Alexander was born in 1789 at Shankill, Armagh. In 1807 Alexander enlisted in the Royal Artillery, 3rd Battalion. His attestation took place at Lisburn, County Armagh before Lieut. Clark. He signed for limited service. At the time he gave his occupation as a tailor. He was described as 5' 9' tall, of fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He was unable to read or write.
In the summer of 1810 his regiment set sail for the West Indies. He remained there until 1816 when his regiment returned to England. He was discharged from the Army on his return. Three years later Alexander re-enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Artillery as a Gunner. (The National Archives, Kew WO 69/585/203, WO 69/628/38)
In 1823 his regiment was stationed in Stoke Damerel, Devon, England where he met and married his wife Jane Hoskins on the 16 July 1823. The marriage entry states he was a gunner in the Royal Artillery. The couple had two children while living in England Jane 1824-1838 and Ann in 1825.
By 1828 Alexander had been posted to St John’s, Newfoundland and Jane had travelled to join him. The next child Sophia was born in 1828 and died in 1839, followed by William in 1830, Mary in 1832 and Margaret Alexander in 1834. All the children were baptised at the Anglican Cathedral. St. John's, Newfoundland. Alexander died on the 17th January 1834 at St. John's, Newfoundland.
After Alexanders death Jane returned to Cornwall in England with her young family. She married William Dolley in 1838 in Plymouth. The couple were living in Landrake, Cornwall on both the 1841 & 1851 Census Returns. The couple had two children John 1839-1860 & Catherine 1841-1844. William Dolley died in 1854 and Jane died the following year.
Descendants of Alexander & Jane still live the South West of England. However, their grandson William moved to London where he was a policeman. Their grandson Alexander George emigrated with his wife and young family to Queensland, Australia in 1878, later moving to Tasmania. Descendants remain there today but Alexander George moved Sydney where he died in 1917.
At present it is not known who Alexander's parents were but evidence suggests close relationship with the other families in Ireland at the time. For more information please follow links to the right of this page.