| 4. |  Capt Alexander* Breckenridge, Sr was born before 16 May 1743 in Augusta Co, Virginia; was christened on 16 May 1743 in South Mountain, 16 mi SW of Tinkling Springs, Virginia (son of Rev. George* Breckenridge, (Immigrant) and Ann* Doak, (Immigrant)); died in Oct 1813 in Bourbon Co, Kentucky; was buried in Cane Ridge Cem, Bourbon Co, Kentucky. Other Events and Attributes:
- Birth: 30 Jun 1743, So Mountain Meeting House, Tinkling Spring, Augusta Co, Virginia
- Other-Begin: Between 23 Mar 1767 and 18 Mar 1768, Augusta Co, Virginia; petition
- Residence: 1769, Washington Co, Virginia
- Military: Between 1775 and 1783, Revolutionary War
- Residence: 1791, Paris, Bourbon Co, Kentucky
- Census: 1792, Bourbon Co, Kentucky
- Census: 1798, Jefferson Co, Kentucky; Kentucky tax list
- Census: 1800, Jefferson Co, Kentucky
- Residence: 1800, Jefferson Co, Kentucky; Kentucky Tax List
- Census: 1810, Stoner, Bourbon Co, Kentucky
- Will: 2 Jun 1813, Bourbon Co, Kentucky; written
- Research Notes: 13 Jun 2014, Augusta Co, Virginia; Court records link
Notes:
Revolutionary War Vet
said to have built the first cabin in Washington Co. in 1769
Residence: Washington Co, Virginia 1773-1792
Paris, Bourbon Co, Kentucky, 1791-1813
Nicholas Co, Kentucky 1830
Family Page source: (Pedigree charts and papers from Mrs. Estella Mary (Breckenridge) Deger of Flint, Michigan and marriage records of Bourbon Co, Kentucky and census records. - submitted by yoko@pclink.com -Roger Carroll Breckenridge)
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(Following rec'd from yoko@pclink.com(Roger Carroll Breckenridge) 7/19/97; Source: "William Clark Breckenridge, His Life, Lineage, and Writings.")
Alexander Breckenridge
son of
George and Ann (Doak) Breckenridge
Alexander Breckenridge, eldest son of George and Ann (Doak) Breckenridge, here termed Alexander Breckenridge of Bourbon County, Kentucky, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, May 16, 1743, and by the record in the baptismal register of theregation at Tinkling Spring, he was baptized by the Rev. John Craig at South Mountain Meeting House,
June 30, 1743. This register covers the period from October, 1740, to September, 1749. The particular entry reads: "George Breckenridge a chd Bapd named Alexander."
He resided with or near his father in 1768, as shown by the petition to Augusta County Court previously cited. In a deposition taken June 10, 1803, in Bourbon County, Kentucky, he stated: "In 1769, Robert Doak said he was agent for Dr. Thoalker to lay off Wolf Hill tract. In November of that year he (Alexander Breckenridge), went and chose a tract and built a cabin and in September, 1770, the removed there." He did not receive his deed
until April 14, 1774, when Thomas Walker conveyed to him the 360 acres on Wolf Hill Creek on which he had settled in 1770, and which has been said to lie within the present limits of the city of Abingdon. The Robert Doak mentioned was a brother of Mary Doak, wife of Robert Breckenridge, and was a surveyor, a profession which Alexander Breckenridge acquired and practiced extensively, together with the conduct of his farm or plantation.
On June 2, 1773, Alexander Breckenridge joined 119 others in signing a "Call to Rev. Charles Cummings from the united congregations of Ebbing and Sinking Springs to Holston's River, Fincastle County," to become their pastor. These were famresbyterian congregations of southwest Virginia, and the Rev. Charles Cummings an outstanding figure in the ministry. "For several years after his pastorate began, he carried his rifle when he went
to church and stood it in the pulpit, while he preached to congregations of which the men were in readiness for an attack by the Indians."
Alexander Breckenridge was a member of the first grand jury empaneled May 27, 1777, at Black's Fort, Washington County, Virginia, upon the formation of that county within the boundaries of which his residence was thrown. The county recordsain occasional mention of similar service by him and of his appointment as appraiser of the estates of decedents.
