| Notes |
The true birthdate of Joseph Alexander is unknown. He died on 9 Mar 1729/30 in New Munster, Cecil Co.,MD. He is thought to have married Abigail McKnitt daughter of James (John) McKnitt and Elizabeth Wallace, in 1686 in Somerset Co., MD. Abigail McKnitt was possibly born about 1667 in Stirling, Scotland. She died before 1726 in Cecil Co., MD.
Joseph was doubtless married twice, but the names of his wives are not of record. Tradition give the name of his first wife as Abigall McKnight (McKnite, McKnitt, Mcknitt), sister of John McKnight of Somerset and Cecil Co. His second wife may have been a Widow Alexander; in fact she may have been the wife of Andrew Alexander of Somerset who probably died comparatively young. Possibly she was a sister of Abigall McKnight.
Joseph Alexander, Tanner and Abigail McKnitt had the
following children:
1. Capt. James Robert Alexander, Tanner & Signer.
2. Sophia Alexander
3. Jane Mackey (Muley) Alexander
4. Abigail Clapham (Closson) Alexander
5. Francis Alexander
He was married to Jane McKnitt (daughter of James\John McKnitt and
Elizabeth Wallace) about 1700 in New Munster, Cecil Co.,MD. Jane
McKnitt was born about 1653 in Manokin Hundred, Somerset Co., MD She
died after 1730 in Cecil Co., MD.
(Source: http://ralphinla.rootsweb.ancestry.com/alxnmdcb.htm#i10261)
I. Father of Joseph, James & Francis. Alexander birth date unknown.
Father of J. J. F. Alexander had the following children:
1. Joseph Alexander
2. James Alexander
3. Francis Alexander
Note: In James Alexander's will, written July 12, 1717 in New Munster, Cecil Co, MD, Francis was named as his brother and executor.
II. Joseph Alexander (Father of Cecil Co., Alexander's) birth date unknown.
On February 10, 1718/9 a tract of land of 184 acres in New Munster, Cecil Co., MD was conveyed to Joseph Alexander and his son James by Thomas Stevenson of PA. Joseph Alexander, Tanner, wrote his will December 13, 1726 in New Munster, Cecil Co., MD. Joseph's estate was probated March 9, 1730 in Cecil Co., MD.
wife 1: Joseph Alexander & Abigail McKnitt had the following children:
1. Francis Alexander. In Joseph Alexander's will written December 13, 1726 in New Munster, Cecil Co, MD, Francis was named as his son.
2. Sophia Alexander. In Joseph Alexander's will written December 13, 1726 in New Munster, Cecil Co, MD, Sophia was named as his daughter.
3. James Alexander was born around 1693.
4. Jane Alexander was born probably before 1705. She married Mr. Muley. Muley was born probably before 1705.
In Joseph Alexander's will written December 13, 1726 in New Munster, Cecil Co., MD, Jane Alexander was named as his daughter
5. Abigail Alexander was born probably before 1705. She married Mr. Clapan.
In Joseph Alexander's will written December 13, 1726 in New Munster, Cecil Co., MD, Abigail Alexander was named as his daughter.
wife 2: Joseph Alexander, Tanner and Jane McKnitt had the following children:
1. Abraham Alexander was born before 1728 in MD
U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
Name: Joseph Alexander
Gender: Male
Spouse Name: Abigail Mcknitt
Spouse Birth Year: 1660
Marriage Year: 1686
Number Pages: 1
Millennium File
Name: Joseph Alexander
Spouse: Abigail Mc Knitt
Birth Date: 1660
Birth City: Raphoe
Birth County: Ulster
Birth Country: Ireland
Death Date: 1730
Death County: Cecil
Death State: Maryland
Death Country: USA
Parents: James Alexander
Children: James Alexander
Sophia Alexander
Francis Alexander
Jane Alexander
Family Data Collection - Deaths
Name: Joseph Alexander
Death Date: 9 Mar 1729
City: Cecil
State: MD
Country: USA
Foote’s 'History of North Carolina':
Says that there were seven Alexander brothers and their widowed mother who, because of the persecution leading up to the revolution of 1688, decided to come to America where they could live and worship in peace. So, they migrated from Ireland to the eastern shore of MD.
They brought their minister from Scotland to bless the voyage and administer communion. When all was ready and the families were on board the ship, a company of English soldiers boarded, broke up the meeting and arrested their minister taking him to jail. According to Foote, all were distressed over the plight of the minister, and no one knew just what to do. Finally, an aged woman who had been covenanting all day for her grandchildren, made the suggestion that they wait until nightfall, raid the jail, liberate the minister, and take him to America with them. Following her plan, just before dawn, all were aboard including the minister and the ship was set out to sea. He, with the rest, were on their way to America.
