John McKnitt Alexander, Signer

DAR# A001210

Secretary of the Committee that drew up the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in 1775

John McKnitt Alexander, the Signer, born 06 Jun 1733 in Cecil Co, MD; died 10 Jul 1817 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; married Jane Bane Sep 1762; born Abt. 1740; died 16 Mar 1789 in Mecklenburg Co, NC.

Received land grant on 29 April 1769 along Green River in Old Tryon County, NC: "29 September 1779, William Mills of Rutherford County to Thomas Wadlington of same, for 200L process money of North Carolina, !and on both sides of Walnut Creek on the waters of Green River, adjoining John Fisher, and granted to John McKnitt Alexander on 29 April 1769, and conveyed to Samuel Sharp, then to William Mills. Signed William Mills {Seal}, Eleanor Mills {Seal}. Witnessed by John Earle and William Nevil"

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bruckner/knox/pro...

John McKnitt Alexander (1733-1817) was secretary to the Mecklenburg Convention, and a signer of the Declaration; he was also a member of the Provincial Congress of North Carolina. He was born in Pennsylvania; died in Mecklenburg County, N. C.

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genea/Ddarlineage7.html

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8579651&ref=wvr

John McKnitt, b. 6/6/1733, in Cecil County, Maryland; d. 7/10/1817, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; m. September, 1762, Jean Bean (Bain) (daughter of William); d. 3/16/1789, aged 49 years.

John McKnitt Alexander, accompanied by his brother, Hezekiah, and other relatives removed to Mecklenburg, North Carolina, about 1754. Later his brother, Ezekiel, and his sisters, Jemima Sharp, Elizabeth Sample, Abigail Bradley, and Margaret McCoy, with their families, came to live in the same section, as did also Catherine Alexander, widow of his brother, Theophilus.

He established his home ten miles north of Charlotte, in the Hopewell section of the County. He was a tailor by trade and later became Public Surveyor under the Crown. He acquired extensive tracts of land, was very successful in business, and a leader in the community.

He was a zealous patriot, active in the cause of liberty from the beginning. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1772; a member of the Committee of Safety in 1775; Secretary of the Convention which met at Charlotte on May 19 and 20, 1775; and a Signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, May 20, 1775. In 1777 he served as the first State Senator from Mecklenburg County.

It has been said that he was a Scout for General Greene and that he was with him at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered.

John McKnitt Alexander served his County in many capacities. He was a Justice of the Peace; a member of the first organized Court of the County; a trustee of Queen's Museum; and Register of Deeds from 1792 to 1808.

He was very much interested in church affairs and served as Treasurer of the Synod of North Carolina. He gave the original tract of land on which Hopewell Presbyterian Church was built. He lies buried in the graveyard of that church, in which he was an elder from the time of its organization (about 1762) until his death in 1817.

The children of John McKnitt and Jean Bean (Bain) Alexander were:

• 1. William Bain (Bean), b. 4/25/1764; d. 1/23/1844; m. 8/25/1791, Violet Davidson, b. 8/28/1771; d. 10/26/1821.
• 2. Margaret, b. 4/3/1766; d. 7/7/1805; m. 4/7/178{9}, Francis A. Ramsey, b. 5/31/1764; d. 11/5/1820.
• 3. Jean Bain (called Polly), b. 7/6/1768; d. 5/18/1816; m. Rev. James Wallis; d. 12/27/1817; aged 57 years.
• 4. Abigail Bain, b. 11/25/1770; d. 5/15/1802; m. 1792, Rev. Samuel C. Caldwell; d. 10/5/1826, aged 59 years.
• 5. Joseph McKnitt, b. 4/23/1773; d. 10/18/1841; m. 8/3/1797, Dovey Winslow; d. 9/6/1801, aged 25 years.
• Birth: June 6 1733
• New Munster area in the northeastern portion of Cecil County, Maryland
• Move: 1754
• Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
• Marriage: Marriage to: Jane\Jean Alexander (born Bain)
• Sep 1762
• Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
• Misc: Circa 1770
• Treasurer of the two synods, then united in one, of North and South Carolina.
• Misc: 1776
• Delegate to the Provincial Congress that met at Halifax in 1776.
• Appointment: 1777
• Chosen as a trustee of Liberty Hall Academy
• Leg. Svc.: July 4 1777
• New Bern, North Carolina
• Appointment: 1778
• Judge for Mecklenburg County, a position for life
• Appointment: 1788
• Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

