All right, this one is going to be a whopper. I have been racking my brain with this family for years and have come up with many compelling pieces of a puzzle, but I just cannot manage to put it all together. I thought put what I have out there and offer it to the Ancestry Community in hopes to find some sort of solution. I’ve already posted parts of it individually, trying to figure this out on my own, but here’s everything together and all the information I have on two families with some sort of definite tie…although I can’t concretely prove.

First, let me begin with the information I have on my family going back, all concrete. Mary A. (Lindsay) (Bacheler) Smith was my great great great great grandmother. She was born about 1838 somewhere in Canada to parents John Lindsay (according to her death certificate) of Scotland (according to death certificate and census records for her and what appears to be her brothers) and Sarah (UNKNOWN MAIDEN NAME) Lindsay, who was born about 1811 in Ireland (1860 Placer County, California Census).

An interesting account of Mary’s life is given in her obituary 1908:

January 19, 1908
The Anaconda Standard
LIFE WELL SPENT ENDS
MRS. M. A.. SMITH DEAD
LONG PROMINENT IN CHURCH AND
TEMPERANCE WORK.
A BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER
Leaves behind her many who dearly
loved her—Did world of good
in Butte, where she lived since
first railroad.
Butte lost a sincere and highly esteemed
Christian worker when Mrs.
Mary A. Smith, wife of Samuel G.
Smith, peacefully passed away at the
family home, at 803 West Copper
street, last night, after an invalidism
of eight months. She died without
pain, her near relatives at the bedside.
Mrs. Smith was one of the founders
of the first free public library of
Butte. She was also prominent in the
temperance movement and one of the
early members of the W. C. T. U. Few
women have enjoyed a greater and
more fruitful activity in church life.
She will be mourned by many who
learned to love and honor her. Mrs.
Smith had reached the ripe age of 72
years.
Early in the West.
Born in Canada, Mrs. Mary Smith
moved Into Illinois early in life and
later went to California with her
children behind an ox team back
in 1852. Butte became the family
home in 1881. Coming in on one of the
first passenger trains over the rails,
just laid, of the old Utah & Northern
railway, now the Oregon Short Line.
Mrs. Smith had since lived in this city
and throughout her residence has
made opportunities looking to the best
welfare of those about her. Her life
was an example of Christian sacrifice
and effort. She did a world of
good in many little ways that will
never be known except to those who
were benefited. There are scores who
will never know that it was through
Mrs. Smith's efforts that they were
blessed. Her beautiful character was
one that might well be emulated.
Four children mourn this Christian
woman—W. C. Batchelor, for nine
years cashier of the First National
bank and as many more assistant
postmaster of the Butte office and now
a resident of Seattle. Mrs. Herman
Hauswirth, Miss Rhea Smith and G.
L. Smith, secretary and treasurer of
the Butte Copper company, all of this
city. The late Mrs. Robert Hauswirth
was another daughter. Mrs. Smith Is
also survived by two sisters in California,
and two brothers In Nevada.
The funeral will start at 1:30 o'clock
tomorrow afternoon from the home of
Mrs. H. Hauswirth, 717 West Quartz
street, proceeding to the First Presbyterian
church, where services will be
held.

Now, these dates are most likely estimates, probably given by one of her children (her son Wilbur Bacheler is the informant on her death certificate) and cannot be taken for exact information, but other sources prove it to be relatively accurate. Unfortunately, because of the time frame and the fast moving with which the Lindsays family moved, I cannot find a record I know is them for sure until 1860.

