Key Facts

Snapshot:	lived in colonial North Carolina; owned slaves
Parents:	unknown
Born:	unknown
Died:	sometime between 11 January and 5 November 1775 presumably Rowan County, North Carolina
Buried:	perhaps in an unmarked grave in Fourth Creek Cemetery, Iredell County, North Carolina Cemetery's coordinates: N35.7856 W80.8910

968Alexander Reid lived in Rowan County, North Carolina for the last ~25 years of his life, but his whereabouts before moving there are less certain. On 26 September 1748, 150 acres in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania were granted to an "Alexander Reid," who is generally believed to be our 968Alexander Reid, although I know of no evidence that directly proves his migration from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.1,2

968Alexander received at least two grants in Rowan County, North Carolina: the first in 1753, and the second in 1761. Below is a summary of these two grants, with links to relevant documents if you'd like to see them.

Date	Land	Patent Book	Grant	Deed
2 May 1753	360 acres on the No[rth] side of the 3rd creek beginning at a black oak	link3	link4	link5
3 January 1761	268 acres on 4th creek on the south side of the middle fork or said creek	link6	link7	link8

A map drawn in 1773 of the Fourth Creek Congregation shows 968Alexander's home.9 The map doesn't seem to be drawn quite to scale, so it's difficult to tell exactly where he lived, but I've marked the general location on the master map.

968Alexander's will, dated 11 January 1775, informs us who his wife and children were. A transcription is below, or see the record copy.10 Genealogically important phrases are highlighted yellow.

Page 243:

In the name of God Amen the Eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord
one Thousands Seven hundred and Seventy five; I Alexander Reid of Rowan County in
the province of North Carolina being old and very infirm and weak in Body but
of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, therefore calling to mind
the[?] mortality of my body, and knowing it is appointed for men once to die Do
make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament (that is to Say) principally and
first[?] ___ and Recomend [sic] my Soul into the hands of God that gave it, hopeing [sic]
through the Merits Death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full
and free pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins; and to inherit Everlasting Life,
and my Body I commit to the Earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of
my Executors hereafter named nothing doubting but at the general Resurection to
receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as Touching such Wordly
Eastate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life; I give demise [sic] and
dispose of the same in the following manner and form: that is to say, First I
Will that all those Debts and duties as I do owe in Right or Consciency to my
manner of person or persons whatever shall be will and trutly contented and paid
by my Executors hereafter named Item I give demise and bequeath to my loving Son
Alexander Reed and to his heirs and assigns forever, my Plantation whereon I
now live. Item I given and bequaith [sic] to my loveing Wife Margrat Reed during
her natural life all and singler [sic] my household Furniture and my Negros ___

Page 244:

Phillis, and what part of my live stock she sees caus [sic] to keep for her own use and[?]
also to have use and injoy my Dwelling house, also my Will and pleasure that
my said loveing Son Alexander, out of the profits of my said Plantation to him by
me demised do find and deliver unto my said loving wife Margrat, a full and
compitent [sic] provision both for herself Family and Stock dureing her life,
Likewise I, leave all my wearing apperal to be disposed of at my said Wifes
discreation [sic] and at my said wifes decease my Will is that all and singular
Goods and Chattles be sold by my Executors hereafter named and the money
ariseing therefrom be divided, and disposed of in the following manner
(Viz) To my loving Son Samuel Reed one seventh part thereof to him and his
heirs forever. to my loving son Andrew Reed one seventh part to him and heirs
heirs for ever. To my loving Son John Reed one seventh part thereof and to his heirs
for ever. To my loving Son [484]George Reed one seventh part thereof and to his heirs forever.
To my loving Daughter Frances Hall one seventh part thereof and to her heirs forever.
To my loving daughter Hannah Knox one seventh part and to her heirs forever
To my loving daughter Mary Willson's two children (to wit) Alexan William and
Margrat Willson the Remainder which is one Seventh part. and I will and ___
to my Sd. daughter Margrat Willson the Sum of Five Shillings Proclamation money
to her and her heirs for ever. Item I give and bequaith to my son Samuel
my large Bible, Lastly I do hereby nominate name ___ [faded] Ordain and appoint my
two loving Sons Samuel Reed and Andrew Reed Executors of this my last will
and Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, Revocke and disanul all
and every other former Testamens, Wills and Legacies Bequists and Executors[?]
by me in any ways before this time named Willed and bequaithed, Ratifying
and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in Witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afixed my seal the day month
and year above Writen Alexandre Reed (Seal)
Signed Sealed published pronounced &
declared by the Sd. Alexander Reed as his
last Will and Testament in the presence of
us the Subscribers viz
Samuel Young
John Armstrong
George Kerr

