Mecklenburg County NC

Biographical Sketch of Robert Kerr

Robert Kerr, a soldier of the Revolution, was born in December, 1750, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and came to North Carolina with his parents when only three years old. He first entered the service in 1776, in Captain John McKnitt Alexander’s company, in the expedition, General Rutherford commanding, against the Cherokee Indians, then severely molesting the frontier settlements. In 1778, he was drafted into Captain John Brownfield’s company, Colonel Frances Locke’s regiment, and marched by way of Camden, to the defence of Charleston. After his return, he served under the same officers in the battle of Ramsour’s Mill, in Lincoln … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Alexander

Elijah Alexander, son of William Alexander, blacksmith, was born in Mecklenburg county, N.C., in 1760. In 1819, he moved to Maury county, Tenn., where he died at a good old age. In March, 1780, Colonel Thomas Polk called out detachments from the nearest companies of militia to serve as a guard over the public powder placed in the magazine in Charlotte. He then volunteered for three months under Captain Thomas Alexander. After Cornwallis crossed the Catawba River at Cowan’s Ford, on the 1st of February, 1781, at which place General Davidson was killed, a call was made for more men … Read more

Biography of Colonel Patrick Jack

Colonel Patrick Jack, a brave and meritorious officer under the Colonial Government, and during the Revolutionary war, was the son of Charles Jack, who lived on the Conococheague river, near Chambersburg, Pa., and was probably the brother of Patrick Jack, of Charlotte, N.C., whose family history has just been given. Colonel Jack lived an active and adventurous life, and was born about 1730. He was much engaged, when a young man, in assisting to subdue the Indians in Pennsylvania, and commanded a company of Rangers, under Generals Braddock and Washington, in the Indian and French war of 1755. He also … Read more

Waxhaw Indians

Waxhaw Tribe: Meaning unknown. Also called: Flatheads, a name given to this tribe and others of the Catawba connection owing to their custom of deforming the head. Waxhaw Connection. Nothing of their language has been preserved, but circumstantial evidence points to a close relationship between the Waxhaw and the Catawba and hence to membership in the Siouan linguistic stock. Their closest contacts appear to have been with the Sugeree. Waxhaw Location. In Lancaster County, S. C., and Union and Mecklenburg Counties, N. C. Waxhaw Villages. Lawson mentions two villages in 1701 but the names are not given. Waxhaw History. The … Read more

William E. Wishart

Capt. Med. Corps; son of the late J. J. and Fannie Wishart, of Mecklenburg County, and husband of Margaret M. Griffin Wishart. Entered service Sept. 12, 1917, at Charlotte, N.C. Sent to M. O. T. C. at Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Transferred to Camp Travis, Base Hospital duty; from there to Hoboken and sailed for France Sept. 1, 1918. Commissioned 1st Lt., Aug. 15, 1917. Promoted to Captain April, 1919. Present at engagements at Verdun, Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel. Did duty at Bazailles, Sur-Meuse Base Hospital No. 81, in charge of Respitory and Urological cases. Received French Government Citation for attention to … Read more

Biography of Patrick C. Jack

Patrick C. Jack played a prominent part in one of the earliest acts “rebellion” against the Mexican authorities. He, Travis and Edward, at Anahuac, smarting under the tyranny of the Mexican General, Bradburn, then commanding the post, denounced and rebelled against his usurpations and oppression. For this they were seized and imprisoned by Bradburn, and held as “captive traitors”, until released by a company of armed Texans, who demanded their “immediate surrender or a fight”. Bradburn, not having a particular fondness for “leaden arguments”, and well knowing the message “meant business”, reluctantly yielded to the stern demand. But this chivalric … Read more

Edwin Carlton Huey

Sergt., Q. M. C., Inf., Hdqrs. Co., 30th Div. Born in Mecklenburg County, May 1, 1893; son of Mr. and Mrs. F. V. Huey. Husband of Mrs. Ora Estelle Huey. Entered service July 18, 1917, at Wilmington, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier. Transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y. Overseas to Liverpool, from there was sent to France. Promoted to rank of Sergt. April, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Lys, Somme offensive. Returned to the USA April 2, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, April 8, 1919.

Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Cemetery Transcriptions

North Carolina Cemetery records are listed by county then name of cemetery within the North Carolina county. Most of these are complete indices at the time of transcription, however, in some cases we list the listing when it is only a partial listing. Following Cemeteries (hosted at Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Tombstone Transcription Project) Arlington Baptist Church Cemetery, Part 1 of 2 Part 2 of 2 Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery (hosted at name not listed) Blackstock Cemetery Clear Creek Cemetery Cook’s Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery Darnall-Pearson Cemetery Dinkins Family Cemetery Dulin’s Grove Advent Christian Church Cemetery Elmwood Cemetery (partial) Fairview … Read more

Biography of James Baxter

Captain James Baxter, of Boise, is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Norwich. His parents were Frank and Mary (Gunn) Baxter, who came with their family to the United States when the Captain was very young. They resided near New York City for some years, and then removed to Paterson, New Jersey. The father was a horticulturist by occupation and successfully engaged in the cultivation of vegetables and flowers. Soon after his arrival in America he took steps toward becoming naturalized and was recognized as a valued and influential citizen. He served as county commissioner in New … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Polk

William Polk, son of Colonel Thomas Polk, was born in 1759, and was present at the Mecklenburg Convention of the 19th and 20th of May, 1775. He commenced his military career with his father in the expedition against the Scovillite Tories, in upper South Carolina, in the autumn of 1775. He was with General Nash when he fell at Germantown; with General Davidson, at Cowan’s Ford; with General Greene, at Guilford Court House; and with the same officer at Eutaw Springs. In the last named battle he was severely wounded, the effects of which he carried with him to his … Read more

