Alexander Alford (1752 - abt. 1836)

Born 25 Jun 1752 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Lease) Alford — married about 29 Aug 1782 (to about 13 Aug 1836) in Williamstown, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

Died about 13 Aug 1836 at about age 84 in Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Alexander Alford is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A001283.

Alexander Alford served with Colonel Seth Warner's Extra-Continental Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Alexander Alford was born on 25 June 1752, at Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, ^[1] and died on 13 August 1836, at Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States. ^[2] He was the son of Col Benedict Alford (1716-abt 1790) and Jerusha Ashley (abt 1723-1761). ^[3] Benedict and Jerusha had eight children, but Benedict had another six with his second wife Rebecca Owen (1736-1831), so there were at least 14 sibilings in the family. ^[3]

Benedict & Jerusha (8 Children)

1. Deidamia Alford (1744- )
2. Abigail Alford (1746-1747)
3. Abigail Alford (1747-abt 1821)
4. Jerusha Alford (abt 1750- )
5. Alexander Alford (1752-abt 1836)
6. Lucrece Alford (1755- )
7. Benedict Alford (1757-1838)
8. Anna Alford (1759- )

Benedict & Rebecca (6 Children)

1. John Alford (abt 1761- )
2. Rebecca Alford (1762-1840 )
3. George Alford (abt 1764-abt 1851)
4. Rosetta Alford (1765- )
5. Rev Oliver Alford (abt 1767-abt 1845)
6. Chloe Alford (abt 1771- )

There are two other children linked in WikiTree to Benedict and Rebecca Owen who do not appear in the "Alford History". Ashley Owen Alford (1770-1847) and Susan Alford (1774-1866). For further comments, see the "Biography" section under Jerusha Ashley.

Alexander participated in the Revolutionary War. Three sources give basically the same information. ^{[3] [2] [4]} He enlisted in 1775 as a private under Captain Gideon Brownson ^[5] in Col Warner's Regiment of Green Mountain Boys (Vermont) ^[6] and was in the expedition to Quebec ^[7] until the Army retreated. He re-enlisted in 1777 for three years under Capt Titus Watson and Col Herman Swift. On 06 Oct 1777, he participated in the storming of Fort Montgomery ^[8] on the North or Hudson River, on board the Row Galley called the Lady Washington, commanded by Capt Lewis. ^[9] Note that he is referred to as "Capt" in the Alford History, however, no evidence was found that he went beyond "Private" .

Notes about Alexander's War Service in the Revolutionary War

Images pertaining to Alexander in the Revolutionary War have been located in Fold3.com and Ancestry.com and are visible with subscriptions to the sites. The information located, or not located, as the case may be:

• New Hampshire Grants (Republic of Vermont)
  • Information was not located for the period 1775-1777 described above. If the Alford History and Find a Grave excerpts are correct, Alexander enlisted in the Green Mountain Boys Militia in 1775, serving under Capt Gideon Brownson who was serving under Lieut Col Seth Warner and he participated in the failed expedition to Quebec.

• Connecticut, United States
  • In Connecticut Military Lists, Alexander appears under Chapter VI "Miscellaneous Rolls" in the section "Minute Men and Volunteers" and also under Chapter II "Connecticut Continental Troops" in the section "Regiments, Connecticut Line". No dates are given for the entries which fall in the ample period "Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War".
  • Oct. 25, 1777 Muster Roll for Capt Titus Watson's Company in Col Thomas Swift's Battalion
  • If the information from the Alford Association excerpt is correct, Alexander participated in the storming of Ft. Montgomery Oct. 6, 1777, on the Hudson River, on board the Row Galley called the Lady Washington, commanded by Capt. Lewis. Documents were not located supporting this.
  • 1777-1779 Card Numbers for the 7th Connecticut Regiment (48 entries); no date is actually given, the document is for the 1775-1785 period
  • Feb. 1779 Muster Roll for Col Thomas Swift's Battalion

• Republic of Vermont
  • 1781 Capt Abraham Salsbury Vermont Militia Pay Roll and Militia Card (1 entry)
  • Aug. 30, 1781 Nelson's Company, 6th Regiment Vermont Militia, Muster Roll and Card (1 entry)

• Vermont, United States
  • 1836 Final Payment Voucher for the 3rd Q of 1836, death date August 13, 1836. The payment was made through Burlington, Vermont.
  • 1843 Pension for the widow of Alexander (for his services in Continental Line), for an annual amount of $80.

The Alford History suggests that Alexander was married twice, the first time by 1773. Nevertheless, documents were not located for this union. ^[3] He married Elizabeth Lease (abt 1756-abt 1848) on 29 Aug 1782, at Williamstown, Berkshire, Commonweath of Massachusetts, United States. The marriage ended because of his death around 13 Aug 1836. She died 12 years later around 1848. Both spouses are buried at Colchester Village Cemetery Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States. ^{[2] [10]} His Find a Grave entry states that Alexander and Elizabeth had eight children (without naming them), and the Alford History names ten. ^[3] Documentation was located for eight children, seven of whom are on the list, one who is not. Data was not found for the last three, George (1791) Jane (1804) and Daniel (1808).

