Husband's Parents:
Wife's Parents:
See chair that was in Alexander and Janet's home
See
 |
| home
|
family line Mary McEntire | Alexander McEntire
The DePriest Family Journal | Title Page
Alexander McEntire and
Janet
Alexander McEntire was born about 1707. Conflicting evidence states that Alexander was born about 1713. Alexander died after January 1802, the date of his last know legal document (the sale of 100 acres of land to James Collins).
He married Janet unknown after 1725. Janet died after 1792. The last know legal document signed by Janet was in 3 May 1792 when she and her husband witnessed the will of John Walls. Her name is also seen as Jane, Jennet, and Janet.
The earliest record of Alexander in North Carolina was that of land granted to him in Bladen County in 1753. Given the delay in claiming and being granted land, he probably worked this land up to 10 years earlier. Today Bladen encompasses the area around Fayetteville, NC. From its formation in 1734 until 1750, Bladen County consisted of its current area plus all land to the west. Due to a fire at the Bladen Court House we can only guess that Alexander initially lived in the south central portion of North Carolina at that time. Most likely he was not as far west as present day Mecklenburg County by 1735 when his oldest children were born, contrary to family lore. It's not improbable that he did move into Mecklenburg area in the late 1740's or early 1750's with his brother John W. McEntire. By the early 1760s they had journeyed westward to present day Cleveland County where they began receiving land grants along the First Broad River and Hinton Creek in 1766. It was probably about that time when he built a large, two story log house up the hill from the creek.
The identity of Alexander's father is unproved. In my research, I've seen three credible possibilities: Robert McIntyre of Scotland; John MacKentire, son of Philip MacKentire; or Jonathan MacKentire, son of Philip MacKentire.
Robert McIntyre was born 1671 in Rothsay, Butte, Scotland. He married Isabell McKinlay. In 1707 they had a son named Alexander in Scotland. Those who believe this is the Rutherford County McEntire line say Alexander married Janet McPherson in Scotland and then migrated to the colonies. They could easily have come over as part of the Scotch-Irish migration to eastern North Carolina in the early 18th century. There is no mention of a son John or Andrew Aaron.
John McIntire, son of Philip MacKentire and his wife Mary Nichols, was born 20 March 1679 in Reading, MA. He married Elizabeth Daniels 8 April 1701. She was born in Watertown, MA. John died in March 1746 in Halifax Co., VA. Aaron Andrew McEntire, born about 1719 and died in Duplin Co., NC, is definitely believed to be their son. It is very plausible that John's sons migrated from Halifax Co., VA to Bladen Co., NC with Alexander and John W. (Jr. ?) moving westward as the frontier opened. To further support the theory that Alexander and John were Aaron's brothers, Alexander and Aaron named all their children the same except Aaron named a son Best and Alexander named a son Byrd.
Jonathan McIntire, another son of Philip and Mary MacKentire, was born about 1677 in Reading, MA. He married Martha Graves, a widow, 6 December 1705. She was the daughter of Edward Kneeland and Martha Fowler of Ipswich, MA. In 1720 Jonathan was still in Massachusetts, but eventually moved to SC where he died in 1738. This Jonathan was known to have been in "Pindlind", (Pendleton?) SC. It would have been simple for his sons to migrate straight up from York Co., SC to Rutherford Co., NC.
It is my belief that Alexander and John were the sons of John MacKentire (McIntire) and Elizabeth Daniels. That Alexander and Aaron could have named their children the same and that Alexander had a son named Andrew Aaron seems more than just coincidence.
I would also have to cast some doubt on Alexander and Janet coming directly from Scotland because of a chair I possess which was in their home (see Family Album of Alexander McEntire). Known to have "been in the family when Mary McEntire and Aaron McEntire were children" (1740s), the chair is not in the style of a 18th century slat back arm chair. Eighteenth century slat back chairs have four slats in the back. The chair I inherited has only three slats and other style characteristics not seen since the 17th century. I can see a rustic chair making the journey from VA, or maybe even MA, to Rutherford Co., NC, but not across the ocean.
