Alexander Negley (1734 - 1809)

Born 1734 in Frankfort, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Burkstresser) Negley — married about 1762 in Buck's County, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 3 Nov 1809 at about age 75 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Alexander Negley was a Pennsylvanian.

Military

Private Alexander Negley served with Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Alexander Negley is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A082002.

Private Alexander Negley, born 1734 in Frankfurt, Germany, died 03 November 1809 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann Berkstresser, born 20 June 1741 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution for service in Pennsylvania: 1) Captain Samuel Moorhead's Independent Company of Pennsylvania Troops^[1]

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

Alexander Negley, enlisted in the Continental Army, and served as a private in one of the two companies, dispatched by General Washington, to the protection of the settlers around Fort Pittsburgh, in the unsettled state of the country, immediately after the war. In this way the Negleys reached Allegheny county, which was for so many years to prove their home. Alexander Negley settled in East Liberty Valley, being one of the earliest settlers in that neighborhood and the first in the valley. Here he acquired a large tract of land, which he operated as a farm. Alexander Negley's birth was in 1739. his death occurring in 1792 (pretty sure the author mixed up these dates). He was married to Mary Ann Buckstresser, in 1762, Mrs. Negley's death not taking place until 1829.

Alexander Negley, son of Jacob Negley, was born in Frankfort, Germany, in 1734, and died November 3, 1809. He was about five years of age when he was brought to this country. In 1778 he settled within five miles of Fort Pitt, on the present site of Highland Park, where later his death occurred. He was the first white settler in the East Liberty Valley, served his country in the Revolutionary War, and was largely instrumental in erecting the first church in Pittsburgh. His farm comprised about three hundred acres, including Negley's Run and Heath's Run, incorrectly called Hite's Run. He utilized Negley's Run by erecting a grist mill and a fulling mill upon it, and purchased a farm for each of his children. At that time Pittsburgh was represented by a few log houses at Fort Duquesne. His home with the ground surrounding it was known as Highland Park. Mr. Negley married, in 1762, Mary Ann Bergstresser, and sometimes spelled Berkstresser, born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1741, died June 20, 1829. They had children: 1. Felix, born September 22, 1764, died April 19, 1836; served in the Revolutionary War; married, May 28, 1800, Ruth Horton. 2. Jacob, born August 28, 1766, died March 18, 1826; married, June 9, 1795, Anna S. Winebiddle, who died May 10, 1867. 3. Peter, died in infancy, in 1768. 4. Elizabeth, born February 15, 1772, died November 15, 1855; married, in 1801, John Powell and had eight children. 5. Peter, born February 6, 1774, died in 1791. 6. Margaret, born June 10, 1776, died March 11, 1857; married, December 1, 1800, Philip Burtner, and had ten children. 7. John, of further mention. 8. Alexander, born August 1, 1781, died August 2, 1807. 9. Casper, born March 17, 1784, died May 23, 1877; married Elizabeth Fluke, November 6, 1823. 10. Mary Ann, born August 20, 1786, died December 4, 1833; married Samuel Byington, and had four children. 11. Henry, born October 20, 1790, died in 1791.

From History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania:

Alexander, the eldest, born in 1735, married. Mary Ann Burkstresser in 1762, and had ten children. He was a blacksmith and came ta Pittsburgh in 1778, settling as a farmer where the Hiland avenue reservoir now is, where he died Nov. 3, 1809; his widow, born in Bucks county, June 20, 1741, died June 17, 1829. With iforty-one others Alexander Negley established the First German U. E. Church congregation, the first church in Pittsburgh, in 1782. Felix, his eldest child, settled on the present site of Tarentum, and married Ruth Horton in 1798. Jacob, the second son, born Aug. 28, 1766, married, June 19, 1795, Barbara Ann, daughter of Conrad Winebiddle. She was born Sept. 15, 1778, and died May 10, 1867. Jacob Negley was a farmer, and founder of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church. He died March 18, 1827.

Sources

1. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed February 15, 2022), "Record of Alexander Negley", Ancestor # A082002.

• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915, Vol. 1, p. 459-462; Vol. 3, p. 1347-1350)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #49795488
• Cushing, Thomas. History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Part 2 (A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889, part 2, p. 270-271)