Person:James Alexander (141)

Greenville Mountaineer, 5 Jul 1839: Died at his residence in the lower part of this District on the 19th ult., James Alexander, Esq., aged 78 years. The deceased was among the oldest and most respected citizens of our district. He was a soldier of the Revolution, in which struggle he fought most gallantly, and for his services he received a pension....He has left a large number of relatives

Esquire, Died in the 79th year of his age. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Fairview for fifty one years.

1.   8032901, in Findagrave.

   Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8032901/james-alexander: accessed August 26, 2024), memorial page for James Alexander (8 Mar 1761–12 Jun 1839), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8032901, citing Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Fountain Inn, Greenville County, South Carolina, USA; Maintained by Robin Farley Coon (contributor 46558224).

2.   South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:South Carolina County, District and Probate Courts., in South Carolina Will Transcripts, 1782-1868; Author: United States. Works Progress Administration (South Carolina); Probate Place: Greenville, South Carolina
   Index and Will, Vol 1-2, Books A-C, 1787-1853.

   Page 219
   Will of Jammes Alexander
   
   In the name of God, Amen. I James Alexander of the state of south Carolina and district of Greenville, being of sound and disposing mind and memory and calling to mind the frailty of uncertainty of human life and being desireous of settleing my worldly affairs and directing how the estates with which it has pleased God, to bless me shall be disposed of after my decease while I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other last wills and testaments by me heretofore made, and first I commend my immortal being to him who gave it, and my body to the earth from whence it came, and as to my worldly estates, real and personal or mixed, which I shall be intitled at my decease, I give, bequeath and devise of in the maner following to wit: My will is that all my just debts ad funeral charges shall by my executors hereinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease and shall by them be found convenient.
   
   Item 1st. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary or Polly Alexander the tract of land I now live on, beginning at the lower and of my plantation at the mouth of my spring branch, running up said branch to the fork thence up the right hand fork to a Spanish oak corner near the head of said branch, thence round the head of my orchard to an apple tree corner, thence across the road to a black-jack corner on Henry Ceeley's land thence along said Ceeley's land to where it intersects with William C. Gunnels's land thence along said Gunnels's land to where it intersects with Jabes Terrry's land, thence along said Terry's land to the beginning. I also give to her one negro man named Tom one negro woman name Kate, with the plenty of kinds of stock and a plenty of all farming utensels with as much household and kitchen furniture as she may think proper to keep and all the crop on hand at the time of my decease, to have and to hold the same to her and for her during her natural life, I also give and bequeath to her one negro woman named (page 220) Fanny to have and to hold the same to her and for hers forever.
   
   Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachael one negro girl named Matilda, one horse beast worth seventy dollars with a saddle and bridle, two good beds with all they furniture she may claim with them. I also give her three cows an calf's one bureau, one chest, one table, and as much household and kitchen furniture as any of my children got when married.
   
   Item 3rd I give and bequeath to my four daughters viz: Rachael, Nancy Anderson, Harriet Baker, and Jane Caroline Ceeley, my four Negro women named Dilcy. Nicy, Morriah and Cinda, which I allow my daughters to draw for as my executors shall direct, and should the above named negro women have any issue, child or children at the time of their being drawn, then this issue to be valued and drawn for in like maner as before directed and those who ma draw this issue I allow them to pay back to the other who may draw none, according to the valuation that may be laid therefore. I also allow my son James and Alexander Thompson and his six children hereinafter named to get an equal part paid to them arising out of this issue and according to the valuation thereof. I also value these four negro women at six hundred dollars each and to be accounted to the afore maned daughters six hundred each when the rest of my estate comes to be divided.
   
   Item 4th. I give and bequeath to my son Roberts two children viz: Matild Johnson and George Alexander two hundred dollars each to be paid to them as soon as my executors can obtain from my estate conveniently.
   
   Item 5th. I give and bequeath to my son James Alexander the tract of land he now lives on and I value it to him at eight hundred dollars and to be accounted to him in the dividing of my estate hereinafter mentioned.
   
   Item 6th. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Alexander Thompson and his six children viz: Joseph and James Thompson Jane M Peden and John Mary and William Thompsons six hundred dollars to be equally divided between then seven and to be paid to them as soon as my executors can obtain it from my estate I also give and bequeath to the above named Alexander Thompson about 10 acres of land which lies near his spring and adjoins his tract valued to him at thirty five dollars and to be accounted to him in his share of the six hundred dollars (page 221) already bequeathed to him and his six children.
   
   Item 7th. The land which I have herein bequeath to my wife during her natural life and at her death I give and bequeath to my daughter Rsachael during her natural life or as long as she may remain single then at her death or marriage I allow it to be sold and equally divided between my four daughters herein named my son James and my son-in-law Alexander Thompson and his six children himself always getting an equal part with his children I also alow my daughter Rachael to have a cropper or overseer on the land or to rent it if she think propper and to have as much provisions (if there be} plentifully both for herself and stock as ill do her one year after my widows decease.
   
   Item 8th. After my widows decease all the chattle or personal property which I bequeathed to her during her natural life I allow to be sold and equally divided between my four daughters my son James and Alexander Thompson and his six children.
   
   Item 9th. There is a tract of land containing one hundred one hundred and fifty eight acres lying north of my spring branch which I allow my executers to sell at publick sale as soon as they may think propper after my decease and I allow them to sell at the same time all the property my wife nay not need for her support I also allow the money arising out of this sale together with what money or notes may be in hand to be applied in paying of the monied legacies herein mentioned, should there be a remainder after paying as above stated then that remainder to be equally divided in like manner as I have directed in the eight item. I also allow my executors this to understand me., that I wish my four daughters, my son James, and Alexander Thompson and his 6 children to be dealt equally with as I have herein directed and as my son James has (in the first instance) got two hundred dollars more then the rest he is to get no more until the other 5 be made with him.
   
   Item 10th. And lastly I do hereby constitute and aping my son in law John W. Baker and my son in law John Anderson to be my executers. In Testimony whereof I the said James Alexander have here subscribed (page 222) my name and affixed my seal this seventeenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
   
   Sign sealed and declared by
   
   the said James Alexander to be his
   
   last will and testament in the presence James Alexander (seal)
   
   of us who at his request and in his
   
   presence have subscribed hereto
   
   Jabez Terry
   
   James Adams
   
   James Dunbar
   
   
   Recorded in Will Book B - pages 167-69 - Apt 1 - file #16
   
   Probated July 12th 1839/
   
   
   
   Source Citation
   South Carolina Will Transcripts, 1782-1868; Author: United States. Works Progress Administration (South Carolina); Probate Place: Greenville, South Carolina
   
   Description
   Notes: Index and Will, Vol 1-2, Books A-C, 1787-1853
   
   Source Information
   Ancestry.com. South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
   Original data:South Carolina County, District and Probate Courts.