William Alexander Jr. (abt. 1741 - 1833)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Research Notes 2 Sources 2.1 Acknowledgements

Biography

Cautionary Note: There are at least two, maybe three William Alexanders living in the same locations, Harpswell and Brunswick.

1. William Alexander-21795 born 1767 is usually found as "William Alexander"[1st cousin of Wm. Alexander Jr. he died Unknown_ given in error as spouse of Betsey Campbell in Rev. War Record & also given in error as spouse of Sara Finney/Coming _ No Records Found]

2. Also there is "William Alexander" [2nd] born about 1762 [died Brunswick 1747?] who married Betsey Campbell, and was a neighbor [a nephew] of this profile's Wm. Alexander Jr... page 559 Deposition: Pejepscot Company Records, Volume 10, 1670-1840

3. Wm. Alexander Jr. [Alexander-12984] Wm. Alexander Jr. b. 1741 d. 11 Oct. 1833 is usually referred to as "William Alexander Jr." as given in Harpswell baptismal records, marriage records & Brunswick Land Records.

1737 Home William Alexander of Harpswell

William son of David " ... Upon removing to Harpswell, William located at the northeast extremity of Widgeon Cove, building a small house within a hundred feet of the water ... Tradition says this house was burned, and an excavation, not well defined, is pointed out as the cellar, while the spring is in evidence only by a little marshy ground, which, it is said, remains wet during seasons of severe drought. ... After the fire a larger frame house was erected on the brow of the hill, eighty rods east; and, if the family tradition be correct, it is one of the very oldest in the state, having been built in 1737. It still stands (1897) as a typical house of the Maine coast, being well planned, honestly built, and carefully finished." pages 17 & 18 The Alexanders of Maine

[ALEXANDER]2 William, son of (1) David, came with his father from Ulster in 1719; married Jennet Wilson, dau. of James Wilson, who came from Ulster in 1719. Jennet died after 1773." William Alexander’s Descendants. 1706 to 1774 " from page 87 The Alexanders of Maine

Six children:

(3) David, 1737; died Oct. 29, 1792.

{4) James,

(5) William, 1741. [William Alexander Jr.] " ... 5 William, son of (2) William, born in 1741. The records of Harpswell contain no mention of him. ... " page 88 The Alexanders of Maine by Alexander, De Alva Stanwood [Noted: The statement is true for Harpswell Vital Records and Land Records. Sometime after 1774 William Alexander Jr. removed to Brunswick, and can be found in the Brunswick Records.]

(6) Samuel, 1743.

(7) John, 1745.

(8) Hugh, 1751 ; died 1807. The Alexanders of Maine by Alexander, De Alva Stanwood, 1845-1925 https://archive.org/details/alexandersofmain00alex/page/86/mode/2up

Research Notes

William Alexander Junior born 1741

[Jennet/Jane Alexander daughter of William Alexander Jr.] m George Gross

"...The place and date of his [George Gross] birth is to us unknown, but he came from the town of Harpswell

Approximate Location of Growstown, Brunswick

[Brunswick], in this State, of which place his wife was a native. Her maiden name was Alexander [Jennet Alexander], and she was a sister of the late Mr. Ezekiel Alexander, and [sister] of the wife of Mr. Solomon Marshall [Elizabeth Alexander]." page 127 History of Deer Isle Maine by George Hosmer

William Alexander Jr. married Nancy Unknown

Noted: Nancy Alexander became member of Harpswell Congo. church 21 Sept. 1766, 21 Sept 1766, "William Alexander Jr. had his child baptized Jennet" . acknowledgment to James Wilson of Topsham Maine His Descendants from 1719 to Present Day

"William Alexander m. Nancy, daughters married George Gross of Deer Isle, Solomon Marshall." The Alexander Project - The Maine Genealogist [by Delia Wilson Lunsford] https://mainegenie.com/projects/the-alexander-project/

Family of Wm. Alexander Jr. and wife [Nancy Unknown Alexander] Jennet, Elizabeth and Ezekiel Alexander. transcribed from records of Rev. Samuel Eaton. The Records of the Congregational Church of Christ of Harpswell

Family of William Alexander Jr. The Records of the Congregational Church of Christ of Harpswell

" Wm. Alexander Junr. had his Child baptized Jennet" Sept, 21.1766. page 7 Harpswell records." https://mainegenie.com/james_wilson_family/getperson.php?personID=P1855&tree=JamesWilson

William Alexander Jr. had a second marriage to Sara Cuming 26 Oct 1786 at Harpswell.

Marriage of William Alexander Junior to Sara Coming

"ALEXANDER, William Jr. ["' of Brunswick, at Harpswell '"] md. to Sarah Cuming by Samuel Eaton at Harpswell [CCM]" CUMBERLAND County-VITAL RECORDS.pdf (Cumberland County Marriages)

31 Jan 1799 Cumberland Co Vol. 44 page 446 Wm. Alexander Jr. & Sary/Sara Alexander to A. Melcher with mention of Geo. Grouse.

