Mary Sarah Alexander

Is your surname Alexander?

Research the Alexander family

Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love

  • Build your family tree online
  • Share photos and videos
  • Smart Matching™ technology
  • Free!

Mary Sarah Alexander (Shelby)

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Somerset County, Maryland, Colonial America
Death: November 26, 1813 (78)
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Place of Burial: Mint Hill, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Immediate Family:

Daughter of General Evan Dhu Shelby, I and Catherine Davies Shelby
Wife of Colonel Adam Alexander
Mother of Adam Rankin Alexander; Susan Wiley; Isaac Shelby Alexander; Mary Shelby Harris; Sarah Shelby Springs and 5 others
Sister of Thomas Shelby; General Even Shelby; Rachel Pindall; Captain John Shelby; Reese "Reece" Shelby, I and 9 others

Managed by: Lila Buck Volner
Last Updated:

About Mary Sarah Alexander

Mary Shelby was born 14 Aug 1735 in Maryland, and died 26 Nov 1813 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She married Adam Alexander, the son of William Alexander and Agnes Alexander and the brother of Isabel Alexander who married Mary’s brother, Moses. They were married 04 Aug 1752 in Somerset County, Maryland. He was born 28 Apr 1728 in Cecil County, Maryland, and died 13 Nov 1798 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. They are both buried in the Rock Springs Graveyard, near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Born in Pennsylvania or Maryland and migrated in 1750 to Mecklenberg County, N. Mary married Adam Alexander who was commander to her brothers including Rees Shelby in the Mecklenburg County Militia in 1776.


GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7836::0

GEDCOM Source

Source number: 205.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: HJW 1,7836::1089832

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 214; SAR Membership Number: 42774 1,2204::520743

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 214; SAR Membership Number: 42773 1,2204::520714

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::84929383

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::56200

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::52078

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Find A Grave 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::93958692

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 116 : 1915 1,61157::3524011

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9289::0

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::32985018

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 149 : 1919 1,61157::3671911

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 144 : 1919 1,61157::3621994

GEDCOM Source

@R1100711571@ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Church Records, 1709-1760 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc Baptisms and Burials From the Records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1709-1760 1,4030::0

GEDCOM Source

1,4030::8512

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 214; SAR Membership Number: 42774 1,2204::520743

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 214; SAR Membership Number: 42773 1,2204::520714

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::84929383

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::56200

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::52078

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Find A Grave 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::93958692

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 116 : 1915 1,61157::3524011

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9289::0

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::32985018

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 149 : 1919 1,61157::3671911

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 144 : 1919 1,61157::3621994

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::84929383

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::56200

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::52078

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Find A Grave 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::93958692

GEDCOM Source

@R1100711571@ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Church Records, 1709-1760 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc Baptisms and Burials From the Records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1709-1760 1,4030::0

GEDCOM Source

1,4030::8512

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Yates Publishing Ancestry.com Operations Inc 1,7836::0

GEDCOM Source

Source number: 205.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: HJW 1,7836::1089832

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 214; SAR Membership Number: 42774 1,2204::520743

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,2204::0

GEDCOM Source

Volume: 214; SAR Membership Number: 42773 1,2204::520714

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1700s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::84929383

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::56200

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM Source

1,70634::52078

GEDCOM Source

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Find A Grave 1,60525::0

GEDCOM Source

1,60525::93958692

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 116 : 1915 1,61157::3524011

GEDCOM Source

@R-1247694785@ Web: Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index, 1000-Current Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9289::0

GEDCOM Source

1,9289::32985018

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 149 : 1919 1,61157::3671911

GEDCOM Source

@R-1244731885@ North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,61157::0

GEDCOM Source

Book Title: Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 144 : 1919 1,61157::3621994

GEDCOM Source

@R1100711571@ Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Church Records, 1709-1760 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc Baptisms and Burials From the Records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1709-1760 1,4030::0

GEDCOM Source

1,4030::8512


GEDCOM Note

Source: RootsWeb. " Mary Shelby was born 14 Aug 1735 in Maryland, she was baptized in the Christ Church in Philadelphia in 1735, and died 26 Nov 1813 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She married Adam Alexander, the son of William Alexander and Agnes Alexander and the brother of Isabel Alexander who married Mary’s brother, Moses. They were married 04 Aug 1752 in Somerset County, Maryland. He was born 28 Apr 1728 in Cecil County, Maryland, and died 13 Nov 1798 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. They are both buried in the Rock Springs Graveyard, near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Adam Alexander was one of the original signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Talk of freedom from British rule was prevalent in Mecklenburg County in the spring of 1775. A committee of citizens drew up a document known as the Mecklenburg Resolves on May 31, 1775. They reorganized their local government and declared themselves "independent of the Crown of Great Britain." This document was published in the North Carolina Gazette in New Bern on June 16, 1775. It has great historical importance but has never drawn the interest and curiosity of historians, politicians and citizens as much as an alleged previously written document known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

Controversy has existed for decades about the possibility of a "declaration of independence," often referred to as the "Meck Dec," which was reportedly written eleven days prior to the Mecklenburg Resolves. Was the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence written on May 20, 1775, more than a year before our founding fathers met in Philadelphia and signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776? According to legend, the original Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed by more than twenty-five prominent citizens of Mecklenburg County on May 20, 1775. There is no original copy of this document because it is alleged to have been burned in a fire at the home of the Secretary of the convention, John McKnitt Alexander, Adam’s uncle, shortly after its signing. However, many do not believe the story of the loss in a fire. The question of whether the original document ever existed has been debated for decades and there is much information to support both sides of the argument.

Adam also served as a delegate to the Catawba Indians. He owned a store and a mill, as well as a home in another location. Justice of the Peace, member of the Mecklenburg County Court and Elder of Clear Creek Presbyterian Church were just some of the titles given him during his lifetime.

Although he had no will, when his property was evaluated at the time of his death, and it is reported that he had more than 30 books, a large collection for this time period.

Adam Alexander and Mary Shelby had 8 children: Isaac, Catherine, Sarah Shelby, Charles Taylor, Evan Shelby, Margaret, Adam Rankin and Mary."

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; @R3@ Database online. Record for Sarah Shelby Alexander http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=1276...

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; @R3@ Database online. Record for Sarah Shelby Alexander http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=-197...

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; @R3@ Database online. Record for Mary Shelby http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=1254...

GEDCOM Source

Ancestry Family Trees Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.; @R3@ Database online. Record for Sarah Shelby Alexander http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=-197...

view all 16

Mary Sarah Alexander's Timeline

1735
August 14, 1735
Somerset County, Maryland, Colonial America
September 6, 1735
1752
1752
1752
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
1756
June 7, 1756
June 7, 1756
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
1758
August 19, 1758
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
1759
April 6, 1759
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
1759
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina