Mary Polly (Peden) Alexander (abt. 1732 - abt. 1813)

Born about 1732 in Broughshane, Antrim, Ireland

Ancestors

Wife of James Alexander — married [date unknown] in Ireland

Descendants

Died about 1813 at about age 81 in Fountain Inn, Greenville County, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Becky Valentine [send private message]

Biography

Mary was born in 1732. She was the daughter of John Peden and Margaret McDill; granddaughter of James Peden, Mary Mills, John McDill [1675-1761], and Janet Leslie.

"Mary, or as she was best known in her home and among her friends, "Pretty Polly," was the eldest daughter, as well as eldest child of John and Peggy Peden. Her birth place was near Broughshane, in Antrim County, Ireland. The best accepted date being 1730-1732. She is spoken of traditionally as being very lovely, both in character and person. She possessed the beautiful dark eyes inherited from the martyr Mill, or Mills; eyes that smile or glow as the soul within is stirred by varying emotions. She was a devout Christian, a model house-wife and true mother, yet withal full of the intrepid, pioneer spirit, utterly devoid of fear. Though the latter part of her life, covering many years, was spent in a cripple's chair, and though a great sufferer, she was uncomplaining, patient, and directed with great precision the domestic machinery of her large househould. From its depths she was lovingly, tenderly, mournfully born "over the hill" by her stalwart sons to her last rest, in true Scottish fashion.

Mary was married in Ireland to James Alexander, and was the mother of several children before the emigration took place."

Mary passed away in 1813. ^[1]

• Fact: Also Known As Molly
• Fact: Burial Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Fountain Inn, Greenville, South Carolina, United States
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Daughter of John Peden and Margaret "Peggy" (McDill) Peden .

Granddaughter of James Peden, Mary Mills, John McDill [1675-1761], and Janet Leslie.

Mother of Major John Alexander [1751-9 May 1830]; Joseph Alexander; James Alexander Jr. [abt 1760-1839]; Thomas Alexander; William Alexander; Alexander Alexander; Samuel Alexander; Katherine Alexander; Margaret Alexander; Nancy Alexander; Mary Alexander; Elizabeth Alexander; and Jane Alexander.

Sources of information: 1.) Eleanor M. Hewell, _The Pedens of America; Being a Summary of the Peden, Alexander, Morton, Morrow Reunion of 1899, and an Outline History of the Ancestry and Descendants of John Peden and Margaret McDill; Scotland, Ireland, America, 1768-1900_. 2.) Robert McDill Woods and Iva Godfrey Woods, _McDills in America: A History of the Descendants of John McDill and Janet Leslie of County Antrim, Ireland. Also a Partial Record of Other Branches of the McDill, MacDill, Medill and Madill Families_ (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edward Brothers, Inc., 1940).

Mary was married one time.

I'm not sure why there are so many new entries and so few sources, but I found the book about her family, and it was very helpful. Please figure out how to properly use "the book" as a source.

I found the book and another. There are thirteen children born to Mary "Polly" and James Robert Alexander. Only five have Memorials at Find A Grave, so if we can be sure of when everyone was born, that will help.

Looks like (and please correct me, any mistakes here are more than likely my typo or dyslexia) the thirteen are (first the ones at Find A Grave)

1. John 1756- 1830 2. James 1761-1839 3. Margaret 1765- 1837 4. William 1777-1857 5. Mary 1779-1840

Then we have 8 more, all birth dates listed in the books, but not their deaths, so hopefully we can find all of that. (This is a bit nervous-making, I'm NOT interested in "taking over". Genealogy works best with generosity and not needing credit. I just care and have a lot of time on my hands, and this is a great place to invest that time)

Joseph, Thomas, Alexander, Samuel, Katherine, Nancy, Elizabeth and Jane.

I can't find any others, nor any evidence that Mary "Polly" Peden Alexander married more than once. She had four husbands earlier this week.

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial #126440869

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 26 June 2023, 11:43), entry for Mary "Polly" Peden (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:N48C-TM8 ); contributed by various users.

The Pedens of America; being a summary of the Peden, Alexander, Morton, Morrow reunion 1899, and an outline history of the ancestry and descendants of John Peden and Margaret McDill; Scotland, Ireland, America, 1768-1900 by Hewell, Eleanor M., 1853-1929 Published 1900

Robert McDill Woods and Iva Godfrey Woods, _McDills in America: A History of the Descendants of John McDill and Janet Leslie of County Antrim, Ireland. Also a Partial Record of Other Branches of the McDill, MacDill, Medill and Madill Families_ (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edward Brothers, Inc., 1940).

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