Taking what information I have managed to collect, I can make a rough timeline. The family came to the U.S. between about 1841 and 1843 (years between Jacob and John Lindsay’s births according to 1850 and 1860 censuses, and 1842 is recorded on what could possibly be a later census record for eldest brother David). There is a slim chance that they might be recorded in a very early Canadian census as they were there from at least 1834-1841, but I have come across nothing as of yet, and I don’t know exactly where in Canada they lived (although there was only a small part of the country civilized in the 1830’s-1840’s). Also, because boarder crossing records don’t start until 1895, I can’t find record of their crossing, but it does appear they went directly to Illinois and lived there from about 1843 (just before Joseph’s birth) to about 1850 (just before Alice’s birth in “Mo” [Missouri?]). As of 1850, the family seems to be on the way West.

The family then, doesn’t show up for certain until the 1860 census of Secret Ravine, Placer Co, California. Mary is living with her first husband, Chauncey Darwin Bacheler, her mother, and apparently all but one of her siblings in Secret Ravine, California. Bacheler and the oldest Lindsay boys are listed as miners, which makes sense with local history and information and short biographies I have gathered on C.D. Bacheler.

Information from this census is:
Name birth year (approximate) location
Sarah Lindsay 1811 Ireland
David “ 1833 Canada
John “ 1835 “
Mary A “Batchelor” 1841 (this one seems off) “
C.D. “Batchelor” 1832 Ill
Joseph Lindsay 1844 “
Elizabeth “ 1846 “
Alice 1850 “Mo”

It appears that the father John Lindsay is gone. I know nothing of this man, except for his name and birth LOCATION, and have never seen him on a record except for Mary A’s death certificate. I believe he might have died just prior to the family coming west in 1850, perhaps before 1848 as I will explain in time.

After this, the Lindsay family unit breaks up. I know that Mary separated with C.D. Bacheler after having two children and remarries to a man named Samuel G. Smith, with whom she is living in Elko County, Nevada, as of 1880. Shortly after that, she came to Butte, Montana, where she lived out the remainder of her life. I have a hard time finding record of the other siblings that I can link for sure, although I have compelling records that might be for brothers David, John and Jacob in Elko Co, Nevada. I have been able to find absolutely nothing on the girls, aside from the fact that two of them are still alive and living in California in 1908. If anyone recognizes any of the Lindsay kids, please let me know. Even mother Sarah Lindsay seems to disappear.

Having come to a dead end, I kept looking and came across an 1850 Census for Weber Co, Utah (after research, it turns out the census was actually taken in 1851 and is sometimes referred to as the 1851 census, which is important in my case), in which it appears the Lindsay kids are all living together, and supplies the following information:

Name birth year (approximate) location
James “Grayham” 1805 Ireland
Christiana “ 1794 Penn
Hannah “ 1821 N J
Sarah “ 1813 Ireland
Eliza “ 1826 Penn
Robert “ 1829 “
George “ 1832 “
Mary “ 1834 “
James “ 1836 “
Margaret “ 1838 Ill
Samuel “ 1842 Ill
Augusta “ 1848 Iowa
Christiana “ 1849 “Des” (meaning Deseret/Utah)
John K “Jimieson” 1842 Penn
Julia A Reed 1839 NY
Matilda “Lindsey” 1834 Ca (presumably Canada)
David “ 1835 “
John “ 1837 “
Mary A “ 1838 “
Jacob “ 1841 “
Joseph “ 1843 Ill
Elizabeth 1845 Ill

The birth order, approximate years, and odd combination of birth locations makes me certain these are the children. Ca is said to be California by Ancestry’s transcription, but given the time period and the census keeper’s inconsistent abbreviations (what starts out as “Deseret” becomes “Des” halfway through, “Indian Territory” to “Ind. Ter.” And “Canada” to “Can.”) Obviously, they are living with another family, which makes sense in 1851 as they were on their way west. I thought at first, and still consider, that the children were just staying temporarily at the house as they moved to California, to join their parents who were somewhere or another. I searched for John and Sarah perhaps somewhere else in 1860, but had absolutely no luck.

I decided to look into James Graham, to maybe figure out any sort of relationship he could had to the Lindsays. Since his birth date was close to my Sarah Lindsay’s and they both come from Ireland, I thought perhaps they were siblings or cousins or relatives of some sort, explaining why the children would stay with Graham. I have found no proof one way or the other on this theory, but do not discredit it.

