Robert Lindsay (American politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Lindsay was an American
politician
who was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly of 1777
.
Robert Lindsay was the son of John Lindsay, but there are conflicting accounts as to their background and Robert's early life. One account says he was born c. 1735. He may have been born in Virginia
or Ireland
. He was descended from the ancient and illustrious Clan Lindsay
of Scotland. Evidently, he lived for a time on the Pennsylvania
/Maryland
border area before coming to North Carolina in the mid-18th century. His name first appears in the North Carolina records in 1763. He died in 1801.
Lindsay established a 2,000 acre (8 km²) plantation on Deep River
in what later became Guilford County. In fact, when the county was formed in 1771, and until a court house could be built in 1774, the county court met in the "great hall" of his plantation home. The property included an ordinary (an inn/tavern), formal gardens, a mulberry grove for raising silk worms, a silk mill, a grist mill, and a store. A fragment of the original house remains.
Robert Lindsay was a Captain in the North Carolina Militia. He served in the first independent North Carolina Legislature from 1777 to 1778, and was presiding Judge
of Guilford County from 1781 to 1788. He was a well known and respected member of his community, and his descendants were prominent in the history of North Carolina.
Robert married twice:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly of 1777
North Carolina General Assembly of 1777
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1777 met in two sessions in New Bern, North Carolina, from April 7 to May 9, 1777, and from November 15 to December 24, 1777. This was the first North Carolina legislature elected after the last provincial congress wrote the first North Carolina Constitution...
.
Robert Lindsay was the son of John Lindsay, but there are conflicting accounts as to their background and Robert's early life. One account says he was born c. 1735. He may have been born in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
or Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was descended from the ancient and illustrious Clan Lindsay
Clan Lindsay
-Origins of the Clan:There is currently no known proven path pertaining to the origin of the Clan Lindsay. However, several possible theories have been advanced over the years. First is the theory proposed in 1769 by biographer/historian, Richard Rolt, in which he claimed that the Lindsays were...
of Scotland. Evidently, he lived for a time on the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
/Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
border area before coming to North Carolina in the mid-18th century. His name first appears in the North Carolina records in 1763. He died in 1801.
Lindsay established a 2,000 acre (8 km²) plantation on Deep River
Deep River (North Carolina)
The Deep River is a tributary of the Cape Fear River, approximately 125 miles long, in north central North Carolina in the United States.- Course :...
in what later became Guilford County. In fact, when the county was formed in 1771, and until a court house could be built in 1774, the county court met in the "great hall" of his plantation home. The property included an ordinary (an inn/tavern), formal gardens, a mulberry grove for raising silk worms, a silk mill, a grist mill, and a store. A fragment of the original house remains.
Robert Lindsay was a Captain in the North Carolina Militia. He served in the first independent North Carolina Legislature from 1777 to 1778, and was presiding Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of Guilford County from 1781 to 1788. He was a well known and respected member of his community, and his descendants were prominent in the history of North Carolina.
Robert married twice:
- His first wife was Elizabeth Mebane with whom he had two children:
- Elizabeth, who died young
- John A. Lindsay (1767–1828) who married Elizabeth Wilson and raised a large family in Davidson County, NC.
- Lindsay's second wife was Ann "Nancy" McGee (1753/4-1832), a daughter of Colonel John McGee (d.1773), whom he married on 23 June 1772. They had eight children:
- Senator Samuel Lindsay (c.1774-1813, m. Henrietta Causey)
- Colonel Robert Lindsay, Jr. (1776–1818, m. Letitia Harper)
- William Lindsay (1777–1841, m. Elisabeth Briggs)
- Jane Lindsay (1779–1827, m. Jesse Hargrave)
- Elizabeth Lindsay (1784–1825, m. Rev. Samuel Craighead Caldwell)
- Andrew Lindsay (1786–1844, m. Elizabeth Dick)
- Susannah Lindsay (1789–1857, m. Dr. Joseph Wood)
- David Lindsay (1793–1860, m. Sarah Dillon).