1. Alexander Alford (1784- ) Alexander does not appear in the Alford History but a birth certificate was located for him, with his parents' names, "Alexander Alford and Elizabeth". He was born on 22 Sep 1784 at Harwinton Township, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States. ^[11]
2. Elizabeth Alford (1785- ) Elizabeth may be the "Eliza Alford (Farrand, 1811- )" who appears in the Alford History. ^[3] A birth certificate was located for her, with her parents' names, "Alexander Alford and Elizabeth". She was born on 15 Dec 1785 at Harwinton Township, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States. ^[12] No information was located for an Elizabeth Ferrand.
3. Samuel Alford (1787- 1879) The Alford History gives considerable information about Samuel, stating that he was born probably in Charlotte, Republic of Vermont, on 13 Sep 1787. He was a Farmer and entered land at Woodstock, Windsor, Vermont, United States, about the year 1815. He enlisted at Sheron, Windsor, Vermont in the State Militia from 12 July to 08 Dec 1812. He applied for a pension on 09 Mar 1870, while living at Westerfield, Vermont (probably Weathersfield, Windsor, Vermont). He married Clarissa Watkins on 31 July 1814. They had five children who are mentioned, along with their considerable offspring in the Alford History. ^[3] A death certificate was located for him. Using the years, months and days stated for his age, he was born on 13 Sept 1787, at Colchester, Chittenden, Republic of Vermont, and died on 21 Jan 1879 of old age at Cavendish, Windsor, Vermont, United States. This same information is reflected in the DAR application submitted by his great grandson Arthur Sherwin Alford. ^{[13] [14]}
4. Bartholomew Woodcock Alford (abt 1789- ) According to the Alford History Bartholomew was born in 1789, probably at Charlotte, Republic of Vermont. He married and may have settled at St. John's (probably St Johnsbury, Caledonia,Vermont). He had five children who are mentioned in the History. ^[3] He was located in the 1830 Census at Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, United States. He appears in a household of five, two males, 1 x 15-20, 1x 30-40 and three females, 1 x < 5, 1 x 5-10 and 1 x 20-30. A birth date of 1789, is more or less consistent with the category given here. ^[15]
5. Mary Alford (Barnes, abt 1790-1867) According to the Alford History, Mary was born in 1785 in Vermont and married a man named Barns. ^[3] In reality she was born around 02 Dec 1790 at Vergennes, Addison, Republic of Vermont ^[16] and died on 26 Oct 1867 at Colchester Chittenden, Vermont, United States, of paralysis. ^[17] She is buried with her mother at Colchester Village Cemetery at Colchester. She married Joshua Barnes (1784-1863) on 31 Mar 1812 in Duxbury, Jefferson (later, Washington) Vermont, United States. ^[16]
6. Hiram Alford (abt 1793- ) According to the Alford History, Hiram was born around 1793 in Charlotte, Vermont, United States. ^[3] The only document found that could be for him was the 1830 Census in Colchester. A birth date of 1793 would make him 37 in 1830. The image shows Hiram in a household of seven, five males, 1 x 5-10 yrs, 3 x 20-30 yrs, 1 x 70-80 yrs. and two females, 1 x 20-30, 1 x 60-70. If the census information is correct, he was born between 1800-1810, so it is not clear that he is one of Alexander and Elizabeth's sons. The elderly people in the household, could be them, Alexander would have been 78 and Elizabeth 74, but her category, 60-70 yrs, is inconsistent. Unfortunately, since the early censuses in the 1790-1840 period did not name family members apart from the Head of the household, it's a matter of guesswork at best, and the age columns that were used were poor substitute for simply writing down actual ages. The Alford History date has been maintained arbitrarily, and the Census dates ignored. The fact that there are three Alfords in the same Colchester census (James, Amasa and Hiram) whose names also appear in the Alford History, strongly suggests they are family, and lends credibility to the possibility of their being brothers, which would place Hiram's birth in the 1800-1810 period. ^[18]
7. Amasa Alford (abt 1794-aft Jul 1860) According to the Alford History, Amasa was born either in 1773 (in a previous marriage for Alexander) in Williamstown, Berkshire, Province of Massachusetts Bay, or in 1783. He was in the War 1812, married, had a family, and settled in Michigan, dying there of old age. ^[3] None of these statements were confirmed outside the fact that he married. An Amasa Alford appears in the 1830 census on 01 Jun 1830 at Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States. on Page 7, next to a James Alford, in a household of two, 1 male x 20-30 yrs and 1 female x 20-30 yrs which places his birth date at 1800-1810 and not as 1773 or 1783, as per the Alford History. This is a difference of 17 or 27 years, depending on the date and it is not at all clear that this Amasa is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth. However, the same considerations about early censuses mentioned above regarding Hiram apply here. The fact that there are three Alfords in the same Colchester census (James, Amasa and Hiram) whose names also appear in the Alford History, strongly suggests they are family, and lends credibility to the possibility of their being brothers. So the census is being taken into consideration. ^[19] A marriage certificate was located as well for an Amasa Alford who married Augusta Chase on 04 Feb 1830 at Shelburne, Vermont, United States. The document could be for the same couple represented in the 1830 census that took place 5 months later in Colchester (household of two, 1 male x 20-30 yrs and 1 female x 20-30 yrs). ^[20] The couple, Amasa Alford and Augusta, was located 30 years later in the 1860 Census in Ohio. He appears as "A Alford", 66 yrs (i.e., born around 1793-1794), born in Vermont, Farmer, Real Estate Value $200, Personal Estate Value $100, with his wife "Augusta Alford", 46 yrs (i.e., born around 1813-1814) , born in Vermont, and one daughter "Almira Alford", 26 yrs, born in Vermont, Servant. ^[21] Among the three documents, the only really discordant note is the 1830 census. A birth date of 1794 means that Amasa would have been 36 yrs old, i.e., the 20-30 yrs category the sole male of the household appears in is not in sync. Beyond that, the data that appears in 1860 seems to hold up: birth date: abt 1794, birth place: Vermont, wife: Augusta, born abt 1814, also in Vermont. Since he does not appear after the 1860 census, his death date has been estimated @ after 10 Jul 1860. She was re-married, to Samuel Powers, on 15 Feb 1870 in Ohio 1870. ^[22] The last census located for her was in 1870, i.e., her death date has been estimated @ after 10 Jun 1870. ^[23]
8. James Alford (abt 1799-1877) According to the Alford History, James was born in 1784 in Vermont. ^[3] However, this cannot be, because two siblings with birth certificates, Alexander (1784) and Elizabeth (1785), were born around that time. Two documents were located for James. The most promising is a death certificate for a James Alford who died on 18 Mar 1877 at Hocking Township, Fairfield, Ohio, United States. This James was a ship's carpenter born in New York around 1799. The birth place would appear to be incorrect (probably Vermont), but the parents, are listed as Alexander and Eliza Alfred, which is highly promising. ^[24] The second document, is the 1830 Census in Vermont, the same census both Hiram and Amasa appear in. A James Alford is in a household of five, two males, 1 x <5 yr and 1 x 30-40 yrs. The category is in sync with the death certificate information (birth date 1799, 30-31 yrs old in 1830). ^[25]

