William Alexander

Tentatively identified as William Alexander of William Alexander & Sons of Edinburgh, which failed in 1774. Landowner in Grenada in 1780 in partnership with Alexander John Alexander (q.v.). Brother of Alexander John Alexander and father of Sir William Alexander (1755-1842). Described as a merchant in Edinburgh in the will of his own father William Alexander the Provost of Edinburgh (d. 1763).

1. "After a period of residence in France, he proceeded in 1783 to the United States. Till 1811 he resided at Staunton in Virginia, when he removed to Kentucky, where he died in 1819, at the age of ninety. he married, first, Christian, only daughter of John Aitchison of Rochsolach and Airdrie, in the county of Lanark; and secondly, Agatha de la Porte, belonging to an ancient family at Montpelier. Of his first marriage were born two sons and six daughters. Bethia, the eldest daughter, bron 27th march 1757, died in 1839, unmarried; Marianne, second daughter, born 12th December 1758, married General Jonathan Williams of Philadelphia, nephew of Dr Franklin; she had a son, H. J. Williams, of Chenut Villa, Philadelphia, and a daughter, Mrs Thomas Biddle, deceased; Christine, third daughter, born 24th August 1762, died unmarried in 1845; Jane, fourth daughter, born 5th June 1865, died 1843; Isabella, fifth daughter, born 17th October 1768, married Peter John Hankey, merchant, London, by whom she had three sons, John Alexander, General Henry, and Captain William, and a daughter, Julia, who married the Hon. Seymour Bathurst; Joanna, sixth daughter, born 10th June 1771, died in 1783. By his second marriage, William Alexander was father of four sons, John Regis, Andrew, Charles, and James, and a daughter, Apolline Agatha, who married Thomson Hankey, Esq., M.P. for Peterborough, and one of the directors of the Bank of England."

1. Rev. Charles Rogers, Memorials of Earl of Stirling and the House of Alexander Vol. II (Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1877) pp. 34-35.