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Alexander Documents, Manuscripts, Reports, etc.
If researching this line, you may be interested in Alexanders of Cannon County, Tennessee
Alexander Family
by Edythe J. R. Whitley, 1931; Nashville, TN
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{Page 5}
(Note -- all marriages, and wills in Bedford County destroyed prior to 1863, one or two deed books missing. There are supposed to be Book A. and Book B. under the title "Grants before 1808", dealing with records which have been copied from other county records, but Book B. is missing in Shelbysville. The index is there but is in the same book with Book A. The clerk says that he thinks that book must have been lost but he is not sure, he never remembers seeing it since he has been clerk. Bedford County had a Courthouse fire in 1830 and another in 1863 which has made a great loss of near all of their early history with the exception of the deeds mentioned.).
(Note -- In Ruthersford {sic} County, the records were damaged by troops during the Civil War and books G, J, I, P, T, V were lost. These books are the records prior to 1825. In the ones preserved, there does not appear the name of Ezekiel Alexander).
In 1809 in Wilson County the records show that Ezekiel purchased land as follows: --
Wilson County, Deed. Book D. ---
This Indenture made this twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine between John Donelson of the County of Davidson and State of Tennessee of the one part of Ezekiel Alexander of the County of Wilson and State aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth. that the said John Donelson for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred to him in hand paid by the said Ezekiel Alexander the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath given granted bargained and sold unto the said Ezekiel Alexander one certain tract or parcel of land lying in the County of Wilson State of Tennessee on a South Fork of Saunders fork of Smith fork and being one undivided mounty {sic} of a tract of land granted unto the said John Donelson by the State of Tennessee by grant No. 1253 and bounded as follows (V's), Beginning at two Sugar Trees on the west boundary of Said survey the division corner between said Alexander and Christopher Cooper running Thence South along said line two hundred and thirty nine poles to a white ash and sugar tree thence East two hundred and thirty nine poles to a Lynn beech and buckeye
Thence north two hundred and thirty nine poles to a stake on the boundary line of said survey, thence West two hundred and thirty nine poles to the beginning containing by estimation three hundred and fifty seven acres be the same more or less together with the appertenances {sic} there unto belonging and all and singular the benefits and encluments {sic} thereout and therefrom to arise unto the said Ezekiel Alexander his heirs and assigns to their only proper use and behood {sic} forever, and the said John Donelson for himself and his heirs and all and every other person or persons whomsoever unto the Ezekiel Alexander and his heirs shall and will warrant and forever defend. In witness whereof the said John Donelson hath hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written, interlined before signed with the words (the cost)
John Donelson (seal{)}
Signed sealed and delivered
in presence of
Christopher Cooper Jurat
Abner Alexander Jurat
State of Tennessee
Wilson County
Sept. Seven 1810
The within deed of bargain and sale from John Donelson to Ezekiel Alexander
was proven in open court by the oath of Christopher Cooper and Abner Alexander subscribing witnesses thereunto ordered therefore by the Court that it be certified under the hand and seal of office of the clerk and that it be admitted to registration.
John Allcorn, Clk. W.C.C.
Registered 23rd Nov. 1, 1810
Henry Ross, Reg. W.C.
In Wilson County, deed books there are many records of transfers between various persons and this family, some of which are: ---
Ezekiel Alexander, Sr. from Ezekiel Alexander, Jr., deed Book M. Page 23.
Ezekiel Alexander to Jacob Wright, deed Book O. Page 226, Sept. 1, 1832.