Louis E. Johnston

Corpl. Machine Gun Co., 120th Inf.; son of J. A. Johnston, of Davidson, N.C. Enlisted in N.C. N. G. at Charlotte, N.C., June 23, 1916. Served on the Mexican border with the guard. In the 30th Div., was with Co. M, 120th Inf., and before reaching France, transferred to Machine Gun Co., 120th Inf., serving with it until date of discharge, April 17, 1919. Saw service in the “Canal Sector,” Belgium, Ypres, Lys offensives, Somme offensive. Called to Washington, D. C., to receive the British Military Medal from the Prince of Wales, American Distinguished Service Cross from Gen’l. Pershing and … Read more

Biography of General William Davidson

General William Davidson was the youngest son of George Davidson, and born in 1746. His father moved from Lancaster county, in Pennsylvania, in 1750, to North Carolina, and settled in the western part of Rowan county (now Iredell.) Here General Davidson received his earliest mental training, and subsequently his principal and final education at Queen’s Museum College in Charlotte, where many of the patriots of Mecklenburg and surrounding counties were educated. At the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax, on on the 4th of April, 1776, four additional regiments to the two already in service, were ordered to be raised, … Read more

Biography of John Phifer

“John Phifer” was born in Cabarrus county (when a part of Bladen) in 1745. He was the son of Martin Phifer, a native of Switzerland, and of Margaret Blackwelder. He raised a numerous family, who inherited the patriotic spirit of their ancestors. The original spelling of the name was “Pfeifer”. He resided on “Dutch Buffalo” Creek, at the Red Hill, known to this day as “Phifer’s Hill.” He was the father of General Paul Phifer, grandfather of General John N. Phifer of Mississippi, and great grandfather of General Charles H. Phifer, a distinguished officer in the battle of “Shiloh,” in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dan Alexander

“Dan Alexander”, who moved to Hardeman county, Tenn., was born in Mecklenburg county, in March, 1757. He first entered the service in 1778, for three months, in Captain William Alexander’s company, (commonly called “Black Bill Alexander,”) and Colonel Irwin’s regiment. In 1780, he served under Captain Thomas Alexander to assist in guarding the public magazine in Charlotte. In this same year he served in the expedition to Ramsour’s Mill, under General Rutherford, and afterward, against Tories assembled in the forks of the Yadkin river, captured several and conveyed them to Salisbury jail. Soon afterward, he joined the command of Colonel … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Davidson

“John Davidson” was born in Pennsylvania in 1736. He performed much civil and military service to secure the independence of his country. He was appointed by the Provincial Congress, which met at Halifax on the 4th of April, 1776, a field officer (Major) with Adam Alexander as Colonel, John Phifer as Lieutenant Colonel, and George A. Alexander as second Major. He was with General Sumpter in August, 1780, at the battle of the Hanging Rock, and was a General in the State militia service. He was enterprising, and successful in business. With Alexander Brevard, and Joseph Graham, his sons-in-law, he … Read more

Robert B. Hood

Sergt., Co. B, 105th Engineers, 30th Div.; son of W. T. and Mrs. Rosemond B. Hood; of Mecklenburg County. Entered service April 24, 1917, at Charlotte, N.C. Sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., then to Camp Mills. Sailed for France May 26, 1918. Was in all engagements with the 105th Engineers. Promoted to Corpl. July 11, 1917. Returned to USA April 13, 1919. Mustered out April 18th at Camp Jackson, S. C.

Walker Franklin Kale

Phm., 2nd Class, U. S. N.; son of George W. and Mrs. Martha Kale; of Mecklenburg County. Entered service Aug. 5, 1918, at Norfolk, Va. Promoted to H. A. C., then to Phm., 3rd Class. Later to Phm., 2nd Class. Made nine trips on the U. S. Transport “Mercury.” Mustered out at Brooklyn, Oct. 4, 1919.

Samuel A. Alexander

2nd Lt., Remount Veterinary Corps, 6th Cavalry. Entered service at Matthews, N. C., June 7, 1917. Son of A. D. and Mary W. (Bess) Alexander, of Mecklenburg County. Sent to Ft. Royal, Va., Remount Depot. Sailed for France March 23, 1918. Returned to USA July 5, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Dix, July 8, 1919. Commissioned May 21, 1917.

Biography of Robert Jack

Robert Jack, the fourth and youngest son of Patrick Jack, of Charlotte, remained in Chambersburg, Pa., where his father had resided many years previous to his removal to North Carolina. He had the following children: 1. James; 2. John; 3. Cynthia, and 4. Margaret Jack. John Jack was the only one of this family who married. He was born in Chambersburg, on the 29th of December, 1763. At the age of sixteen, he went to Baltimore, engaged as a clerk in a mercantile house, and there acquired those correct business habits and educational training which qualified him for future usefulness. … Read more

Slave Narrative of Herndon Bogan

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Herndon Bogan Location: State Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina Place of Birth: Union County, South Carolina Age: 76 (?) Occupation: Houseboy, Night Watch Railroad Tracks An interview with Herndon Bogan, 76 (?) of State Prison, Raleigh, N. C. I wus bawned in Union County, South Carolina on de plantation o’ Doctor Bogan, who owned both my mammy Issia, an’ my pap Edwin. Dar wus six o’ us chilluns; Clara, Lula, Joe, Tux, Mack an’ me. I doan’ member much ’bout slavery days ‘cept dat my white folkses wus good ter us. Dar wus a heap … Read more