He is not the same person as Reverend James Alexander of Boghall, Laird of Boghall & Blackhouse, Minister at Kilmacolm. Please do not merge them.

The Rev. James Alexander of Raphoe was married to a Mary Shaw and died without issue Memorials of the House of Alexander: 96

He died 17 Nov 1704. Will dated 13 Mar 1702 names wife Marion Shaw as sole legatee. When she died in 1711, her legatee was her niece Elizabeth Shaw daughter of her brother James Shaw.

probable father: William Alexander of Clonleigh (Clonleight tax roll 1662, later on Raphoe tax roll 1665)

A history of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Vol. II, by James Seaton Reid (London, 1837), pp. 422-424:

The presbytery of Lagan, in the beginning of the year 1681, had resolved to hold a fast in all their congregations, and in accordance with their usual practice on such occasions, they drew up a paper, containing the causes of the proposed fast, which was publickly read on the previous Sabbath in their respective places of worship. Shortly after, the magistrates in that district, being intolerant prelatists, pressed the oath of supremacy with unusual eagerness on the officers and soldiers in the Lagan. Numbers of these, being Presbyterians, refused to take this ensnaring oath except with certain explanations, which were not admitted, and in this refusal, it was believed they were encouraged by the presbytery. A copy of the causes of the late fast having about the same time fallen into the hands of these zealous magistrates, they summoned four of the neighbouring ministers, to wit, the Rev William Trail of Lifford, the Rev James Alexander of Raphoe, the Rev Robert Campbell of Ray, and the Rev John Hart of Taughboyne, 47 to appear before them at Raphoe on Tuesday the third of May. The magistrates present were Sir William Stewart of Ramelton Bart, 48 Gray Bingley, Esquire, the high sheriff, captain Nesbitt, Hugh Hamill of Lifford, John Forward, 49 and Michael Sampson, Esquires. They examined the ministers relative to their observance of the recent fast and the statement of its causes, which was then in their possession The brethren at once acknowledged that they had kept the fast and that they concurred in the paper of causes or reasons for it, which was produced by the bench. On this open and candid avowal, they were discharged, but within a few weeks they were summoned to appear in Dublin. On two separate occasions, they were closely examined in the presence of the lord lieutenant and the privy council respecting their proceedings in relation to the fast and on some other subjects connected with their conduct as non conforming ministers. They were, in a short time, dismissed on bail to appear before the summer assizes at Lifford, when being indicted for holding the fast in question, they were found guilty by a packed jury of high church men and sentenced to pay a fine of twenty pounds each to subscribe an engagement not to offend in a similar manner again and to be imprisoned till they should comply. They continued in prison rather than enter into the sinful engagement demanded. They were confined in Lifford, though not very rigorously, for above eight months, when they were released by the sheriff and their fines afterwards remitted by the court of exchequer on payment of their fees. 50 The condemnation of these ministers was a signal for the violent prelatists throughout Ulster to renew their persecuting measures against the non conformists.

Relevant footnote:

47 Mr Trail was, I believe, brother to the Rev Robert Trail of London. He came over to Ulster a licentiate in 1671 and was ordained the following year in Lifford. After his release from prison, he returned to Scotland and died minister of Borthwick. Mr Alexander was ordained to the charge of Raphoe December 12th 1677. Mr Campbell was ordained in Ray or Raymoghy in 1671, and Mr Hart in Taughboyne in 1656. In October 1655, a commissioner from that parish attended the synod of Glasgow and Ayr with a call to Mr Hart, who was then minister at Hamilton. Min of Synod Wod MSS Bib Jur Edin fol xxxviii .

Adapted from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130197486/james-alexander

Rev. James Alexander (1625-1704) was probably born in the Ulster Province of Northern Ireland. As a minister, he was undoubtedly a father figure for the many hundreds of Presbyterian emigrants he helped to inspire and guide, during their exodus from Ulster to America.

All of the books which mention him state his name as James Alexander. His will and his wife's will were summarized by a book author in 1877, but the original documents filed in probate court for County Donegal appear to have been lost in a courthouse fire in Dublin, during the Irish Civil War of 1921-1922.

• **

A CALL TO SERVICE AT THE AGE OF 52

Rev. James Alexander's call came from the congregation of the Raphoe Presbyterian Church, in the Parish of Raphoe, in County Donegal, on the Ulster Plantation of Northern Ireland. His ordination as a "Minister of the Gospel" took place on December 12, 1677, at about age 52. His license to preach as a "Minister of the Gospel" came from the Meeting of Lagan, which was later known as the Laggan Presbytery. A Presbytery was a regional religious organization, which was composed of several different Presbyterian church congregations.

He served the congregation at the Raphoe Presbyterian Church for 26 years, from his ordination in 1677, until his death in 1704. He was the third minister to serve the congregation at Convoy. Rev. John Crookshanks was the minister up until 1666, Rev. Samuel Halliday served from 1664-1677, and Rev. James Alexander served from 1678-1704.

Up until about the year 1751 the Raphoe Presbyterian Church was located in the town of Convoy, because the government would not permit a Presbyterian church to be founded in the town of Raphoe. A traditional story said that there was already an Anglican church in Raphoe, and the Anglican Bishop named Bishop Knox who preached there, did not care to have any competition on Sunday mornings.

Since Bishop Knox had been appointed by the King as the leader of the regional government, in addition to being appointed as the leader of the regional Anglican church, he had the proper legal authority to prevent a Presbyterian church from being built in the town of Raphoe, if that was his desire. In a similar fashion, the King of Great Britain also fulfilled a dual role, as both the leader of the national government, and as the head of the Anglican church. The Anglican church was, and remains, the official religion of the government of Great Britain. The heart of the matter was that while Bishop Knox was recognized as a regional religious ruler in Ulster by the King of Great Britain, he was not accepted as a religious ruler by the immigrant Presbyterians from Scotland who also lived in Ulster -- much less by the native Catholics of Ulster.

• **

SENT TO PRISON FOR EIGHT MONTHS

On February 2nd of 1681, the Presbytery of Laggan met to call for a future day of fasting and prayer. A special paper was to be read from all of the pulpits on February 17th of 1681, discussing the reasons for the fast, and the meaning of some rather serious words such as "heresy" and "apostacy". Some people, including Bishop Knox, interpreted this special paper to be disrespectful of the Anglican Church and of the government. Four Presbyterian ministers from Laggan Presbytery, including Rev. James Alexander, took responsibility for the planned event. They got into a great deal of difficulty over the proposed sermon, to the point that all four ministers were fined by the government. When the four ministers refused to pay their fines, they were all sent to jail. Finally after eight months, the fines were paid by a third party, and the four ministers were set free. See pages 21 and 22 in "The Laggan and Its Presbyterianism" by Rev. Alexander G. Lecky.

In those years the government of Great Britain kept tight control over what licensed religious leaders, such as Presbyterian ministers, could say and do. Ministers in Ulster were furnished small salaries by the government, which were usually in paid in food stores. Rev. James Alexander was paid a meager salary of 20 barrels of dried corn each year, and his payment was often late.

By controlling the actions of both Protestant ministers and Catholic priests in Ulster, the government hoped to successfully and peacefully rule the entire population. Uprisings and rebellions were a constant worry for government officials. Great Britain had encouraged the immigration of thousands of Presbyterian Scots into Ulster after 1630, in an attempt to control the rebellious native population of Northern Ireland.

All Presbyterian ministers in Northern Ireland were required to hold a license from both a Presbytery and from the British government. Presbyterian ministers were fined or imprisoned if they did not follow instructions from the government, pertaining to the proper format and content of religious services and ceremonies. The jails in Great Britain had such poor living conditions that many prisoners either died there, or they suffered from permanent health issues after their release.

• **

HIS CHURCH IN CONVOY

A photo of the current Convoy Presbyterian Church in the town of Convoy, County Donegal, Ulster, can be seen in the link below. The original Presbyterian church building in Convoy was probably a simple thatch roofed house, since it would have been built quickly as new Presbyterian immigrants arrived from Scotland. The current church building in Convoy made of gray stone was probably built in later years. This church is currently part of the Parish of Convoy, as of 2015.

• **

A DIFFERENT CHURCH IN RAPHOE

Around the year 1751, a new Presbyterian Church was built in the town of Raphoe, and it took on the title of the Raphoe Presbyterian Church. The original Presbyterian Church located at Convoy was renamed as the Convoy Presbyterian Church. Here in the link below, is a photo of the current church building in the town of Raphoe, which was built in a neoclassical style. This church is currently part of the Parish of Raphoe, as of 2015. Raphoe Presbyterian Church

• **

HIS WIFE

Rev. James Alexander's wife, who was named Marion (Shaw) Alexander, was about 9 years younger than he was. She died in 1711. "In her will she expressed her desire to be buried in the churchyard at Raphoe, "along with the corps of her dear husband"". See the last paragraph on the printed page 94, and continuing through page 96, in a book entitled "Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and of the house of Alexander", Volume II, by Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D., published in 1877. https://archive.org/details/memorialsearlst00clubgoog

It is difficult to be sure which churchyard Marion (Shaw) Alexander referred to in her will of 1711. The quotation cited in the paragraph above might imply that Marion (Shaw) Alexander's grave, and her husband Rev. James Alexander's grave, were both located in the Presbyterian churchyard cemetery at the Raphoe Presbyterian Church which was located in the town of Convoy in 1711. On the other hand, it might mean that they were interred in a community churchyard in the town of Raphoe, which could have even been affiliated with the Anglican church. As of 1877, when the book mentioned above was written, no headstone could be found for either one of their graves.

The same book also stated that Rev. James Alexander and his wife had no issue, meaning that they had no children.

