Alamo Defenders

Subject: Alamo Defenders Mon 05 Nov 2007, 8:22 pm

My late maternal grandmother was the keeper of our family history. Though I always have been interested in genealogy, I was able to relax when it came to her ancestral lines, as she was so adept in researching them and so careful in maintaining them. I often didn't listen as I should have done when she was explaining the detail of some family connection (she was a big believer in knowing one's collateral lines), or ask pertinent questions regarding our genealogy while she was here to answer them for me. In short, I was lazy.

Now I see that she has left a bevy of files and notebooks on the Texas Lindley family. I had heard my grandma speak of the Lindleys and of Jonathan L. Lindley in particular, but never took the time to hear or to investigate exactly what our connection to them might be. But from an initial study of the records which Memom generously and tirelessly compiled, it seems that Jonathan Lindley likely was the nephew of our ancestor, Sharpe Whitley.

Sharpe's sister, Elizabeth, married Samuel Washington Lindley about 1810. Samuel's first wife had been Mary 'Polly' Hall, with whom he had one daughter: Sarah 'Sally' Lindley. Mary Polly may have died in childbirth or soon following the birth of her daughter. The children of Samuel W. Lindley and Elizabeth Whitley are believed to have been: Barsheba, Mary Polly, Jonathan (b. 12 Feb. 1814 - 6 Mar. 1836) Elizabeth, William, Martha, Samuel W., Rachel, John, James, Mahala and Elijah. That's a quiver-full of youngin's!

But Samuel Washington Lindley's fecundity does not end there. Following the death of second wife, Elizabeth (1838; Montgomery County), this patriarch married a Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Collard Tolbert. Together, they begat one daughter: Amanda Marie. And though no more children were born to him, Samuel married Mrs. Martha Alphin upon Elizabeth's passing, in about 1844. Mr. Kenneth R. Whitley has gathered and bound a referenced genealogy of this family, entitled: 'Samuel Washington Lindley (1788 - 1859): His Four Wives and Fourteen Children.' (1987)

Samuel's son, Jonathan, may have found himself lost sometimes in the jumble which no doubt characterized the household of his childhood. But an important calling lay before him:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/LL/fli33.html

With due respect to Mr. Thomas Ricks Lindley, this entry in the 'Handbook of Texas' almost presents the short life of Jonathan Lindley as a life half empty rather than as a life half full .... or fulfilled, considering the circumstances of his sacrificial death. Moreover, the provision of Jonathan's mother as Mary Polly Hall rather than as Elizabeth Whitley does not seem to compare with the records found and maintained by other researchers, including these family historians:

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~klaw/biopage/lindley_samuelwash.html

http://atkins-history.org/genealogy/maternal-pedigrees/234.htm

Jonathan Lindley's branch was green but firm as he answered the final call to march from Gonzales to Bexar in late 1835. One is never too young to become a hero, and this patriot tried on his destiny and found that it fit very well.

http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/gonreliefframe.htm
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Alamo Defenders Thu 08 Nov 2007, 8:47 am

Sadly, Thomas Ricks Lindley passed away this past summer, as may be read in the thread below of The Alamo Studies Forum:

http://www.alamostudies.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=offtopic&action=display&thread=1183960603

His work is said to be cutting-edge when touching this pinnacle of our history, and I look forward to reading his book, Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions.

Prayers go out for his family.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Joined : 21 Sep 2007 Posts : 4

Tom Lindley was indeed a tireless researcher, and "Alamo Traces" makes for interesting, if controversial, reading.
On a cautionary note though, "Traces" isn't a good place to start one's Alamo education. Tom presumes the reader has a fair amount of Alamo knowledge, so tends to jump right into subjects. His theses can tend to be hard to follow, and he's been accused of being conclusion driven in his research. In the spirit of full disclosure I should mention that Tom and I were friendly opponents and sparred over Alamo related issues both face to face and in the pages of the "Alamo Journal". I miss him.
A very good narrative history of the Alamo is J.R. Edmondson's "The Alamo Story", a book I always recommend to those about to begin serious study of the subject. Edmondson's accessable style is reminiscent of Walter Lord's, but "The Alamo Story" has a larger historical scope than Lord's "A Time to Stand" and incorporates more recent research. Edmondson's chapters on Bowie in particular are unparralleled.
Jim

Subject: Re: Alamo Defenders Fri 09 Nov 2007, 9:33 pm

Thanks so much for the book referral, Jim, and for sharing your reflections and memories of the late Tom Lindley. I will surely read The Alamo Story prior to jumping into Mr. Lindley's study. Another gentleman once recommended here [/u]Alamo: A Cultural History, by Frank Thompson, and I hope to find a copy of it as well.

Right now -- other than A Time to Stand -- the only volumes that I have which deal specifically with the Battle of the Alamo are The Alamo Remembered: Tejano Accounts and Perspectives (T. M. Matovina) and Inherit the Alamo: Myth and Ritual at an American Shrine[u] (H. B. Brear). While I have read portions of these, I thought that it would be best to attempt a general history first. Dr. Brear's book is likely to stir the emotions of anyone who encounters it, of course. I do have some thoughts regarding it already, but will sit on these till I have a broader knowledge from which to draw.

Thanks again!
Holly

PS. You all have a great forum over at Alamo Studies I hope that you don't mind entertaining a few lurkers (that is ... learners Wink

).
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Alamo Defenders Fri 09 Nov 2007, 9:35 pm

I will never underline here again Rolling Eyes

_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Joined : 21 Sep 2007 Posts : 4