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William Alexander
"American Patriot"
Born:
1749 in Pennsylvania
Died: June 15, 1838 in Hamilton County, Tennessee
William Alexander fought in the Revolutionary War and also went on expeditions against the Cherokee Indians. He spent his
last days at the home of his son, David Alexander, at Dallas in Hamilton County, Tennessee.
William Alexander
was born in 1749 in Pennsylvania. He was residing in Augusta County, Virginia in September of 1774, when he was drafted as
a militia man under Captain James Ewing and Lieutenant George Gibson. They "marched to the Warm Springs, then to Warwick's
Fort on Greenbrier River and then to George Westfall's Fort on a branch of the Monongahala River in Tygart's Valley, where
they remained to guard the fort."
George Westfall's Fort in Tygart's Valley (Randolph County, West Virginia)
(built in 1774)
At the end of July 1776, William Alexander volunteered for an expedition against the
Cherokees under Captain John Lyle, Lieutenant William McCutcheon and Ensign Joseph Long. (NOTE: This expedition was known
as Colonel William Christian's campaign against the Cherokee Indians. The campaign was to prevent the Cherokees from cooperating
with the British forces.) They marched "by way of Anderson's Ferry on James River, English's Ferry on New River and Fort Chissel
to Major Anthony Bledsoe's on the waters of the Holston River." He was among the troops building a fort (Fort Patrick Henry)
on Long Island under Colonel William Russell, then under Colonel William Christian. Fort Patrick Henry was located near present
day Kingsport in Sullivan County, Tennessee.
In 1778, William Alexander married Anne Laird, daughter of David Laird,
and moved to Washington County, Virginia.
In August of 1780, William Alexander was drafted under Ensign William Davidson
"who was engaged with a detachment in hunting the celebrated Tory, Isaac Lebo, who had done considerable damage to the inhabitants."
The troops took Lebo's stock of horses and cattle and sold them "for the benefit of the United States."
In September
of 1780, William Alexander joined the regiment commanded by Colonel William Campbell. William Alexander was a soldier in Captain
David Beattie's Company. Their purpose was to meet and defeat the British under Colonel Patrick Ferguson. Colonel Campbell's
southwest Virginia forces, along with the forces from Sullivan and Washington counties of North Carolina (now Tennessee),
met at Sycamore Shoals on September 25, 1780, to begin their march (east) across the mountains to the Carolinas. The forces
from Sullivan and Washington counties were commanded by Colonel's Isaac Shelby and John Sevier. In his pension application,
William Alexander said his regiment "marched by way of Holston and Watauga rivers, Yellow Mountain, Green River, Broad River
and at Cherokee Ford (four days march from King's Mountain.) The mounted troops were ordered ahead and the foot troops to
follow. After marching a day or two, they met the mounted troops returning, the battle of King's Mountain having been fought."
As a foot soldier, William Alexander assisted in escorting prisoners to the Island Ford on the Catawba River. Afterwards,
he returned home to his family in Washington County, Virginia. (The Battle of King's Mountain, South Carolina was a great
victory for the Americans over the British in the Revolutionary War. The battle occurred on October 7, 1780.)
In December
of 1780, William Alexander went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians. He marched under Colonel's Arthur Campbell
and John Sevier to the Holston River, the French Broad River and on to the Hiwassee River. The troops were fired at by the
Indians in crossing rivers and from the mountains, but had no battles. They took several prisoners and destroyed eighteen
Indian towns, including the towns of Chota, Tellico, Little Tuskegee, Hiwassee and Chestuee.
On January 3, 1795, William
Alexander and his wife, Anne, sold their land in Washington County, Virginia, having already moved to the great State of Tennessee.
They moved to Greene County, Tennessee where their daughter, Jane Alexander, married William Thompson in 1804. On April 23,
1798, William Alexander purchased 268 acres of land located at Lick Creek in Greene County, Tennessee. In 1798, William Alexander
was listed as paying taxes on 268 acres of land in Captain James Guthrie's Company in Greene County, Tennessee.
By
1807, William Alexander had moved to Knox County, Tennessee. On November 9, 1807, he purchased 300 acres of land located at
Hickory Creek in Hinds Valley in Knox County, Tennessee. The land bordered Beaver Creek Ridge and Black Oak Ridge. William
resided in Knox County until about May of 1838, when he moved to Hamilton County, Tennessee to live with his son, David Alexander.
