General Notes

 Thomas Lindley was born in Kilconner, Carlow Co. Ireland on 25 February 1706. In 1713, at the age of 7, he immigrated to America with his parents, and settled in London Grove,Chester County. Pennsylvania - a Quaker settlement founded by William Penn.

The Quakers were very strict in their religious beliefs and conduct. Some aspects of the social life of the Irish Friends is described on page 227of the book "Immigration of the Irish Quakers."    At New Garden Monthly Meeting, 11 Mo. 31, 1729, London Grove, it was informed that "John C----n in Controversie with Thomas L---ly did through provecation Curse & Swear, and that ye sd L---ly Did use Scurrilous vain & unbecoming Language to John C---n.  An acknowledgment from these offenders was accepted, but the privilege to sit in business meetings was withdrawn." On 2 Mo. 25, 1730, "John C---n & Thomas L---ly was a fighting.  The former was then disowned, while the latter expressing his sorrow was retained in membership."

At the age of 25, on 21 Oct, 1731, Thomas married Ruth Hadley, daughter of Simon and Ruth Keran Hadley.  In the "Quaker Marriage certificates, New Garden  Monthly Meeting, Chester Co. PA, 1704-1799", "Thomas Lindly son of James Lindly of London Grove in ye County of Chester in ye Province of Pensilvenia, Deceased, & Ruth Hadly Daughter of Simon Hadly of ye County of New Castle on Delaware . . . 21 , 10m, 1731 . . . at Newgarden Meeting house in ye County of Chester . . ."  Also present at wedding were Simon HADLY, Ruth HADLY, Elenor JONES, Joshua HADLY, James LINDLY, Deborah FRED, Hannah DIXSON, Mary JACKSON, Robt PARKE, Benja FRED, Abel PARKE, Thos PARKE junr, Robt LINDLY, and Jonathan PARKE.

Thomas Lindley had surveyed to him 480 acres on the Swalara River in Paxtang Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in1733.  He was the Justice of Peace of the Provincial Ear section then in Lancaster County, now Darphin and Lebonan County, Pennsylvania. This was stated in the Commission books in Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.  He represented Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania Legislature from 1739 through 1743.

There is a deed at West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, (book H, page 521) which states Thomas Lindley of London Grove, yeoman, and Ruth his wife, conveyed land to John Jackson, and is  dated 13 February 1753. Because their daughter Deborah was born in North Carolina in the summer of 1753, it would seem quite certain that Thomas Lindley and his family moved to North Carolina during the early part of 1753.  They settled at Cane Creek near Hillsboro, in Orange County. (This area is now in Alamance County, North Carolina.) Thomas and Ruth were among the early members of the Quaker's Cane Creek Meeting and were also among the organizers of the Spring Meeting, established in 1773. They donated 6 acres of land for the Spring Meeting and it is located about six miles to the east of the Cane Creek Meeting.

According to records, around 1751 Henry Holliday, Hugh Laughlin, and Thomas Lindley went together to the Cane Creek Valley to prepare to settle their families in that area at a later date.  The three men selected adjoining tracts of land, all bordering on Cane Creek.

In 1755, Thomas Lindley and his friend and neighbor, Hugh Laughlin, formed a partnership and built a grist mill on Cane Creek.  It was located on the south side of the Haw River, in Alamance County (then Orange County.) The water flowed from Laughlin's Land and the mill was constructed on 3 and 3/4 acres owned by Thomas Lindley. In the 1755 September Court, the partnership agreement was recorded in the records of the City of Hillsboro, North Carolina, and reads as follows: "Hugh Laughlin, Planter, on the one part, and Thomas Lindley, Planter, on the other, have agreed to become partners and in joint company to erect and build a water grist mill on Cane Creek, on the south side of Haw River. The water to be taken out of that land owned by Hugh Laughlin and the mill to be built on that part owned by Thomas Lindley, 3 and 3/4 acres. Sept Court 1755." This mill was located about 18 miles from Hillsboro, North Carolina.

