

The lineage of the Lindsley Family: Francis Lindsley (1600–1704) to DeWitt Clinton Lindsley (1856–1932); NJHGC

North America, Family Histories, 1500–2000 (ancestry.com)

U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701–1970 (ancestry.com)

New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682–1956 (familysearch.com)

Find a Grave (findagrave.com)

HVFG (vertical files): Lindsley Family; NJHGC

Related Collections in this Repository:

H 929 LINDSLEY; The lineage of the Lindsley family : Francis Lindsley (1600–1704) to DeWitt Clinton Lindsley (1856–1931)

H 929 LINDSLEY; The Book of Our Families

H 929 LINDLEY v.1 and 2; The history of the Lindley-Lindsley-Linsley families in America, 1639–1930

HM6 LIN; Lindsley family ledger book

HVFG (vertical files); Lindsley family (2 folders, containing photocopies of some items in the H292 MSS Lindsley collection as well as additional copies and transcripts of family documents)

H 929 MSS FORD; Ford Family Papers

 Scope and Content of the Records

The Lindsley Family Papers primarily consist of land deeds, correspondence, receipts, and genealogical notes. The family owned many plots of land in New Jersey, starting in the Newark area and expanding into what would become Morris County, especially in New Vernon, Morristown, and Morris Township. There are two documents related to slavery: A 1790 record of the sale of a slave named Cesar, and a 1794 record pertaining to the purchase of a “servant Ned.” Much of the material from the 1800s concerns David Lindsley and includes correspondence, papers related to the estate of William Roberts, receipts for goods, and tax receipts. The bulk of the material from the 1900s is correspondence between Elizabeth Lindsley of New Vernon, New Jersey and John M. Lindsly, who published The history of the Lindley-Lindsley-Linsley families in America, 1639–1930. There is also correspondence between Elizabeth and other Lindsleys regarding family history as well as genealogical notes and family trees.

Two documents related to Victor Wiss are housed within the collection (he does not appear to be related to the Lindsleys): a slip accompanying the bill of sale for the slave Cesar to John Lindsley in 1790 stating the document is the property of Victor Wiss, and a 1946 agreement for monument at Evergreen Cemetery for Victor and his wife Elizabeth L. Dustan.

 Arrangement of the Records

The collection is arranged by date and folder titles describe the types of documents within. Some original documents include typed transcripts created at a later time.

This collection is described at the item level.

 Important Information for Users of the Papers

This collection is open for research under the conditions set forth in the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center archives access policy. All archival material should be handled with care and kept in its original order; notes may only be taken in pencil or with a computer, and food and drink are prohibited in the Reading Room.

Records may be copied for scholarly or personal research using a digital camera without flash; due to the fragility of the documents, scanning of this collection is prohibited. Researchers must obtain copyright permission prior to publishing material from the collection.

Acquisition Information

Legacy NJHGC collection

 Preferred Citation

Lindsley Family Papers, 1697–1946, North Jersey History and Genealogy Center, Morristown and Morris Township Library.

Processing Information

Processed, described, and encoded by Shayna Marchese, Assistant Archivist, 2026.