I did learn a lot about Graham, however, and it does not appear he had a sister that could be Sarah. Other information includes the following short biography:

“Name: James Graham
Birth Date: 11 Oct 1804
Birth Place: Enniskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland
Parents: Robert and Anna Barrow Graham
Death Date: 09 Dec 1857
Death Place: Ogden, Weber, Utah
Arrival: 7 Aug 1849, Howard Egan Independent Co.
Spouse: Mary Ann Butler
Marriage Date: abt 1824
Marriage Place: possibly Pennsylvania
Spouse's Birth Date: 18 Apr 1804
Spouse's Birth Place: New Castle Co., Pennsylvania
Spouse's Death Date: Aug 1846
Spouse's Death Place: Iowa

Married 2nd: Orilla Crandall (Div)-No children Date: 3 Feb 1846 , Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois Born: 29 Jan 1803 , Cramma, Northumberland, Upper Canada

Married 3rd: Sarah Thompson -No children Date: 28 Feb 1848 , Winter Quarters, Nebraska Born: 10 Sep 1810 , Newton, Camaraddy, Derry, Ireland

Married 4th: Hannah Tucker Reed Date: 9 Sep 1849 , Salt Lake City, Utah Born: 10 May 1821 Lower Eversham, Burlington, New Jersey Died: 11 Dec 1904 , Bennington, Bear Lake, Idaho

Married 5th: Christiana Nixon Gregory -No children Date: 09 Sep 1849 , Salt Lake City, Utah Born: 19 Mar 1793 , Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Little is known of James ' early life. After his first marriage, they lived in Laurel Hill, Chester, Pennsylvania , where at least six of their 11 children were born. It is not known when they joined the Church, although they may have been living in Hancock County prior to the exodus. Their son, Robert , was baptized in 1841 . They were probably baptized in about 1840 while living in Bear Creek, Hancock, Illinois, a rural town outside Nauvoo . His first wife, Mary Ann , died in Iowa in 1846 enroute to Utah . He married his third wife in Winter Quarters . The family continued on to the Valley. On 9 September 1849 , James married Hannah and her mother, Christiana . He and his family were the first settlers of Riverdale , in Weber County . He and his sons laid claim to all the land between Uintah and Wilson's Lane on the west side of the Weber River . They worked the land for many years. He died there.

Children of 1st wife: Eliza Jane , b. 6 Nov 1825 , Laurel Hill, Chester, Pennsylvania . Md. John Pack . D. Feb 1865 . Ann Isabelle , b. Jun 1827 , Laurel Hill, Pennsylvania . Robert , b. 8 Feb 1829 , Laurel Hill, Pennsylvania . Md, 1859 , Mary Ellen Reed . D. 27 Jan 1888 , Millville, Cache, Utah . George Butler , b. 10 Mar 1831 , Laurel Hill, Pennsylvania . Md. 1856 , Phebe Ann Allen . D. 18 Sep 1906 , Almo, Cassia, Idaho . Elenor , b. 1833 , Laurel Hill, Pennsylvania . D. 1834/5 , Pennsylvania . Mary Elizabeth , b. 8 Oct 1836 , Laurel Hill, Pennsylvania . Md. 1854 , Elihu Moroni Allen . D. 2 Jul 1906 , Huntsville, Utah . Margaret , b. 1837 , Hancock Co., Illinois . Md. Jason Reid Luce . James , b. 29 Jun 1838 , Hancock Co., Illinois . D. Jul 1861 , Weber Co., Utah . Joseph Smith , b. Aug 1840 , Bear Creek, Hancock, Illinois . D. 19 Oct 1849 . Samuel , b. 7 Jun 1844 , Nauvoo, Illinois . D. 24 Jul 1861 , Weber Co., Utah . Brigham , b. Apr 1846 , Nauvoo, Illinois .