• **

INTERRED "IN THE CHURCHYARD OF RAPHOE"

Rev. James Alexander passed on in 1704. His wife lived for about seven more years, before she passed on in 1711. He and his wife were probably interred side by side, as she requested in her will. If any headstones were ever placed at their grave sites, none can now be found.

They were both interred "in the churchyard of Raphoe", which probably meant the Raphoe Presbyterian Church, which was located in the town of Convoy prior to 1751.

Like all Presbyterian ministers of his era, he played an important role in history, by supporting the freedom of religion from government control.

He lived to be about 79 years old.

---

CURATOR'S NOTE: The parentage of the seven Alexander brothers and two sisters who settled in Somerset County, Maryland is in great dispute. Some sources say with certainty that the father was a William ALexander of Raphoe, Donegal, while others claim it was this Rev. James Alexander and his wife (often named as Mary Maxwell, though a Mary Maxwell was married to yet another Rev. James Alexander of Boghall and Blackhouse, who was likely NOT the father of the nine children.)

The following narrative by is the clearest about this controversy, though it is not entirely clear who to credit for which paragraphs, since they have been cut and repasted on a number of sites. It appears that the work of Norris Preyer has been influential. Here is the source for that:

Norris W. Preyer; Hezekiah Alexander and the Revolution in the Backcountry; Charlotte, NC, 28207. Publication: Heritage Printers,Inc. Charlotte,N.C. second Printing Charlotte, North Carlonia Sept 1998 Charlotte, NC, 28207 Lib ref E 263.N8 A357 1987

Another source often quoted is "The story of my Alexander family" in FROM MARYLAND TO MECKLENBURG AND WEST TO TEXAS by Helen Smith, 908 Wooded Crest, Waco, Texas, 76712

From Bonnie Hamilton: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db...

The home of many Alexanders was possibly 4 miles from Raphoe in Donegal Co., Ireland. The Rev. James ALEXANDER was a minister of Convoy congregation from 1678 until his death in 1704. Convoy is in the Laggan Presbytery. Rev. ALEXANDER was educated at King's College in Aberdeen, Scotland from 1666-1670. He was ordained 12 Dec 1677 and became minister at Convoy in 1678. His wife, Marion SHAW was the sole executrix of his will. It is believed that she d. 1711, leaving her estate to a niece, d/o brother James SHAW, instead of her children, nor did she name any. It is believed that she d. without issue living and was buried in the church in Convoy .Rev. ALEXANDER was a fiery old codger, upheld his religious beliefs which were contrary to Royal Authority and was fined 20. He was unable to pay and was jailed in Dublin, Ireland on 8 Oct. 1681 until 20 April 1682 when he was released to the Sheriff and the fine was reduced to 20 shillings, paid by his friends.

There are two schools of thought as to who the father of the seven brothers and two sisters, who migrated to America in the late 1600's, were. Most believe that Reverend James Alexander, of the Laggan Presbytery, and who was imprisoned in Raphoe in 1681 for calling a fast to protest the policies of the Church of England, was the father. His wife was not Mary Maxwell.

Norris Preyer, who has written a scholarly work on Hezekiah and The Revolution in the Backcountry, quotes Susie Ames in that Rev. James had no heirs. Preyer states that William Alexander, a cousin or brother of Rev. James, was their father and that he came to America and was found in Northampton County, Virginia, married here and was the father of seven sons and two daughters.

Northampton is at the southern tip of the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. However here the nonconformists, including William Alexander who was a Calvinist, were prohibited from preaching either 'publicly or privately' and Northampton County was denied representation in the House of Burgess. Also very heavy taxes were imposed on the Northamptoners. They responded with a protest against these 'arbitrary and illegal' taxes.

Then in 1652 an English fleet sailed into Chesapeake Bay, deposed Governor Berkeley and placed the colony under the control of the Commonwealth. However, in 1660 Charles II was restored to the English throne and Parliament began prohibiting the direct shipment of tobacco to the continent. Sir William Berkeley returned as governor of Virginia and nonconformist ministers were once again prohibited from preaching and they faced banishment from the colony. But in the neighboring colony of Maryland, Lord Baltimore had granted religious toleration.

So during the 1670's the Alexander family moved from Virginia and established homes in Somerset County on Maryland's eastern shore. Also moving from Northampton to Somerset County were the Brevard, Davidson, Harris, McKnitt, Polk, Steele and Wallace families. They had been in Northampton when the pledge was made to support the Commonwealth (1652).

Also frm Bonnie Hamilton's page:

Even though there are many family trees that show James Alexander and Mary Maxwell in Ireland and then their children in Maryland, I suspect at least two different Alexander families have been mixed together. You might want to take a look at "History of the county of Ayr : with a genealogical account of the families of Ayrshire," James Paterson, Ayr, J. Dick, 1847- 1852. (Online)

Page 510 is about Robert Alexander, of Blackhouse and Boghall, who married Marion Hamilton. Their son James Alexander married Mary Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southbar, with a marriage contract dated 9 June 1657.

According to the history, [this] James Alexander was heir to Robert Alexander's property at Blackhouse and Boghall. James Alexander was among the "outed" ministers in 1662, but he did not move to Ireland. He died after 5 March 1686, still in Ayr, Scotland. James and Mary had 4 children:

1. Robert, born about 1658, d. 1723 in Ayr, Scotland. He married Sophia Blair.

2. John, born about 1660, was a merchant in Glasgow, and died in 1712 in Glasgow, Scotland. He married, about 1690, Janet Cuninghame, a daughter of the Laird of Craigends

3. Anna, married to Peter Murdoch, merchant, and Provost of Edinburgh (his second wife.)

4. Jean, married to William Greenlies of Auchlamont (Paisley parish) writer in Ayr. Contract dated 24th August 1689.

________________________________ _________________________________

A DIFFERENT JAMES ALEXANDER

The James Alexander, who married Marion Shaw and was a Presbyterian minister, died 1704 in Ireland. He never set foot in the New World. His wife died in 1711. Both James and Marion left wills. They did not have any children and certainly were not the parents of the Alexanders who arrived in Maryland. There is a section about them in Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and of the house of Alexander, Vol. II, Charles Rogers, Publisher: Edinburgh, W. Paterson, 1877, pages 94 - 96.

------------------------------------

CURATOR'S NOTE (continued) Harvey Waynes Rhodes http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/r/h/o/Harvey-Wayne-Rhodes-OR/WEBSITE-0... posits the William Alexander, the alternate candidate for the father of the Somerset Maryland Alexanders, to have been William Alexander Sr. (son of John Alexander of Tarbert, Kintyre and Agnes (Elizabeth) (Chloe Vershoyle) Graham Green) who was born Bet. 1624 - 1627 in Eridy, Donegal Co.,Ireland, and died 1715 in Somerset Co.,Md..He married Araminta (Ann) Liston. He also adds from Norris Preyer (the following has been copy-edited):

Norris W.Preyer, pg 5 "The Alexander forebears came to Raphoe, Ireland, as tenants of Sir James Conningham, a Scottish nobleman from Ayrshire, and settled on lands granted him in Donegal County in Laggan district. In 1640's William Alexander their son left Scotland to seeka better life for himself in America .He first settled in on new lands opened up in Eastern Shore of Va, Northamptons County. In 1670, William and his children left Va and moved to Somerset Co, Md

Norris W Preyer, pg 11 "William Alexander who came to America was a first cousin or brothe to a John Jr.,William, Archibald, Robert, and Rev.Francis Alexander who remained in Donegal County. Herndon wrongly has the Somerset Alexanders descended from the Rev.James Alexander of Raphoe who died without offspring. (see Raphoe,54) unlike Herndon's claim that Rev. James was the father of the seven brothers, that Susie Ames states in her document that Rev. James had no heirs. The reference is: "The Reunion of Two Virginia Counties", Journal of Southern History 8 Nov 1942: 536-48

Alexander Memories [AUTHOR?]: "Rev. James is said to be a probable son of William Alexander "of Raphoe" who is on a Hearth Roll Tax of 1662, named in parish of Clonleigh, county Donegal.

------------------------------------

Look for: PA Genealogy Magazine Pg 85 to 86

The children of Reverend James Alexander of Raphoe, Ireland and of the Laggan Presbytery whose children came to America on the good Ship Welcome that anchored in the Delaware River in 1679.

There was also an Alexander family in Somerset Co. as early as 1666. Also John Mcknitt settled there about the same period (see Old Somerset, by ClaytonTorrence).

Reverend James Alexander , a member of the Laggan Presbytery in Raphoe was imprisoned there in 1680, which may have induced his sons to flee to America.

Little is known of his life other than that he must have been an educated man. Presbyterian ordination demanded a university degree and the only universities granting a theological degree at that time were in Scotland. Leyburn in his The Scotch-Irish. A Social History, Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina Press, 1962 said "Presbyterian ministers were... always respected, however tyrannous or ungracious their lives...The ministry was the highest calling that could come to a youth."

James Alexander was the father of nine children, all of whom, with the possible exception of Jane, came to America on the ship Welcome, landing 21 September 1670 and settling first in Somerset County, MD and later in Cecil Co. MD.

His wife Marion Shaw probably died in Ireland. If so, he apparently returned to Ireland sometime before 1691. In The Records of the General Synod of Ulster, James Alexander is noted as absent from the meetings in 1691, 1692, and 1694 but sent excuses which were accepted, and his death on 17 November 1704 was noted.

Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil Co. MD. Some of them going to the New Munster Tract in the extreme northern part of Cecil Co. (in fact part of New Munster was north of the present MD.- PN. boundry) and others settling to the south,still in Cecil Co.,near the western terminus of the present Chesapeake and DL.Canal.

