Name:

FROM “ROSTER OF REVOLUTIONARY ANCESTORS”, INDIANA DAR:

ALEXANDER, PETER; b. April 1758, Augusta Co., Va. D. 14 Feb 1842, Woodford Co. Ky., m27 Mar 1787, Augusta Co., Va., Janet Steele b. 1762, Va., d. 1864 Woodford Co., Ky. SERVICE: Peter Alexander – Revolutionary Soldier, 1777-1778, a member of Virginia Regiment, Private in the Company commanded by Capt. Campbell, of Regt. Commanded by Col. Dickerson in the Virginia line. Pensioned.”

MARRIAGE BOND, 1787:

Augusta Co Court Records

1787--March 24, Peter Alexander and Samuel Steele, surety. Peter Alexander and Jinny Steele, daughter of Saml. Steele (consent). Teste:

Saml. Steele, Ro. Steele.

Marriage: By Rev. Archibald Scott; March 27th, 1787, Peter Alexander and Jenny Steele

(MEMO: These and later records suggest that Peter’s wife preferred being known as “Jinny” or “Jannett”. Wonder if “Elizabeth” is correct first name?)

MOVEMENTS: 1787 TO 1803:

He married “Jinny” in 1787, and his military pension application says he moved from Augusta County, VA, to Rockbridge County, VA, in that year.

NOTES ON THE 1810 CENSUS:

A Peter Alexander is found in Woodford Co., KY, probably the right person. Suspect one or more of his grown children are living in the household, which now includes grandchildren. There are three people in the age 16-25 group, and there are 4 females under age 10, only one of which is likely Peter's daughter. There do not appear to be any slaves.

1820 CENSUS, KENTUCKY, WOODFORD CO.:

Peter Alexander is found on a line adjacent to his son-in-law, Robert McMains. Peter and wife are obviously there, with the right ages (45+). There are 9 other "free whites" in the household, presumably a mix of older children, spouses, and grandchildren. The family also has 10 male slaves, and 8 female slaves, for a total of 29 people! Eleven of the slaves are under age 14.

NOTES ON THE 1830 CENSUS:

Peter is found in Woodford County, KY. Household has 3 free whites, obviously Peter and wife Elizabeth, plus a female age 20-30. There are 17 slaves, bringing the household total to 20 people.

NOTES ON THE 1840 CENSUS:

Peter is indeed found in the 1840 census for the Northern District of Woodford County, Kentucky. However he is not listed as a Head of Household. He is identified as a revolutionary war pensioner, age 83, living in the household of Robinson Ruddle. There are four free whites in the household, apparently one couple in the 30-40 age group, and one couple in the 70-90 groups – it is obvious that Peter’s wife Elizabeth Jannett is also there. There are a total of 26 people in the household. This includes one free colored person and 21 slaves. (Note: An ancestry.com search showed that Robinson Ruddle married Catherine Alexander, so this is clearly the correct household - Peter and Elizabeth are living with their daughter and her husband.)

(Memo: There was one “Robinson Ruddle” in the 1830 census, age 20-29, in nearby Harrison County. This family had ONE slave. My guess is that Robinson moved to Woodford County after 1830, and became manager of Peter Alexander’s property, with its 17-21 slaves?)

PENSION RECORDS:

FOUND THE PENSION FILE FOR PETER ALEXANDER AND HIS WIFE ONLINE AT ANCESTRY.COM. COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE THERE. HERE IS A PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT:

“State of Kentucky

Woodford County

On this 23^rd day of October 1834 personally appeared before me Bernard James – one of the Commonwealth Justices of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid - Peter Alexander a resident of said County of Woodford and State of Kentucky aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7^th 1832:

That he was born in the County of Augusta State of Virginia in the year 1758 and resided there until the year 1787 at which time he removed to the County of Rockbridge, State of Virginia, where he resided until the year 1803 in which year he removed to the County of Woodford State of Kentucky where he resided ever since.

That he was drafted and entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. Col John Dickerson, Major Samuel McDowell, Capt. Charles Campbell Lieu. Joseph Alexander, Ensign Samuel Davidson. That he resided in said County of Augusta State of Virginia and then entered the service in the Month of September 1777 and left the same in the latter part of December of the same year. He left Augusta as aforesaid and marched through the big levels of Greenbriar passed Walker’s Meadows & crossed the Galle (Gauley) Mountains and (Gauley) Rivers and fell in below the falls of the Kenhawha (Kanawha River) then down the bottoms of the same, passing the burning springs and big Cicamore (Sycamore) then down to the mouth of the great Kenhawha to a Fort (at Point Pleasant, WV). He had not been there many days before the Indians killed a man by the name of Gillmore. There was some Indians in the Fort. Cornstalk & Son and Red Hawk and probably others. Gillmore’s friends rushed in and shot them. He counted thirty guns that was fired at them. Gen’l Hand met us at the Fort but being disappointed in his force to go against the Indians. He gave us a portion of his provisions such as flour. He was here honourably discharged and returned home. In this tour he was over three months in the service.”