 Container List Land deeds and slave records, John Lindsley, 1697–1794 1 1 Land deeds and slave records, John Lindsley, 1697–1794 1 1. Deed to Eliphalet Johnson for land in Newark (includes typed transcription), 1697 1 2. John Baldwin deed to John Lindsley for 11 acres on Bound Creek in Newark, 1717 1 3. John Alford deed to John Lindsley for land in Hanover Township between the Whippany and Passaic rivers (folded, indenture has wavy cut along top), 1727 1 4. Quit claim deed, 1734 1 5. Daniel Lindsley of Morristown quit claim deed to John Lindsley for 58½ acres in Hanover Township (includes typed transcription), 1749 1 6. John Burnet of Perth Amboy deed to William Gamble of Morris County, 1756 1 7. Thomas Talmage of Basking Ridge deed to John Lindsley of Morristown, 1758 1 8. David Bonnel deed to John Lindsley of Morristown for 36½ acres in Mendham, 1774 1 9. Jonathan Stiles and John Lindsley for land in Sussex County, 1787 10. Moses Johnson of Hanover to John Lindsley for the sale of a slave named Cesar, age 21, for 90 pounds (includes typed transcription and slip stating the bill of sale is the property of Victor Wiss), 1790 11. Joseph Halsey of Morristown granting Nathaniel Williams of Bergen County power of attorney regarding the sale of a servant named Ned: “To sell and transfer the said Ned to any person whom he may choose, and for as much money as he can, with full power to make a full bill of sale or other conveyance unto the purchase for the said Ned”), 1794 Legal and business documents, David Lindsley, 1801–1809 1 2 Legal and business documents, David Lindsley, 1801–1809 1 1. Receipt: Hannah Surges to David Lindsley, 1801 1 2. Debt collection: Michael Pearce, Power of Attorney to Aaron Ball and David Lindsley, 1802 1 3. Correspondence about collecting debt from Michael and Phoebe Pearce, 1803 1 4. Deed: Sarah Ferris and Randolph Ferris for farmland of Reuben Ferris, deceased, 1805 1 5. Will of William Roberts (David Lindsley and Randolph Ferris executors), 1805 1 6. Receipt, 1805 1 7. Lease: Andrew Farris and Jacob Smith to Randolph Ferris, 1806 1 8. Articles to sell the land of William Roberts, 1806 1 9. Correspondence: Major David Lindsley, 1806 1 10. Account status: David Lindsley and Randolph Ferris regarding the estate of William Roberts (Orphan Court), 1806 1 11. Deed: David Lindsley and Randolph Ferris regarding the estate of William Roberts, 1806 1 12. Sawmill book which lists David Lindsley, John Lindsley, Ephraim Lindsley, and Agur Lindsley, 1806–1808 1 13. Bond: Samuel Pierson and John Halsey to David Lindsley and Randolph Ferris for the estate of William Roberts, 1807 1 14. Deed: John Lindsley and wife to John Mills for land in Morris County, 1809 1 15. Account status: David Lindsley and Randolph Ferris for the estate of William Roberts (Orphan Court), 1809 Legal and business documents, David Lindsley, 1812–1819 1 3 Legal and business documents, David Lindsley, 1812–1819 1 1. Correspondence to David Lindsley, 1812 1 2. Correspondence: David Lindsley to Michael Pearce, 1813 1 3. Receipt: Moses Lindsey to David Lindsley, 1815 1 4. Correspondence: Michael Pearce to David Lindsley, 1815 1 5. Correspondence: Enoch Fairchild to Abner Fairchild and Susan Fairchild, 1815 1 6. Pledge to pay David Lindsley from money collected, to Jonathan Miller from Samuel Youngs, 1815 1 7. Receipt: John Meslar to David Lindsley, 1816 1 8. Receipt to Major Lindsley, 1816 1 9. Tax receipt to State of NJ from David Lindsley, 1816 1 10. Receipt for duty paid to State of NJ on a carriage from David Lindsley, 1817 1 11. Receipt to David Lindsley, 1817 1 12. Receipt to David Lindsey, 1819 1 13. Article of agreement allowing John Meslar to till a farm owned by David Lindsley, 1819 1 14. Correspondence: Banton Fairchilds to Susannah Fairchilds, undated Correspondence and booklet, 1821–1825 1 4 Correspondence and booklet, 1821–1825 1 1. Correspondence from Levina Beardsle, 1821 1 2. Correspondence from Levina Beardslee to Susan Fairchild, 1822 1 