Margaret Isabella Lindsay

The following biography of Margaret Isabella Lindsay was researched and originated by Kitty Leupen nee Lindsay. Our sincere thanks goes to Kitty for her willingness to share her warm and heartfelt research of the life of Margaret Isabella Lindsay with the global Lindsay community. For those readers who would like to communicate with Kitty regarding this biographical work she can be reached at Kitycar1@aol.com .

Written by Catherine Joyce (Kitty) Leupen nee Lindsay, 19 November 2001 with last update February 14, 2002 ©

Margaret Isabella Lindsay, was the firstborn daughter of Major George Frederick Lindsay, born 1802, at ‘Laurel Hill’, Fairfax County, Virginia; died 27 September 1857, in Washington, DC; buried 29 September 1857[1], at Historic Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC; and Margaret Fraser, born 1826, Edinburgh, Scotland; died 02 February 1886, Washington, DC; burial same location, on 04 February 1886. In Washington, DC 1855,Captain George F. Lindsay, was promoted to the rank of Major by President Franklin Pierce.[2]

Her one and only brother, Walter Edzell Lindsay, was born January 1853[4], at the family estate of ‘Manor Hill’ in Westchester County, New York. Walter married[5] Florence Gunnell Turner, born July 1859, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[6], daughter of Dr. Thomas J. Turner, and Susanna King Turner, both of Pennsylvania. Walter died 30 November 1905, in Philadelphia, PA, burial took place on 05 December 1905 in the same cemetery as his parents; on 10 June 1882, at All Souls Church in Washington, DC. Marriage license states Walter E., was from New York City, while Florence G., was a Washingtonian at the time of their union. In the 1910 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Federal Census, Florence was listed as living on Haddington Street, with her two children, i.e. Florence Edzell Lindsay, born 18 October 1887, and son, Clement John Lindsay, born 05 October 1891. Florence G., in 1920[7], was enumerated with her daughter in Philadelphia, living at 6711 Leeds Street. She died there on 06 May 1922[8] of Bronchopneumonia and is buried at Old Cedar Hill Cemetery[9], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a plot owned by her father, Dr. Turner. Death certificate says occupation “none.”

Margaret’s only nephew, Clement John Lindsay, was born on 05 October 1891 in New Jersey; married Della Fagan, born 23 April 1901, DC, sometime after 1920, either in DC/Pennsylvania. Della was the daughter of James W. Fagan and Annie S. Allen Fagan. On the 1900 Federal Census, he was enumerated with his parents, aged 8 years and attending school. Sometime after that and before the 1910 Federal Census[10], Clement was institutionalized at the Pennsylvania Training School for Feeble-Minded Children, where he was enumerated as an ‘inmate’, working as an ‘elevator boy.’ In the census of 1920[11], he was enumerated once again in the same school. How & why he came to be in this school is not known as is when his release occurred and what became of him later. He and Della once lived in Riverdale, Maryland. Clement died 06 April 1962,[12] Cheverly, Prince George’s County, Maryland. Della died 04 January 1972, also in Cheverly. Both were buried at Historic Congressional Cemetery[13]; Clement on 10 April 1962; Della, on 07 January 1972.[14] There is a slight possibility that a son may have been born to Clement and Della. George W. Lindsay, 24 August 1927, died 16 August 1991, in Washington, DC. Nothing further is known of this person nor has it been substantiated that he was ever a part of this family.

Florence Edzell’s, latest history was in the 1920 Federal Census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enumerated with her mother, listed as head of household, aged 32 and single. How she supported herself isn’t known, the death certificate states she was “at home” although she did have a Social Security number. Florence E., died 16 October 1965, two days shy of her 78^th birthday of a massive heart attack,[15] at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Churchville, PA. She’s buried with her mother in the same grave at Old Cedar Hill Cemetery[16], Philadelphia, PA, Section C, Lot 55, 1^st SW. Florence Edzell’s, Will,[17] was written 24 August 1965, at Churchville, Pennsylvania, probated in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on 04 March 1966, by Jay H. Eisman, Esq., and reads as follows:

2) “That one half of the residue of my Estate shall be given to: Elisa K. Loun, whose address is; 1256 2^nd Street Pike, Churchville, Pa., Bucks County.”

3) “One half of the residue be given to: Muriel H. Barton, whose address is 68 W. Letitia Lane, Media, Pa., Delaware County.”

“Appointed as Executoris, Jay H. Eisman, Esq. of the firm of Barba & Eiseman, whose address is Phila. National Bank Building, Phila. Penna.”

Muriel H. Barton, has since died, in 1995. Elise Loun, is likely still living, whereabouts unknown. I’m curious to find how these two ladies came to inherit important Lindsay documents or books and if they were related to Florence, perhaps cousins, on her maternal side. If these ladies didn’t inherit the documents, did Florence give them to The Lindsay Family Association of America prior to her death?