It seems that the first piece of land sold by Ezekiel Alexander Sr. was that records in Wilson County 1817 which from the reading appears to have been the land or part of the lands he had purchased from John Donelson which you have already read in this sketch. The transfer to his son is as follows:
Deed Book G. Wilson County deeds, 1818 - 19 page 319
This indenture made this twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen between Ezekiel Alexander Sr. of the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee of the one part and Ezekiel Alexander, Jr. of the County and State aforesaid of the other part witnessith {sic}: that the said Ezekiel Alexander, Sr., for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to him in hand paid by the said Ezekiel Alexander, Jr. the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath given, granted, bargained, unto the said Ezekiel Alexander, Jr., a certain tract of {sic ? s/b "or"} parcel of land, lying in the County of Wilson and State of Tennessee on a South Fork of Sanders fork of Smith fork, and bounded as follows (to wit) --
{B}eginning at a white oak and sugar tree running North one hundred and twenty six poles to a red oak, thence East forty poles to a sugar tree, thence South twenty poles to a large poplar, thence South eighty three degrees East twenty six poles to a Stake thence South six poles to a stake, thence South seventy six degrees, East thirty four poles in the East boundary line of the original Surveys thence South ninety poles to a stake, thence West two hundred and thirty nine poles to the beginning containing by estimation one hundred and forty eight acres, be the same more or less together with the appurtenances, therunto {sic} belonging, and all and singular the benefits and emcluments {sic} thereout and therefrom to a (?) to the said Ezekiel Alexander, Jr. his heirs and assigns to their only proper use and behood {sic} forever, and the said Ezekiel Alexander, Sr for himself and his heirs and all and every other person or persons of what nature so ever, and the said Ezekiel Alexander, Sr., and his heirs, Executors, Administration, and {a}ssigns shall and will forever or Warrant and defend the said tract or parcel of land to the said Ezekiel Alexander, Jr., his heirs and assigns. In witness whereof I the said Ezekiel Alexander Sr. hath hereunto Let {sic ? s/b "set"} his hand and seal the day and year above written. Signed, sealed and delivered
Ezekiel Alexander (Seal)
in presence of
Christopher Cooper Jurat
Abraham Cooper Jurat and Jordon Ward.
February Term
State of Tennessee
Wilson County Court
The within Deed of bargain and sale from Ezekiel Alexander, Sr., and Ezekiel Alexander, Jr. for one hundred and forty eight acres of land, was exhibited in open court and proved by the oath of Christopher Cooper and Abram Cooper two of the witnesses thereto; and ordered to be registered Test.
John Allcorn (Clerk)
Wilson County Court
Registered 26th March 1819
Test --- (Harvey Ross, Registrar --- Wilson County.
Henry)
A grant is registered in Land Office Nashville, Page 622 Book U. Dec. 12, 1822 to Ezekiel Alexander, for 80 acres in District 8, Wayne County, No. 18429 but I do not know whether this is to Ezekiel, Sr. or Ezekiel, Jr. as it does not state.
It is quite evident that Ezekiel Sr., must have died in Wilson County as he seems to have lived in that county in 1832 as found in the deeds all of which recite "Ezekiel Alexander, Sr." of Wilson County State of Tennessee.
Ezekiel Alexander married Jamima {sic, usually found spelled "Jemima"} Esther McCoy in 1773. She was born about 1757-59. Their children as taken from the family Bible and which is repeated in another family Bible found among the descendants. One of these Bibles was brought over from Scotland. It was published in Dublin, Ireland by George Grieson in MDCCXXXIX. The records as given regarding births and deaths and etc. are largely taken therefrom. Mrs. Rasmussen has another Bible of the family which gives several generations but which is in a very dilapidated condition and the date of publication and place is impossible to secure. Mrs. Rasmussen is in the authority for these two statements regarding the Bibles. The issue of Ezekiel and his wife Jamima Esther McCoy Alexander as follows: --
1. James Alexander born Nov. 1774
2. Jean Alexander born Feb. 25, 1776
3. Abner Alexander born Aug. 10, 1778 (Later)
4. Betsy (probably meaning Betsy but spelt {sic} Besty in the copy of the Bible I have and am using to copy from herein) born Nov. 21, 1780.
5. Laddia Alexander born March 2, 1783
6. Ezekiel Alexander born {blank line with 12/22/1789 handwritten in space} (Later).
In Book Y. of the Land Grants in the Tennessee State Archives Land Office, page 353, a grant No 22280 4th July {1}824 in Hickman County for 20 acres and granted to Ezekiel Alexander as follows: -- (To Ezekiel Alexander in Wayne Co.) It does not state whether Ezekiel, Jr. or Sr. but appears as Ezekiel Alexander only.