Alexander Breckenridge, taking with him his eldest son George then little over twelve years of age, participated in the battle of Kings Mountain, one of the decisive victories of the Revolutionary War, October 7, 1780, traversing the distaf more than eighty miles on horseback. They were of the four hundred men in the battle from Washington County, Virginia, under General William Campbell. They first assembled at Wolf Hill Creek, then, on September 25, 1780, at Sycamore Shoals on Watauga River. History related that when gathered there, assembled in a grove, ready for the final march to the scene of conflict, the
Rev. Samuel Doak, Alexander Breckenridge's kinsman, addressed the multitude, and closed his prayer with the words from Holy Writ, "The sword of the Lord and Gideon." A tablet on the courthouse at Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, commemorates the Revolutionary service of Alexander Breckenridge.
A letter written June 6, 1857, by that George Breckenridge who was grand master of Freemasons of Kentucky, states that all three of the sons of George and Ann (Doak) Breckenridge - namely, Alexander, Robert, and John - rendered military se during the Revolutionary War (aside from that of Alexander at Kings Mountain), "under General Greene, in Virginia and North Carolina, while Lord Cornwallis' army lay in Virginia." As understood, all such service was volunteer in character and no pay was ever received for it and none of the brothers ever applied for or received a pension for Revolutionary service.
Alexander Breckenridge and David Looney received a warrant, No. 498, dated October 27, 1783, for 5,000 acres of land in Green County, North Carolina (later within the boundaries of Maury County, Tennessee), issued to them July 10, 1784, by tommissioner's office of east Tennessee, describing the location of the land as on Duck River, Lytle's Creek. As this narrative will show, these lands became the subject of litigation a generation later.
On September 14, 1790, Alexander Breckenridge bought of William Cowan 1,400 acres of land in Bourbon County, Kentucky, situated about four miles from Paris, the county scat. He sold his homestead in Washington County, Virginia, April 28,, his wife Magdalene joining in the deed and both acknowledging it in open court, May 3, 1791. Thus the date of removal of this family from Virginia to Kentucky may be fixed as in the spring of 1791.
Alexander Breckenridge's two cousins, Alexander and Robert Breckinridge, had settled at Louisville, Ky., in 1785. His cousin, John Breckinridge, settled in Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1793. His brother, John Breckenridge, evidently lefd Creek,Wythe County, Virginia, and settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky, during 1792 or 1793,while the migration of Robert Breckenridge, brother of Alexander and John from Wythe County, Virginia, to Bath County, Kentucky, was subsequent to August 11, 1795, very probably during the same year.
Note: Tinkling Springs, one of the earliest Presbyterian Churches in Augusta Co, Virginia, located south of Stauton and about 2 miles south of Fishberville.
No record has come to the knowledge of the author of the date of death of Magdalene (Gamble) Breckenridge, but it is assumed to have occurred a number of years after the establishment of residence in Kentucky.
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MARRIAGE TO MARY* CHADD:
On October 16, 1806, Alexander Breckenridge married, a second time, Mary Chadd, said to have been of the Maryland family of that name. He died before September 5, 1813, by a receipt of that date for a certified copy of his will, given his tors. The will is dated June 2, 1813, and was proved in Bourbon County Court at its October term, 1813, disposing of a considerable estate, his sons Alexander and John Breckenridge being named executors. A witness to the will was the family physician, Henry Clay, Jr.
Mary (Chadd) Breckenridge interest in the homestead, February 11, 1815, to the reversioner under his will, his son, Eddy Linn Breckenridge. The date of her death may be fixed as August 21, 1835, by the date of termination of her life intern a negro slave, "Ben," belonging to her husband's estate.
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Event: Biography
Note:
In 1773 signed a call for a minister for the United Congregation of Ebbing Spring and Sinking Spring, covering the area between the present Marion and Bristol, Virginia. He participated in the Battle of Point Pleasant, Governor Dunmore's expedition against the Indians in Virginia in October of 1774. Alexander also served as a private in the Virginia line during the Revolutionary War. When the Revolution ended, the enterprising Scotch-Irish moved westward, the Wilderness Road cut by Daniel Boone going right through their valley into Kentucky. The first settlers of Kentucky were almost entirely from this upper portion of the Virginia Valley, referred to as the Shenandoah Valley today. It seems logical that Alexander resettled about this time in Bourbon County, Kentucky. His cousin, John Breckenridge, had bought 600 acres in adjacent Fayette County, Kentucky, in 1790, and moved his family there in 1793; two of John's brothers were already there. Apparently Alexander's brothers, Robert and John, came to Kentucky too as both are recorded as dying there. On January 20, 1794, Alexander Breckenridge is listed as a witness to a will in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The family settled on a farm in the Clintonville Precinct of Bourbon County, near the city of Paris, and probably attended the Cane Ridge Presbyterian Church established in 1783. Barton Warren Stone was its minister from 1798 to 1803, during which time he was influenced by Alexander Campbell to join the Disciples of Christ Church and leave the Presbyterian ministry. His church went with him and thus this branch of the Breckenridge family joined the Christian Church.