Margaret’s young and only sister, Anne Barnard, was born in 1857, Washington, DC. She died at the tender age of three in January 1860 as a result of her clothing being caught on fire. Anne was buried beside her father on 12 January 1860, at Historic Congressional Cemetery.

Margaret Isabella, as we all know, did a marvelous job of relating the history of the Lindsay Family through her book, “The Lindsays of America” published 1889, Albany, New York, and through the Lindsay Family Association as one of its founding members in Boston, Massachusetts, 1903, becoming defunct by 1914. Between the years of 1889 and 1900[18], she continued residing in DC on 17^th Street, with Isabel Brown, a domestic who worked as a cook. Margaret gave no occupation. I believe she remained active in researching the Lindsay line and traveling, at least once, to Scotland, to visit the homeland of her Fraser and Lindsay roots.

On 03 July 1901[19], Margaret’s first and only marriage took place late in her life, aged 46, to Captain Alexander Atkinson. Alexander was born 24 October 1839, Florence, Boone County, Kentucky. Alexander was the son of John Atkinson, Sr., born about 1810, Nottingham, England, and Sarah Louisa Lindsay, born about 1815, Fairfax County, Virginia; died 21 July 1887, Haigler, Dundy County, Nebraska. Sarah Louisa was a first cousin of Major George Frederick Lindsay, father of Margaret, which made Alexander and Margaret double second cousins. Alexander had four siblings, Louisa, John, Jr., Lindsay and Laura. Louisa was born in Stoughton, Dane County, Wisconsin, and married a Mr. Fay, from Osage, Iowa. Lindsay & John, Jr. Atkinson, nothing is further known. I believe Lindsay may have died at an early age, he doesn’t appear in any census or in the military during the Civil War, nor does brother, John, Jr.; Laura, was born 27 November 1854, Stoughton, Dane County, Wisconsin, on 22 February 1888, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. She married George Kelley Black, born 04 March 1856, in Baltimore, Fairfield County, Ohio, on 02 September 1885, Omaha, Nebraska. Two children were born to them, Laura Black, 30 July 1886, Black Lick, Franklin County, Ohio; and Henry George Atkinson Black, 15 February 1888, Omaha, Nebraska.

Alexander Atkinson turned up in the 1860 Federal Census, living in Granville Township, Jasper County, Illinois. Possibly this is where he met his first wife, Temperance.

Alexander enlisted 25 August 1862, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with the Union Army serving with Co A, 23^rd Regiment, as 1^st Lieutenant at the onset of the Civil War. [20] On 25 August 1863, he was promoted to Full 2^nd Lieutenant, age 25, living in Madison, Wisconsin. He fought in many battles, but during the Battle of Carrion Crow Bayou, Louisiana, he was taken prisoner on 03 November 1863, exchanged 26 December 1863, promoted to Captain in 1865. Mustered out 04 July 1865, Mobile, Alabama.

On 08 January 1867, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Alexander married[21] Temperance Wright, born 08 December 1841, in Illinois. She was the daughter of W. H. and Mary Wright.[22] Two daughters were born to this union, Millie Belle, 13 September 1868, Milwaukee, died 21 August 1869, buried 22 August 1869, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and, Grace Blanche, born 15 September 1877, died 06 December 1880, burial, Omaha, Nebraska.[23]

In 1870, Alexander was working as a clerk in Omaha.[24] By 1879, he and Tempe [nickname] were still in Omaha, first on Dodge Street, then by 1890, having moved to 20^th Street, residing there when he applied for an increase in his pension.[25] He continued working as a storekeeper, the 1889 Omaha City Directory listed his occupation as a Merchant.[26] Before 1900 Tempe and Alexander moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where they were enumerated in the 1900 Federal Census[27], with his nephew, Henry George Atkinson Black, son of his deceased sister, Laura. Alexander was a Clerk, aged 60; Tempe was keeping house. On 12 October 1900[28], Tempe died at the age of 58 years, 10 months, 4 days, she was cremated 15^th October, her ashes interred at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Alexander and Margaret were married at St. Andrews Episcopal Church Parish, 701 Oglethorpe Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Later, this church was incorporated with another of the Episcopal faith, is known today as Holy Comforter at the same location.