From Vol. 3 of Land Grants of Granville District Pt. Rowan Co. NC #4695 : On 22 Feb 1759 Thomas Lindley received 600 acres in the Parish of St. Matthew on the South Fork of Cane Creek and on the West Side of Haw River. This was witnessed by W Churton and Francis Green. It was entered on June 26, 1755 and surveyed on May 8 1756.    SOC. Thomas Green, Wm. McFerson and W Churton  Surveyor  Plat and face of grant read  "... A tract of land in Orange County"  -  back of grant reads "Rowan County"

Patent Book 14 lists another Grant received by Thomas Lindley (#4057 on page 447). It states he received 356 acres in Orange County, North Carolina in the Parish of St Matthew on the South side of Cane Creek and on the North side of Haw Riber above the Piney Mountain, joining the sd Creek   OR: /s/ Thomas Lindley   Wits: William Reed, Alexr Mebane entered 26 April 1753  surveyed 26 Jun 1755   SOC: Jas Lindley,  Jno Woody  W Churton D S Plat reads "... Land Surveyed for " Alexr Meban"

In "The Battle of Lindley's Mill" written by Algie I. Newlin, the battle at the mill is described as one of the fiercest battles fought in Chatham County, North Carolina during the Revolutionary War. The mill had become a favorite rendezvous of Colonel Fanning and the Tories. (The Tories were colonists who remained loyal to King George III of England).  The Whig Militia Force was seeking to release the captured Governor Thomas Burke, and the battle ended in a draw.  As neither side actually won, after the battle each accused the other of leaving the field first.  The Battle of Lindley's Mill closed the war in North Carolina, and a month later, Lord Cornwallis surrendered the tattered remains of a once proud British Army at Yorktown.   According to the "History of Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina,"  the Regulators took 39 barrels of flour from the Lindley Mill on September 14, 1781.  At this time Thomas Lindley had a store and post office in his home, known as the Lindley Store.  On that same day during the Battle of Lindley Mill, Thomas Lindley was killed - most likely in defense of his home. His family helped care for the wounded and buried the dead - Tories and Whigs alike - in the church yard.

From "History of Snow Camp, North Carolina" by Juanita Owens Euliss, 1971:  After 1796, Mrs. Laughlin died and the Laughlin plantation was sold by the sons-in-law.  Thomas Lindley [son of William], grandson of the first Thomas Lindley, bought the Laughlin half interest in the mill. The mill remained in the Lindley family until 1844.  William Lindley sold it to Paris Benlow.  Benlow sold it to John and Joshua Dixon in 1854 and it become known as the Lower Dixon Mill.  After almost 30 years, the Dixon family sold it to W. Harrison, who sold it after 3 years to R L Sutphin in 1893.  Son, Jonathan Thompson bought a half interest, rebuilt, and bought out Sutphin in 1893. The mill has been owned and remodeled by many others since. The book written by Algie I Newlin, "The Battle of Lindley Mill", states that the Lindley Mill building was torn down in 1875 and replaced by another building, which still stands.  The Lindley's Mill is now known as Sutphen's Mill, but was known as Lindley's Mill for over 100 years.

Thomas Lindley was a very well known man and held in high esteem in his community.  He, his wife, Ruth and several family members are buried in the Spring Meeting Graveyard. There is a special grave marker on the grave saying, "In memory of Thomas Lindley, 25-2, 1706,  14-9, 1781   . Ruth Hadley, 6-12, 1712,  4-12, 1785..

Thomas Lindley's will is recorded in Book A, page 252, in the clerk of the court's office in Hillsboro, North Carolina. The will is dated 15 March 1780, and was probated in August of 1782.  It mentions his  wife Ruth,  and children Thomas, Ruth Hadley, William Lindly (son of William Lindly, deceased), Thomas Lindly (son of James Lindly, deceased).

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 16, Ed. 1, Tree #0785 and Vol.16,File#0785.FTW]

Book Page: A:210
Surname: Lindley
Given Name: Thomas
Title:
Description: Son
Residence:
Date: 8 Oct 1726
Prove Date: 2 Jan 1726
Remarks: James Lin dley of Londongrove. Smith. 10/8/1726. January 2,
1726/7. A. 210. To wife not named 200 acres of land being 1/2 of the
tract I now live on and all persona l estate she to pay for the 600 acres
I have got an order to have surveyed of the land of Sir John Faggs. To
sons Thomas, James, Robert and William 200 ac res of land each when 21,
that is the above 600 acres divided into 3 equal pa rts and the remaining
half of the tract I now live on. To son Jonathan the pl antation I now
live on at death of wife. To daughter Rachel £20 at 21. To dau ghter
Margarey £20 at 21. To daughter Elizabeth £20 at 21. To daughter Hannah
£20 at 21. Also provides for a child yet to be born. To son James the
smit h tools. Executors: wife Elinor and son Thomas. Witnesses: Susanna
Wilcocks, Elish Maxwell, John Jordan.
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