Person:William Alexander (79)

Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 1, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :

Alexander, William - entered service in Augusta County, Virginia; granted pension age 81 in Knox County, Tennessee; died 6/15/1838; query letter in file in 1914 from descendant Mr. H.C. Moore, Atlanta, Georgia. R30.

[edit]

Information on William Alexander

From GRS Marriages of Southern States: Rockbridge County, VA Marriage Index: KY, NC, TN, VA, WV, 1728-1850

Alexander, William Spouse: Laird, Ann Marriage date: Oct 13, 1778

William Alexander fought in the Battle of King's Mountain, in Washington County, Virginia in 1780.

William Alexander, b. 1749, Pennsylvania, d. 15-Jun-1838, Hamilton County, Tennessee. William: 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 and was residing in Augusta County, Virginia in September 1774 when he was drafted as a militia man under Capt. James Ewing and Lt. 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 Tiger Valley where they remained to guard the fort."

At the end of July 1776, he volunteered for an expedition against the Cherokees under Capt. John Lyle, Lt. William McCutcheon and Ensign Joseph Long. They marched "by way of Anderson's Ferry on James River, English's Ferry on New River and Fort Chissel to Maj. Anthony Bledsoe's on the waters of the Holston." He was among the troops building a fort on Long Island under Col. Russell, then under Col. William Christian.

Alexander in 1778 moved to Washington County, Virginia. In August 1780 he 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."

That same September, Alexander joined the regiment commanded by Col. William Campbell along with Cols. John Sevier and Isaac Shelby. They "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 troops returning, the battle of King's Mountain having been fought." Alexander assisted in escorting British and Tory prisoners to Salisbury, North Carolina.

That December, Alexander marched under Col. Arthur Campbell and John Sevier to the Holston, the French Broad and on to Hiwassee River crossing little Tennessee at Toquotown. 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 towns.

Alexander later moved to the rich country at Knox County, Tennessee where he had passed on the expedition. 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 a being Presbyterian.

Rockbridge County, Virginia Marriage Records* October 13, 1778 William Alexander to Anne Laird (daughter of David Laird). Bondsman: Ebenezer Alexander (believed to be son of Oliver Alexander and Mary Craig) Witness: James Gilliland

Washington County, Virginia Records* August 15, 1786 William Duff to William Alexander - 5 shillings - 159 acres on north side of Holston River

January 3, 1795 - William Alexander and wife Anne to John Gilliland - 159 acres bought from William Duff

November 29, 1803 The Will of David Laird - David Laird bequeathed to son-in-law William Alexander - seven shillings

Children:

i. David L. Alexander b. 1791, m. 28-Nov-1815, in Blount County, Tennessee, Elizabeth Conn, b. 1792, Virginia, (daughter of Hugh Conn) d. BEF 1870, Hamilton County, Tennessee. David died March 1860, Hamilton County, Tennessee. David Alexander served in the War of 1812. He was a Private in the 1st Regiment East Tennessee Volunteer Militia. He served under Colonel Samuel Wear and Captain John Chiles. The family of David Alexander lived in Roane County, Tennessee in 1830. They later moved to Hamilton County, Tennessee where they remained for the rest of their lives.

[Source: http://owslfl.tripod.com/williamalexander/]

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.

[edit]