I'm in search of a brick wall ancestor, David Lindsay, or Lindsey or Lindsley, who lived in Ballygoskin in the early 1800s. I have a copy of a letter from him, David Lindsay, to his brother, Robert, then living in Groveland, Yew York. Brothers Robert and Samuel emigrated, arriving in New York City in the late 1810s or early 1820s. Henceforth, in America, their last name was spelled "Lindsley." Their apparent brothers, William and James, and sisters, Margaret and Nancy, stayed in Northern Ireland. Nancy married a James Fitsworth. A letter from brother James noted as being from Ballygoskin, dated 24 October 1831, wherein he declined, for the third time, an offer to emigrate to the United States due to inability to raise funds and poor health. The letter also notes that father David's house and land was then owned by brother William. The letter also gave news of the ill health of James' wife, Mary, and of another sister, whose name is illegible, but that this sister thinks it's strange that another sister, Jane, never writes to let them know how she and her husband, Hugh are faring with their farm. He also mentions news of neighbors named Morrison, Matthews, Stuart, Duncan, Milliken, and Oliver. He gives news of modest increases in prices for produce and pork.
There is a petition for naturalization and petition (evidence 1836 pkg 9, no 736-819) from Oneida, New York for a David Lindsey birthplace Ireland, dated 1834. Oneida is in northeast New York, approximately 140 miles from where the brothers, Robert and Samuel, settled. But there are also two land assessment records for "David Lindsay", both in 1835, one in Killysorrell, Dromore, Lower Iveagh, Lower Part, County Down and one in Ballyaughian, Clonduff, Upper Iveagh, Lower Part, County Down. I'm fairly certain these are not related, as I believe David Lindsay never emigrated. Robert and Samuel settled in Saline, Michigan; many of their children either did not marry or did not have children. Those who did marry, with resulting children, I have identified.
Any help or clues would be greatly appreciated--I've been working on this particular brick wall for more than a decade. A visit to the area may yield something but that's not in the cards, for now. The profile is unsourced; hoping that can change.
