Family Group Sheet Name: Alexander HARPER ��������������������������������������������� Birth: abt 1766 Berkeley Co., VA [now WV] Death: 23 Jul 1842 Berkeley Co., VA [now WV] Father: John HARPER (1720-~1793) Mother: Margaret "Margery" ROBINSON (->1794) Misc. Notes "He had a fine education and married when twenty-seven years old. Died at the age of seventy-seven years. He had the finest obituary in the Martinsburg, Va. [now West Virginia], papers ever written for any of the old settlers of Berkley Co." - Harper Family Notes. "Died on Saturday after a lingering illness Mr. Alexander Harper in the 77th year of his age an old inhabitant of this County." Martinsburg Gazette, Thursday morning, 28 Jul 1842. The name of the wife is apparently incorrectly listed in the Harper Family Notes, which has her as "Miss Robinson," probably in confusion with his mother Margery Robinson. There is record of a marriage between an Alexander Harper and a Mary Slater on 30 Oct 1794, performed by John Boyd (Marriage Records of Berkeley Co, VA; Salt Lake Lake City Genealogy Library Film 0831960). DATE of BIRTH: If Alexander HARPER was 27 at the time of his marriage, then his birth date would have been in 1766 after 30 Oct, or during 1767 before 30 Oct. His death date was 23 Jul 1842, according to the notice in the Martinsburg Gazette; that notice says that he was "in the 77th year of his age," which (literally speaking) means that he would have been 76 years old at the time of his death. That would imply a birth date in 1765 after 23 Jul, or in 1766 before 23 Jul. If we accept the statement in "Harper Family Notes" that he was actually 77 years old at the time of his death, then his birth would have been during 1764 after 23 Jul, or during 1765 before 23 Jul. None of these combinations nail down the year of birth, and the possibility still exists that he might have been a twin of his brother Samuel. 1803 Land Book of Berkeley Co., VA, lists him with 100 acres. In 1823 he is listed as owning 69.75 acres, 15 acres, and a lot of 11 acres owned jointly with John Smith. The same listing for 1840. Research "Harper Family Note" Attributed to Martha HARPER Slayton. Marriage Records of Berkeley Co, VA; Salt Lake Lake City Genealogy Library Film 0831960. Martinsburg Gazette, Thursday morning, 28 Jul 1842. Berkeley Co., VA, Land Book, 1803, lists Alexander HARPER with 100 acres. Marriage: 30 Oct 1794 Berkeley Co., VA [now WV] ��������������������������������������������� Spouse: Mary SLATER ��������������������������������������������� Misc. Notes There was a Mary SLATER b. 3 Mar 1776 at St. John's Parish, Prince George's Co., MD; father Richard SLATER; mother Jane. There are some other Slaters listed in Berkeley Co., VA: Deed Book 3, page 176, 16 Mar 1775, "Thomas Shepherd and Elizabeth, his wife, to Daniel Slater for 10 shillings, a lot of half acre in Mecklenburg. Lot No. 89, Beginning at a corner between High Street and Mill Street then along Mill Street 206 feet to the corner of No. 85 thence with the same 103 feet to the corner of No. 90 thence with the same 206 feet to High Street thence with the same 103 feet to the beginning, containing 1/2 acre." Reconstructed Census 1774-1810, Berkeley Co., VA, by Grove, 1970, page 36: Berkeley County Tithable List, 1783, "James Slater 1 white tithable 1 horse 5 cattle." Children ��������������������������������������������� 1 M: Joseph HARPER Birth: abt 1796 VA (now WV) Occupation: Farmer; constable Spouse: Elizabeth SHIELDS ��������������������������������������������� 2 M: Alexander HARPER Birth: abt 1803 VA (now WV) Death: abt 1851 Peoria Co., IL, or Fairfield Co., OH Spouse: Jane CUNNINGHAM Marriage: 8 Oct 1831 Fairfield Co., OH ��������������������������������������������� 3 M: Samuel HARPER ��������������������������������������������� 4 F: [daughter] HARPER Spouse: [unknown] WANTLING ��������������������������������������������� 5 F: Mazie HARPER Spouse: [unknown] SCHIMP ��������������������������������������������� 6 F: Jane HARPER Spouse: [unknown] CLARK ��������������������������������������������� Last Modified: 7 Nov 1998 Created: 7 Nov 1998 ��������������������������������������������� Please report corrections or additions to... Paul S. Boyer <[email protected]>