CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches Family Sketches - Alexander ----¤¤¤---- CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1782-1926 By R. H. EARLY With Illustrations J. P. BELL COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927 Alexander William Alexander came to Pennsylvania from North Ireland after the siege of Londonderry; he patented 1OO acres of land in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1742, and prior to 1746 had settled in Augusta county, Virginia, in the vicinity of the present Greenville. He was a graduate of Dublin University, and established the classical school which developed into Liberty Hall Academy and later became Washington and Lee University. William Alexander was granted 20O acres of land for serving as a non-commissioned officer in Colonel William Byrd's Virginia Regiment in 176O. Hand of the Judge Robert Alexander, also called Robin, a son of William, settled in what was then Bedford, where he held office as deputy to clerk of court James Steptoe, from 1772 to 1782, at which latter date he received the commission of first clerk of Campbell, an office held until his death in 1820. He purchased, in 1783, 40O acres on Molley's creek, beginning at Thomas Haythe's line, along William Brown's land to John Fitzpatrick’s, and a year later added 1OO acres, on the branches of the same creek, purchased of Shelldrake Brown, lying along Ajonidab Read's line. In 1787 he patented 25O acres on the head branches of Beaver creek and 3O acres on both sides of the main road, southwest end of Long Mountain; in 18O3 he patented 15O acres on Molley's creek. Robert Alexander in 1774 married Ann, the daughter of William Austin (of Elk Island, who had been a captain in the British army), and the grand-daughter of William Callaway. He built a residence on his land near Pigeon Run, which he named Rock Castle, because of its massive stone chimneys and foundation: the date, 1819, seen at the present time on a side of the chimney must have been cut into the soft stone about the time Alexander's daughter married Dr. Robert W. Withers, and should not be taken for the date of its construction. The next year Alexander died and Withers came into possession of this home. As Alexander had served with Steptoe in the Bedford clerk's office, when Campbell was formed and its officers were being appointed, he proposed the name of James Steptoe as deputy to himself in the new court. Rock Castle is a well preserved weather-boarded house, built at a time when the country was unsettled, and Indians not infrequently appeared in the community and made attacks upon the white people. The Alexander home was evidently planned with aim of defense against assault and is the only private residence so far discovered which was thus protected. Jefferson noted that houses built in the latter part of the 18th century only lasted fifty years; but there are a number of houses, yet occupied, in the county, which are twice that age and some much older; native stone, or brick, usually was used as base, one or two were built entirely of stone, as were also some out-buildings, such as barns and stables, and this must account for their endurance. The Alexander house is peculiar in having two port hole openings in one end of the stone basement wall, the dungeon-like chamber of which can only be entered from the room above through a trap door opening without stairway. In later times, this secure place was, upon emergent occasions, used as a jail for prisoners. Rock Castle preserves the appearance of substantial construction: its cornice is plain but the roof has three dormer windows, though the center one, for some reason, has been closed. The property is now owned by the Clay family. The clerk's office occupied by Robert Alexander was in a field outside of his home premises, just above a spring. On court days he would take all the books and records he required during the court term and in company with his deputy (Alexander Austin, half-brother of his wife was his deputy for many years), drive in his coach and four to the court house ten miles distant. The Alexander family, through father, son and grandson, held the office of clerk nearly 1OO years. Robert was county clerk for 35 years, and clerk of circuit court from. 18O9 to 1819: his son, John, born 1782, died 1838, held the county clerk's office 19 years and succeeded as circuit clerk from 1819 to 1838; John D., better known as "Captain Jack," served as clerk of county from 1838 to 1868 and his son, W. K. Alexander, was appointed clerk for one year. Robert Alexander was noted for his strict integrity and acquired a fine landed estate; he died of apoplexy and was buried in private ground across the road from his old home; a gray stone slab bears his name and dates of his birth and death. His children were William, born 1776, who was deputy clerk to his father, and was murdered in 18OO. —Esther married Micajah Moorman. —Sallie married Nathaniel Manson of Pebbleton, Bedford county. —John married, 18O9, Sarah L. Cobbs. —Ann married Adam Clement. —Elizabeth married Dr. John W. Payne. —Susan D. married, 1819, Dr. Robert W. Withers, and lived at Rock Castle. William Alexander was killed while travelling homewards, when he was supposed to be carrying packages of money (which instigated the crime), but his saddle bags instead contained bundles of nails. After committing the deed the homicide rode to Alexander's home and reported that the latter had been attacked and killed by negroes. Accepting his story the family took him in and he slept that night in Alexander's bed. The dead body was found on the roadside and clinched in one hand was a piece of cloth which exactly fitted into a hole discovered in the assassin's coat, which circumstance betrayed the murderer. Trial of the case was moved to Pittsylvania court by counsel for the defense who claimed that his client could not obtain a fair trial in Campbell on account of prejudicial sympathy of Alexander's large family connection. Children of John and Sarah L. C. Alexander: —Sarah, m. Dr. Thomas H. Nelson. -Charlotte, m. Dr. John F. Sale of Bedford. -Eliza, m. James M. Cobbs of Lynchburg. —Mary, m. Dr. William Davis. —Octavia, m. 1st, Robert Camm, m. 2nd Edwin R. Page. —Susan, m. J. Van Horst. —Roberta, m. R. A. Hilton. —John D., m. Mary, dau. of Samuel Pannill of Green Hill; John D. Alexander commanded a company from Campbell during the war of 1861-65. His residence at Rustburg adjoined the court house grounds, but was destroyed by fire some years ago. Esther, the sister of Robert Alexander, married Captain Austin of Bedford, his brother-in-law. Alexander Colonel Gerard Alexander, who lived at The Grove, near New London, served in the war of 1812, and after his return had charge of New London Academy, married Elizabeth Innes, daughter of Harry and Elizabeth Callaway-Innes. He built The Grove (a mile east of New London), at which place he resided. As president of the Academy, in 183O, he petitioned to Legislature for assistance in making repairs there. Alexander lived to be 80 years of age, he and his wife and son, George, were buried in old St. Stephen's churchyard near Forest. His will, executed by his friend, Dr. Harris, was recorded in 1851: gave his personal property to his wife and children, but directed his real estate to be sold and proceeds divided between his sons, Henry and George Douglass, and his daughters, Henrietta, Sally and Nancy; other children mentioned were Edward, Sigismunda Rose, Frances Cole, Lawrence Gibson (eldest son); Henrieta married Ely and Ann married Wallace. Henry married Sallie Moorman: sons were killed in the Confederate army; dau., Elizabeth, married Pleasant Winston and lived at the Winston home near Lynch's; dau., Sally, married John Nash. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com ___________________________________________________________________