Philip MacKentire was born between 1627 and 1630 in Argyle County, Scotland. As Philip reached adulthood, the British Isles were torn apart by the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell had defeated the Royalists and beheaded Charles I, son of the Scottish king James VI. In 1650 Cromwell and his troops marched north to subdue the Scots. After taking Edinburgh, the troops engaged in battle with 13,000 Scot Royalists at Dunbar. Within the first hour of battle 3,000 Scots were dead and the remainder taken as prisoners. Half the prisoners were released due to injury and exhaustion; the other half were held at the Cathedral of Durham. Philip, along with Micum and Robert MacIntyre (possibly his brothers), were among those held in Durham. Cromwell's forces decided to kill all officers and every tenth private. The remainder would be sent to the colonies as indentured servants. Philip, Micum and Robert were among those who set sail for America 11 November 1650 aboard the Unity. Arriving in Massachusetts in late December 1650, Philip served his seven year indenture and settle in Reading, MA. He married Mary Nichols on 6 September 1666 in Reading and they had 11 children. Philip died in December of 1719 in Reading.
Alexander McEntire and Janet unknown had the following children:
i. Mary McEntire was born in NC 1735 (twin to James).
Mary McEntire was born in NC 1735 (twin to James). ii. James McEntire was born in NC 1735 (twin to Mary). James died 27 May 1818 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 82 years of age. At the time of his death he was married to Lucretia. He may have married first to Annie Green, sister of Joseph Green. James was a judge, magistrate, and justice of the peace in old Tryon Co., NC from 1769 to 1779 which indicates he was a man of some standing in his community.
James McEntire was born in NC 1735 (twin to Mary). James died 27 May 1818 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 82 years of age. At the time of his death he was married to Lucretia. He may have married first to Annie Green, sister of Joseph Green. James was a judge, magistrate, and justice of the peace in old Tryon Co., NC from 1769 to 1779 which indicates he was a man of some standing in his community. iii. Clinton McEntire.
Clinton McEntire. iv. Byrd McEntire was born about 1737. There is little known about Byrd, except he does appear in land transactions with his brothers in Rutherford County through the early 1800s.
Byrd McEntire was born about 1737. There is little known about Byrd, except he does appear in land transactions with his brothers in Rutherford County through the early 1800s. v. Alexander McEntire Jr. was born about 1739. He married Hannah unknown.
Alexander McEntire Jr. was born about 1739. He married Hannah unknown. vi. Aaron Andrew McEntire was born in NC about 1741. Aaron died 1827 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 86 years of age. He married Ellinder unknown. She may be the Ellender Wallace who married an Aaron McEntire in Virginia. Ellinder was born in VA about 1773. Ellinder died 1858 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 84 years of age. She made a will in Rutherford Co., NC, 9 January 1858. Ellinder's will was probated in Cleveland Co., NC, 9 June 1858.
Aaron Andrew McEntire was born in NC about 1741. Aaron died 1827 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 86 years of age. He married Ellinder unknown. She may be the Ellender Wallace who married an Aaron McEntire in Virginia. Ellinder was born in VA about 1773. Ellinder died 1858 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 84 years of age. She made a will in Rutherford Co., NC, 9 January 1858. Ellinder's will was probated in Cleveland Co., NC, 9 June 1858. vii. William McEntire was born 1757. William died 10 February 1832 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 74 years of age. His body was interred in Polkville, NC, William McEntire Cemetery. He married his first cousin Rebecca McEntire. Rebecca was born 1762. Rebecca was the daughter of John W. McEntire and Rachel Beason. Rebecca died 10 March 1842 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 79 years of age. Her body was interred in Polkville, NC, William McEntire Cemetery.
William McEntire was born 1757. William died 10 February 1832 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 74 years of age. His body was interred in Polkville, NC, William McEntire Cemetery. He married his first cousin Rebecca McEntire. Rebecca was born 1762. Rebecca was the daughter of John W. McEntire and Rachel Beason. Rebecca died 10 March 1842 in Rutherford Co., NC, at 79 years of age. Her body was interred in Polkville, NC, William McEntire Cemetery.Elsewhere on the Web
McIntyre Clan Information Includes Clan history, legend and tartans.