Robert Alexander

Notes:

Source: Our Alexander Heritage by Clarence D. Alexander 1976

"John Alexander was an original settler of Co. Donegal, Ireland. He was born ca 1590 and believed to have been descended from the House of MacAlexander in Tarberrt, Kintyre, Scotland. He settled at Eredy near Raphoe Ireland. They had at least four sons Robert, Andrew. Archibald, and William. and several more unknown"

Robert married Mary Hamilton. Mary was born ca 1600, Stirling, Menstrie, Scotland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Source: Memorials of the earl of Stirling and of the house of Alexander
By Charles Rogers
Published by W. Paterson, 1877
Pages 24-25

James Alexander, designed "of Boghall," eldest son of Robert Alexander of Blackhouse, was born in 1634. He entered the University of Glasgow, where he graduated in 1653. Obtaining license as a probationer in 1655, he was the same year ordained minister of Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire. for his adherence to the Presbyterian polity, he was deprived by Act of Parliament, 11th June, and of the Privy Council, 1st October 1662. Accused of preaching and baptizing irregularly, he was summoned to Ayr in March 1669; he died of fever in the same year about the age of thirty-four (Fasti Eccl. Scot., vol. ii., p. 250).

He married Mary, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbar, descended from Adam Maxwell, fifth son of the first Lord Maxwell of Caerlaverock, by Elizabeth, daughter of William Cuninghame of craigends; she died in 1670. By her he had a son, John, and four daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, Jean, and Anna. His daughter Jean was, in September 1689, married to William Greenless, one of the magistrates of Paisley (Reg. Abbey Parish of Paisley).

Reverand Alexander was a minister of the Convoy congregation, approximately 4 miles from Raphoe, Donegal County, Ireland, until his death in 1704. Convoy is in the Laggan Presbtery. He was educated at King's College in Aberdeen, Scotland from 1666-1670. He was ordained 12 Dec 1677 and became a minister in Convoy in 1678.

Reverend Alexander, a member of the Laggan Presbytery in Raphoe was imprisoned, which may have induced his brothers to flee to America. He upheld his religious beliefs which were contrary to Royal Authority and was fined 20. The story is he was imprisoned for calling a fast to protest the policies of the Church of England. He was unable to pay and was jailed in Dublin, Ireland on 8 October 1681 until 20 April 1682 when he was released to the Sheriff and the fine was reduced to 20 shillings, paid by his friends.

His seven sons and two daughters left Ireland for America in the ship Welcome, landed in 21 September 1670 in Maryland.

Most probably Reverend Alexander and his wife are presumed to have remained in Ireland. Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil County Maryland.

James married Mary Maxwell. Mary was born ca 1628, Raphoe, Co. Donegal, Ulster, Ireland; died , Raphoe, Co. Donegal, Ulster Ireland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland to Manokin, Somerset County, MD on the ship "Welcome" arriving September 21, 1670.

Register of Maryland's Heraldic Families. Period From 1634 March 25th to 1935 March 25th: Tercentenary of the Founding of Maryland." By Alice Norris Parran, Southern Maryland Society Colonial Dames, Baltimore. Published 1938. Printed by H.G. Roebuck & Son:

Page 64 reads, "One William Alexander came from Scotland before 1675, and with his son William II bought lands in Somerset County, Maryland. The first deed to land recorded in that County is made to William Sr. Ch--of William Sr. unknown but for William Jr., who m--Catherine. (Will dated 3/7/1732, Somerset Co., Md., book E. B. 9, folio 174;

William acquired 100 acres named Hunting Quarter and 100 acres named Hogg Quarter at the headwaters of Wicomoco Creek and the Manokin River in Maryland. In 1692 William was an assistant to the court in laying the boundaries for the original parishes in Somerset County, Maryland.

William married Araminta Liston. Araminta was born ca 1650, Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland to Manokin, Somerset County, MD on the ship "Welcome" arriving September 21, 1670.

Andrew married Ann Anderston Taylor. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Co. Donegal Ulster Ireland on the ship Welcome 21 Sep 1670 to Manokin, Somerset County, MD.

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=alexander&GSiman=1&GScid=1969761&GRid=52845355&

Elizabeth married Matthew Wallace, Sr.. Matthew was born ca 1640, Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland; died 1716, Manokin Hundred, Somerset Co. MD; was buried , Manokin Presbyterian Church Cemetery , Princess Anne, Somerset Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland to Manokin, Somerset County, MD on the ship "Welcome" arriving September 21, 1670.