There is a well established tradition that seven Alexander brothers, Presbyterians from Scotland who had sojourned a while in the north of Ireland, probably at Raphoe Co., Donegal, and Sligo,Co., came to Somerset Co. Maryland before going on to Cecil Co. If we may judge from the circumstantial evidence remaining, then along with the brothers came two sisters: one, the wife of Matthew Wallace; the other Jane who married John McKnitt.

In Somerset, at early dates, we find William, Andrew, Samuel, and John Alexander, and in Cecil County James, Francis, Joseph, and the afore-mentioned Samuel Alexander. I hazard a guess that they were sons of the Reverend James Alexander, of Raphoe, a member of Laggan Presbytery in 168 0, whose ministerial brethren then in northern Ireland included David Brown, of Urney, William Traile, of Lifford, Thomas Wilson, of Killybegs, and William Liston, of Letterkenny, to mention a few. I name these because one David Brown became an important civic-minded Presbyterian leader in Somerset: because William Traile and Thomas Wilson soon joined Francis Makemie, "father of organized Presbyterianism in America", in his labor in Somerset: and because William Alexander , Sr., of Somerset, had a grandson named for William Liston. At first in Somerset and later in Cecil, we find Matthew Wallace and John McKnitt.

In the records of "The General Synod of Ulster" (a copy of these records in three volumes is in the library of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Witherspoon Bldg., Philadelphia.] James Alexander and William Liston, of Raphoe, are noted as absent from the meetings in 1691,1692,an d 1694, after which Liston's name appears no more; but James were accepted, and finally his death on 17 November 1704 was minuted [Opus cit,vol I,96] How early he became a member of Laggan Presbytery I do not know.

For convenience in identification let us assume that they were born in the following order and about the year named William,1646, Andrew,1648, Elizabeth,1650, James,1652, Francis,1654, Samuel,1657, Joseph,16 60, John,1662, Jane,1665.

Brevard Family D
Rev James Alexander (1634 - 1704 Possibly Immigrant from Ireland married Marion Shaw

Rev. James was born in Bughall Scotland. He went to County Donegal in (what is now) Northern Ireland, and settled (probably) in Raphoe. He was active in the Laggan Presbytery there. His seven sons and two daughters left Ireland for America in the ship Welcome, landed in 21 Sep1670. Rev. James and his wife are presumed to have remained in Ireland.

Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil County Maryland, some of them going to the New Munster Tract in the extreme northern part of Cecil County (in fact part of New Munster was north of the present Maryland ? Pennsylvania boundary) and others settling to the south, still in Cecil County, near the western terminus of the present Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

-------------------------------

OTHER THEORIES

Look for: PA Genealogy Magazine Pg 85 to 86

The children of Reverend James Alexander of Raphoe, Ireland and of the Laggan Presbytery whose children came to America on the good Ship Welcome that anchored in the Delaware River in 1679.

There was also an Alexander family in Somerset Co. as early as 1666. Also John Mcknitt settled there about the same period (see Old Somerset, by ClaytonTorrence).

Reverend James Alexander , a member of the Laggan Presbytery in Raphoe was imprisoned there in 1680, which may have induced his sons to flee to America.

Little is known of his life other than that he must have been an educated man. Presbyterian ordination demanded a university degree and the only universities granting a theological degree at that time were in Scotland. Leyburn in his The Scotch-Irish. A Social History, Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina Press, 1962 said "Presbyterian ministers were... always respected, however tyrannous or ungracious their lives...The ministry was the highest calling that could come to a youth."

James Alexander was the father of nine children, all of whom, with the possible exception of Jane, came to America on the ship Welcome, landing 21 September 1670 and settling first in Somerset County, MD and later in Cecil Co. MD.

His wife Marion Shaw probably died in Ireland. If so, he apparently returned to Ireland sometime before 1691. In The Records of the General Synod of Ulster, James Alexander is noted as absent from the meetings in 1691, 1692, and 1694 but sent excuses which were accepted, and his death on 17 November 1704 was noted.

Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil Co. MD. Some of them going to the New Munster Tract in the extreme northern part of Cecil Co. (in fact part of New Munster was north of the present MD.- PN. boundry) and others settling to the south,still in Cecil Co.,near the western terminus of the present Chesapeake and DL.Canal.

There is a well established tradition that seven Alexander brothers, Presbyterians from Scotland who had sojourned a while in the north of Ireland, probably at Raphoe Co., Donegal, and Sligo Co., came to Somerset Co. Maryland before going on to Cecil Co. If we may judge from the circumstantial evidence remaining, then along with the brothers came two sisters: one, the wife of Matthew Wallace; the other Jane who married John McKnitt.

In Somerset, at early dates, we find William, Andrew, Samuel, and John Alexander, and in Cecil County James, Francis, Joseph, and the afore-mentioned Samuel Alexander. I hazard a guess that they were sons of the Reverend James Alexander, of Raphoe, a member of Laggan Presbytery in 168 0, whose ministerial brethren then in northern Ireland included David Brown, of Urney, William Traile, of Lifford, Thomas Wilson, of Killybegs, and William Liston, of Letterkenny, to mention a few. I name these because one David Brown became an important civic-minded Presbyterian leader in Somerset: because William Traile and Thomas Wilson soon joined Francis Makemie, "father of organized Presbyterianism in America", in his labor in Somerset: and because William Alexander , Sr., of Somerset, had a grandson named for William Liston. At first in Somerset and later in Cecil, we find Matthew Wallace and John McKnitt.

In the records of "The General Synod of Ulster" (a copy of these records in three volumes is in the library of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Witherspoon Bldg., Philadelphia.] James Alexander and William Liston, of Raphoe, are noted as absent from the meetings in 1691,1692,an d 1694, after which Liston's name appears no more; but James were accepted, and finally his death on 17 November 1704 was minuted [Opus cit,vol I,96] How early he became a member of Laggan Presbytery I do not know.

For convenience in identification let us assume that they were born in the following order and about the year named William,1646, Andrew,1648, Elizabeth,1650, James,1652, Francis,1654, Samuel,1657, Joseph,16 60, John,1662, Jane,1665.

...
Alexander Pioneers Reverend James Alexander He was a minister of the CONVOY Congregation, County Donegal Ireland, from 1678 to his death in 1704. It is believed he was first a minister of Raphoe congregation County Donegal, for a time between 1640 and 1678. Both congregations are in the Raphoe Presbytery.

Laggan Presbytery. The Alexander family of New Munster was originally settled in Scotland. About the time of James I they, together with a large number of Presbyterians, migrated to Ireland and settled in Ulster. During the latter part of the Seventeenth century several Alexanders migrated to America and settled in Cecil and Somerset Co. Maryland.

------------------------------

Alexander Family Migration To America

Gardner
Spalding Blount Vaughan Baker Carr,

Home and related families from Scotland, England back to ancient times. Entries: 25671 Updated: 2006-06-05 01:53:12 UTC (Mon) Contact: Richard Alan Nelson ________________________________________ This is a work in progress. Corrections, suggestions, additions, etc. always welcome. Thanks to Ron Custer, email: ronaldgcus@earthlink.net, for sharing his GEDCOM links back to Adam. ________________________________________ Index Descendancy Register Pedigree Ahnentafel Download GEDCOM Add Post-em ________________________________________ • ID: I00613 • Name: James Alexander • Sex: M • Title: Rev • Name: James I Alexander • Birth: 1634 in Bughall, Stirling, Scotland • Birth: ABT 1630 in Bughall, Stirlingshire, Scotland • Death: 17 NOV 1704 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland • Death: 17 NOV 1704 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland • Note:

Name: James ALEXANDER Given Name: James Surname: Alexander Sex: M Birth: 1634 in Bughall, Stirling, Scotland 1 1 2 1 1 3 4 3 Death: 17 Nov 1704 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 5 1 6 1 3 4 3 Birth: Wft Est 1604-1647 7 Birth: Abt 1634 in Bughall, Scotland 5 Birth: 1634 4 8 Death: 1704 7 4 8 ORDN: 12 Dec 1677 Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 9 10 1 3 4 3 Change Date: 27 Feb 2001 3 4 3

Note: [alexander8.FTW] [alexander7.FTW] REV. James Alexander , a member of the Lagan Presbytery in Raphoe was imprisoned there in 1680, which may have induced the brothers to flee to America. James Alexander, the Reverend and wife Mary Maxwell. He died about 1704?, brother or cousin to William Alexander who was the father of the seven brothers and two sisters who came to America. (Preyer)Pennsylvania Genol Mag Pg 85 to 86 There is a well established tradition that seven Alexander brothers, Presbyterians from Scotland who had sojourned a while in the north of Ireland, probably at Raphoe. Co., Donegal, and Sligo, Co., came to Somerset Co. Maryland before going on to Cecil Co. If we may judge from the circumstantial evidence remaining, then along with the brothers came two sisters: one, the wife of Matthew Wallace; the other Jane, who married John McKnitt.

In Somerset, at early dates, we find William, Andrew, Samuel, and John Alexander, and in Cecil County James, Francis, Joseph, and the fore-mentioned Samuel Alexander. I hazard a guess that they were sons of the Reverend James Alexander, of Raphoe, a member of Lagan Presbytery in 168 0, whose ministerial brethren then in northern Ireland included David Brown, of Urney, William Traile, of Lifford, Thomas Wilson, of Killybegs, and William Liston, of Letter Kenny, tormentor n a few. I name these because one David Brown became an important civic-minded Presbyterian leader in Somerset: because William Traile and Thomas Wilson soon joined Francis Makemie, "father of organized Presbyterianism in America", in his labor in overset: and because William Alexander , Sr., of Somerset, had a grandson named for William Liston. At first in Somerset and later in Cecil, we find Matthew Wallace and John McKnitt. In the records of "The General Synod of Ulster" (a copy of these records in three volumes i s in the library of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Witherspoon Bldg., Philadelphia.] James Alexander and William Liston, of Raphoe, are noted as absent from the meting sin 1691,1692,an d 1694, after which Liston's name appears no more; but James were accepted, and finally his death on 17 November 1704 was minute [Opus cit,vol I,96] How early he became a member of Lagan Presbytery I do not know.