Cumberland Co Vol. 44 page 446 [Near the Location of the Curved Line_South of Oak Hill near Freeport town Line, and West of Growstown] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVL-Z9MG-G?i=519&cat=333246

1800 Census Brunswick with Wm. Alexander Jr. & Michael Growse

FREE-WILL BAPTIST SOCIETIES. [Brunswick] About 1793, Elder Pelatiah Tingley of Waterboro', formerly of Sanford, began, with others, to hold religious meetings in Brunswick. These meetings were usually held at the house of William Alexander.* About 1799 the First Free-Will Baptist Society, or as it was sometimes called, the " Christian Church in Brunswick and Freeport," was formed. The first church meeting was held at James Elliot's on October 23. The members were Obadiah Curtis, Adam Elliot, William Alexander, Anthony Morse, Joseph Ward, John Coombs, Susannah Morey, Hannah and Margaret Coombs. Baptist Society in Brunswick. The following is a list of the members of the church in 1803 ... Sarah Alexander, ... " https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809873/page/380/mode/1up?q=Alexander https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809873/page/388/mode/1up?q=Alexander

History Freewill Baptists" ... Meetings had been held in Brunswick for seven years [from 1793], by Randall, Tingley, Whitney and Buzzell, as they travelled that way, usually at the house of William Alexander. A church was now organized, and he began to enlarge his house for the better accommodation of the meetings. This suggested the idea of a meeting house ; and a small one was erected the next year, at an expense of $300. ... " The history of the Freewill Baptists, for half a century : with an introductory chapter by Stewart, I. D. (Isaac Dalton) https://archive.org/details/historyoffreewil00stew/page/206/mode/2up?q=Alexander

In 1810 the church was more prosperous, and many converts were made. This year their meeting-house was built. It was a one-story building, and was situated near Noah Melcher's, on the old Freeport road.

West see Town Line near Oak Hill to the East see Growstown in Brunswick

It was, it is said, the second meeting-house of this denomination in the State. https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809873/page/388/mode/1up?q=Freeport

Deposition for location of Brunswick's Original Boundary the Curved Line. Noted: Deposition by Wm. Alexander is given by William Alexander [2nd] born about 1762, neighbor of Wm. Alexander Jr. _ 1795 Plan of Brunswick shows Brunswick's Original Boundary the Curved Line with Freeport X also marks approximate Location of Gross Family and Wm Alexander Jr. {1795 Plan of Brunswick shows Brunswick's Original Boundary the Curved Line with Freeport X also marks approximate Location of Gross Family and Wm Alexander Jr..

Pejepscot Company Records, Volume 10, 1670-1840

“ … the said William Alexander Jun's the possession of a certain Tract ,,, Parcel of land containing two hundred acres situated and being in said Brunswick bounded and defined as follows ---

Northeast on the land Abner Melcher Southwesterly on land of Thomas Merryman

Southeasterly on land claimed by heirs of Micheal Grows belonging to said Proprietors

Northwestly by land formaly belonging to Capt. John Dunlap --- “

Volume 10 page 553 _ Grouse's Heirs in Action Proprietors vs William Alexander Jr. Pejepscot Company Records, Volume 10, 1670-1840 https://www.mainememory.net/record/112092/image/115863

1795 Plan of Brunswick shows Brunswick's Original Boundary the Curved Line with Freeport X also marks approximate Location of Gross Family and Wm Alexander Jr.

The dividing line between Brunswick and Freeport was this year defined. There seems to have been some doubt as to its location before this, for on October 15, 1828, the selectmen of the two towns met at the house of Samuel Chase, and proceeded to perambulate the line. Robert D. Dunning was the surveyor for Brunswick and Barstow Sylvester for Freeport. The line surveyed by them appears from the record to have been the same, or nearly the same, as that previously established. For some reason', however, the line was not satisfactory to some of the citizens of the two towns. Depositions were taken in January, 1832, from various residents, testifying as to the location of the original Une. Depositions were made by David Curtis, William Alexander, and Daniel Given. ... line between the towns of Brunswick and Freeport, in the County of Cumberland, agreeably to the Acts of Incorporation of said Towns, to be as follows to wit : Beginning on the Western shore of Maquoit Bay at the mouth of Bungamunganock so called at a ledge which we have marked B, thence North twenty eight and one eighth degrees West, passing by a hemlock tree in Vincent Mountfort's pasture, and through said Vincent Mountfort's house, and by a beach stump one rod and two links westerly of an ash tree in William Alexander's pasture by a stone in the wall on the western side of the county road on David Curtis' land marked -(- and over a ledge in said Curtis' pasture marked FB and by a spruce tree, a yellow birch tree, a ledge in Grouse's field marked -|-, a ledge in Skolfield's pasture marked -|-, a maple tree, a yellow birch tree, a stone set in the ground on the easterly side of the county road, twelve rods & sixteen links from the corner of Thomas Pennell's house, marked FB, a beach tree, a ledge in Samuel Sylvester's pasture marked FB, a stone in the wall on the westerly side of the Story road so called, a ledge in John Field's field marked FB, a beach tree, a hemlock tree, a spruce tree, a pine tree five miles & seventy rods to a stone marked FB at the middle of the Quaker road so called, and one rod and a half from William Jordan's wall, thence North East one hundred & ninety six rods to a stone marked DB at the corner of Durham and including within the town of Brunswick all Mair Point so called, and to include within said town of Brunswick all the estate of the late Benjamin Chase which was annexed to said Brunswick by virtue of an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts passed in 1790, entitled an Act setting off Benjamin Chase, his family and estate from the town of Freeport and annexing them to the town of Brunswick. History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, ... " by Wheeler, George Augustus