Died:
Other sources has DOD as ca. 1736 in Cecil Co. MD

James married Mary Steele. Mary was born ca 1650, Raphoe, Co. Donegal, Ulster, Ireland; died ca 1730, Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland to Manokin, Somerset County, MD on the ship "Welcome" arriving September 21, 1670.

Francis married Rebecca 1675, Cecil Co. MD. Rebecca was born ca 1655, Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland to Manokin, Somerset County, MD on the ship "Welcome" arriving September 21, 1670. Other sources have him immigrating in 1680.

Register of Maryland's Heraldic Families", page 64:
SAMUEL Alexander, shown as of Pokomoke, moved to Cecil County and bought lands in the southern part of the country in 1723, called "Sligo" and Alexandria tract. He also bought lands in 1723 for the Presbyterian Church of Bohemia, Cecil Coounty, MD. His will dated 3/29/1727 M.A.G., Voll, p.3. Recorded in Elkton, Cecil Co. Deeds, Vol 4, folio 74. SAMUEL Alexander to MARTIN Alexander tract, "Alexandria", 9/1/1723. Recorded 5/23/1724. Vol. 4, folio 75. SAMUEL Alexander to FRANCIS Alexander tract, "Sligo", 9/21/1723. Recorded 5/23/1724. Vol 5, folio 66, MARTIN Alexander (son of SAMUEL and, wife Mary) gives release to James Wallace, mentions "Sligo", 9/2/1734. Vol 5, folio 97, JAMES Alexander son of MOSES and wife to William Sample Weaver of Chester County, Penn., land purchased from Thomas Stephenson, 8/15/1718. Vol 5, folio 235, JAMES Alexander, Gent., of Milford Hundred 10/20/1736, Recorded 11/12/1736. Release to MOSES Alexander.

Buried:
Grave location
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52864314

Samuel married Mary Taylor ca 1684, Anamessex, Somerset Co. MD. Mary was born 1658, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died 1733, Cecil Co. MD; was buried , Bethel Cemetery, Chesapeake City, MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Immigrated from Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland to Manokin, Somerset County, MD on the ship "Welcome" arriving September 21, 1670.

Information from the Mint Museum of History in Charlotte, North Carolina:

Joseph Alexander was a tanner. Tradition has it that he arrived in America, the colonies, in the 1670's aboard the ship "Welcome", which anchored in the Delaware River, however to date there is no confirming evidence. The first documentary evidence of Joseph Alexander's presence in Maryland is in a deed dated May 18, 1714. Joseph Alexander, Tanner and his son, James were members of the group of Alexanders and other men of Cecil County, Maryland who in 1714 purchased from Thomas Stevenson a large tract of land on the Big Elk River. This land was part of a tract called "New Munster" which had been surveyed by George Talbot, Surveyor General in 1683, for "a certain Edwin O'Dwire and fifteen other Irishmen". It lay on both sides of the Elk River in the northeastern corner of Maryland and extended over into Chester County, Pennsylvania, for a short distance above the Mason-Dixon Line.

It is supposed that Joseph had been in the colonies for several years before his land purchase in 1714 and it is possible that he could have been one of the "fifteen other Irishmen" for whom Talbot surveyed the land in 1683. In the deeds Stevenson stated that the land had "for some years past been possessed and improved by them, and had been by them divided among themselves, each man according to his holden, and that he, the said Stevenson, being mind to sell the said tract of land, thought it most equitable, honest and right, that they, the said possessors thereof, should have the first offer to buy or purchase each man his holden or division of ye same."

From Joseph's will written December 13, 1726, we learn the names of several of his children, including, Sophia, the wife of Elias Alexander, who is referred to in the will as a son-in-law, Francis, Jane Mackey (her married name), Abigail Clapham (her married name) and James. Joseph left most of his estate to his son, James, as well as making him the executor of his will which was probated March 9, 1730. Joseph did not mention his wife in his will, so
it is presumed that she had died before 1726.

From Findagrave.comIn 1673 Joseph immigrated to Armaugh County, Ireland to gain religious freedom. In Ireland, the King, in an effort to subugate the Irish, divided the counties into parishes. He appointed Clergy of the Church of England and entrusted in them both civil and ecclestiastical authority to govern the people. The Presbyterian ministers were persecuted by the State Clergy and they retaliated by persuading their congregations to immigrate to America with them, where religious freedom was assured.