For convenience in identification let us assume that they were born in the following order an d about the year named William,1646, Andrew,1648, Elizabeth,1650, James,1652, Francis,1654,Samuel,1657, Joseph,16 60, John,1662, Jane,1665. Brevard Family D Rev. James Alexander (1634 - 1704 Possibly Immigrant from Ireland m Mary Maxwell

Rev. James was born in Bughall Scotland. He went to County Donegal in (what is now) Northern Ireland, and settled (probably) in Raphaoe. He was active in the Lagan Presbytery there. His seven sons and two daughters left Ireland for America in the ship Welcome, landing 21 Sep1670. Rev. James and his wife are presumed to have remained in Ireland. Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil County Maryland, some of them going to the New Munster Tract in the extreme northern part of Cecil County (in fact part of New Munster was north of the present Maryland – Pennsylvania boundary) and others settling to the south, still in Cecil County, near the westerner minus of the present Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Alexander Pioneers

Reverend James Alexander He was a minister of the CONVOY Congregation, County Donegal Ire land, from 1678 to his death in 1704.Itis believed he was first a minister of Raphoe congregation County Donegal, for a time between 1640 and 1678. Both congregations are in the Raphoe Presbytery. Laggan Presbytery. The Alexander family of New Munster was originally settled in Scotland. About the time of James I they, together with a large number of Presbyterians, migrated to Ireland and settled in Ulster. During the latter part of the seventh century several Alexander’s migrated to America and settled in Cecil and Somerset Co. Maryland

Father: James ALEXANDER b: Abt 1610 in Menstrie, Parish of Logie Clakmannshire, Sterling, Scotland

Marriage 1 Mary Shaw MAXWELL b: Abt 1628 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland
Married: Abt 1645 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 1 11 12 13 2 14 3 4 3
Married: Abt 1650 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Sealing Spouse: 13 Jun 1998 in ARIZO 15 3 4 3

Note: [alexander8.FTW] [alexander7.FTW] William Henry Foote says that James, not William was probably the father of the seven brothers and 2 sisters who came to America. James was probably the Reverend James Alexander of Ulster, Ireland. Mr. Norris Prayer in his book, Hezekiah Alexander, and the Revolution in the Backcountry says that William was the ancestor, and that he came to America, Northampton County, Virginia and there married and had the9children. He mentions that Rev. James Alexander, probably a brother of William, father of the William who ca me to America was put in jail for staging a fast in protest to English oppression there in Ulster. Foote, Sketches of North Carolina, says that the seven brothers and two sisters came to America from Ulster, but not their parents, and first came to Somerset, Country, Maryland or Pennsylvania Rev. James Alexander who was born abt. 1630 and d. 1704. James, a member of the Lagan Presbytery in Raphoe was imprisoned there in1680, which may have induced the brothers to flee to America. In the year 1688 a group of seven brothers Alexander fled the cruelties inflicted by James I I upon his Scottish subjects in Ireland, carrying aboard their preacher who had come to the dock to administer services. This company landed in Manhattan Island (New York). Their descendants of these families went into Pennsylvania and North Carolina (Foote's Sketches of NC) Originally from Scotland this family of Alexander’s was supposedly in Ireland about 1610. But their grievances increasing a few years preceding the Revolution of 1688, their ministers imprisoned for holding fasts, Fellow ministers, David Brown, Thomas Wilson and William Traile also came to America.

Brevard Family C

James family settled 1707 in "The Woods" between the branches of the Elk River. His 90 Acre plantation Glascow adjoined Bullen's Range; a tract laid out for Samuel Alexander (son of Rev James Alexander and Mary Maxwell)called "Sligo:" "High Spaniola"( Hispanolia) covering 900 acres in which both John McKnitt Sr. and John McKnitt Jr. had an interest." All were adjoining and all were located within a mile of the western tear minus of the present Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, where Back Creek flowed into what is now the canal, and all within a mile of Maryland/Delaware boundary. None of these "Plantations" were in the New Munster tract at the extreme northern end of Cecil County, where Herdon erroneously places therm. Welch Research "It appears that the good ship Welcome that an chord in the Delaware River in 1679 had brought to the new world the family (children) of the Reverand James Alexander of Raphoe, Ireland, and the Lagan Presbytery. He was born about 1625 and died 17 Nov1704.Children William b 1646, Andrew b 1648, Elizabeth b 1650, Jamesb1652, Francis b 1654, Samuel b 1657, Joseph b 1660, John b 1662, Janeb1665.James Alexander was ordained Dec 12 677; imprisened 8 months for publicy holding " a day o f prayer and fasting" Minister of Raphoe;3rd minister at Convey (on Montgomery estate) Salary in 1691 24 Lbs and24barrels of corn. Died Nov 17,1704 (Convoy united with Carnone Congregation in 1957)(this data in book at S.R.H.S)

House Alexander Chapter II pg 6 Record James E. Alexander

"The Alexander’s of Somerset Co., MD. As early as the year 1665 some settlers by name Alexander began to purchase land in the most southern county of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. They seem to have formed a considerable port ion of that Scoth-Irish element which constituted the first three Presbyterian churches of America which were organized by the Rev Francis McKemmie towards the close of that century. There cords of the Land Office at Princess Anne show that the Alexander’s increased in that county and became quite numerous for about one hundred years, after which they began to disperse and continued to migrate until at the present
time (1878) there are probably none of the name residing

Children
William ALEXANDER b: 1646 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Andrew ALEXANDER b: 1648 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Elizabeth ALEXANDER b: 1650 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland James, Jr ALEXANDER b: 1652 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Francis ALEXANDER b: 1654 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Samuel ALEXANDER b: 1657 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Joseph ALEXANDER b: 1660 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland John ALEXANDER b: 1662 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Jane ALEXANDER b: 1665 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland

Sources: Author: Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D, 1877, Edinburgh Title: Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and the House of Alexander

Note: TEXT "Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and the House of Alexander" by Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D, 1877, Edinburgh, referring to Raphoe, Donnegal, Ulster, Ireland, looking for him. I found a Rev. James Alexander "at Raphoe", who was a Presbyterian minister the Author: Alice Norris Parran 1935

Title: Alice Norris Parran; REGISTER OF MARYLAND'S HERALDIC FAMILIES 1634toMarch 25th 1935 Series II; Pub H.G. Roebuck and Sons Publication: Pub H.G. Roebuck and Sons Baltimore MD.1935"The Tercentenary Edition is Sponsored by The SOUTHERN MARYLANDSOCIETYCOLONIA

Note: TEXT REGISTER OF MARYLAND HERALDIC FAMILIES This data begins at Connecticut Chead Chath of the Hundred Battles, and continues on down chronologically through the line as it is well known and established--joins the line of Bruce, on down....Margaret. John Title: Alexander7.FTW Repository: Title: Alexander8.FTW Repository: Title: Alexander to Godfrey.FTW Repository: Title: based on "The Complete Peerage from Lee Parker Note: TITL based on "The Complete Peerage from Lee Parker Lee Parker lparker@cacaphony.net 3796 Emm TEXT Alexander Alexander and the title of Earl of Stirling. (L Parker) William Alexander of Menstrie, in Logie, county Clackmann Author: Brøderbund Software, Inc. Title: World Family Tree Vol. 2, Ed. 1 Publication: Release date: November 29, 1995

Note: Customer pedigree. Repository:

Page: Tree #0071 Title: 739490.FTW Repository: Title: Gail Kilgore E-Mail GKilgore@primenet.com Note: TITL Gail Kilgore E-Mail GKilgore@primenet.com Gail Kilgore 10075 Chinooh. Dr. Casa Grande Arz 85222 Title: Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 From: "Alexander Family"

Note: TITL Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 From: "Alexander Family" Albert L. Alexander 50 East North Temple Author: Dr Alvah M. Stafford and Mrs Evelyn Alexander Stafford Title: Dr Alvah M .Stafford and Mrs Evelyn Alexander Stafford; **ALEXANDERNOTEBOOKS complied and researched by Dr. Alvah Staffor Publication: Dr Alvah and Mrs. Stafford's "Alexander Papers" which some 400 pages of material is found only in the Carolina room of the

Note: TEXT pg. 3. The Alexander Pioneers who settled in Somerset County, Maryland were Andrew, William Sr. Samuel, James, Francis and John.--others of the name who may also be considered as of the first generate ion. These were among the original grantees of land i Author: Kerry Welch Evans Alexander Title: Alexander Research by Kerry Welch Evans Alexander Log -167 Publication: Charolett NC DAR

Note: TEXT Three typewritten stories on Hezekiah, James and Joseph from the Hezekiah Homesite Museum in Charlotte, NC. Author: Francis Alexander Butterworth Title: Butterworth, Frances Alexander; Records of a Family of the House of Alexander 1640 to 1909 Publication: FHL photo copy of original published Chicago 1909 F.A. Butterwlrtn 190987pg. ill. Coat arms portFHC IGI 1209423

Note: TEXT Descendents of William Alexander, Somerset & Cecil Co.MD Author: James Alexander McCluer Title: James Alexander McCluer The McCluer Family pg 184 - 188 Publication: pub. 1914,Petersburg, Va.

Note: TITL James Alexander McCluer The McCluer Family pg 184 – 188 Extracts from The McClure Family by Rev. James Alexander McClTEXT (BOQ) We are indebted to James Alexander McClure, author of" The McClure Family,"pp. 184-188 for the following:

Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Title: Ordinance Index (TM) Publication: 25 Jan 2000 Edition REV. James Alexander , a member of the Lagan Presbytery in Raphoe was imprisoned there in 1680, which may have induced the brothers to flee to America.

