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Major John Alexander: The Patriot, Soldier, & Christian

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Photo by Brian Scott, via
Historical Marker Database
John Alexander was born about 1755 in Fountain Inn, South Carolina to James Alexander and Mary Peden. John's brother James and uncles John, Samuel, and David Peden founded the oldest Presbyterian Church in Greenville County, South Carolina in 1786, named Fairview. Legend has it the church was named after the old gray stone church in Antrim County, Ireland, from which it's (Peden) founders came to America in 1773.

The land on which the South Carolina church was built was given to the founders in lieu of payment for their service during the Revolutionary War. Prior to that, the land was in the hands of the Cherokee Indians.

John Alexander, though not considered a founder of the church (but an early member and one of the first elected elders), also served during the American Revolution. He was part of the Tyger Irish Company who participated in the Battle of Kings Mountain.

Photo by Robin Dixson,
via FindAGrave
About 1786, John Alexander married Elizabeth Williamson. According to The Pedens of America, Elizabeth was the mother of two sons. She died in 1797 at the age of 35 and was one of the first burials in the Fairview Church at Fountain Inn, SC.

John married again about 1803. He and his second wife Sarah had more children.

Sometime after 1810, John left South Carolina for Georgia. He eventually settled in Gwinnett County. There, he also attended Fairview Presbyterian Church. Though I find no record of John being part of the founding of this church, he was likely an early member since it was established in 1823. I've yet to find a record of a tangible connection between the Fairview church in Gwinnett County, GA and the one in Fountain Inn, SC. However, it has been stated that the Fairview Church in Fountain Inn "has the proud distinction of being the mother of Presbyterianism in Greenville County, and of many, many churches in other states."

Photo by S. Lincecum
Major John Alexander died 9 May 1830, in the 75th year of his age. His box tomb at Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, GA states he was "The Patriot / The Soldier / And Christian." A Sons of the American Revolution emblem is attached.


Photo by S. Lincecum
At least two of John's sons made the trip to Georgia as well. Dr. Thomas W. Alexander (1790-1847) by first wife Elizabeth, and John Newton Alexander (1808-1841) by second wife Sarah. Both are buried near their father in the church cemetery. Also interred is Georgia Anna Jane, a daughter of Thomas who died in 1829 at the age of 2 months.

Photo by S. Lincecum

Photo by S. Lincecum
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Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
August 27, 2017 at 7:15 PM
Unknown said…
Major Alexander's second wife was Sarah McRee Russell widow of William Russell who died in 1799......Alexander married Russell in 1803...they lived in Greenville District until the 1820's when they moved to Georgia,..settling in Lawrenceville
where he died in May 1830.
October 25, 2018 at 4:02 PM
Unknown said…
It seems that Major John Alexander is my 3rd great grandfather on my paternal grandfather's side of the family. His wife, Sarah, would be my 3rd great grandmother.
July 20, 2020 at 1:57 PM
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The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"

So I answered, "O Lord God, You know."

Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!' Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live...'" (Ezekiel 37:1-5, NKJV)