Title: Slater, Patricia
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Note: Marriages of Jefferson Co, TN lists a marriage of Polly Moyers (not yet identified) to Andrew Gass August 13, 1812. One of witnesses to will was a John Gass.
Residence:
said to have built the first cabin in Washington Co. in 1769. Residence: Washington Co, Virginia 1773-1792
Military:
Name: Alexander Brackenridge
Rank - Induction: Captain
Roll Box: 114
Roll State: VA
Catalogue of Revolutionary Soldiers and Sailors of the Commonwealth of Virginia
617 Brackenridge, Alexander 4000 Acres; Rank: Captain; Department: VA. St. Line Term: 3 yrs; Date: May 22, 1783
Brief Note on Alexander Breckenridge, whom fought in the American Revolution.1780 , Virginia, USA; North Carolina & South Carolina, USA
Alexander Breckenridge fought in the battle of King's Mountain along with his son George Breckenridge, who was only a teenager at the time.
Example:
"...Alexander Breckenridge, a prosperous farmer living in the vicinity of Abingdon, was accompanied to this battle by his son, George Breckenridge, who was under fifteen years of age, and that he (George Breckenridge) took an active part in the battle..."
Sources:
History of Southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870: Summers, Lewis Preston; 1903. J.L. Hill Printing Company, held by University of Virginia, page 330.
Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in North Carolina; 1972. Genealogical Pub. Co., North Carolina; page 479.
Great Valley Patriots:Western Virginia in the Struggle for Liberty: Wilson, Howard McKnight; 1976. Augusta County Historical Society, Virginia; page 153.
(from Ancestry.com)
Residence:
owned 1000 acres near Paris, KY
Census:
2nd Census of Kentucky 1800
Alexander Breckenridge Jefferson co.
James Breckenridge Bourbon
James Breckenridge Madison
John Bourbon
Robert Montgomery
Robert Jefferson
Census:
Alex Breckenridge:
males 2 <10 (1800-1810) Preston and Washington
1 26-25 (1784 - 1794)
1 +45 Alex (67 y.o.)
females
1 26-44 (1766-1784) Mary abt 1780 or 30 y.o.
Will:
Alexander Breckenridge, Sr.
of Bourbon County, Kentucky
son of
George and Ann (Doak) Breckenridge
Copy of the will of
Alexander Breckenridge Died
In the name of God amen. I Alexander Breckenridge Senior of the County of Bourbon and state of Kentucky being very weak in body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for the same. Calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowinhat it is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last will & testament that is to say principally & first of all I do give and bequeathe my soul in the hands of Almighty God who gave it my body to the dust to be buried in a Christian manner nothing doubting but I shall receive the same at the General Resurrection by the almighty power of God and as touching and concerning such worldly estate wherewith at has ____ and God to belief me, wish. I give bequeath demise & dispose of the same in form and manner following, to wit, first I desire that all my just and lawful debts be levied and raised and paid out of my personal estate.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my beloved wife Polly Breckenridge, one third of all my personal and real estate with her bed, bedstead & furniture & her right of dower in the mansion house so long as she remains my widow and one bed & bedstead and its furniture for the use of my small children.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Eddie Linn Breckenridge the plantation I now live upon his bed, bedstead & furniture and a negro by named Peter.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my sons, George, Robert, James, Alexander & John Breckenridge the land already laid off them, agreeable to their plots and titles.
Item. I give and bequeathe unto my daughters Ann, Rachel & Elizabeth the lands already laid of to them.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my sons Preston, Washington & Roddy H Breckenridge my tract of land lying on Lytles Creek in Maury County in Tennessee State to divided equally, agreeable to quantity & quality between the three brothers and I appoint George Breckenridge their guardian to take care of their land until they come of age. Also it is my will and desire that my daughter Jenny Breckenridge shall have a full share of all my other property equal with her three brothers Preston, Washington & Roddy H. Breckenridge also it is my will & desire that if Eddy L. Breckenridge should died before he has a family that his part of the land which I willed to him be equally divided between my two sons Preston & Washington Breckenridge also it is my will and desire that all my negros except Peter should be sold unless my wife Polly Breckenridge should chose to take her third or a part thereof out of them & if she should it is my desire that she shall have the priviledge of taking her third at the appraisement if she should choose so to do also it is my will and desire that she shall have two hundred dollars out of my estate for the use of raising and schooling my children.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son John Breckenridge fifty Dollars out of my estate when sold.