It seems from the location of the grants there may have been another Ezekiel Alexander in Tennessee on the Western District at the date around 1817 as the two grants about that time I have noted herein do not in my opinion bear on the family which we {are} tracing, unless the land was granted him and he sold it never locating on same, as the records in Wilson County show without a doubt that he lived in that County from about 1809 to his death in 1832. They also show that Ezekiel, Jr., was a resident of Wilson County even later than 1832 and therefore there may have been another Ezekiel Alexander in another section, and of the same generation as Ezekiel, Jr. but not likely of the same as Ezekiel, Sr.
Abner Alexander son of the first Ezekiel Alexander and his wife Jamima Esther McCoy was born in North Carolina, Mecklenburg {C}o. 1778 married in Tennessee Dec. 1, 1803 Jemima Sharp. The {sic} Sharp is another family which has run in his line for generations as far back as Maryland. They moved to North Carolina together and on to Tennessee about the same time.
Abner Alexander is first noted in the records in Wilson County on Smith's Fork (Goodspeed's History of Wilson County, page 842). In the Wilson County records there are many deeds registered regarding his transactions in that County, among which are found: --
Abner Alexander from William Leac{h}, deed 1816 Smith's Fork of Caney Fork, page 483 Book F.
Two heirs of Matthey Sumner Dec'd (John W. and Thomas D.) in County of Wilson sold to Mary and Abner Alexander (probably a second wife of Abner) land Dec. 28, 1835. Book " {sic}, page 297.
Abner Alexander from Theodoer {sic} Ross deed Book O. page 282 Jan 21st 1824, on Leeches Fork of Sanders Fork of Smith's Fork.
Abner Alexander from James Gunter deed Book O. page 279 Nov. 23, 1825, on Sanders fork of the Caney fork.
In Cannon County which was cut from Wilson in part, I find recorded at Woodbury the county seat the following:
Abner Alexander from W. C. Odom, Jan 16, 1843, deed Book D. page 140.
Abner Alexander deeded to {sic} 100 acres of Wm. Souls page 516, Deed Book E., page 1844-1848.
Abner Alexander deed from Martha Bell Page 147-8 Book E.
In the Connon {sic} County records of Wills is found that of Abner Alexander (see Copy of same herein) in which he speaks of his wife Margaret showing that he was married at least twice and maybe three times if the deed speaking of "Abner and Mary" is this Abner Alexander and we find nothing to disprove that it is one and the same man.
From what information I gather from Mr. Northcut, whose mother lives on part of the Abner Alexander land at this date in the first District of Cannon County, near Lock's Creek, his grave is unmarked but the statement says that she knows it is a fact that he is buried there. Mrs. Northcut is a decedant {sic} of this family through Abner's son. Mrs. Northcut as I Understand is a woman of years as I met and talked with her son who told me he was fort{y}-seven years old I think. I talked with this son while on my trip to Woodbury in search of history of this family. He says that he knows that Abner is buried in the Alexander graveyard on his mother's farm but that there is not a stone at his grave. This place is near Porterfield in the First District of the County, and is in the Locke Creek section. It is located on a very rough road leading from a main road and during the winter it is most impossible to reach the place in a car on account of the bad roads. This information caused me to ab{a}ndon the idea of making the trip to see about the tomb stone. He also told me that by going some thirty miles around a good way I could come within a mile or two of the place before I reached bad road leading away from the main road. By going from Woodbury in Connon {sic} County I would have to ford the river which was dangerous unless I was aware of the condition of the crossing and the thirty mile
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Submitted by: Vera Andrews
Online transcription by Susan Shields Sasek. Items I had difficulty reading and my notes are in curly { } brackets.
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| Page Updated on: 29 Jun 2004 | c. Susan Shields Sasek |
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