Interesting observations: On their marriage license, Alexander is listed as being 55 years of age, previously married and a resident of Boston, Massachusetts. Margaret’s age was listed as 40, never married and a current resident of Washington, DC; this raises several questions:

1) Exactly when were they both born? The math doesn’t work. In 1894, Alexander would’ve been 55 if born in 1839, as Margaret furnished on his death certificate. In 1901 his age should’ve been 62. I cannot determine how a mistake such as this was made, it is clearly written, so no margin for error, due to bad microfilm or handwriting, can be considered. In 1901, Margaret’s correct age was 46 years. Was there vanity regarding her age, embarrassment of being a spinster? This I doubt, she and Alexander knew of each other early in their lives. Was the clerk not listening, if this was the case, why didn’t Alexander correct him? Did Alexander not truly know Margaret’s birth date at the time of obtaining the license, he assuredly knew his own? Both death certificates states the birth dates I earlier cited.

2) And, another poser, could there have been a relationship prior to the marriage? Tempe’s demise, after all, was only nine short months earlier! Why, when and how did they get together? Margaret was residing in DC, while he and Tempe were living in Boston.

Alexander and Margaret moved to Boston, almost, if not immediately, after their marriage. In the Census of 1910[29] they were enumerated residing on Bradford Terrace, he continued working as a Clerk, this time for the U.S. Army. Interestingly enough, Margaret gave her occupation as ‘Historian’ and nature of business, ‘Genealogist.’ Alexander was aged 70, Margaret 55, they’d been married for nine years. [Could this mean she may have actually been a certified genealogist, or only speaking of her involvement with the Family Association?]

In August 1915, Alexander suffered a stroke requiring 24 hour nursing care. Margaret happily took care of her husband, although with obvious sorrow. She did her best for the “man she was so very fond of” this according to a copy of a letter in my possession to her cousin in Washington, DC.[30] Sadly, on the 2^nd of October 1919, after a four-year infirmary, Alexander died[31] at the age of 79 years, 11 months and 7 days. Cremation took place on 04 October 1919, the ashes likely were interred in the Boston-Cambridge area; exact location is unknown as the funeral home who handled his remains records were lost or destroyed and now out of business. Cemeteries in the vicinity have no documentation of a burial, nor is he in Historic Congressional cemetery records.

During the time of Alexander’s illness, Margaret continued the pursuit of her lifelong interest with the Lindsay Family writing to various family members, requesting updated material. I have copies of several letters, thanks to our cousin, Mel Lindsay, of Atlanta, Georgia, that she’d written to Cousin Alfred’s family, mentioning her futile requests to other family members for updated histories while pleading for answers to questions she’d written them several years prior! My impression is she continued her work until her own death in varying degrees of frustration and determination! Endure Fort!

In the last available census,[32] Margaret appeared to have moved once again, this time to West Roxbury Township. This was not her last move as she moved once again to 233 Temple Street, Boston, MA , her place of residence when she died. Neither she nor Alexander seemed to have owned any real estate as each census stated they were renters.

Margaret died 10 January 1932[33], d.s.p. [without issue] at the age of 76 years, 10 months and 14 days; cremation took place on 12 January 1932, at Forest Hills Crematorium, Boston Massachusetts. Eventual burial, wholly four months later, was 16 April 1932, Historic Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC. Her death certificate states Ella Andrews, of same address was the informant [was she a relative or a friend?]. Why did three plus months pass before final interment? Apart from these questions, Margaret’s remains were shipped to Washington, DC, put in the ground of the family plot alongside her parents, sister, brother, and eventually, her nephew and niece-in-law, at Range 57, graves #199-203. Margaret’s grave is #203.

I have applied for a copy of a Will for Alexander, but as of this date it is not forthcoming. I do, however, have in my possession a certified copy of the Will[34] that Margaret L. Atkinson, wrote on 12 October 1931, was witnessed by Albert R. Werner, Ella A. Andrews and Joseph D. Andrews. Her Will reads as follows:

1) To her niece, Florence Edzell Lindsay, all her household furniture, clothing, Lindsay family jewelry, portraits, books and personal belongings in general.

2) To her nephew, Clement John, her father’s signet ring bearing the Lindsay coat of arms.

3) To her husband, Alexander’s, nephew, Henry G. A. Black, all of Alexander’s belongings, clothes, relics, books, jewelry and his stamp collection.

4) To her grand-nephew, George Walter Lindsay, $100.00 she placed in a bank “along with any interest earned until he was 21 years of age.”

5) To John W. Linzee, she bequeathed “my Steward and Guelph pedigree books, relying on him to place them where they will be of aid to genealogists when he no longer desires them personally; also framed pictures of a Lindsay Family Association group and of the Earl of Lindsay or Crawford. In the event of his prior death these articles to become the property of said Florence Edzell Lindsay.”

6) “To the Lindsay Family Association of America, I bequeath my books, letters, papers, memorandum, etc., relating to genealogical matters, excepting from such books one copy of my Lindsay Genealogy written by me, which book or books I bequeath to said Florence Edzell Lindsay.”