Siblings who were not located

1. George Alford (abt 1791- )
2. Jane Alford (lngraham, abt 1804- )
3. Daniel Alford (abt 1808 - )

Sources

1. ↑ _ BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Capt Alexander Alford (father) on 25 Jun 1752
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #136293722 Alexander Alford (father) on 13 Aug 1836
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11} _ The Alford History Section 3B
4. ↑ _ Alford Association, Family Group Sheet: Alexander Alford
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #16717245 Gen Gideon Brownson on 09 Oct 1796
6. ↑ _ Green Mountain Boys
7. ↑ _ Green Mountain Boys & the Expedition to Quebec
8. ↑ _ Ft. Montgomery
9. ↑ _ USS Lady Washington
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #25207292 Elizabeth Lease (mother) in 1848
11. ↑ _ BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Alexander Alford (son) on 22 Sep 1784
12. ↑ _ BIRTH CERTIFICATE: Elizabeth Alford (daughter) on 15 Dec 1785
13. ↑ _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: Samuel Alford on 21 Jan 1879
14. ↑ _ DAR APPLICATION: in reference to Samuel Alford (1787-1879)
15. ↑ _ 1830 Census at Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, United States)
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #25207287 Mary Alford on 26 Oct 1867]</
17. ↑ _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: Mary Alford on 26 Oct 1867
18. ↑ _ 1830 Census at Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States (Hiram Alford)
19. ↑ _ 1830 Census at Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States (Amasa Alford)
20. ↑ _ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: Amasa Alford and Augusta Chase on 04 Feb 1830
21. ↑ _ 1860 Census at Harrisville Township, Medina, Ohio, United States
22. ↑ _ MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: Augusta W Chance and Samuel Powers on 15 Feb 1870
23. ↑ _ 1870 Census at Russia Township, Lorain, Ohio, United States
24. ↑ _ DEATH CERTIFICATE: James Alford on 18 Mar 1877
25. ↑ _ 1830 Census at Colchester, Chittenden, Vermont, United States (James Alford)

Find a Grave Entries in this Biography

1. Alexander Alford (father): Find A Grave: Memorial #136293722
2. Gen Gideon Brownson: Find A Grave: Memorial #16717245
3. Elizabeth Lease (mother) Find A Grave: Memorial #25207292
4. Mary Alford : Find A Grave: Memorial #25207287

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 11 Sep 2023), "Record of Alexander Alford", Ancestor # A001283.