There is a well established tradition that seven Alexander brothers, Presbyterians from Scotland who had sojourned a while in the north of Ireland, probably at Raphoe. County, Donegal, and Sligo, Co., came to Somerset Co. Maryland before going on to Cecil Co. If we may judge from the circumstantial evidence remaining, then along with the brothers came two sisters: one, the wife of Matthew Wallace; the other Jane, who married John McKnitt.

In Somerset, at early dates, we find William, Andrew, Samuel, and John Alexander, and in Cecil County James, Francis, Joseph , and the afore-mentioned Samuel Alexander. I hazard a guess that they were sons of the Reverend James Alexander, of Raphoe, a member of Lagan Presbytery in 1680, whose ministerial brethren then in northern Ireland included David Brown, of Urney, William Traile, of Lifford, Thomas Wilson, of Killybegs, and William Liston, of Letter Kenny, to mention a few. I name these because one David Brown became an important civic-minded Presbyterian leader in Somerset: because William Traile and Thomas Wilson soon joined Francis Makemie, "father of organized Presbyterianism in America", in his labor in Somerset: and because William Alexander, Sr., of Somerset, had a grandson named for William Liston. At first in Somerset and later in Cecil, we find Matthew Wallace and John McKnitt.

Rev. James was born in Bughall Scotland. He went to County Donegal in (what is now) Northern Ireland, and settled (probably) in Raphaoe. He was active in the Lagan Presbytery there. His seven sons and two daughters left Ireland for America in the ship Welcome, landed in 21 Sep1670. Rev. James and his wife are presumed to have remained in Ireland. Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil County Maryland, some of them going to the New Munster Tract in the extreme northern part of Cecil County (in fact part of New Munster was north of the present Maryland - Pennsylvania boundary) and others settling to the south, still in Cecil County, near the western terminus of the present Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

Reverend James Alexander He was a minister of the CONVOY Congregation, County Donegal Ireland, from 1678 to his death in 1704.It is believed he was first a minister of Raphoe congregation County Donegal, for a time between 1640 and 1678. Both congregations are in the Raphoe Presbytery. Laggan Presbytery. The Alexander family of New Munster were originally settled in Scotland. About the time of James I they, together with a large number of Presbyterians, migrated to Ireland and settled in Ulster. During the latter part of the seventh century several Alexander’s migrated to America and settled in Cecil and Somerset Co. Maryland. The children of Reverend James Alexander of Raphoe, Ireland and of the Lagan Presbytery who's children came to America on the good Ship Welcome that anchored in the Delaware River in 1679. There was and Alexander family in Somerset Co. as early as 1666. Also John Mcknitt settled there about the same period (see Old Somerset, by Clayton Torrence). Joseph Alexander of New Munster married Abigail Mcknitt and one of his sons was John Mcknitt Alexander. (ref: Brevard Family by Robert Stephans Hand ) John McKnitt Alexander and family settled 1707 in "The Wood" between the branches of the Elk River. His 90 acre plantation" Glascow" adjoined" Bullen's Range"; on a tract laid out for Samuel Alexander (son of Rev. James Alexander and Mary Maxwell) ,called "Sligo;"High Spaniola (Hisponolia)"covering 900 acres in which both John McKnitt Sr. and John Mcknitt Jr., had an interest;. All were adjoining and all were located within a mile of the western terminus of the present Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, where Back creek flowed into what is now the canal, and all within a mile of the Maryland/Dl boundary. None of these "plantations" were in the New Munster tract at the extreme northern end of Cecil County. Rev. James was born in Bughall Scotland. He went to County Donegal in (what is now) Northern Ireland, and settled (probably) in Raphaoe. He was active in the Lagan Presbytery there. His seven sons and two daughters. Left Ireland for America in the ship Welcome, landing 21 Sep 1670. Rev James and his wife are presuming to have remained in Ireland. Their children settled in Somerset and later in Cecil Co.MD. Some of them going to the New Munster Tract in the extreme northern part of Cecil Co. (in fact part of New Munster was north of the present MD.- PN. boundary) and others settling to the south, still in Cecil Co., near the western terminus of the present Chesapeake and DL. Canal. The Reverend James Alexander was born in Bughall Scotland.

One source gives his birth date as 1634; but if subsequent dates for the births of his children are correct, he must have been born earlier, perhaps around 1625. He died in 1704, probably in Ireland (Northern Ireland).

James Alexander married Mary Maxwell of southern Scotland. They went to Raphoe, County Donegal, in the Ulster Province of Ireland (Northern Ireland), where James Alexander was a minister in the Lagan Presbytery. Little is known of his life other than that he must have been an educated man. Presbyterian ordination demanded a university degree and the only universities granting a theological degree at that time were in Scotland. Leyburn in his The Scotch-Irish. A Social History, Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina Press, 1962 said "Presbyterian ministers were... always respected, however tyrannous or ungracious their lives...The ministry were the highest calling that could come to a youth." Mary Maxwell and James Alexander were the parents of nine children, all of whom, with the possible exception of Jane, came to America on the ship Welcome, landing 21 September 1670 and settling first in Somerset County, MD and later in Cecil Co. MD. Mary Maxwell is thought to have died in Ireland and the Rev Alexander may have come with his family when they immigrated. If so, he apparently returned to Ireland sometime before 1691. In The Records of the General Synod of Ulster, James Alexander is noted as absent from the meetings in 1691, 1692, and 1694 but sent excuses which were accepted, and his death on 17 November 1704 was noted.

Father: Robert Alexander b: 1610 in Stirlingshire, Scotland Mother: Mary Hamilton b: ABT 1607 in Stirlingshire, Scotland

Marriage 1 Mary Maxwell b: ABT 1630 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland Children 1. William Alexander b: ABT 1647 2. Andrew Alexander b: ABT 1648 3. James Alexander b: 1652 4. Francis Alexander b: 1654 5. John Alexander b: ABT 1662 6. Jane Alexander b: 1665 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 7. Elizabeth Alexander b: 1650 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 8. Joseph Alexander b: 1660 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland 9. Samuel Alexander b: 1657 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland

Marriage 2 Mary Shaw Maxwell b: 1634 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland • Married: ABT 1645 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland Children 1. Jane Alexander b: 1665 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ulster, Ireland

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Presbyterian Minister

James Alexander married Mary Maxwell of southern Scotland. They went to
Raphoe, County Donegal, in the Ulster Province of Ireland (Northern
Ireland), where James Alexander was a minister in the Laggan Presbytery. Little is known of his life other than that he must have been an educated man. Presbyterian ordination demanded a university degree and the only universities granting a theological degree at that time were in Scotland. Leyburn in his The Scotch-Irish. A Social History, Chapel Hill:U of North Carolina Press, 1962 said "Presbyterian ministers were... always respected, however tyrannous or ungracious their lives...The ministry was the highest calling that could come to a youth."

Mary Maxwell and James Alexander were the parents of nine children, all of whom, with the possible exception of Jane, came to America on the ship Welcome, landing 21 September 1670 and settling first in Somerset County, MD and later in Cecil Co. MD. Mary Maxwell is thought to have died in Ireland and the Rev Alexander may have come with his family when they immigrated. If so, he apparently returned to Ireland sometime before 1691. In The Records of the General Synod of Ulster, James Alexander is noted as absent from the meetings in 1691, 1692, and 1694 but sent excuses which were accepted, and his death on 17 November 1704 was noted.

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James Alexander

James was the son of Robert Alexander and Mary Hamilton. James was born in Bughall, Stirling, Scotland. James married Mary Maxwell, daughter of John and Elizabeth Maxwell.

The Alexander family came to Raphoe, Ireland as tenants of Sir James Cunningham, a Scottish nobleman. The Alexander’s settled in the Laggan Presbytery.

James was a member of the Laggan Presbytery in Raphoe. James was ordained 12 Dec 1677 in Raphoe. James was minister of the Convor Congregation in County Donegal from 1678 until his death in 1704. He was the third minister at Convor on the Montgomery estate. His salary in 1691 consisted of £24 and 24 barrels of corn.

James was imprisoned for eight months in Raphoe in 1680/81 for calling a day of fasting and prayer to protest the policies of the Church of England. This was, perhaps, the motivating factor in the immigration to Maryland of his seven sons, who, perhaps fled to Maryland from Ireland.

James is noted as absent in the meetings of the "General Synod of Ulster" in 1691, 1692 and 1694.
James died 17 Nov 1704 in Raphoe, Donegal, Ireland. Mary Maxwell died in Raphoe at a date unknown. James married 2) Marian Shaw, his widow at the time of his death.

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Rev. James John Alexander

Notes There are two schools of thought as to who the father of the seven
brothers and two sisters, who migrated to America in the late 1600�s, were. Most believe that Reverend James Alexander, of the Laggan Presbytery, and who was imprisoned in Raphoe in 1681 for calling a fast to protest the policies of the Church of England, was the father. His wife was Mary Maxwell.

The Abridged Virkus Vol V p 42 under Arnold: " William Alexander came from Scotland before 1675 and settled in Somerset Co., MD where he was an extensive trader in lands. Wife unproven. Issue as known, William, Jr. m. to Catherine. (William known to have been in Co. Donegal, Ireland. He named his farm Raphoe.

Ray Worth, of Mecklenburg Signers, says the Alexander’s first came to North Hampton Co., Va and then moved to Somerset Co.

