James Alexander Sr (1652 - bef. 1740)

Born 1652 in County Donegal, Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1740 before age 88 in Cecil County, Province of Maryland

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Biography

James Alexander Sr was born in Ireland.

James Alexander Sr migrated from Ireland to Colonial America.

James Alexander Sr was a Maryland colonist.

Disambiguation

This is the Profile for James Alexander "the weaver", born 1652. He is the uncle of James Alexander "the carpenter", born 1685. Mary Steele was the wife of James Alexander "the carpenter", not this James.^[1] The name of his wife does not appear in the records, nor any reference to her birth or death.

Parentage

One account of his family history said that James "the Weaver's" grandfather, named John Alexander, was already living at a settlement in VA as early as 1659. John Alexander had already scouted for a good settlement site and negotiated for land, before the "Seven Brothers and Two Sisters" family arrived in America.

A traditional story went as follows: "The "Infamous Nine" came over with their father, William. William's father, John... , migrated to Virginia with some of his children in 1659. They apparently decided that Maryland was a better place and migrated there from Virginia about the same time that William and the nine arrived in 1670. Thus, a father was reunited with a son, siblings were reunited, and some of the younger nieces and nephews met their aunts and uncles for the first time." ^[2][3] The "seven brothers" have been identified as:

• 1. William Alexander (ca 1646 - ca 1707) m. Ann Liston
• 2. Andrew Alexander (ca 1648 - ca 1692/1700) m. Jane McKnitt
• 3. James Alexander 'weaver' (ca 1652 - 1735) m. Mary
• 4. John Alexander (ca 1652 - ca 1718) m. Mary Barbary
• 5. Francis Alexander (ca 1654 - bef 1701) m. Rebecca Unknown
• 6. Samuel Alexander (ca 1657 - 1733) m. Mary Taylor
• 7. Joseph Alexander 'tanner' (ca 1660 - 1730) m. Abigail McKnitt

"Two sisters" have been identified as:

• 1. Elizabeth Alexander (ca 1650 - ca 1692) m. Matthew Wallace
• 2. Jane Alexander (ca 1665 - 1693) m. John McKnitt Sr.

Over the years, many researchers have attempted to identify the father of the Seven Brothers, Two Sisters, but none of the commonly mentioned candidates have been shown to be connected through primary source documentation. Before the American Revolution, descendants of the Seven Brothers, Two Sisters migrated to different parts of Maryland and into nearby Pennsylvania. Large branches also migrated to North Carolina in the same time period.

Birth

James Alexander was probably from Ulster, North of Ireland. The date of his birth is not known. He went by the nickname of James "the Weaver" or James "the Farmer". It is reasonable to assume that he was the same James who "transported" to Somerset County on the eastern shore of Maryland in 1670 (Index of Early Settlers, Vol. I, Land Office, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland). This James Alexander, of Cecil County, was probably a brother or near relative of William Alexander, Sr., Andrew and Samuel, of Somerset County, as well as a brother of Joseph Alexander of Cecil County, who was a tanner.

Assuming that James Alexander was the one who "transported" in 1670 to Somerset County, he was doubtless one of the Alexander group who removed to the "Head of ye Bay" and for whom George Talbot, Surveyor General, surveyed the New Munster lands in 1683. The fact that he had a son, Moses, old enough in 1714 to received title to land, proves that he was of middle age and could have been in Cecil County for many years.

James Alexander and his son, Moses, both were weavers and farmers. The name of his wife does not appear in the records, nor any reference to her birth or death.

In 1718, Thomas Stevenson confirmed each of the purchasers of his land in a separate deed. James Alexander and his son, Moses, had land located in the New Munster division known as Milford Hundred.

There are no further records of James Alexander until 1735 when we find him selling this land.^[4]

This indenture the 8th day of April 1735, between James Alexander with Moses his son, and Mary, wife to ye said Moses, of the one part?and William Sample, of Chester County, Pennsylvania of the other part?.

The said James Alexander, Moses Alexander, and wife Mary, do sell unto the said William Sample, a parcel of land being a part of the 92 acres purchased from Thomas Stevenson, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania?1718.

Wit: Signed: James Alexander David Alexander Moses Alexander John McCallmont Mary Alexander

Then came Captain James Alexander, Moses Alexander, and Mary, wife of the said Moses?.

James Alexander, Gentleman, of Milford Hundred, releases to his son, Moses Alexander, the remainder of the tract of land jointly purchased by them from Thomas Stevenson.^[5]

Children

It is said that he married twice, neither of his wive's names were known.

1. David Alexander (1680-1742), children unknown, if any.
2. James Alexander, Jr. (1690-1755)
3. Moses Alexander (1693-1762)
4. Sophia Alexander, married John Gardiner
5. Mark Alexander, born 1700. Mark married his paternal first cousin once removed, Mary Wallace, daughter of Matthew Wallace and Sarah Alexander, and granddaughter of Samuel Alexander and Mary Taylor.

Death

James Alexander disappears from the record about 1740, and it is supposed he died about that time, but no will or administration has ever been found for him.

Possible Arrival

On November 1, 1678, John Quigley, a merchant captain, not the captain of The ship, appeared before The Secretary of Maryland and applied for land warrants for transporting 180 settlers into The province on The ship St. George of London. Following is The list of settlers. The original spelling is duplicated, along with The original order of names.

William Simple James Alexander

Captain John Quigley hath appeared before me and made oath upon The Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that The several persons within named amounting to The number of one hundred and eighty were by him imported into this province in The Ship St. George of London, and that neither himself nor any person for him by his consent privity or knowledge hath made use of their o r any of their rights for taking up of land according to The condition of plantations. Give n under my hand The first day of November anno 1678.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ A Calendar of Delaware wills, New Castle County, 1682-1800. pg 21. [1]
2. ↑ Historical Society of Cecil County. Note: No printed version of this story has been found.
3. ↑ Electric Scotland. [2]
4. ↑ Deeds, Cecil County, Maryland, Book 5, p. 97, April 8, 1735
5. ↑ Deeds, Cecil Co., MD, Book 5, p. 235 1736
6. ↑ Skordas, G., Trader, A., Brewer, J. M., Maryland. Hall of Records Commission. (1968). The early settlers of Maryland: an index to names of immigrants compiled from records of land patents, 1633-1680, in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co..

See Also:

• Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families from the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine. Volume II: Hinman-Sotcher. Genealogical Publishing. 1982. pg 214 $ Use with caution. James Alexander the Weaver and James Alexander, the Carpenter, his nephew, are represented as the same person.

• Records of a family of the house of Alexander from 1640 to 1909 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89062959358&view=1up&seq=1