An article in the Knoxville Register of July 25, 1838, noted that William Alexander had died at the residence of his
son, David Alexander, near Dallas, Hamilton County, Friday, June 15. Age about 89 years. William was also noted as being a
professor in the Presbyterian Church.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Rockbridge County, Virginia Marriage Records
October 13, 1778
William Alexander to Anne Laird (daughter of David Laird)
Bondsman: Ebenezer Alexander
Witness: James Gilliland
1782 Washington County, Virginia Tax List
Captain James Montgomery's Precinct:
Olipher
(Oliver) Alexander, William Alexander, Robert Ferrill, James Gilliland, Adam Hope, William Duff
1787
Washington County, Virginia Tax List
District of John Lathim:
William Alexander, David Laird, Letitia Laird,
James Gilliland, Robert Ferrill
(NOTE: Robert Ferrill was married to Mary Laird, sister of Anne Laird Alexander. James
Gilliland was married to Hannah Laird, sister of Anne Laird Alexander.)
Washington County, Virginia Land
Transactions:
August 15, 1786
William Alexander purchased (for 5 shillings) 159 acres of land from William
Duff - The land was located on the north side of the Holston River.
January 3, 1795
William Alexander
and his wife Anne (of the County of Greene in the Territory of the United States south of the river Ohio) sold (for $334.00)
159 acres of land to John Gilliland - The land had previously been purchased by William Alexander from William Duff.
November 29, 1803 - Washington County, Virginia Wills
The Will of David Laird
David Laird bequeathed
to son-in-law William Alexander - seven shillings
(NOTE: The William Alexander and David Laird families lived in the
Green Spring area of Washington County, Virginia. It is believed they were members of the Green Spring Presbyterian Church.
David Laird is probably buried in the old church cemetery.)
Greene County, Tennessee Land Transactions:
April 23, 1798 - William Alexander purchased (for $333.00) 268 acres of land from David Copeland - The land was
located at Lick Creek and the south side of Kirkendall's Branch.
October 22, 1810 - William Alexander
of Knox County, Tennessee sold (for $1,500.00) 268 acres of land to George Davis - The land was located at Lick Creek and
the south side of Kirkendall's Branch.
1798 Greene County, Tennessee Tax List
Captain James
Guthrie's Company:
William Alexander - 268 acres of land
Greene County, Tennessee Marriage Records
November 20, 1804 - Jane Alexander to William Thompson, Bondsman: William Alexander
Knox County, Tennessee Land Transactions:
November 9, 1807 - William Alexander purchased
(for $1,200.00) 300 acres of land from Jacob Prewet - The land was located at Hickory Creek, Hinds Valley, including Cave
Spring, Beaver Creek Ridge, Black Oak Ridge - Witnesses: John Thorlton, Joseph Alexander, The 300 acres of land was known
as Land Patent #320. The land was first owned by John Adair.
April 1, 1816 - William Alexander sold
200 acres of land to his sons, William Alexander Jr. and David Alexander - The land was located at Hickory Creek, Hinds Valley
- Witnesses: John Thorlton, Joseph Alexander - (This land was part of Land Patent #320)
Knox County,
Tennessee Marriage Records
March 24, 1807 - Nancy Alexander to John Thorlton, Bondsman:
William Thompson
May 26, 1809 - Joseph Alexander to Polly Thorlton, Bondsman: John Thorlton
October 13, 1817 - William Alexander to Elizabeth McCullough, Bondsman: David C. Roane
Blount
County, Tennessee Marriage Records
November 28, 1815 - David Alexander to Elizabeth Conn
1812 Knox County, Tennessee Tax List
McClintock's Company:
William Alexander - 300 acres, Joseph Alexander
- 165 acres, John Thorlton - 113 acres, William Thompson - 110 acres, John Helums - 237 acres
1826
Knox County, Tennessee Tax List
Capt. Hardin's Company:
William Alexander - 100 acres, David Alexander - 100
acres, Joseph Alexander - 165 acres, William Alexander -100 acres, John Thorlton - 450 acres, William Thompson - 100 acres,
John Helums - 280 acres, Amos Hardin - 1240 acres
1827 Knox County, Tennessee Tax List
Capt.