James Taylor, "The Great Historic Families of Scotland", London: J.S Virtue & Co., 1889. "William Alexander, Earl of Stirling to John Alexander, b. c 1590, Tarbert, Kintyre, Scotland whose children were William and seven other sons (I have also Phillip, Robert, and John born about 1624-53). William, son of John, had the 7 boys and 2 girls who came to Somerset. and Cecil Co. John Alexander b. 1603 Stirling, Scotland, son of William Alexander, Earl o f Stirling, and Janet Erskine of Mar, married Elizabeth Graham in 1623; son, William b. 1624 d. 1715 CecilCo., MD, emigrated to America in 1659 to VA d. 1677 Stafford Co., VA

Norris Preyer in his book "Hezekiah and the Revolution in the Backcountry" says that the great grandparents of the 7 brothers came to Ireland about 1610 and one son, William, came to America about 1688. The two, James and William, are brothers and are both said to be the ancestors of our Alexander’s.

Noris W.Preyer, pg 5: " The Alexander forebears came to Raphoe, Ireland, as tenants of Sir James Conningham, as Scottish nobelman from Ayrshire, and settled on lands granted him in Donegal County in Laggan district. In 1640's. William Alexander, their son, left Scotland to seek a better life for himself in America. He first settled in on new lands opened up in Eastersn Shore of VA, Northamptons County. In 1670 William and his children left VA and moved to Somerset Co., MD. Norris Preyer, pg 11: " William Alexander who came to America was a first cousin or brother to a John Jr., William, Archibald, Robert, and Rev. Francis Alexander who remained in Donegal County. Susie Ames states in her document that Rev. James had no heirs. The reference is: " The Reunion of Two Virginia Counties", Journal of Southern History, 8 Nov 1942: 536-48. Alexander Memories: "Rev. James is said to be a probable son of William Alexander 'of Raphoe' who is on a Hearth Roll Tax of 1662, named in parish of Clonleigh, County Donegal.

Maryland's Heraldic Families, from: Series II of "Register of Maryland's Heraldic Families", by Alice Norris Parran, 1938. Page 66: "Elias Alexander, son of Andrew, (and grandson of William Sr. of Somerset); wife, dau--of Joseph Alexander, of New Munster, and O'Dwiretract. Issue--six sons and daughters--William 1715, m. Agnes, his cousin. Abraham,1717-1786, m. Dorcas. Zebulon, 1720-1784, m.(first two unnamed) 3rd. Jane McClung. Ezra, 172?-1800, m. (wife not listed.) Arthur, d. 1763, m. Margaret McKamy. Daughter of Elias unnamed." Maryland's Heraldic Families, pg 64 " Andrew Alexander, b.1650 was brother of William Jr. and son of William Sr., of Somerset Co., who bought land in Somerset Co. and had first deed of that county made to him".

"William is a son of John Alexander of Eredy. The name Eredy closely resembles Eradall, one of the merk lands in South Kintyre, granted by James III in 1484 to Tarlach MacAlexander, of Tarbert. (Reg. Sig., lib. X., 9 ,reference). It says "Sir William Alexander of Menstry, afterwards Earl of Stirling, maintained a correspondence with his relatives in Kintyre....... in 1629, the original settlers included John Alexander of Eredy; he received new titles to the land which was chiefly appropriated to Scottish settlers. (Hill's Montgomery MSS, p183).

Norris Preyer: "According to family tradition a group of Scotch-Irish including a number of Alexanders came to America in the 1688 and brought with them their minister who had come to the dock to administer services. This company landed in Manhattan Island, New York. Their descendants went into Pennsylvania and North Carolina (Foote�s, Sketches of NorthCarolina. ) This was about the time that our Alexander’s did come to America. Originally from Scotland, this family migrated to Ulster, Northern Ireland. In 1609, after the accession of James VI of Scotland, there was a move to populate the north of Ireland with Scot and English Protestants. The Alexander’s came to Raphoe, Ireland as tenants of Sir James Cunningham, a Scottish nobleman from Aryshire and settled on lands in Donegal Co in the Laggan District. In about 1620, King James I decreed that all tenant rights were henceforth "utterly extinguished and abolished". The large landowners proceeded to raise their rents exorbitantly. If unable to pay they were evicted. In 1625 James I�s son, Charles, was hostile to Protestantism and instituted a campaign of harassment against nonconformists. Irish ministers, who refused to conform to the Church of England, were deposed leaving most Presbyterian congregations without ministers in1636-1641. The terrible winter of 1639-40 destroyed Ireland�s potato crop and brought famine and death to tens of thousands. The following year an Irish uprising started a civil war. Thousands of Scottish Protestants died during the 1640�s and thousands more were forced to flee Ireland."

Norris Preyer who has written a scholarly work on Hezekiah and The Revolution in the Backcountry, quotes Susie Ames in that Rev. James had no heirs. Preyer states that William Alexander, a cousin or brother of Rev. James was their father and that he came to America and was found in Northampton County, Virginia, married here and was the father of seven sons and two daughters. Northampton is at the southern tip of the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. However here the nonconformists, including William Alexander who was a Calvinist, were prohibited from preaching either 'publicly or privately' and Northhampton County was denied representation in the House of Burgess. Also very heavy taxes were imposed on the Northamptoners. They responded with a protest against these 'arbitrary and illegal' taxes. Then in 1652 an English fleet sailed into Chesapeake Bay, deposed Governor Berkeley and placed the colony under the control of the Commonwealth. However, in 1660 Charles II was restored to the English throne and Parliament began prohibiting the direct shipment of tobacco to the continent. Sir William Berkeley returned as governor of Virginia and nonconformist ministers were once again prohibited from preaching and they faced banishment from the colony. But in the neighboring colony of Maryland, Lord Baltimore had granted religious toleration. So during the 1670�s the Alexander family moved from Virginia and established homes in Somerset County on Maryland�s eastern shore. Also moving from Northampton to Somerset County were the Brevard, Davidson, Harris, McKnitt, Polk, Steele and Wallace families. They had been in Northampton when the pledge was made to support the Commonwealth (1652). Upon the sites of the abandoned Indian villages, which had been ravaged by smallpox, the Scotch-Irish settled. They and the English Congregationalists established themselves along Manokin, Pocomoke and Wiccomico Rivers, and English Congregationalists at the mouth of the Annemessex. In 1680 four pastors from the Laggan Presbytery of Donegal, Ireland were sent to them�Francis McKamie, William Traile, Samuel Davis and Thomas Wilson. In 1689, when James II had fled to the continent and Parliament had offered the crown to William of Orange and his wife, Mary Stuart, who were Protestants, James and his troups of French and Irish Catholics landed in Ireland and soon overran Ulster. At this point, William Alexander Sr., and Jr., signed the pledge to stand by William and Mary. (Sharf �s History of Maryland) William Sr. was thought to have died by about 1690.(Preyer)

One Stephen Horsey lead a group of settlers from the Eastern Shore of Virginia then called Accomac (now Accomac and Northampton Counties) and settled between the Little and the Big Annemessex Rivers in what is now Somerset County, Maryland between 1665 and 1670. Maryland had made overtures to dissenters and Quakers, so they moved across the line into Maryland. As early as 1665, some settlers named Alexander, began to purchase land in the most southern county of the eastern shore of Maryland, on the Annemessex and Pocomoke Rivers of Somerset Co. Maryland. Stephen Horsey died there in 1722.

About 1675, William Alexander Sr., and Jr., were engaged in buying and selling land there. The Reverend Francis McKemie was sent from Barbados and established the first Presbyterian Church on American soil. McKemie lived over the line in Accomack, Va., but his labors included these people. Dr. Stafford states that this Alexander family was the first group of Alexander’s to settle in the United States. The brothers, Andrew, William, Samuel, James, Francis and John Alexander were early found in Somerset County. There is documentary proof that all had settled in Maryland between the years 1677 and 1714. Probably some of them were there before. (Stafford). Joseph Alexander, as well as Brevard, Knox,, McKnitt, Polk, Wallace and Wilson families settled at the headwaters of the Manokin River (now Princess Anne). Also on the Manokin were the two sisters, Elizabeth, the wife of Matthew Wallace a survey or who had helped lay out the boundaries of Somerset, and Jane, married to John McKnitt, a farmer whose land was named Glasgow after his ancestral Scottish home. Joseph Alexander married Abigail McKnitt.. William Alexander Jr. married Catherine Wallace. James married Mary Steele. Tobacco, the chief cash crop quickly exhausted the sandy soil of the Eastern Shore and Somerset was isolated from major market routes. In 1683, Joseph Alexander took out a warrant in his and son, James�, name for a tract in Cecil County known as New Munster. His brother-in-law, Matthew Wallace and brother, James Alexander, also purchased land warrants in New Munster at about this same time.(Preyer) In 1680, George Talbot, cousin of the third Lord Baltimore, was granted a large tract of land which lay between the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, and known as Susquehanna Manor. He later christened this land 'New Connaught', which is now Cecil County. In 1683, George Talbot issued the following certificate 'Surveyed for Edwin O�Dwire and 15 other Irishmen'. We are not sure exactly when the Alexander’s departed but probably around 1700. John McKnitt whose wife, Jane, had died, John Brevard, Andrew and Samuel left Somerset around1701. Somerset records state that in March of 1707, Matthew Wallace departed to 'the woods at the head of the Bay'. This land lay in the northeastern corner of Maryland next to the Pennsylvania border and a mile west of the Delaware line. Corn, barley, oats and flax were grown for the family�s own needs and tobacco and wheat were the money crops. The sons also learned 'trades'. Joseph and son, James, were tanners. James and son, David, were weavers. John McKnitt was a shoe-maker. Others were known as farmers, carpenters, etc. Joseph�s son, James, married Margaret McKnitt, daughter of John and second wife, Jane Wallace.

