Robert Alexander (abt. 1657 - 1704)

Born about 1657 in Stafford County, Virginia Colony

Husband of Frances (UNKNOWN) Alexander — married 1701 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 1 Jun 1704 at about age 47 in Stafford County, Virginia Colony

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Elizabeth Stewart [send private message]

Biography

1657 Birth and Parents

Robert Alexander was born, say, 1657, based on the reference in his father's will that Robert is not yet of age in 1677. ^[1]

Because other sources have not taken this reference into consideration, their estimates of Robert's birth vary wildly. Hardy gives his birth year as 1634-16236. ^[2] Find-a-Grave estimates Robert's birth as 1633. ^[3] Marshall shows him born before 1644 in Northumberland County, Virginia, ^[4] Alternatively, Marshall shows him born in 1663 in Tarbert, Kentyre, Scotland. ^[4]

He was the son of John Alexander of the Caledon Plantation, and his wife Elizabeth,^[3] and named in John's will. ^[1]

Siblings

It is held by family tradition in the Pearson, Alexander, and Chapman families that Thomas Pearson III had married the sister of Robert Alexander, Sarah Alexander, daughter of Captain John Alexander the immigrant: who came to Virginnia as a headright by 31 December 1653 (Pat; 3:53).^[5]

Sarah Alexander was born about 1655. ^[2]

Marshall gives her a birth year of 1667 in Stafford County, Virginia ^[4]

Sarah was married about 1680 to Thomas Pearson III (ca 1660-ca 1707).^[6]

Marriage

Robert Alexander ^[7] married Frances, daughter of Charles Ashton. ^[8]

Alternatively, beforfe 1683 he married Priscilla Ashton. ^[9]

Howson Tract

Robert acquired the Howson patent by inheritance and by a gift from his brother, Phillip. ^[10]

Howson had assigned his patent 13 October 1669 to Robert's father John Alexander for six hogsheads of tobacco. The deed was recorded in Stafford County, but the record has been lost. (Prince William County, Virginia Deeds B:1) ^[11]

Lease to Thomas Pearson

Thomas Pearson III (1600-1707) leased from Robert Alexander I (1634-1704) that part of the Howson Patent near Alexanderia which later became known as Pearsons Island in the Potomac river.^[5]

1687 Robert Alexander Sold Land

Robert Alexander sold 150 acres to John Pimmet in 1687. (RS 1:37) George Pimmet, son of John, sold the 150 acre tract which was located on the north side of Four Mile Run, to William Harper for 8000 pounds of tobacco. (11 February 1707. Stafford Will Book z:403) ^[11]

John Withers Harper sold the 150 acres to Thomas Pearson, whose sister Constantia married Nathaniel Chapman. (Pr. Wm. Deeds B:1) Chapman owned the tract in 1741, although there is no known record of a deed. The Chapman home above Four Mile Run was called Summer Hill. Pearson Chapman, of Charles County, Maryland, sold the 150 acres 23 July 1766 to his brother George, also of Charles County, for "love and affection and 10 shillings." The deed recites that the property had belonged to Nathaniel Chapman of Charles County, Maryland, decd. His son and heir, Nathaniel, inherited, but died without making disposition so the land descended to Pearson, "brother and heir of last named Nathaniel." ^[11]

1690 Robert Alexander sells Half Howson

In 1690 Robert Alexander conveyed a half-interest in the Howson patent to his brother Philip, The land had descended to Robert because their father's will was unsigned. Three years later Phillip reconveyed to Robert his half-interest, but reserved 500 acres in the southeast corner of the patent for himself. His son Philip (1704_1753) inherited and had quarters on the land in 1741. ^[11]

Part of this 500 acre tract was taken for the site of Alexandria. John Alexander, after the death of Philip in 1753, became the owner of the tract and also town lots in Alexandria. By his will 1 May 1775, in Stafford County, John Alexander devised to his son William Thornton Alexander. The Executors of John Alexander laid off and sold lots next to Alexandria. In 1807 William Thornton Alexander sold his interest in the tract (and ground rents) to John Taliaferro. This ended the Alexander family connection with the 500 acre tract reserved in severalty to Philip Alexander. (Arlington County Deeds B:5-88) ^[11]