In 1676 Joseph Alexander and seven of his brothers sailed from Ireland on the "Good Ship Welcome" for America. They anchored in the Delaware River, off shore from the town of New Castle. They then migrated to the established Presbyterian settlement at "New Castle", now known as Christianna Hundred, in the American colony in 1714. Lord Cecil had received from the King of England, a land grand of several thousands acres in Maryland colony. Land speculators had purchased approximately 6,000 acres of Lord Cecil's tract, one part of which was located on the Big Elk River, which the early settlers named "New Munster".

Joseph Alexander and his brothers purchased land in New Munster and established the first homes of the Alexanders in America. The actual location of Joseph Alexander's first home is not known, however, a few of the houses have been restored and they are built of field stone and logs mortared with clay. The original land grant to Lord Cecil and Joseph Alexander's deeds can be seen at the Maryland Historical Library at Annapolis, Maryland. Approxiamately [sic], two hundred years later William DuPont purchased several hundred acres of the original Lord Cecil grant, including a portion of "New Munster" and built his estate "Fair Hill". He restored the old Presbyterian Church (now known as Christianna Hundred) and a few of the old houses. In the graveyard of the Church are buried many of the Alexander immigrants and their descendants.

Joseph Alexander's will was filed at Elkton, Maryland on March 9, 1726 which gives the names of his children and his bequests to them.

Children of JOSEPH ALEXANDER:

1. Sophie Alexander
2. Jane Alexander
3. Abigail Alexander
4. Francis Alexander
5. Abraham Alexander
6. James Alexander


Information of Find A Grave:

Joseph Alexander died in 1726 at New Munster, in the colony of Maryland.

In 1673 Joseph immigrated to Armaugh County, Ireland to gain religious freedom. In Ireland, the King, in an effort to subugate the Irish, divided the counties into parishes. He appointed Clergy of the Church of England and entrusted in them both civil and ecclestiastical authority to govern the people. The Presbyterian ministers were persecuted by the State Clergy and they retaliated by persuading their congregations to immigrate to America with them, where religious freedom was assured.

In 1676 Joseph Alexander and seven of his brothers sailed from Ireland on the "Good Ship Welcome" for America. They anchored in the Delaware River, off shore from the town of New Castle. They then migrated to the established Presbyterian settlement at "New Castle", now known as Christianna Hundred, in the American colony in 1714. Lord Cecil had received from the King of England, a land grand of several thousands acres in Maryland colony. Land speculators had purchased approximately 6,000 acres of Lord Cecil's tract, one part of which was located on the Big Elk River, which the early settlers named "New Munster".

Joseph Alexander and his brothers purchased land in New Munster and established the first homes of the Alexanders in America. The actual location of Joseph Alexander's first home is not known, however, a few of the houses have been restored and they are built of field stone and logs mortared with clay. The original land grant to Lord Cecil and Joseph Alexander's deeds can be seen at the Maryland Historical Library at Annapolis, Maryland. Approxiamately [sic], two hundred years later William DuPont purchased several hundred acres of the original Lord Cecil grant, including a portion of "New Munster" and built his estate "Fair Hill". He restored the old Presbyterian Church (now known as Christianna Hundred) and a few of the old houses. In the graveyard of the Church are buried many of the Alexander immigrants and their descendants.

Joseph Alexander's will was filed at Elkton, Maryland on March 9, 1726 which gives the names of his children and his bequests to them.

Children of JOSEPH ALEXANDER:

1. Sophie Alexander
2. Jane Alexander
3. Abigail Alexander
4. Francis Alexander
5. Abraham Alexander
6. James Alexander

Buried:
Grave location
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52843621

Joseph married Abigail McKnitt ca 1686, Somerset Co. MD. Abigail (daughter of John McKnitt, Sr. and Elizabeth Wallace) was born 1667, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died 23 Dec 1714, Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Joseph married Jane McKnitt 1700, Cecil Co. MD. Jane (daughter of John McKnitt, Sr. and Elizabeth Wallace) was born ca 1656, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died ca 1730, Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

John married Barbara 1692, Pocomoke, Anamessex, Somerset Co. MD. Barbara was born ca 1662, Raphoe, Co. Donegal, Ulster, Ireland. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52847299

Janet married John McKnitt, Jr.. John (son of John McKnitt, Sr. and Elizabeth Wallace) was born 1660, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died 23 Dec 1714, Cecil Co. MD; was buried , Head of Christiana Church Cemetery Newark New Castle Co. DE. [Group Sheet]

Elias married Sophia Alexander 1709, Somerset Co. MD. Sophia (daughter of Joseph Alexander and Abigail McKnitt) was born ca 1692, Somerset Co. MD; died ca 1726, Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52845670