Sources

• History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot by Wheeler, George Augustus https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809873/page/148/mode/1up?q=Curved+Line

• Jennett page 7_The Records of the Congregational Church of Christ of Harpswell https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/109681569

• An historical sketch of the town of Deer Isle, Maine, with notices of its settlers and early inhabitants by Hosmer, George Lawrence Publication date 1886 https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00hosm/page/126

• 9 March 1808 Vol 51 pages 257 & 259 Heirs of Samuel Thompson Esq. to Wm. Alexander Jr land near Curved Line/Freeport border. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL5-JDWD?i=131&cat=333246

• The Alexanders of Maine by Alexander, De Alva Stanwood, 1845-1925 Publication date 1898 https://archive.org/details/alexandersofmain00alex/page/88

• 1794 Wm. Alexander Jr. to Noah Melcher https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-QSDP-3?i=256&cat=333246

• ALEXANDER FAMILY RECORDS. BY WILLIAM M. CLEMENS https://archive.org/download/alexanderfamilyr00clem/alexanderfamilyr00clem.pdf

• Rev. Samuel Eaton in Historic Harpswell, Harpswell, Maine, its historic Congregational church and famous ministers. 1758-1903 by Sinnett, Charles Nelson https://archive.org/stream/historicharpswe00sinngoog/historicharpswe00sinngoog_djvu.txt

• Records of the Rev. Eatons of Harpswell Vital Records, Recorded by Rev. Elisha Eaton, 1754–1764 and by his son Samuel Eaton, V.D.M., 1765–1843, ”https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9P2-S4KH?cat=302512

• Map of Cumberland County, Maine https://www.loc.gov/item/2012592364/

• https://collections.leventhalmap.org/search/commonwealth:2227nr48c

• 1752 Map with Meeting Houses https://archive.org/details/cu31924028809873/page/40/mode/1up?q=Curved+Line

• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R8X-D96?cc=1804228&wc=3V1X-WWZ%3A1585148803%2C1585149702%2C1585150337 : 10 June 2015), Maine > Cumberland > Brunswick > image 8 of 10; citing NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Vol 14 folio 272 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-99WN-T?i=428&cat=333246

vol 18 folio 359 thompson to g gross https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-3SR1-G?cat=333246

vol 41 folio 42 thompsons to t merryman https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-3SR1-G?cat=333246

vol 39 folio 472 dunlap to thompson https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-Q9G4-D?i=243&cat=333246 vol 28 folio 252 thompson to dunlap https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-QSZL-R?i=417&cat=333246

• Pages 13-22 of a manuscript consisting of the genealogy of the ancestors, descendants and relatives of William Willson (about 1750-1801), also seen as Wilson, of Harpswell, Maine, and Saint George, Maine, compiled by his great grandson William Blake Josephs (1854-1918) of Portland, Maine, in 1901 [with later entries by both himself and others] Pages 116-122 Alexander Family from Harpswell, Maine; also, Clark & Wilson record https://www.heirloomsreunited.com/2020/05/alexander-family-from-harpswell-maine.html

• Pejepscot Company Records, Volume 10, 1670-1840 https://www.mainememory.net/record/112092/image/115418

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HY-QSDP-3?i=256&cat=333246

Acknowledgements

• I have Changed Unknown Alexander to William Alexander Jr. born about 1740/41 using James Wilson of Topsham Maine His Descendants from 1719 to Present Day Software [This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 13.1.1,] written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2024. [Site] Maintained by Delia Wilson Lunsford.. This Alexander tree/group sheet, lists all three of the Alexander family of Deer Isle, Maine, found in my in my Stanley family tree. https://mainegenie.com/james_wilson_family/familygroup.php?familyID=F8800&tree=JamesWilson&sitever=standard