James McAlexander: The immigrant story

James McAlexander was born about 1715 in Scotland (although his birthplace and parents have never been proven). There is some evidence from Scottish church records, that he may have been born in Barr-Graven, Ayr, Scotland in 1717; and if that is true, his parents were Alexander McAlexander and Jonet McAndlish. Other researchers say his father was Robert (b @ 1680), County Ayr, Scotland. Most family historians think James was an immigrant to America in 1755 with his wife and four sons. There are records that show a 1746 Albemarle County, Virginia land grant that would place him a decade earlier.

James and Thomas McAlexander received land patents in Albemarle County, Virginia from Governor Dinwiddie in 1756. Thomas soon disappears from history (perhaps he dropped the “Me” from his name). James who was most likely the brother of Thomas remained on the original grant which lay on the north fork of Davis Creek. He died there in January 1798.

James McAlexander was the progenitor for all the McAlexanders in the United States. Tradition among widely separated branches of the family states that the founding McAlexander in America emigrated from the north of Ireland, most probably from Londonderry. Branches of the Ayrshire McAlexanders had begun to settle Ulster counties as early as the reign of James I who ruled from 1603 - 1625. These McAlexanders descend from Alexander, Lord of the Isles, who died in 1299, and thus are counted members of Clan Donald. The official clan history, “The Clan Donald, in three volumes” (Edinburg 1896 - 1904), by the Reverend Angus MacDonald and the Reverend Archibald MacDonald includes the McAlexanders of Ayrshire.

The McAlexanders did not fare well in Northern Ireland. The Irish Catholics, already there, hating Scotch Presbyterianism, resented the intruders and still do. The economic life of the Scotch-Irish was severely hampered, especially when the English government placed burdensome restrictions on their production of linens and woolens. So early in the 1700’s, tens of thousands of embittered Scotch-Irish finally pulled up stakes and came to America. Among them was my immigrant grandfather James McAlexander with his wife and four sons and brother Thomas. Soon after their arrival in America another son, Alexander McAlexander, was born. This is the branch this writer follows.

Alexander McAlexander, born 1756, died 1840 or 1841. His wife Martha “Patsy” Burnett was born 1761 and died 1841. Alexander and Martha had a son, Edmond Tucker McAlexander, in 1796. He married Frances Phillips in 1821. Death dates are not known.

Edmond McAlexander and Frances had a son, Alexander Thomas McAlexander, who was born 31 July 1823 in Madison County, Alabama. Alexander married Sarah Elizabeth Lockett Ward on the 3 Sept 1857 in Cass County, Texas. Alexander Thomas McAlexander is shown on the 1850 census of Cass County as overseer of the Rebecca Hagerity plantation located north of Jefferson, Texas. He died in 1879 and his wife Sarah died in 1881. They are buried in the old Lockett Cemetery, Marion County, Texas. Alexander and Sarah had one son, Samuel Franklin, and one daughter, Lucy. Samuel Franklin McAlexander married Mary Tolitha Walker. His sister married the brother of Tolitha, Joe Walker. Mary Tolitha Walker was born 21 Aug 1876 and died 25 Dec 1909. Samuel and Mary are buried in the old Shiloh cemetery in Cass County, Texas, located about nine miles north of Jefferson, Texas.

Samuel and Mary McAlexander had twelve children, my father being one of the twelve. His name was Jessie Emmit, and he was born 9 April 1902. He married Beatrice Scales 20 May 1930. Jessie Emmit McAlexander died 3 Nov 1980. Beatrice was born 15 May 1910 and died 25 Aug 2000.

About The Cass County Genealogical Society

The Cass County Genealogical Society is a non-profit organization run by volunteers.

Our Mission is to inform the public of the genealogy and history of the people of Northeast Texas. We make our home in the Family History Section of the Atlanta Public Library, 101 West Hiram St. Atlanta, Texas 75551, U.S.A. We have published well over one hundred books and journals chronicling the people and history of Cass County and Northeast Texas. We maintain a diverse collection of books and other resource material (5700+ books and 800+ reels of microfilm) including all the CCGS publications, many histories of near-by counties, family histories including Cass County families and many others. We maintain a massive vertical files collection of Cass County church, ‘school and family histories, an ample collection of books on the U.S. states especially those states that border Northeast Texas, – Arkansas, Louisiana, & Oklahoma. The Best collection in the Ark-La-Tex of Native American. African American and Oklahoma research material. A huge map collection of antique and newer maps. This collection includes the Texas General Land Office survey map of Cass County with ownership up unto 1953. We also maintain a large collection of newspapers on microfilm of old Atlanta, Linden, Jefferson & Clarksville newspapers. As well as early tax rolls on microfilm of Cass, Bowie and Marion Counties. A collection of school yearbooks for Atlanta, Queen City, McLeod, Linden and Texarkana College. A large military collection including the 100 + volume set of the Correspondence of the War of the Rebellion (Civil War). And many DAR lineage books and other DAR material. If you need help researching your Northeast Texas ancestors please contact us by e-mail at evanjevans@yahoo.com, call us at 903-796-3081 or write to us at:

Cass County Genealogical Society

P. O. Box 880

Atlanta, Texas 75551

The Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month. The meetings include a guest speaker or speakers that will tell about their search for their ancestors, a unique tidbit from the history of Northeast Texas, or some other genealogical or historical topic.

The meetings start at 6:30 pm and we hope that as many of you as possible will join us for this interesting and informative monthly meeting in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church of Queen City, Texas at the corner of Marietta and Fourth Streets.

We always serve a light meal and beverages and the public is invited. For more information on our meetings please call 903- 796-3081