Children of 4th wife: Christianna , b. 15 Jun 1850 , Ogden, Utah . Md. Franklin Edward Weaver . D. 1927 . William Benona , b. 24 Mar 1852 , Riverdale, Utah . Md. Margaret Hope Williams . D. 18 Mar 1926 . Joy Belnap”



I find this “Sarah Thompson” to be very interesting. She was born about the same time as my Sarah (UNKNONW) Lindsay, (according to what must have been on the marriage record, anyhow) in Ireland as well. I don’t know my Sarah’s maiden name, but it could very well have been Thompson. I’ve been in contact with a few different descendants of James Graham’s and his wives, but no one seems to know anything more about this Sarah Thompson aside from her birth and marriage dates.

There are a couple of reasons that I believe Sarah Thompson might be my Sarah Lindsay. James and Sarah reportedly had no children, and it seems odd to me that someone Sarah Thompson’s age wouldn’t have been married at least once before, or have already have children before marrying in 1848.

I’ve done research and found that the other two individuals on the 1850 Weber census, after all of the Grahams and before the Lindseys (John “Jimieson” and Julia Reed), are children and relatives of James’s wives from previous marriages (making them step-children and in-laws). If the Lindseys were perhaps Sarah Thompson’s children from a previous marriage, this would fit right in.

Also, by 1860, when my Sarah Lindsay and her children are seen in California for sure, James Graham had passed away, and his family is seen still living in Weber without him. Most of the children were old enough to be out on their own, but all of the wives EXCEPT Sarah Thompson are still present. The Lindsey kids are nowhere to be seen in the household either because they are in California.

I think that Sarah Thompson might have, before or after James Graham’s death, left to live with her children who were old enough to support her, and maybe went back to the name Lindsay. Or, she might have still been going by Graham and the census taker failed to make the difference in his record. IF, that is, Sarah Thompson and my Sarah Lindsay are one and the same.

The problem is, I can’t find evidence to prove or disprove the theory. I would be happy either way. If someone could help me find out more about my Sarah Lindsay or Sarah Thompson, I would be immensely happy. I would like to see if I can’t see when and where either of them died.

I’ve done some research in the Mormon migration to Utah in the 1850’s. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lindsay’s, even if they aren’t married into James Graham’s family, traveled with the Mormon’s as they went from Illinois to California at the time they were as well.

I’ve looked into land immigration records and can account for James, his two eldest sons, and both of his wives after Sarah Thompson. The problem is, I don’t know when or with what party the rest of the Graham children – those from James and his first wife’s marriage – came across. It was obviously after 1848 (James didn’t leave for Utah with Egan until 1849) and before 1851 (when the Weber Co census was taken), but I cannot find them explicitly. Since James’s first wife died just before he married Sarah Thompson in 1848 and he didn’t get married again until he was in Utah, Sarah Thompson most likely took care of the Graham children, and, I’m sure, traveled with them when they all came to meet their father and two brothers in Utah. If I could find out what party they traveled with, I might be able to find the Lindsey children, if Sarah is indeed Sarah Lindsay. If not, there should still be records of the Lindsays somewhere, as I am positive they traveled with one Mormon party whether or not they had any ties to James Graham.

I’m no novice at genealogy anymore (not an expert, but I’ve had a lot of experience by now), and I have been racking my brain for years now on this family, finding bits here and there that I can’t quite fit together, so I thought I’d give the Ancestry Community a try with ALL of the pieces I have and see if someone can’t help me make a concrete connection. There’s something there, I just know it, but it’s flitting just out of reach.

So, in short, I am trying to find all the information on ANY and ALL of the people mentioned to see if I can’t make the pieces fit together.

If anyone can help me, knows where I might find further information, or if there’s any other information I could possibly give, please let me know. Thank you all so much in advance. I hope I can finally make some sense of all of this.