In the year 1714, James Stephenson, gentleman of Buck�s Co., Pennsylvania appointed John McKnitt of Back Creek, Cecil Co. MD, his attorney to sell a tract of land in the northeast corner of Cecil Co., called 'New Munster'. This tract of some 6000 acres began where the Shure Creek enters the Big Elk and with a breadth of two miles and North six miles up the Elk river until it entered some distance within he present Pennsylvania line in Chester Co., PA. Edward Odine had first patented these lands from King Charles and Odine sold them to Daniel Taos. Daniel Taos willed them to his son, John, and he, having run into debt to Robert Roberts, the colonial Legislature granted 4500 acres to Roberts to satisfy his claim against Taos who had absconded. Robert Roberts then sold 407 acres to Daniel Pearce of Kent Co for 6000 pounds of tobacco, deed for which is dated the 4th of Sept. 1713. This 407 acres was located in the southwest corner of New Munster and contained the site of the mill near the mouth of the Shure now owned by Howard Scott. Roberts also sold to Thomas Stephenson, of Bucks County, PA, nearly three thousand acres of the same tract, a large part of which was east of the Big Elk for the sum of �300 current money of Maryland. The deed from Roberts to Stephenson is dated 1 April 1714.

On the 8th day of May, following, Stephenson sold the tract on the east side of the Big Elk containing upwards of 1100 acres, through John McKnitt, to a company consisting of James Alexander, farmer, Arthur Alexander, farmer, David and James Alexander, weavers, Joseph Alexander, tanner and son, James, and Mathias (Matthew) Wallace. It was noted that they had already worked the land for some years so their settlement was prior to 1714. Johnston states that there is no doubt that these were part of the '15 other Irishmen' mentioned in the certificate of survey and that they located upon New Munster many years prior to the time at which they obtained the deed to their farms. In accordance with a covenant that the grantor Stephenson would make them another and and better deed if they demanded it any time during the next seven years after the date of the first deed. By eight deeds, each of which is dated August 15th 1718 (recorded in Cecil co. Deedbook 3), Stephenson re-conveyed his interest in nine hundred and three acres of the New Munster tract to Joseph, James, David, Arthur, Elijah( Elias?) and Mary Alexander, widow of James the farmer/carpenter, who had died in 1717 and was son of Samuel. Also, John Gillespie and Mathias Wallace Jr. received deeds. This land conveyed to the Alexander’s embraced the northeast part of the New Munster tract and extended from a short distance north of Cowantown to the extreme northern boundary of New Munster, which was about a mile north of the State line and was located by Mason and Dixon fifty years afterward. It was bounded on the west by the Big Elk and the west branch of Christiana flowed through it for about a mile near the NE corner of that part of it that is now in Maryland.

James, the farmer, was located south toward the Elk; Arthur was east of James toward the Christiana; David was north of both James and Arthur; James, the weaver, and son, Moses, were north of David; Elias east of James and Moses. Near these, John Alexander bought land in 1718. Afterwards others of the same name came and settled along the borders of Pennsylvania and Maryland from Munster to Nottingham. (Arthur may be another son of James the weaver). In 1718 Stephenson gave them individually deeds to each one for that part on which they had settled and improved. These lands lay on the east side of the Elk and between that river and Christiana Creek and were close to the borders of Pennsylvania and Delaware. James with son, Moses, and James�s son, David, lived in an area, which became known as Milford Hundred. Samuel Alexander with sons, Andrew and Francis, bought lands in 1723 in the southern part of Cecil County called 'Sligo' and 'Alexandria' tracts. In the same year Samuel and others bought a lot of land for a Presbyterian Church in Bohemia in the same county. In the same year, Robert Alexander, from the city of Glasgow, Scotland, then a merchant of Annapolis, had lands in the same part of Cecil Co., which in 1723 he left to his cousin, William Alexander of North Britain, (Scotland). This William became a large landholder in the vicinity of Elkton, MD. In 1741 he and Araminta, his wife, deeded a lot in Elkton for the erection of the first Presbyterian Church in that town. His lands descended to a second Robert who went off to England at the Revolutionary war and never returned. His lands were confiscated, but after the war one-third and one-half his Negroes were restored to his wife, Isabel, and his six children, William, Lawson, Araminta, Henry, Andrew and Robert."

From "The History of Cecil County", by George Johnston, we learn that in 1723 many of the inhabitants of Milford Hundred which then embraced the northeastern part of the county, petitioned the court for a road from the New Munster road at David Alexander�s, across the main fresh of Elk River at Stephen Hollingsworth�s mill (which was the mill on Big Elk west of Cowantown.) to the church at North East. A few months afterwards, they presented another petition stating that the road was difficult, dangerous and troublesome to maintain by reason of crossing the east branch of North East twice and that it was only intended for a bridle path and that a cart road was much needed and might be made by a much nearer route, etc.

An interesting find in Chapter XIII of Francis Cooch �s, "Little Known History of Newark, Delaware and it �s Environs" (pub. 1936) is mention of 'The Seven Stars' Tavern and Inn, found in the community of Appleton, called 'Dysart�s' as far back as 1792 and later 'Fox Chase'. The section of the county in which it is located was not then known as the Fourth or Fair Hill District, but as North Milford Hundred by 1770. This area, which was part of New Munster, is located in the northeast corner of Cecil Co, about three miles west of Newark and two miles south of the Mason and Dixon line and at the intersection of the Old Nottingham road, later the Telegraph road and the road leading from Elk Landing to New London and points north. This old building, which when Cooch wrote the book, was still standing and thought to be over 200 years old. This inn was at the intersection of two important routes of travel where farmers could haul their excess grain and other crops south to tidewater Elkton for shipment to Baltimore. Cooch traced the title of the property from Edwin O�D wire down to Catherine Dysart. He states that one of the New Munster claimants was David Alexander, weaver, who obtained a deed for about 152 acres, 95perches. David Alexander, dying left the property to his children, Aaron and Ann Alexander, who, on March 18 1750/51, conveyed the same to William Langwill whose daughter, Margaret Dysart, inherited. In 1820 she conveyed the property to her children, Catherine and Levi Dysart..The farm today includes the original acreage.

At the present time (1936) it is said the farm with the Inn contains about 150 acres or just about the same acreage conveyed by Thomas Stephenson to David Alexander in 1714, but I am told that at one time, through various other purchases, the tract included 300 acres and stretched west on both sides of the Nottingham road all the way to the Big Elk Creek.�

Of the original Alexander’s of the New Munster purchase, David sold to John Alexander of Chester Co., PA. David himself removed to Chester Co. and died there about 1740, after which his widow (thought to by an Anne or Susannah) married a Mr. Dobins and removed with her husband to the Cape Fear River., NC, where her daughter, Anne Alexander, married Gilbert Clark, the first elder of the First Presbyterian Church which was gathered in that region under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Campbell in 1765. Several other Alexander families removed from Chester County to North Carolina with Dobins and his wife and settled in Mecklenburg County. This was in 1749. David Alexander �s son, Aaron, removed from the Munster settlement and settled in Sherman �s Valley, PA in 1748. (Stafford and History of John Alexander and Margaret Glassen) This Aaron later died in Mecklenburg, NC in 1771.

The families of James Alexander, son of Joseph, James and his sons including David Alexander attended the services at the Head of Christiana Presbyterian Church, located just over the Delaware line. Their pastor, The Reverend George Gillespie, had come to Christiana in 1712 and would serve there and the White Clay Creek Church until 1760.

The opening statement in the record of the Christina Church Presbytery of New Castle in 1717, among those present are named (Mr.)George Gillespie, minister of, and John Steel elder from Christiana Creek. David and his father, James, must have both attended Head of Christiana, although the James Alexander named as elder there in 1715 is thought to be son of Joseph. From a booklet on Head of Christiana Church, we learn that early elders in the church were: John Garner�1707, John Steel�1711, Andrew Wallace�1726 and David Alexander�1726. Other names of interest, connected with the Alexanders, are Whites, Samples, Kerrs, and Montgomerys. The meeting house was built on land that belonged to John Steel, an Irishman (Scotch-Irish?) who was in Philadelphia in 1711. George Gillespie was ordained in May 28 1713. In March of 1713 James Steel, son of John Steel (who apparently died at this time), leased to the elders of this church two acres and four perches of land. The elders then were Samuel Johnson and John Cross of New Castle Co., Del, Alexander White and William Semple (Sample) of Chester Co., PA, and David Alexander and Andrew Wallace of Cecil Co.MD. The consideration was an annual payment of six pence if demanded. David Alexander signed the petitition, which 88 inhabitants of Cecil Co. signed, and which was sent to the Assembly and by them referred to the 'Committee of Aggrievances' on 11 Oct 1725 (Meck. Hist. Soc. ,Baltimore). This elder John Steel, who died by 1713, may have been a brother to Mary Steel, wife of James the weaver. Mary may have died in Somerset as there is no mention of her in the 1714 or 1718 deeds.

An interesting note concerning this family. John Garner, the first elder of this church made a will on March 7th 1723/4, Probated 22 Oct 1725 leaving �40 to George Gillespie (the minister?) his entire estate to Joseph Steel during his life-time, failing issue to pass as follows: Margaret Steel, �40, children of George Gillespie, �40, children of James Steel �40, children of James Alexander by Mary Steel �40. Exec: Joseph and James Steel Test: James Alexander, John Steel, Moses Alexander. Perhaps Joseph Steel married a sister of John Garner.. Apparently Joseph, Margaret, Mary, wife of James, and James Steel were siblings. This James Alexander mentioned in the Will is believed to be our James, the weaver, who had a son named Moses as well as David and James Jr. Note that the witnesses were John Steel, probably grandfather of the Steel heirs. Perhaps Mary, wife of James Alexander, weaver, was a sister to the elder John Steel. Mary Steele was said to have been born in Raphoe about 1650 and married about 1670. She is thought to have died by 1714 when James bought land with son, Moses.

