Person:James Alexander (51)

Disambiguation

Not to be confused with James Alexander (1685-1717), referred to as "The Carpenter", who is the nephew of this James "The Weaver" Alexander. They both had wives named Mary Steele, which has confused several researchers.

Arrival in America from Waterford, Ireland

• Maryland State Archives. Land Office, Patent Records, Liber 15, Folio 553. Annapolis, Maryland: 1678.

Passengers on the merchant ship "St. George", sailing out of Waterford, Ireland to Maryland on October 7, 1677, transported 1678. On this list was included the name of William Simple [sic] or Sample [rect]. This family would be found with the Alexander family for years to come, often intermarrying.

7 Oct 1677 - Portsmouth - Ralegh Hull to Robert Yard. This morning sailed from Spithead the "St. George" of London for Waterford and thence for Maryland, wind N. E."

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 [sic] Sample [rect]; Not listed among the indentured passengers; therefore it is believed that he came through independent means.

James Alexander; Not listed among the indentured passengers; therefore it is believed that he came through independent means.

• Passenger List at RootsWeb

Records in Maryland

• Thomas Stevenson of Bucks Co., PA gent. For 20 pds. to James Alexander of Cecil Co., weaver, and Moses Alexander his son 92 3/4 acres of land by Christiana Creek in the easternmost part of a line of the New Munster tract...
• Cecil Co. Deed Bk 5 p.97

8 Apr 1735 Deed from James Alexander of Cecil Co. MD, weaver with Moses Alexander his son, with Mary his wife of the one part to William Sample of Chester Co. Pensylvania, weaver of the other part - fro the sum of 23 pounds a tract of land being part of 92 acres & three Quarters purchased from Thomas Stevenson of Bucks County Pennsylvania part of 903 acres purchased from Robert Roberts of Queen Anns County Recourse being had to a Deed bearing date 15 Aug 1718 ... beginning at a marked Spanish Oak in the East Side of Christiana Runn and in the Easternmost line of New Munster Tract and is the Corner tree of James Alexander's land and running from the s'd spanish oak west 56 perches to a marked spanish oak thence South 116 perches to a marked poplar thence East 56 perches to a corner maple tree standing at the mouth of a Runn entring into Christiana Creek thence north one 116 perches to the beginning containing 40 acres. signed: James Alexander, Moses Alexander, Mary Alexander. Wits: David Alexander and John McCallmont. Recorded 29 Apr 1735

1.   Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source)
   Ancestry Family Trees.

   http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=7389603&pid=-1091123571

2.   A Journey to Christmasville By the Holts and Berryhills Don Graves Holt, ED.D. Chapter VI 1652 - 1861.

   James and Mary Steele Alexander
   
   The approximate date of birth for James Alexander, weaver is 1652. Most believe this James was among those included on the passenger's list for the ship The St. George, sailing out of Waterford, Ireland to Maryland on October 7, 1677, transported 1678. On this list was included the name of William Simple [sic] or Sample: this family would be found with the Alexander family for years to come, often intermarrying. James was not listed among the indentured passengers; therefore it is believed that he came through independent means.
   
   While records are not conclusive, most researchers believe James married Mary Steele, daughter of John Steele found of record when he signed a loyalty oath to William and Mary of England in Somerset County, Maryland, 28 November 1689. Many of the signers' descendants would be found in North Carolina years later. It is believed that Mary Steele died in Somerset County prior to the family's move to Cecil County.
   James the weaver's stay in Somerset County produced no records for us to determine the length of stay. However, in May of 1714, we find a land transaction involving James in the New Munster area of Maryland, present day Cecil County. The county is located in the extreme northeast region of Maryland near the borders of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Just across the Delaware River is New Castle, an historic city that served as the point of entry for many immigrants in the colonial period.
   
   James the weaver disappeared from record about 1740, no will found; therefore, we assume he died in Cecil County, Maryland about that time. It appears that James and Mary had at least four children, perhaps more: James Jr., David, Mary, and Moses. James Jr was found on the ground rent roll for New Munster in 1739. Nothing of certainty has been found on the other children, except Moses.
   
   http://tn-roots.com/tncarroll/Christmasville/chapter6.htm

3.   Rev. Alexander G. Lecky, B.A. In The Days of the Laggan Presbytery. (Northern Ireland: Belfast: Davidson & M'Cormack, North Gate Works, 1908).