Jane married John McKnitt, Jr.. John (son of John McKnitt, Sr. and Elizabeth Wallace) was born 1660, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died 23 Dec 1714, Cecil Co. MD; was buried , Head of Christiana Church Cemetery Newark New Castle Co. DE. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52847947

James married Sarah McKnight. Sarah was born 1701, Cecil Co. MD; died , Kent Co. DE; was buried , Old Presbyterian Cemetery Dover Kent Co. DE. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave Location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52844489

Matthew married Sarah Alexander. Sarah (daughter of Samuel Alexander, Sr. and Mary Taylor) was born 26 Aug 1690, Pocomoke, Somerset Co. MD; died 1760, Frederick Co. MD; was buried , Manokin Presbyterian Church Cemetery Princess Anne Somerset Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Catherine married . Unknown [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
Her tombstone says she was born in Scotland.

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52754160

Isabella married Thomas Sharpe, Sr.. Thomas was born 1680, Scotland; died 15 Dec 1749, Cecil Co. MD; was buried , Sharpes Graveyard Fair Hill Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Henry married Rachel 1700, Somerset Co. MD. Rachel was born ca 1685, Cecil Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Buried:
Grave location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52844561

Sarah married Matthew Wallace, Jr.. Matthew (son of Matthew Wallace, Sr. and Elizabeth Alexander) was born 1672, Somerset Co. MD; died 03 May 1751, Manokin Somerset Co. MD; was buried , Manokin Presbyterian Church Cemetery Princess Anne Somerset Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Sophia was named in her father's will, dated Dec 13, 1726, Cecil County, Maryland.

Sophia married Elias Alexander 1709, Somerset Co. MD. Elias (son of Andrew Alexander and Ann Anderston Taylor) was born 26 Feb 1679, Somerset Co. MD; died Bef 1753, Slate Hill, York Co. PA. [Group Sheet]

Abigail married Francis Clapham 1710, Somerset Co. MD. Francis was born Bef 1690, Somerset Co. MD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Marylanders to Carolina: Migration of Marylanders to North Carolina and ... By Henry C. Peden, Page 5

ALEXANDER, JAMES. "James Alexander, son of Joseph Alexander and possibly Abigail McKnitt, was born in Cecil County, Maryland circa 1690. He and his father purchased land in "New Munster" in 1714 and it was around this time that James married Margaret McKnitt, daughter of John McKnitt and Jane Wallace.

Their children were: Theophilus Alexander (1714-1768, married Catherine Wallace); Jemima Alexander (born 1716, died young); Edith Alexander (born 1718, died young); Keziah Alexander (1720-1750, married Walter Sharp); Ezekiel Alexander (born 1725, died young); Jemima Alexander (1727-1797, married James Sharp); Hezekiah Alexander (1728-1801, married Mary Sample); Amos Alexander (1729-1780, married Sarah Sharp); John McKnitt Alexander (1733-1817, married Jean Bean or Bain); and, Margaret Alexander (born 1736, died young).

When he Was about age 55 James Alexander married a second time to Abigail ----, and their children were:Elizabeth Alexander (1746-1822, married William A. Sample, brother of Mary Sample who married Hezekiah Alexander); Abigail Alexander (1748-1817, married Francis Bradley); Margaret Alexander (1750-1772); Josiah Alexander (1752?after 1772); and, Ezekiel Alexander (1754-after 1832).

When James made out his will on June 17, 1772, nine of his children were still alive. Of those nine, seven eventually moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. From his will it is evident that James owned land in Mecklenburg. What is unclear is whether James ever came to Mecklenburg himself. The land he owned on Long Creek, in the Hopewell section, was willed to his son Ezekiel, who lived there some time before moving to Tennessee. From the posting of James Alexander?s will, we know that he died before July 15, 1779 in Cecil County, Maryland, at the age of 89.

Buried:
Grave Location:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=52810996

James married Margaret McKnitt ca 1714, New Munster, Cecil Co. MD. Margaret was born 26 Dec 1693, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died 31 Jul 1736, Cecil Co. MD; was buried , Head of Christiana Church Cemetery Newark New Castle Co. DE. [Group Sheet]

James married Abigail McKnitt 1745, New Munster, Cecil Co. MD. Abigail was born ca 1708, Manokin, Somerset Co. MD; died Aft 1778. [Group Sheet]

Francis married Martha Sarah Blair. [Group Sheet]

Francis married Unknown. [Group Sheet]