DIGRESSION: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

He is describing events that occurred at Fort Randolph at Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Here’s a more modern interpretation of the incident:

“Nestled away at Krodel Park, Point Pleasant, West Virginia where two great rivers meet, the Ohio and Kanawha, you will find Fort Randolph. A long and prestigious history has followed this fort. It was a refuge for white settlers against Indian attacks, was the farthest most out-post of the colonies and also played an important part in the American Revolutionary War.

“Shawnee Principal Chief Cornstalk, the leader of the Indian army at the 1774 battle, returned to Point Pleasant in the fall of 1777 to warn the garrison that despite his best efforts at maintaining peace, his nation was bent on war with Virginia. Arbuckle detained Cornstalk. His son Elinipsico and another Shawnee, Red Hawk were detained also when they came to the fort to see why Cornstalk had been gone from home for so long. After Cornstalk’s and the other Indians detention, several companies arrived at the fort, including that of Captain James Hall from recently formed Rockbridge County, Virginia.

“The Indians’ presence at the fort was intended to promote and insure peace, but when a Virginia soldier was killed outside the fort, Cornstalk and his followers were wrongfully blamed. An angry mob led by Captain Hall pushed past the fort’s commander and murdered the Indians.”

You can read full details at:

http://www.fortrandolph.org/

Memo: Want to follow his route? Start at Kerr’s Creek, VA, where they had their initial rendezvous. Follow I-64 until you pass Lewisburg, WV, on the “big levels”. Keep going to Rainelle, WV, on the headwaters of the Meadows River. On to Summersville, where you’ll cross the Gauley River. Then on to Charleston, WV, which is on the Kanawha River. And then follow the river down to Point Pleasant, where you can visit Fort Randolph. Google Maps says it’s 260 miles, and will take you 5 1/2 hours.

NOW BACK TO PETER’S TESTIMONY:

“He was again drafted in the same County and State and entered the Service in the month of May 1781 under the following officers Gen’l William Campbell, Col ___ Huggart, Major John Wilson, Capt Patrick Buckhammon, Lieut John Boyd, Ensign John Crawford: Buckhammon returned home and he was then attached to Capt Francis Long’s company. He stood centry the first night on the south mountains, from thence marched through Charlottsville and Richmond and down near Williamsburg. Genl’s Lafayette, Wayne and Mulenburg were frequently with the army. He saw Gen’l Morgan once but don’t think he had any command though he made a speech to the army. He was not at the Battle of Jamestown (Green Springs Plantation, 6 Jul 1781) in consequence of a little skirmish that took place a few days before in which one of the Company to which he belonged were wounded and taken to the Hospital. He went with them to assist them and continued there a few days. He continued in the service until some time in the month of August. He was then honourable discharged and returned home after having been in the service on this tour over two months.

He was again drafted in the same County and State and entered the service in the month of May 1782 under the command of Capt. John McKitrich. He marched by the Warm Spring Jackson River and through Greenbrier then crossed the mountain. And thence into Taggert’s (Tygart) Valley and remained there until his time had expired which was at the expiration of two months. He wa in different Forts in this Valley. In this Tour he served full two months. (It being a two months Tour) at the end of which he was honourable discharged and returned home. He also states that he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service.

He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Peter Alexander

We Isaac Crutcher (?) a Clergyman residing in the County of Woodford State of Kentucky and John Brown residing in the same County and State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Peter Alexander who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion sworn and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.

Isaac Crutcher

John Brown.

And I the said Bernard Gaines Justice of the peace as aforesaid doth hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the investigations prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. I also certify that the said Peter Alexander cannot from bodily infirmity attend the Court.”

HIS WIFE’S PENSION APPLICATION:

“State of Kentucky

Woodford County

On this 2^nd day of May 1843 Personally appeared before me… Mrs. Jannett Alexander a resident of the aid County of Woodford aged upward of eighty one years… (to) make the following Declaration… that she is the widow of Peter Alexander who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War and belonged to the Militia of Virginia… (who drew a pension) of about $23.33 per annum… until his death which took place on the 14^th day of February 1842…

She further declares that she was married to the said Peter Alexander on the 27^th day of March 1787…

Jannett X Alexander Mark

(Memo: there is a footnote in the pension file indicating that she came with her son-in-law Warren Hearne. Warren married their daughter Jane.)

LEDGERS OF PAYMENTS:

Pension records show Peter received semi-annual pension payments from 1833 through 1841. His death was recorded as 14 Feb 1842. His wife Jannett then received payments from 1843 until her death is 1847.