Person:John Eckford (1)

The Innerleithen Church records say John was a baker at Bridgeend in Innerleithen when his first 4 children were baptized in Innerleithen. How he became a doctor is not known. One source says son James was born in Edinburgh in 1800 although baptized in Innerleithen, so perhaps John was studying medicine in Edinburgh in 1800.

John emigrated to America abt 1801 since son William was born in Petersburg, VA in 1802. He signed a petiton to incorporate Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN 30 Jul 1806 (per dekay). On 23 Feb 1810 he applied to the government for a grant of 160 acres (T3S, R1E, Sec 19, SW 1/4) in Madison Co, Al at $1.25 per acre and by Oct 1811 signed a contract to deliver cotton. In 1810 and 1812 John was involved in lawsuits in Madison County. He was referred to as Dr. Eckford from Peebles, Scotland in Alabama Records, vol 71, pg 77 . Per deKay he was listed as licensed to practice medicine in state of Alabama prior to 22 Sep 1824.

He registered as an alien during the War of 1812: "I John Eckford a British Subject and a native of Scotland do hereby report myself as such to William ?????  ??? forty-six years old a wife and four children residing in the united States ten years, at present a citizen of Madison County Mississippi Territory my occupation that of a Physician 9th October 1812 John Eckford" Note: He mentions only 4 children because 17-year old John was a private in the local militia and twin Thomas presumably was also, although no record has been found.

On 3 Dec 1818 (six months after his sons bought land in adjacent Morgan County) John and Mary sold the 160 acres plus house for $3000 to Edwin Jones. That is a considerable price for the time, but the land appears to be near downtown Huntsville. One assumes that Dr. John and rest of family moved to join Thomas, John and William in Morgan County and perhaps helped finance the purchase.

A fellow Scotsman, John Hardie, in a letter to his brother on December 10, 1818 had this to say about the Madison County area. "There are very few Scotch people in this quarter of America. All that I know is Dr. Eckford from Publes (sic); he came to this place about 6 years ago, only in middling circumstances and is now a pretty wealthy planter; ..." lost the reference but I think it is from a book about 'Thornhill'

1. ↑ Church of Scotland. Parish Church of Innerleithen. Parish registers, 1642-1854. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1985)
   Batch 7503516, Film 0935340.

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   Name: Page
   VALUE: Batch 7503516, Film 0935340

2.   Gandrud, Pauline Myra Jones, and Kathleen Paul Jones. Alabama records. (Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, c1981-)
   vol 52, pg 56; vol 71, pg77; vol 80, pp 41-46.

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   FIELD:
   Name: Page
   VALUE: vol 52, pg 56; vol 71, pg77; vol 80, pp 41-46.

3.   Ed. Clarence Edwin Carter,, The Terrirorial Papers of the United States, Vol. VI the Terrirotyof Mississippi,
   p 314.

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   Name: Page
   VALUE: p 314

4.   WorldConnect.Rootsweb.com
   fergucs #4041.

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   FIELD:
   Name: Page
   VALUE: fergucs #4041

5.   Cowart, Margaret Matthews. Old land records of Madison County, Alabama. (s.n.], c1979).

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   FIELD:
   Name: Page

6.   Magazine Ansearchin News
   1995 Ansearching News Tennessee Magazine pg 161 15-2-1806 Petitions of Citizens of Rogersville for Incorporation of the town (Hawkins Tennessee ).

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   Name: Page
   VALUE: 1995 Ansearching News Tennessee Magazine pg 161 15-2-1806 Petitions of Citizens of Rogersville for Incorporation of the town (Hawkins Tennessee )

7. ↑ (pg 131)