  ---

GEDCOM Note

Find A Grave Memorial# 8579651

DAR# A001210

Son of James "The Yeoman" Alexander and Margaret Abigail Alexander Husband of Jane Bane Father of William Bane Alexander,; Margaret Ramsey; Jane Bane Wallis; Abigail Bane Alexander; Dr. Joseph McKnitt Alexander and Mary Jane Bane Alexander, II Brother of Edith Alexander; Theophilus Alexander; Jemima Alexander, (A); Keziah Sharpe; Hezekiah South Alexander; Ezekiel Alexander, I; Jemima Sharpe (Alexander); Colonel Amos Alexander; Margaret McKnitt Alexander; Josiah Alexander; Elizabeth Sample; Margaret McCoy (Alexander); Abigail Bradley, II and Ezekiel (II) Alexander

Secretary of the Committee that drew up the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in 1775

John McKnitt Alexander, the Signer, born 06 Jun 1733 in Cecil Co, MD; died 10 Jul 1817 in Mecklenburg Co, NC; married Jane Bane Sep 1762; born Abt. 1740; died 16 Mar 1789 in Mecklenburg Co, NC.

Received land grant on 29 April 1769 along Green River in Old Tryon County, NC: "29 September 1779, William Mills of Rutherford County to Thomas Wadlington of same, for 200L process money of North Carolina, !and on both sides of Walnut Creek on the waters of Green River, adjoining John Fisher, and granted to John McKnitt Alexander on 29 April 1769, and conveyed to Samuel Sharp, then to William Mills. Signed William Mills {Seal}, Eleanor Mills {Seal}. Witnessed by John Earle and William Nevil"

His parents were James Alexander born 1695 in Scotland and Margaret Mc Knitt. His grandfather was Joseph Alexander.

They had 5 children: William Bain Alexander, Margaret Mc Knitt Alexander, Jean Bain Alexander, Abigail Bain Alexander, Joseph Mc Knitt Alexander

Family links: Parents: James Robert Alexander (1690 - 1779) Margaret McKnitt Alexander (1693 - 1736)

Spouse: Jean Bane Alexander (1739 - 1789)*

Children: William Bain Alexander (1764 - 1844)* Margaret McKnitt Alexander Ramsey (1766 - 1805)* Mary Alexander Wallis (1769 - 1816)* Abigail Bane Alexander Caldwell (1770 - 1802)* Joseph Mc Knitt Alexander (1774 - 1841)*

Siblings: Theophilus Alexander (1714 - 1768)* Hezekiah Alexander (1721 - 1801)* Jemima Alexander Sharpe (1727 - 1797)* Amos Alexander (1729 - 1780)* John McKnitt Alexander (1733 - 1817) Ann Alexander Moore (1736 - 1802)* Elizabeth Alexander Sample (1746 - 1822)** Abigail Alexander Bradley (1748 - 1817)** Josiah Alexander (1752 - 1818)**

Note: He was 84 yrs old, he was born in Pa., near the Maryland line, he was a tailor. He married Jean (Jane) Bain in 1762

Burial: Hopewell Presbyterian Church Cemetery Huntersville Mecklenburg County North Carolina, USA

Family Data Collection - Individual Records Family Data Collection - Individual Records Name: John Mcknitt Alexander Spouse: Jean Bain Bean Parents: James R Alexander, Margaret Abigail Mcknitt Birth Place: New Munster Cecil Co, MD Birth Date: 6 Jun 1733 Marriage Place: Philadelphia, PA Marriage Date: Sep 1762 Death Place: Mecklenburg Co, NC Death Date: 10 Jul 1817

Family Data Collection - Deaths about John Mcknitt Alexander Name: John Mcknitt Alexander Death Date: 10 Jul 1817 County: Mecklenburg State: NC Country: USA

U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Name: Jane Bane Gender: female Birth Year: 1725 Spouse Name: John McKnitt Alexander Spouse Birth Year: 1725 Number Pages: 1

