Alexander Genealogy

In the history of The House of Alexander, Volume I, we find an account of the Alexanders of New Jersey, and have deduced there from apparently correctly the descent of the family, for which see page 80 of that volume. This ancient line descends from Somerled, Prince of Argyle in 1140, who married Elfrica, daughter of Olave the Red, King of Man. From this marriage descended Raneld, who had sons Donald and Roderick McDonald. Donald McDonald had three sons:

•  Roderick McDonald.

•  Angus McDonald.

•  Alexander McDonald.

The grandson of Angus was John McDonald, Lord of the Isles, who married Princess Margaret Stewart, daughter of King Robert III, of Scotland. By this marriage they had, among others, Alister or Alexander. progenitor of the McAlexanders or Alexander family.

Prior to 1505 a descendant of Alister or Alexander, younger son of the Lord of Lochaber, obtained from the House of Argyle a portion of the lands of Menstry.

Thomas Alexander de Menstry had a son, Andrew Alexander, who in 1526 had the life rent of the lands. He married Katharine Graham and had:

•  Alexander Alexander.

•  Andrew Alexander.

Alexander Alexander married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven, and had:

•  Andrew Alexander of Menstry.

•  William Alexander.

Andrew Alexander had two sons:

•  Alexander Alexander, married Elizabeth Forbes, by whom he had:

  • William Alexander, who had a son, William Alexander.

  • James Alexander.

  • John Alexander, Portioner of Pitgogar, in Perthshire. who married Margaret Dempster.

•  John Alexander of Middleton, who seems to have married Margaret Sinclair and had:

  • Alexander Alexander.

  • David Alexander, Ward of Muthiil.

  • Patrick Alexander.

David Alexander had two sons:

• I. William Alexander.

• II. James Alexander, who was in the Rebellion of 1715 and migrated to New Jersey, where he became a very prominent citizen, Surveyor General of New Jersey, and in Governor Burnett 's Council He married Maria Spratt, widow of Samuel Prevost and daughter of John Spratt. of Wigton. Galloway, Scotland, a man of prominence in the Colony. John Spratt married Mary De Peyster, widow of Paulius Schrick and daughter of Johannas De Peyster by Cornelia Lubberts, a relative of the de la Noys.

James Alexander and Maria Spratt had among others:

In Scot's Peerage, written by different authors under Sir J. Balfour Paul, there is a discrepancy between the account stated and that given by the author of the House of Alexander, and it would appear that the former is in error.

In the first place the author seems to deny the descent of the Alexander line from the Lord of the Isles, thus contradicting the account given by historians; and in the second place denies that in several things, for instance that there was only one Andrew Alexander of Menstry, whereas although there were Andrews who though they may not have been styled as of Menstry, still may have considered themselves of Menstry, as indeed they were of that descent. The article seems prejudicial against General William Alexander, who it would appear did have a right to the title of Earl of Sterling.

The following is the account given by The Scot's Peerage, as stated by the claim of General Alexander, which is very much the same as has been deduced by the author, taken from The House of Alexander, which see:

Andrew Alexander of Menstrie, 1526, had:

•  John Alexander in Gogar.

•  Alexander Alexander.

John in Gogar had: Alexander in Milnab who had: David in Muthill who had: James Alexander who went to New Jersey and had, among others: William Alexander (died about June 12, 17115); married 1748, Sarah, daughter of Philip Livingston, of Livingston Manor.

The Peerage makes John in Gogar the son of Andrew first. The "House of Alexander" makes the descent of John in Gogar or Pitgogar the son of Andrew who was great-great-grandson of first Andrew Alexander, but seems to think that William Alexander, American claimant, may have descended from John Alexander, the great-great-grandson of the first Andrew; therefore the deduction of the Alexanders of America seems to be correct.

Now according to The Scot's Peerage the line of the Alexanders would be as follows:

Thomas Alexander of Menstrie 1505 had: Andrew Alexander 1526 who married Catharine Graham and had:

•  Alexander Alexander, married second, Elizabeth Forbes.

•  Andrew Alexander, the Presbyter.

•  William Alexander.

Alexander Alexander and Elizabeth Forbes had:

•  Andrew Alexander.

•  William Alexander, married Elizabeth Coutts and had:

  •  Alexander, first Earl of Sterling, who had:

    •  William.

    •  Anthony.

    •  Henry.

William had William, grandson of Earl of Sterling, who succeeded as second Earl. The line becoming extinct, Henry, the third son, became third Earl, who was succeeded by his son Henry, fourth Earl, succeeded by his son Henry, fifth Earl. The title becoming extinct, fell into abeyance, and was claimed by William Alexander of America.

NOTES

1. General William Alexander, Lord Sterling, was awarded the Earldom. of Sterling by a jury, but Parliament would not allow his claim. Never the less he assumed the title.