3. Correspondence: David Lindsley to Major David Lindsley, 1823 1 4. Plea: Charles Laten against owing David Lindsley $1.19 signed by Lindsley, 1825 1 5. Small handwritten booklet with recipe, ca. 1920s Correspondence and tax documents, David and Agur Lindsley, 1832–1839 1 5 Correspondence and tax documents, David and Agur Lindsley, 1832–1839 1 1. Correspondence to Agur Lindsley from Sarah Beardslee, 1832 1 2. Receipt: David Lindsley to Charles R. King, 1836 1 3. Tax due slip to David Lindsley, 1838 1 4. Correspondence to Agur Lindsley from Sarah Beardslee, 1838 1 5. Correspondence to Agur Lindsley from Susan Lindsley and Sarah Beardslee, 1839 1 6. Morris Township tax due slip to David Lindsley, 1839 1 7. Receipt for marble gravestones for his wife to David Lindsley, 1839 Correspondence and tax documents, David Lindsley, 1840–1846 1 6 Correspondence and tax documents, David Lindsley, 1840–1846 1 1. List: David Lindsley with Mahlon Minton, 1840 1 2. Morris Township tax due slip to David Lindsley, 1840 1 3. List: David Lindsley with Mahlon Minton, 1841 1 4. Morris Township tax due slip to David Lindsley, 1841 1 5. Morris Township tax due slip to David Lindsley, 1841 1 6. Receipt for taxes paid to David Lindsley, 1842 1 7. Sale of letters patent to David Lindsley, 1843 1 8. Morris Township tax due slip to David Lindsley, 1846 Land deed and correspondence, 1856, 1887 1 7 Land deed and correspondence, 1856, 1887 1 1. Deed: Simeon and Mary Lindsley to Jacob P. Marshall for land in Morris Township, 1856 1 2. Correspondence to Mrs. Lindsley from Lottie and Lizzie, 1887 Genealogical research correspondence, 1901–1908 1 8 Genealogical research correspondence, 1901–1908 1 1. Correspondence: John M. Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1901 1 2. Correspondence: John M. Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1902 1 3. Correspondence: John Milton Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1902 1 4. Printed correspondence from John M. Lindly regarding Lindsley genealogy, 1902 1 5. Type-written correspondence: John M. Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley regarding Lindsley genealogy, 1902 1 6. Printed form titled “Lindly, Linsley, Lindsley History.” Filled out with Henry Lindsley, son of Capt. John Lindsley, born 1770, and Abigail Mill, undated 1 7. Correspondence: John Milton Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1902 1 8. Correspondence: Charlotte Lindsley to Elizabeth Lindsley, undated 1 9. Correspondence: Adele H. Lindsley to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1903 1 10. Correspondence: Adele H. Lindsley to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1903 1 11. Correspondence: John M. Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1903 1 12. Correspondence: John M. Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1903 1 13. Correspondence: John M. Lindsly to Elizabeth Lindsley, 1903 1 14. Pennsylvania Railroad first-class ticket Washington D.C. to New York. Used by (Wm. B.?) Lindsley, 1905 1 15. Correspondence from Elizabeth, 1908 Cemetery monument document and correspondence, 1946, undated 1 9 Cemetery monument document and correspondence, 1946, undated 1 1. Agreement for monument at Evergreen Cemetery for Victor A. Wiss (1877–1945) and his wife Elizabeth L. Dustan, 18946 1 2. Correspondence: Sarah Thompson to Agur Lindsley, undated Genealogical research notes and correspondence, undated 1 10 Genealogical research notes and correspondence, undated 1 1. Notes on the Lindsley Family 1 2. Correspondence to Mr. Lindly 1 3. Lindsley genealogy copied from Oscar Lindsley’s papers of 1902 1 4. Notes on Lindsley family, drawing of shield with eagle 1 5. Genealogical notes 1 6. Genealogical notes 1 7. Genealogical notes 1 8. Genealogical notes 1 9. Genealogical notes 1 10. History (noted as a copy of a letter) 1 11. Genealogical notes with pinned newspaper clipping (Tompkins) 1 12. Genealogical notes 1 13. Genealogical notes 1 14. Typed list: Lindsleys in Revolution