The remaining part of the Howson patent passed from Robert, son of the John of the original purchase, by will dated 7 December 1703, to his sons Robert and Charles. Charles died intestate and Robert became the sole owner. This Robert was born 1688 and died 1735. He lived at the home plantation of the Alexanders, Caledon, but visited his Hunting Creek lands, ^[11]

In 1731 Benjamin Sebastian was employed as overseer and collector of rents; he lived on Alexander's Island. In a deposition he stated that he became a tenant to Alexander on promise of a lease, which he never got from Alexander in his life, but after his death, he got a lease from Gerrard Alexander, son of Robert, who inherited part of the land, (LRLS: 315) ^[11]

Benjamin Sebastian listed the tenants living on Alexander's land in 1731. They paid rents of 524 pounds of tobacco for 100 acres and twice that for a double lot of 200 acres. The tenants living below Four 'file Creek were: Judith Ballenger, James Going, Sarah Young, and Sarah Amos. Above the creek the tenants were: Edward Chubb, Richard Middleton, William Boylstone, John Straughan, Adam Straughan, Edward Earpe and Richard Wheeler. Robert Alexander received 6812 Pounds of tobacco yearly for the rent since Richard Middleton and William Boylstone had double lots. ^[11]

1698 Lease to John Harper

In 1698 Robert Alexander made a three-live lease to John Harper, Sr., William Harper and Elizabeth Harper for 200 acres, "part of a tract of 6000," to join tract formerly sold to John Pemit. John Harper was to pay the quit rents and two fat hens yearly, if demanded. This is the first recorded lease found for Fairfax County. (Stafford Will Book Z:200) ^[11]

1700 Salisbury Plantation

Around 1700, Robert renamed his Caledon Plantation and called it the Salisbury Plantation.

1704 Will and Death

Will

Robert Alexander in his will devised "Pearson's Island where he now lives" to son John. His daughters Parthenia Massey and Sarah Alexander received 400 acres each. He left Holmes Island (302 acres) and 1125 ad-joining acres to his son Gerrard. The remaining acreage of the patent was divided between sons John, who took the land south of Four Mile Run, and Gerrard, who took the land north of Four Mile Run. ^[11]

Death

Robert Alexander died on 1 Jun 1704^[2] of 14 Jun 1704, Stafford County, Virginia - Probate Find. ^[4]

Probate: 1 Jun 1704, Stafford County, Virginia ^[12] Inventory: 14 Sept 1704, Stafford County, Virginia. ^[13]

Children

1. Robert Alexander son of Robert Alexander & Frances Ashton was born 1688, died 1735, and married Ann (daughter of Col. Gerard Fowke, of Maryland). Issue: John, Gerard, Sarah and Parthenia. (Will on record).^[8]
   1. Gerard Alexander, son of Robert Alexander and Ann Fowkes, died 1761, married Mary Dent. In 1735, Gerrard Alexander 1714 – 1761, a grandson of Robert Alexander (great grandson of John Alexander) inherited the northern part of the Howson patent. In 1746, a survey map that Daniel Jennings prepared showed that Gerrard Alexander owned a house on a portion of the Howson patent that was north of Four Mile Creek. ^[14] This was a substantial home on a bluff overlooking the Potomac. Gerard called it Abingdon. The site today is between Garages A and B at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. [2] In 1761, Gerrard Alexander's will divided his estate between his sons, Robert, Phillip and Gerrard (2nd). [3] In will proved in Halifax, names wife, Mary, daughter, Nancy, sons, Robert, Philip, George, Gerard, and daughter, Mary Ann.
      1. Nancy, daughter of Gerard Alexander -- married Fielding, eldest son of Col. Fielding Lewis and wife, Betty Washington, sister of President George Washington and had children: John, George, Charles, Robert, Elizabeth, Catharine, Nancy and Lucinda.^[8]
      2. Robert
      3. Philip
      4. George - George Dent Alexander died without issue - The will of George Dent Alexander shows legacies left to the sons of Fielding Lewis (his nephews).^[8]
      5. Gerard - Gerard married Elizabeth Ashton, daughter of Col. William Alexander, of Effingham, and wife, Massey.
      6. Mary Ann.
2. Charles Alexander
3. John, Robert's eldest son, married Susannah, daughter of Capt. Simon Pearson. He deeded to his son Charles two tracts of land devised to his wife Susannah by her father Simon Pearson, a moiety of a tract lying not far from the falls warehouse taken up by his father Robert (800 acres adjacent to Rev. Scott) and all the land that "I hold between Mr. Baldwin Dade (Senior) and tract of John Alexander's that adjoins town of Alexandria." In return Charles was to relinquish right to money from sale of lots in Alexandria. (Fx. Deeds E:312, 6 June 1763) ^[11] The city of Alexandria was named for John Alexander’s grandsons Robert and Philip who owned the 60 acres of land on which the town was founded in 1749. Alexandria was established by members of the Ohio Company, including Lawrence Washington, George William Fairfax, William Fairfax, John Carlyle, Hugh West, Augustine Washington, Nathaniel Chapman, and others, who petitioned the colonial government to establish a town on the Potomac that would facilitate western development and serve as a mercantile center for northern Virginia. Apparently, the Alexanders were not enthusiastic about having their land become a town, preferring the income from their tenant farmers. To “sweeten the transaction,” the Alexanders were told that the new town would be named Alexandria.
   1. Gerrard Alexander, son of Robert, received the land north of Four Mile Run, except for the part belonging to Pearson Chapman, and was co-owner with his brother John of the famous contested strip which was the cause of many court suits. Gerrard Alexander in his will