968Alexander must have died by 5 November 1775, since his son Alexander sold part of his inheritance on that date.11

Since 968Alexander was a member of the Fourth Creek Congregation,9 he may be buried in the Fourth Creek Cemetery. The cemetery is known to contain unmarked graves, so 968Alexander's may be one of them.

Sources Cited:

1: Pennsylvania warrants for years 1733-1957. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, warrant R249 for Alexander Reid, dated 26 September 1748 for 150 acres in Lebanon on Swatawro Creek. Ancestry.com ("Pennsylvania, U.S., Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952" / Lancaster / 1748 / image 244 of 1145), accessed 23 May 2021. I have cropped and reduced the size and quality of the image from how it appears on Ancestry.com.

2: ibid., Ancestry.com image 800 of 1145. I have cropped and reduced the size and quality of the image from how it appears on Ancestry.com.

3: North Carolina state land patent, Rowan book 6, page 212, grant #38, file #513, issued 2 May 1753 to Alexander Reed for 360 acres on the No[rth] side of the 3rd creek beginning at a black oak. NCLandGrants.com, <https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.107.515&qid=653228&rn=2>, accessed 23 May 2021.

4: North Carolina Secretary of State, Granville Proprietary Land Office, Deeds Granted 1748-1763, plat for 360 acres surveyed for Allexander Reed. North Carolina Archives, microfilm S.108.256 frame 1132 of 1280. NCLandGrants.com, <https://nclandgrants.com/frame/?fdr=257&frm=1132&gmars=12.13.128.4>, accessed 23 May 2021.

5: ibid., the corresponding deed. North Carolina Archives, microfilm S.108.256 frame 1133 of 1280. NCLandGrants.com, <https://nclandgrants.com/frame/?fdr=257&frm=1133&gmars=12.13.128.4>, accessed 23 May 2021.

6: North Carolina state land patent, Rowan book 6, page 210, grant #106, file #504, issued 3 January 1761 to Alexander Reed for 268 acres on 4th creek on the south side of the middle fork of said creek. NCLandGrants.com, <https://nclandgrants.com/grant/?mars=12.14.107.515&qid=653228&rn=2>, accessed 23 May 2021.

7: North Carolina Secretary of State, Granville Proprietary Land Office, Deeds Granted 1748-1763, plat for 268 acres surveyed for Allexander Reed. North Carolina Archives, microfilm S.108.256 frame 1136 of 1280. NCLandGrants.com, <https://nclandgrants.com/frame/?fdr=257&frm=1136&gmars=12.13.128.5>, accessed 23 May 2021.

8: ibid., the corresponding deed. North Carolina Archives, microfilm S.108.256 frame 1137 of 1280. NCLandGrants.com, <https://nclandgrants.com/frame/?fdr=257&frm=1137&gmars=12.13.128.5>, accessed 23 May 2021.

9: William Sharpe, "Map of Fourth Creek Congregation" (1773; published 1847). North Carolina MARS ID 3.1.1.50.1. <https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ncmaps/id/118>, accessed 24 May 2021.

10: Rowan County, North Carolina. Wills book A, pages 243-244. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:37SQ-298B-4Z9?i=125&cc=1867501&cat=353379> et seq., accessed 23 May 2021.

11: Iredell County, North Carolina. Deeds book A, pages 245-248. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98G-G3W8?i=148&cat=157069> et seq., accessed 23 May 2021. An abstract of the deed: Dated 9 August 1790. Mortgage Deed. David Hogshead to Samuel Young of Rowan County for £125, a 250-acre tract of land on north side of Fourth Creek, joining said Hogshead, Robert Matthews, Reed. Part of the land granted to Alexander Reid, Sr. by Lord Granville 2 May 1753, by his last will and testament to Alexander Reid, Jr., 11 January 1775, by him to said David Hogshead 5 November 1775. Signed: David Hogshead. Witness: Peter Short and James Young, jurat. Proved May 1791. No registration date.