Alexander McAlpin (c.1798-1867)





(click on photograph for larger image)
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Alexander McAlpin House in Yanceyville, North Carolina

Name also seen as McAlpine and McCalpin.

On 22 January 1839 Alexander McAlpin purchased four lots from Allen Gunn on the north side of Church Street in what was referred to as a "new" part of Yanceyville. The amount paid was $70. This is Wall Street today, but the name was Church Street from 1838 until as late as 1902. Mr. McAlpin was a tailor by trade, and he had a tailoring shop in his home or small shop nearby. He probably built his home 1839-1840 just after purchasing his lot. Mr. McAlpin was one of the organizing elders of the Yanceyville Presbyterian Church. In 1850 the Reverend John Grasty of the Yanceyville Presbyterian Church mentions in his diary that he often visited Mr. McAlpin and would "Go over to have his clothes pressed." The first Yanceyville Presbyterian Church stood on Church Street just to the east of McAlpin's house. The old church was sold in 1854 as a new church had been erected at the present location."

He served as Public Register (Register of Deeds) for Caswell County from 1840 until his death in 1867. He was postmaster of Yanceyville just before his death and for some time kept the post office at his office in the Courthouse. In 1833 he was county coroner. He was married three times.

When Jane Jones McAlpin died in 1893 she willed the Alexander McAlpin house and lot sold and the money to go to her son Edward. John A. Jones was executor of her estate and he purchased the house and lot in 1893. It appears that John A. Jones was the son or son-in-law of Jane McAlpin by her first marriage. John A. Jones was a clerk at Mr. Louis Neal's store in Yanceyville. The Jones eventually moved to Danville, Virginia. See: Kendall McAlpin House Letter 1975.

Alexander McAlpin House. 1839. 1-1/2 story log house, built as a dogtrot, with considerable alterations. Exterior end brick chimneys, six raised panel doors with wide molded surround, center hall plan with unusual corner enclosed stair in each flanking room. Source: An Inventory of Historic Architecture: Caswell County, North Carolina, Ruth Little-Stokes (1979) at 205.

For photographs of the Alexander McAlpin House go to: Alexander McAlpin House.
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He died before the October 1867 term of the Caswell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions:

"The office of Public Register vacant due to the death of Alexander McAlpin -- on motion Levi Page elected to succeed him." Source: Historical Abstracts of Minutes of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1877, Katharine Kerr Kendall (1976) at 101.

Estate Records of Alexander McAlpin

Caswell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
October Court 1867
Will Book T 1867-1868
Page 307: Alexander McAlpin - Will - Written 22 October 1866. Wife Jane McAlpin the house and lot in Yanceyville, two acres, all household articles except one bed and furniture to son Edward McAlpin. All stock and cash to wife Jane except $1 to son Andrew McAlpin, $1 to daughter Mary J. Patton, $1 to daughter Amanda Totten, and $1 to Julia and Eliza Ann Lockart. Executors: Wife Jane McAlpin and John W. Garrett. Test: William B. Bowe, Philip Hodnet. Proved on oath of Philip Hodnett. Jane McAlpin renounced her right to qualify, and John W. Garrett qualified. Ordered recorded. Source: Caswell County North Carolina Will Books 1843-1868, Katharine Kerr Kendall (1986) at 154.

Caswell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
January Court 1868
"Jane McAlpin appeared in Court and dissented to will of A. McAlpin, her deceased husband by her attorney and such entered on record." Source: Historical Abstracts of Minutes of Caswell County, North Carolina 1777-1877, Katharine Kerr Kendall (1976) at 101.

Caswell County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
April Court 1868
Will Book T 1868
Page 355: Sale of the property of A. McAlpin (McCalpin) sold 14 February 1868 by J. W. Garrett, executor. Sales to John Lawson, L. C. Page, David Glass, Sam gunn, Pink McAlpin, the Widow, Morris Mason, W. H. Stephens, Logan Totten, Crawford Robertson, A. S. Womack, Sam Crowder, Capt. Mitchell (box of medicine). Joseph Fowler, Mr. Doll (history books, dictionary, and Bible), R. H. Jones. Source: Caswell County North Carolina Will Books 1843-1868, Katharine Kerr Kendall (1986) at 156.
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A note in the July 28, 1932, issue of The Caswell Messenger reported that Mrs. O. N. Foster said that her great-grandfather, Alexander McAlpin, "for years" published a newspaper in Yanceyville, titled "Shoofly." A copy was said at that time to be in the archives of the Masonic Lodge. Source: HG Jones Email Message 18 November 2010.
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1860 US Census
Name: A Mcalpin
Age in 1860: 65
Birth Year: abt 1795
Birthplace: North Carolina
Home in 1860: Yanceyville, Caswell, North Carolina
Gender: Male
Post Office: Yanceyville
Household Members: Name Age
A Mcalpin 65
Jane Mcalpin 37
E O Jones 23
Geo E A Mcalpin 2

Note that the proper allocation of children among the first two wives is not certain.

• Married: 1818 ⁴

1. Catherine Amanda McAlpin b: 08 OCT 1821 in Caswell County, North Carolina
2. Mary J. McAlpin b: ABT 1831 in Caswell County, North Carolina
3. Caroline McAlpin
4. Narcissa McAlpin
5. Daniel McAlpin
6. Andrew Jackson McAlpin b: ABT 1833 in Caswell County, North Carolina

• Married: 1841 ¹

• Married: 31 OCT 1857 in Caswell County, North Carolina ^{1 2}
• Note:

  Marriage Bond Record
  Groom: Alexander McAlpin
  Bride: Jane W. Jones
  Bond Date: 31 October 1857
  Bondsman/Witness: Thomas W. Graves
  Location: Caswell County, North Carolina
  Source: Caswell County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1778-1868, Katharine Kerr Kendall (1981) at 63.

1. George Edward Alexander McAlpin b: 14 OCT 1858

1. Details: Kendall McAlpin House Letter 1975.
2. Details: Caswell County, North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1778-1868, Katharine Kerr Kendall (1981)
3. Details: 1850 US Federal Census
4. Citation Text: Kendall McAlpin House Letter 1975