7) “To my niece, Florence Edzell Lindsay and my nephew Clement John Lindsay I bequeath the entire balance of my estate, real, personal and mixed, for their own use and purpose, share and share alike.”

8) Lastly, she named “Florence Edzell Lindsay, my niece, executrix, if Florence E., did not survive her then Clement John to be executor.”

Margaret’s will was probated 12 January 1932, No. 252700, in Boston, Massachusetts, inventoried & finalized 30 January 1933.

In Fall of 2000 my husband, Jack, and I had a marker made for the five gravesites of this Lindsay family. [35] The large, pie shaped marble slab included each member’s name, together with appropriate dates, engraved. A star with gold-leaf was placed in the center, a special tribute to her father, Major George Frederick Lindsay. Margaret seemed to have had quite a fondness for her father despite the fact he had died before she was barely out of infancy. Placement was completed late December 2000. This is my way of acknowledging and thanking Margaret for her lasting gift to Lindsay’s everywhere. Now, future genealogists will be able to locate the Lindsay historian’s grave, who has aided so many of us in our undertakings, and whose life’s work was seemingly a labor of love. I trust now she may rest in peace.

This history of Margaret Isabella Lindsay is based solely on my research, as an amateur genealogist, and its interpretation. I’ve indicated, when necessary, any speculations or unsupported points in order to validate the remainder of the piece.

[1] Burial record, Historic Congressional Cemetery.

[2] The Evening Star, September 5, 1855, Washington, DC, newspaper.

[3] Copy of Death certificate, Boston, Suffolk County, MA #A769877.

[4] 1900 Federal Census, Delaware County, PA, Ridley Township, Vol. 81, ED180, line 10.

[5] Copy Marriage license Washington, DC.

[6] 1900 Federal Census, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Ridley Township, Vol. 81, ED 180, line 11.

[7] 1920 Federal Census, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City, ED 1224, Sheet 13B.

[8] Copy of Death certificate, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, PA#10527.

[9] Burial record of North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[10] 1910 Federal Census, Delaware County, Middletown Township, ED 170, Sheet 6A, line 22.

[11] 1920 Federal Census, Delaware County, Middletown Township, ED 183, Sheet 10A,line 15.

[12] Death certificate, Prince Georges County, Maryland, #04944, copy.

[13] Burial record copy from Historic Congressional Cemetery.

[14] Death certificate, Prince George’s County, Maryland, #01527, copy.

[15] Death certificate, Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records, #099643-65, copy.

[16] Burial record of North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[17] Copy of Will written 24 August 1965, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

[18] 1900 Federal Census, Washington, DC, Washington City, ED45, Sheet 22B, page 263.

[19] Copy of Marriage license, Marriage Bureau, Washington, DC.

[20] Wisconsin Adjutant General, Regimental Descriptive Rolls 1861-1865, 23^rd Infantry, Co A, [FHL13116889] National Archives, Washington, DC, copies.

[21] Attested copy Marriage license Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

[22] 1860 Federal Census, Lake County, IL, Waukegan Township, page 540; 1870 Federal Census, Cook Co., IL, 9W Chicago, IL, p.198; 1880 Cook County, IL, Chicago, ED 97, p.336.

[23] The Civil War Diary of Lieutenant Robert Molford Addison, Co E, 23^rd Wisconsin Infantry, December 24, 1863-December 29, 1864”, Diane E. Greene, AG, published by Willow Bend Books, 2001; pp36, 95,100-102, 107.

[24] 1870 Federal Census, Omaha City, Douglas County, Nebraska, 4^th Ward, page 484.

[25] Pension File – Alexander Atkinson, National Archives, Washington, DC.

[26] 1890 11^th Census of U.S., Special Schedule Veterans, Omaha, Douglas Co., NE, Dist. 3, ED 25

[27] 1900 Federal Census, Boston, Suffolk Co., MA, Ward 20, Sup. Dist. 115, ED 1468, page 272.

[28] Copy of Death certificate, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts #9369; also a Copy of Death Register for City of Boston, Volume 507, page 495.

[29] 1910 Federal Census, Boston City [Roslindale], Suffolk, Massachusetts, ED 1619, sheet 10A.

[30] Provided by Mel Lindsay, Atlanta, Georgia.

[31] Copy of Death certificate Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts #A776332.

[32] 1920 Federal Census, Boston City, Town of Roxbury, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 9^th Precinct, Ward 23, ED 550, Sheet 1A.

[33] Copy of Death certificate, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts #A769877.

[34] Copy of certified Will and Probate records received 08 December 2001.

[35] Letters of placement from Merkle Monument Company, Baltimore, Maryland; photographs of marker in place, December 2000.