Cocke County, TNGenWeb
Lindsey Family


Submitted by Bruce Price

The Lindsey of the Revilo and Lindsey Grove communities descend from William and Phoebe Lindsey of the old 12th Civil District of Cocke County. In the early 1900s, three descendants of William and Phoebe moved to Lawrence County: William A. Lindsey, William Eli Lindsey, and Mary Ann (Lindsey) Jenkins.

Genealogists researching this family are lucky. The Cocke County courthouse burned in Dec 1876. But the settlement of the William Lindsey estate led to a court case that was not settled until after the fire. As a result, a copy of the 1869 deed selling the William Lindsey farm survived and was recorded in a later deed book.

The William Lindsey Farm was located in district No 12 and on the waters of the Caney Fork of Cosbys Creek and Ground Hog Creek. The deed begins "I. V. Lindsey et als to John W. Lindsey - We William Jenkins and Mary Ann Jenkins and Joel Dennis and Isaac V. Lindsey & Rachael Dennis and Nancy E. Hembree and James Hembree and William G. Lindsey and Jackson F. Lindsey and Deborah L. Dennis and Robert Denis and Baxter H. Lindesy and Phebe McMillan and Anderson McMillan..." By cross-referring census records, it's fairly easy to build the William Lindsey family tree. This deed is in Deed Book #1 on pages 573-574.

But, if you want to research the greater Lindsey family tree, you need to step across the county line into Sevier County. Joel Lindsey was the youngest child of Jess Lindsey and Salina Ivy. He married but then divorced and had no children. So when he died in August 1899, his estate was divided amongst his brothers and sisters (or their descendants if they were dead). The following can be found in Sevier County Minute Book #11 on pages 97-100.
Joel Lindsey died intestate at his home in Sevier County, Tenn, in Aug 1899.  He left no Widow of children but the following brothers and sisters and their representatives as his heirs at law.
Jesse Lindsey, father of Joel, is said to be the son of William and Rachel Lindsey of Anson County, NC.  Indeed, a Jesse and a Rachel Lindsey both received land grants in Sevier County in the early 1800's.  The will of William Lindsey, Sr, was recorded in the Anson County, NC, will book during the July Court 1801.  This will names widow Rachel and youngest son Jesse.  So it's very likely this is correct.
Putting these pieces of the puzzle together makes a very good "big picture" of the Lindsey family tree.



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