When the group reached America they joined a settlement of Scots already in Somerset Co., MD. They later migrated on to Cecil Co., MD settling at the head of the Chesapeake Bay on the tributary of the Elk River just across from New Castle settlement in Delaware. This property at the head of Chesapeake Bay had been
in dispute for many years as it had been claimed by MD and by PA.
Ultimately, the certificate for the settlement of the 'New Munster' tract in the New Ireland Colony was issued by George Talbot in 1863 in these words: "Surveyed for Edwin O’Dwire and fifteen other Irishmen by virtue of warrant from his Lordship, August 7, 1683 … a certain tract of land called 'New Munster' lying and being in the County of Cecil … on the main fresh of the Big Elk … containing 6,000 acres more or less …. "
(embellished hereon by MCM - 2003)
George Talbot was a cousin of Cecil Calvert who was the Third Lord of Baltimore. This land had been a part of an ideal dream project for the founding of Talbot's New Ireland County. He had come from Co. Roscomon, Ireland and joined the MD colony in 1680.
Previous to his arrival, in 1632, Charles I of England granted the MD colony to his cousin, Lord Baltimore (Cecil Calvert). Unfortunately later, in 1681, Charles II, who was indebted to William Penn's father, Admiral William Penn, paid his debt to the Admiral (who was since deceased) by awarding his son, William Jr., what he thought was worthless land. In 1683, Charles II also gave to William Penn land on the 'Delmarva Peninsula', which today includes the eastern portion of modern MD and all of Delaware. The original 'worthless land', given by Charles II to William Penn, has now become PA.
This issue did not find resolution until Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were hired to come to America in November of 1763 to measure and define the boundaries between PA and MD. Fifty years later the boundary was legalized. During the American Civil War, this boundary morphed itself in the dividing line between two 'countries', the North and the South. Now, the Southern States are referred to as 'Land of Dixie', because of the contribution made by Jeremiah Dixon.
The Cecil County, Maryland, records (Deed Book 2, J.D., 2 pg 28, 81,
82, 83) From Thomas Stevenson and his wife, Sarah, of part
of this tract called 'New Munster' to a group of Alexander's who were
led into the colony by Matthew Wallace. The deed says that the land
had originally been granted to Edwin O’Dwire and others. Those
purchasing from Stevenson were:
Matthew Wallace
James Alexander, farmer
Arthus Alexander, weaver
David Alexander, weaver
Joseph Alexander, tanner, and his son, James
James Alexander, weaver, and his son Moses
This deed speaks of Matthew Wallace and 'his company,' indicating that
Matthew Wallace, whom the records show have been living in Somerset Co., MD, on the eastern shore, led this company into Cecil Co. to settle on the New
Munster tract.
The first deed was a ?ase (lease) deed dated 1714, and set forth that the settlers had been on this land for some years, as the improvements which they had made were taken into consideration of the price. It seems that the migration occurred much earlier because Matthew Wallace gave Power of Attorney to, William Alexander back in Somerset in 1707 to sell his land there.
The Alexander's who came with him were most probably some of the
seven brothers, or their sons, mentioned by Foote.
Ross McKendrick states:
"To Mecklenburg County, N.C., a great wave of Scotch-Irish migration
flowed directly from New Munster in Cecil County, Maryland, through
the Shenandoah Valley. Numerous descendants of George Talbot’s tract
had brought their families and taken up lands (in North Carolina)
prior to 1732. Wills of certain Alexander's of New Munster, indicate
that this family was strongly represented in the North Carolina
settlement. The importance of Maryland’s part in the settlement of N.
C. may be drawn from the story of the famous Mecklenburg Convention of
May 31, 1775 ----of the seven signers, more than half may be directly
traced to Cecil County, Maryland, and adjacent settlements. This
action (The Mecklenburg Resolves) anticipated more than a year before
the actual Declaration of Independence by Congress, and reflected the
spirit which emigrated from George Talbot’s County of New Ireland. The
Maryland immigrants to North Carolina only made great asserveration of
purpose, but were to be found in the thick of the flight at King’s
Mountain …. "
Alexander, Joseph, tanner, New Munster,Cecil Co., 13 Dec 1726;
probated after 9th March, 1730.
To son-in-law Elias Alexander, bond, dated 19th Aug., 1718, assigned to testator by Sarah Steven, except so much as is already pd., and 40s. to dau. Sophiah.
To son Francis, 20s.
To daus. Jane Muley and Abigail Clapan, 10s. each.
To son James, ex., residue of estate.
Test: Owen O'Donnell, Anne Taylor, John Dail, John Mc-Knight (Macknite). 20, 235.
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Abt 1660 - Bef 1730 (< 70 years)