Hardin's Company:
William Alexander - 150 acres, Amy Alexander - 50 acres, John Thorlton - 500 acres, William Thompson
- 100 acres, John Hellums - 280 acres, Amos Hardin - 1320 acres
1828 Knox County, Tennessee Tax List
Capt. Hardin's Company:
William Alexander - 150 acres, Ann Alexander - 50 acres, John Thorlton - 450 acres, William
Thompson - 100 acres, John Helms - 280 acres, Betsy Helms - 100 acres, Amos Hardin - 1520 acres
1830
Knox County, Tennessee Census
(Page 325)
William Alexander
1- male - age 70/80, 1- male - age 30/40, 1-
male - age 10/15, 1- male - age 5/10, 1- male - age 0/5, 2- females - age 30/40, 1 - female - age 10/15, 1- female - age 5/10,
1 - female - age 0/5
(Page 325)
John Thorlton
1 - male - age 40/50, 1 - male - age 20/30, 1 - male - age 15/20,
2 - males - age 10/15, 1 - male - age 5/10, 1 - female - age 40/50, 1 - female - age 20/30, 1 - female - age 15/20, 1 - female
- age 10/15, 1 - female - age 5/10, 1 - female - age 0/5
(Page 325)
William Thompson
1 - male - age 40/50, 1 -
male - age 10/15, 1 - male - age 5/10, 1 - female - age 40/50, 2 - females - age 20/30, 2 - females - 15/20
(Page 325)
Betsy Helms
1 - male - age 15/20, 1 - female - age 40/50
December 1, 1832
(Revolutionary
War Pension #S.1785)
William Alexander applied for a Revolutionary War pension in Knox County, Tennessee. In the
applicaton, William gave a very detailed account of his service. William's application for a pension was approved. On February
25, 1833, William started receiving an annual allowance of $31.98. William received the pension benefits until his death on
June 15, 1838.
Children of WILLIAM ALEXANDER and ANNE LAIRD
JOSEPH ALEXANDER - spouse: Mary "Polly" Thorlton
JANE ALEXANDER - spouse: William Thompson
NANCY
ALEXANDER - spouse: John Thorlton
ELIZABETH "BETSY" ALEXANDER - spouse: George Hellums "Helms"
DAVID L. ALEXANDER - spouse: Elizabeth Conn
WILLIAM ALEXANDER JUNIOR - spouse: Elizabeth McCullough
ANN
ALEXANDER
WILLIAM ALEXANDER'S OBITUARY
Knox County, Tennessee, July 25, 1838 - Knoxville Register Newspaper
July 18, 1838
ANOTHER REVOLUTIONARY
HERO GONE
DIED: At the residence of David Alexander, his son, near Dallas, Hamilton County, Tennessee, on Friday
15th June, about 9 o'clock.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER, aged about 89 years. He was born in the State of Pennsylvania, removed
from there to the State of Virginia a short time before the war began. He there volunteered in the service of the United States,
and served a faithful soldier during a great part of the war. Sometime after the Revolutionary war was over, he moved to Knox
County, Tennessee, in which he has lived until a few months ago, he removed to Hamilton County, Tennessee with his son, and
there died, after laboring under a long and painful disease.
He was a professor in the Presbyterian Church for many
years, and endeavored to live in conformity wiith the precepts of Christianity, a kind and affectionate father, a dutiful
husband, and in short was one of the noblest works of God. He left many friends and relatives to mourn his departure; but
blessed are they that die in the Lord.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER'S LAND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA
(Looking north on Good Hope Rd. toward the "river knobs"
in the background.)
MY FAMILY DATABASE
My Family Database at RootsWeb WorldConnect
(This database contains a large
amount of information on my ancestors and their families.)
*****NEW*****
(Very important DNA information
for descendants of Elizabeth Conn, wife of David
L. Alexander)
MORE LINKS
WILLIAM ALEXANDER AND ANNE LAIRD MARRIAGE RECORD #1
WILLIAM ALEXANDER AND ANNE LAIRD MARRIAGE RECORD #2
DAVID LAIRD
TENNESSEANS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
THE BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN
ROSTER OF KING'S MOUNTAIN SOLDIERS
ALEXANDER AT ROOTSWEB
ALEXANDER ROOTSWEB MESSAGE BOARD
ALEXANDER FAMILY GENEALOGY FORUM
NASHVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY
THE CHATTANOOGAN - MEMORIES
WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA GENWEB SITE
CHALKLEY'S CHRONICLES
1782 WASHINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA TAX LIST
1798 GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE TAX LIST
TENNESSEE SOCIETY SONS OF THE REVOLUTION
HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Floyd L. Owsley
6185 Oilskin Drive
Ooltewah, Tennessee 37363
(423) 910-0058
EMAIL: floydowsley@comcast.net
MY GUESTBOOK
MY ALEXANDER FAMILY RESEARCH
Several years ago, I began an extensive research of my ancestor, William Alexander.
My goal was to find and collect as much information as possible concerning William Alexander, including his ancestors and
descendants. I never dreamed I would find so much information, although I still don't know the names of his parents. I love
genealogy, collecting information, and sharing it with others. I hope my William Alexander website will be of some help to
others in their Alexander family research. Helping others with their family history brings much joy and happiness to my life.
If you have any questions concerning the contents of my website, please feel free to contact me. Thank you very much for your
support as I continue my Alexander family research.
Floyd L. Owsley
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