9 August 1760 (Fx. Will Book B:127) devised to his son Robert: "the house wherein I now live and 904 acres adjacent" Philip: "904 acres formerly leased to Robert Osborn with the island therein included known by the name of Homes Island." Gerard: "900 acres of the upper part of the tract whereon I now live." ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Will of John Alexander, Gentleman, Court of Stafford County. cited by Wesley E. Pippenger. John Alexander, A Northern Neck Proprietor Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1990, p. 28
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Hardy.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130424801/robert-alexander: accessed 25 June 2023), memorial page for Robert Alexander (1633–1 Jun 1704), Find A Grave: Memorial #130424801, citing Alexander Cemetery, King George, King George County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by MarthaHopscotch (contributor 47955559).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Mike Marshall. Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties. Profile for John Alexander Accessed 24 May 2021 jhd
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Cavanagh, page 224
6. ↑ Cavanagh, page 225
7. ↑ Rootsweb Ballard site
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Clemens, page 5
9. ↑ Page: p. 97 quoting: Mercer Land Title Book, 1728-1765, p. 154a
10. ↑ Wikipedia. [1]
11. ↑ ^{11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11} Wesley E. Pippenger. John Alexander, A Northern Neck Proprietor, His Family, Friends and Kin 1990, Gateway Press, Baltimore County, Maryland. Cited by Mike Marshall.
12. ↑ WB Z, pp. 292-294
13. ↑ WB Z, pp. 232-234
14. ↑ Wikipedia. Alexander Family

Bibliography of Frequently Cited Sources

• Cavanagh, Harrison Dwight. 'Colonial Chespeake Families: British Origins and Descendants. Volume 2 Volume 2, page 225 Accessed 14 May 2021 jhd.

• Hardy, Stella Pickett. Colonial Families Of The Southern States of America: A History and Genealogy of Colonial Families Who Settled in the Colonies prior to the Revolution. Baltimore, MD: Southern Book Co., 1958. The Slaughters of Culpeper, p. 472. Cited by Becky Bass Bonnere and Josephine Lindsay Bass, My Southern Family. Major Andrew Monroe I "the Immigrant." Last updated 29-May-2005. Accessed October 30, 2018 jhd

Other Resources

1791 Virginia Court Reports

From District Court of Dumbfires. Birch v. Alexander

JOHN ALEXANDER, deceased.

Devised lands to sons, Philip and Robert Alexander, to John Dry, and to Elizabeth Hoomes.

Son: Robert Alexander, Will 22 December 1703, died 1704; issue sons:

a) Charles Alexander, died without issue, intestate;

b) Robert Alexander, Jr, died 1735; issue: Gerald; Sarah; Parthenia; and John the eldest, Will 16 October 1763, died 1764; issue six sons: among whom, Charles is the eldest.

Lands in Northern Neck, Virginia.

James Robertson, died 1768, had issue, a daughter Jenet, who married Birch. They do not appear as related to above.

Virginia Wills

• Source: S34 Title: John Alexander, A Northern Neck Proprietor Abbreviation: Pippenger, John Alexander Author: Pippenger, Wesley E. Publication: Gateway Press, Baltimore, MD, 1990 Note: RIN#1488