Archibald Alexander & Jane McClure were my fifth-great-grandparents and they were both American patriots.
Archibald Alexander was born about 1708 in Manor Cunningham, County Donegal, Scotland. In December 1734, he married Margaret Parks, who was a cousin. They emigrated to America around 1737 with their oldest child, Elizabeth Alexander, and settled near Philadelphia. They had four more children born in Pennsylvania: Ann, William, Joseph, and Hannah. After spending about 10 years in Pennsylvania, they moved to Augusta County, Virginia, and settled in the Timber Ridge area near Lexington--this area is now in Rockbridge County. Their land was part of the Borden Grant. There, they had two more daughters--Phebe and Margaret. Margaret Parks Alexander died sometime in the 1750s.
In 1757, Archibald married Jane McClure, in Augusta County. This marriage resulted in eight children born between 1758 and 1778: Isabella, Mary, Margaret, John, James, Samuel, Archibald, and Jane. Archibald died in late 1779 or early 1780, as his will was proven in Rockbridge County on February 1, 1780. Jane McClure Alexander died after 1787.
After settling as a farmer in Augusta County, Archibald became very active in the community. He fought in the French and Indian Wars and is best known for being a Captain during the Sandy Creek Expedition in 1756. This was a joint effort by the colonists--led by Major Andrew Lewis--and the Cherokee to protect the frontier settlers from the Shawnee during the French and Indian Wars. Archibald was granted land in Kentucky for his service. He was an elder in the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church.
When the newly formed United States was setting up its own government, Archibald Alexander was made the first sheriff of Augusta County in 1776 and a Justice of the Peace in 1778. This civil service is recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution as patriotic service. After Archibald's death, Jane McClure Alexander paid the Rockbridge County 1783 supply tax, part of which was specifically designated to support the war effort, which is also recognized as a patriotic act.
This photo is the original court record appointing Archibald Alexander as Sheriff.
This photo is the first page of his will, proven in February 1780.
I am descended from Archibald Alexander in two ways. First, through Archibald & Jane Alexander, their son, John Alexander, his son James Harvey Alexander, his son John McClure Alexander, his son James William Alexander, his son John Addison Alexander Sr, and his son John Addison Alexander Jr, who was my father. Second, through Archibald and Margaret Alexander, their daughter Elizabeth Alexander McClung, her daughter Margaret McClung Tate, her daughter Phebe Tate Willson, her son Robert Tate Willson, his daughter Ida Willson Fultz, her daughter Janet Fultz Alexander, and her son John Addison Alexander Jr, who was my father. So Archibald and Margaret are my sixth-great grandparents.