David Alexander �s estimated birth was about 1680, most likely in Somerset Co., MD. He is said to have married an Anne or Susannah (One source says she was born about 1685 and same source says in Lancaster Co., PA �however, David was in Cecil Co. by 1720) David �s children were: Anne born about 1721 in Cecil Co., MD , James who married an Elizabeth, David, Ezekiel, William who married Rebecca Brown, and John. (children David and John are speculative). (From: Dr. Stafford �s �Alexander Notebooks�)

David is said to have died soon after 1740, as his son and heir, Aaron, began disposing of his father �s property in 1749. About 1746, the widow of David Alexander married John Dobbin in Pennsylvania. For a time they resided near Winchester, VA, and then went to Carolina. They settled on the Cape Fear River. Ann Alexander, daughter of deceased, David, and stepdaughter of John Dobbin, married Gilbert, son of Alexander Clark. (NC Colonial Records Vol. 5 pg. 1197).

In 1724 David Alexander patented a tract of land in Cecil Co. called 'David �s Purchase', the certificate of survey being numbered 75. (Land office, Annapolis)

Besides children named Aaron, William and Anne, Ezekiel and James it is thought that there were sons named David, John and maybe Arthur. A David Alexander was found in Pequea, Lancaster Co., PA, Will dated 1741, and a John Alexander in Martick Twp, Lancaster Co., PA, in1763. Aaron the oldest son was probably born in Cecil Co., MD, his Will, of 15 Nov 1771 in Mecklenburg, mentions his brother William. He received a warrant for 1100 acres of land in Lancaster Co., PA, on 26 April 1742 (Pa. Arc. Vol. 24 S 3).

On 15 Nov 1749, Aaron Alexander, farmer, of Lancaster Co., PA, deeded John Alexander of Twp. of New Brittain, Chester Co., PA, part of a tract called New Munster which did formerly belong to David Alexander of Cecil Co., MD; Zebulon Alexander was witness. On the same date Aaron gave his well beloved and trusted friend, James Alexander, of Province of MD, farmer, a power of attorney to complete the above sale 11 Dec 1751. (This is probably James, son of Joseph). Aaron Alexander, of the township of Petersburgh, Cumberland Co., deeded William Long will, merchant, of Cecil Co., a tract in New Munster which came from his father David Alexander who bought it from Thomas Stevenson.�(this is the tract that the Seven Stars was eventually built on). Signed by Aaron and Ann. On the same date, Aaron constituted Moses Alexander of Milford Hundred, Cecil Co., MD. his attorney for the completion of this sale. (This must be his uncle or cousin, Moses). (Cecil Co. a7-270), Aaron is doubtless selling his land preparatory to removing to North Carolina. Aaron is found there in early 1750�s. Aaron bought land in Coddle Creek and English Buffalo Creek from Gov. and Justina Dobbs 22 Dec 1763. His will was proved April 1772. It names his wife, Mary son David, son Aaron b. 1735 mother was Ann, d. Nov 2 1803 wf was Eleanor Price. He was elder at Rocky River Church and Poplar Tent; and son, John Brown Alexander, b1765, mother was Jean B. Ross, a widow. He married Barbara King of Scotland. Aaron Sr.� second wife was named Jean.

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/26347574/person/12773732890/media/6?...

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James Andrew Alexander was born in Scotland in 1625. He was trained as a Presbyterian minister in Scotland, and he was called to serve the congregation of the Raphoe Presbyterian Church on the Ulster Plantation of Northern Ireland. His ordination was on December 12, 1677, at about the age of 52.

Rev. Alexander's church was known as the Raphoe Presbyterian Church. The church was part of the Parish of Raphoe, in the Meeting of Lagan, and it was located in the town of Convoy, in County Donegal on the Ulster Plantation of Northern Ireland. The Meeting of Lagan was named after a famous floodplain river in Ulster, called the River Lagan. Later on the Meeting of Lagan became known as the Laggan Presbytery. Rev. Alexander served at the same church from his ordination in 1677 until his death in 1704, at about the age of 79.

The church was located in the town of Convoy, because the government would not permit a new Presbyterian church to be built in the town of Raphoe. A traditional story said that there was already an Episcopalian church in Raphoe, and the Episcopalian Bishop who preached there did not care to have any competition on Sunday mornings, from a Presbyterian church in the same town. Since the honorable Bishop Knox had been appointed by the King of Great Britain as the local government leader, Bishop Knox had the proper authority to prevent a Presbyterian church from being built in the town of Raphoe, if that was his wish.

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BACKGROUND HISTORY

By the year 1630, when Rev. Alexander was about five years old, the native Irish-Catholic population of Ulster had risen up in rebellion against the tyranny of the King of Great Britain. In return for their lack of loyalty, the King used military force to quash the mutiny. Many of the Catholic aristocrats of Ulster who led the rebellion fled for their lives. The King then appointed fresh leadership figures such as Bishop Knox of the Episcopalian church, to rule the area. A new Protestant Presbyterian aristocracy and upper middle class was brought in from Scotland as well, and they were given land leases to control the estates of the former Catholic aristocrats, in return for collecting taxes and keeping strict military and bureaucratic control over the native Irish-Catholic peoples. It was easy to recruit Presbyterians from Scotland for this purpose, since they in turn had been starved and run out of Scotland earlier, during their own devastating "Highland Clearances". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances

"In 1638, after King Charles I had attempted to impose an Episcopalian version of the Book of Common Prayer upon the reluctant Scots, resistance spread throughout the country, eventually culminating in the Bishops' Wars.[9]" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Graham,_1st_Marquess_of_Montrose

The proclamation of 1639, made when Rev. Alexander was about 14 years old... "imposed the "black oath", by which every Scot, of either sex and of any age over sixteen, might be made to renounce the covenant and to swear unquestioning obedience to all the king's commands." "The Irish Rebellion of 1641 then followed....". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Leslie_(bishop)

In 1677, by the age of 52, Rev. Alexander had completed his ecclesiastical studies and heard a call from the Raphoe Presbyterian Church in County Donegal. This is how Rev. Alexander of Scotland came to be a minister in Northern Ireland, instead of having a traditional career in a Presbyterian church in Scotland.

Ulster had unusually complicated themes -- in politics, in economics, and in religion. The violent conditions in Ulster had a lot to do with why so many immigrants risked their lives to depart from the safety of "civilization", and to settle in the American colonies of Great Britain.

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HIS CHURCH

A photo of the current Convoy Presbyterian Church in the town of Convoy, County Donegal, Ulster, can be seen in the link below. The small town of Convoy is where Rev. James Andrew Alexander would have preached to his congregation in 1677. At that time, the church building was probably made of tarred logs or at best of painted wooden planks. This photo of a newer building made of gray stone, is probably not the original church building in which he served: Convoy Presbyterian Church

Years later, when the government finally allowed it, a new Presbyterian Church was built in the town of Raphoe, and this church became known as the Raphoe Presbyterian Church. However, Rev. James Andrew Alexander probably never worked at the newer church located in the town of Raphoe. His congregation was said to be located in the town of Convoy, where he served as one of three ministers there.

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HIS WIFE

Rev. James Andrew Alexander's wife, who was named Marion (Shaw) Alexander, was about 9 years younger than he was. She died in 1711. "In her will she expressed her desire to be buried in the churchyard at Raphoe, "along with the corps of her dear husband", according to a book entitled "Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and the House of Alexander".

Source: Ebook entitled "Memorials of the Earl of Stirling and of the house of Alexander", Volume II, by Rev. Charles Rogers, LL.D., published in 1877. See the last paragraph on page 94, and continuing through page 96:

https://archive.org/details/memorialsearlst00clubgoog

This information implies that Marion (Shaw) Alexander's grave, and her husband Rev. James Andrew Alexander's grave, should both be located in the Presbyterian churchyard cemetery in the town of Convoy, in County Donegal, Ulster. However as of 1877, when the book mentioned above was written, no headstones could be found at either the original Presbyterian churchyard in Convoy, or the newer Presbyterian churchyard in Raphoe.

The same book also stated that Rev. James Andrew Alexander and his wife had no issue, meaning they had no children.

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NEWER CHURCH

Here in the link below, is a photo of the newer church located in the town of Raphoe in County Donegal, Ulster. This wood and plaster church looks like it might have been built in the 1800's, in the Greco-Roman Revival style of architecture: Raphoe Presbyterian Church

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HE WENT TO PRISON FOR CALLING A RELIGIOUS FAST

In 1681, Rev. James Andrew Alexander and three other ministers called for a religious fast. They got into a great deal of difficulty over this issue, since the fast was not officially approved by the government of Great Britain. See the printed page of 227 in "History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland" by Samuel D. Alexander, printed in 1860:

https://archive.org/stream/historyofpresbyt00reid#page/226/mode/2up...

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OTHER ALEXANDERS

As a side note, Rev. James Andrew Alexander, who married Marion Shaw, and whose biography is described on this memorial page -- was a different gentleman than Rev. James Alexander of Boghall and Blackrock in Scotland, who married Mary Maxwell. Additionally, Rev. James Andrew Alexander of this memorial page was not the father of the "Seven Brothers and Two Sisters" Alexander family of Maryland, USA. Their father, who was probably named William Alexander, has memorial page #128725438: William Alexander, "The Father of the 7 Sons & 2 Daughters" Alexander Family, of Maryland

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HE LIVED IN INTERESTING TIMES

Rev. James Andrew Alexander is mentioned in each of the attached photos, which feature pages from online ebooks. Like all Presbyterian ministers of his generation, he played an important role not only in his community, but also in history.

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DEATH

He passed on in 1704, at about the age of 79. His wife lived for seven more years, before her passing in 1711. He and his wife were probably interred side by side, as requested in her will. If any headstones were placed for their grave sites, none could be found as of 1877.

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RIP

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Alexander&GSf...