John McKnitt Alexander (1733 - 7/10/1817) John McKnitt Alexander was one of the original signers of the Meckenburg Declaration of Independence. He is probably one of the most famous signers. Born in Maryland, his came to Mecklenburg County with some siblings. His brother, Hezekiah, built a home that is reportedly one of the oldest homes inthe county. When he arrived, he settled in the Hopewell section (north) of Mecklenburg County, before it was established in 1762. After arriving he left the occupation of tailor and became a surveyor.He acquired large tracts of land, many of which are now in other counties. His property may have been as large as ten miles square. He was a member of Hopewell Presbyterian Church and served as thetreasurer for the Presbyterian Synod, which included what is now North and SC. When he was summoned to Salisbury to serve on a jury, he declined and was forced and fined by the sheriff to serve as a juror. When the British soldiers invaded Charlotte, he ordered his supplies be destroyed, rather than have them fall into the hands of the enemy. He served as Mecklenburg’s Register of Deeds from 1788 to 1792. After the Revolutionary War, he served as a member of the State Senate, the House of Commons and the convention that formed the NCState Constitution. He reportedly was the secretary of the convention where the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was adopted. This duty made him the custodian of the original document. Richard Barry, Sr., a neighbor and fellow signer, was named an executor of his will. When John died, he was one of the largest landowners in the county. Two of his daughters married Presbyterian ministers. He sent his oldest son, Joseph McKnitt, to get an education at what is now Princeton University. King, Victor C. Lives and Times of the 27 Signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of May 20, 1775. Charlotte, NC, 1956.

1790 United States Federal Census about John Mnt, Esqr Alexander Esquire Name: John Mnt, Esqr Alexander Esquire [John Mnt Alexander Esquire] Home in 1790 (City, County, State): Mecklenburg, North Carolina Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 3 Free White Persons - Females: 1 Number of Slaves : 16 Number of Household Members: 20

1800 United States Federal Census about John Alexander Name: John Alexander Home in 1800 (City, County, State): Salisbury, Mecklenburg, North Carolina Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1 Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1 Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2 Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1 Number of Household Members Under 16: 4 Number of Household Members Over 25: 2 Number of Household Members: 7

GEDCOM Note

GEDCOM Note

<p>Church: he was Magistracy and Elder of the Presbyterian Church.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Education: 1743, an apprentice as a tailor in Pennsylvania.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Employed: Crown Surveyor in the Colony of North Carolina</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Land: From acre to acre then section to section, he bought up land until he had a plantation that an English Duke might have envied. 1900acres in size in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Migrated: 1754 to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Namesake: he was named after his mother's brother, John McKnitt.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Occupation: Tailor, businessman, landowner, surveyor.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Political: 1775, elected clerk for setting up the goverment of Mecklenburg, County.</p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Secretary of the Mecklenburg Convention.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p><p>Residence: 1733 in Pennsylvania near the Maryland line.</p></p><p><p></p></p><p>Will: written, September 2, 1807</p>

GEDCOM Note

GEDCOM Source

27 JUN 2017 17:20:15 GMT -0500 Nancy O'NEAL O'NEAL Web Site <p>MyHeritage family tree</p><p>Family site: O'NEAL Web Site</p>Family tree: 437080461-1 Discovery 437080461-1

GEDCOM Source

John McKnitt Alexander 3 27 JUN 2017 Added via a Person Discovery Discovery

GEDCOM Source

4 SEP 2017 22:19:26 GMT -0500 WikiTree MyHeritage <a href='http://www.wikitree.com' target='wikitree'>www.wikitree.com</a> Collection 10109

GEDCOM Source

https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10109-55384284/john-mckn... 4 4 SEP 2017 John McKnitt AlexanderGender: MaleBirth: June 6 1733 - New Munster Cecil Co, MDDeath: July 10 1817 - Mecklenburg, North Carolina, USAFather: James 'The Yeoman" Alexander Record 10109:55384284:

• Military_service: Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States - 19 October 1780
• Residence: Cecil Co, Md
• Residence: Mecklenburg Co, N C
• Residence: Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States - 1790
• Residence: Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States - 1800
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Apr 9 2022, 3:00:51 UTC

    ---

His parents were James Alexander born 1695 in Scotland and Margaret Mc Knitt. His grandfather was Joseph Alexander.

They had 5 children: William Bain Alexander, Margaret Mc Knitt Alexander, Jean Bain Alexander, Abigail Bain Alexander, Joseph Mc Knitt Alexander* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 4 2022, 18:33:59 UTC