Item. I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Alexander & John Breckenridge my executors to this my last will and testament in writing whereof I have ________to set my hand & affix my seal this second day of June one thousand eight hundred & thirteen.
Alexander Breckenridge
2 June 1813
signed sealed in the
presence of
John Gass
Henry Clay, Jr
James Alexander
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Probate: OCT 1813 KY, Bourbon Co 3
Will: 2 JUN 1813 KY, Bourbon Co
Note:
Will Book D, page 416--Those mentioned-wife, Polly; son, Eddy Linn; sons, George Robert, James, Alexander, and John; daughters, Ann, Rachel and Elizabeth; sons, Preston, Washington and Roddy H., land in Murry County, Tennessee; daughter, Jenny. Written June 2nd, 1813. Proved October, 1813. Executors-sons, Alexander and John. Witnesses-John Gass, Henry Clay, Jr., James Alexander.
Title: Ardery, Julia Hoge Spencer, Kentucky Records, vol. I & II (Baltimore : Genealogical Publishing, 1969, 1972)
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Research Notes:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaaugust/doak.htm
Buried:
Internet researcher says he was buried here, but have not as yet found verification. List of interred at findagrave lists no Breckenridges. However, the meeting house was built in 1791 and the Western Great Revival led by Barton Warren Stone took place in August 1801.
http://www.gbccchurch.org/Cane_Ridge.htm
CANE RIDGE MEETING HOUSE
The Birthplace of the Restoration Movement
Religion on the Frontier
The young Presbyterian minister, Barton Warren Stone (1772-1844), arrived on the western frontier to pastor at Cane Ridge in 1796. By the end of the century, Presbyterians in Kentucky, southern Ohio, and northern Tennessee traveled to each other's sacramental communion services which typically began on Friday or Saturday and continued through Monday. Joining them in increasing numbers after a meeting at Red River in Logan County in June 1801 were Methodists and Baptists as well as the "unchurched".
(later to join with Alexander Campbell, the two to become known as the Stone-Campbell movement in 1832.
http://www.therestorationmovement.com/stone,bw.htm )
The Revival of August 1801 at Cane Ridge was the climactic event of the Western Great Revival. It was estimated by military personnel that some 20,000 to 30,000 persons of all ages, representing various cultures and economic levels traveled on foot and on horseback, many bringing wagons with tents and camping provisions. Because of the numbers of people attending and the length of the meeting, Cane Ridge has become the metaphor of the Great Revival. Historical accounts recall the contagious fervor which characterized the meetings that continued day and night. Descriptions abound of individuals, taken by great emotion, falling to the ground, crying aloud in prayer and song, and rising to exhort and assist others in their responses to the moment. Worship continued well into the week following the serving of Communion on Sunday, in fact, until provisions for humans and horses ran out.
The sacramental gatherings of the Presbyterians, already undergoing transformation by the time of the August 1801 Cane Ridge Revival, contributed to the growing camp meeting revivals. Participation by Methodists added an emotional evangelical quality that Presbyterians had previously tried to hold in check. Baptists attended, however, many were in a parallel meeting of the South Elkhorn Baptist Association.
Birth of "The Christians"
In 1804, a small group of Presbyterian ministers from Kentucky and Ohio, including Stone, penned and signed a document, "The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery", at Cane Ridge that resulted in the birth of a movement seeking unity among Christians along non-sectarian lines. They would call themselves simply "Christians. The Christian Church, the Churches of Christ (non-instrumental), and the Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ), trace their origins here. This movement is often noted as the first one indigenous to American soil.
Colonel Robert Patterson, involved in settlement of KY, related in a letter to Reverend Dr. John King on Sep 25, 1801:
"On the first Sabbath of August, was the Sacrament of Kainridge, the congregation of Mr. Stone. - This was the largest meeting of any that I have ever seen: It continued from Friday till Wednesday. About 12,000 persons, 125 waggons, 8 carriages, 900 communicants, 300 were struck.."
Colonel Robert Patterson, involved in settlement of KY said on Sep 25, 1801.
Alexander* married Magdalene "Polly" Gamble on 6 Oct 1767 in Blount Co, Tennessee. Magdalene (daughter of Gamble and (Mrs.) Gamble) was born on 10 Jan 1746 in Blount Co, Tennessee; died about 1805 in Bourbon Co, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1825 - 1906 (80 years)