An American Saga   
The Alderman Family in America 
By 
Kirk Mitchell de la Torre Alderman
December 25, 2005 

Dedicated To My Family…  
My Parents
Charles Edward Alderman 
Tanya Marlene De La Torre Alderman
   
My Sons
Seth Mitchell Alderman
Noah Robert Alderman
Zackary Charles Alderman

A Homage
To all the generations of family members, who 
Without them there would have never been a future…   


Thanks…
 
A special indebtedness and appreciation to my brother, Lance Robert Alderman, 
who without his past research and dedication to exploring the history of our 
family heritage, this book would not be possible.  Your direction and 
information paved the way for tracing the ancestry of the Alderman lineage.  
Thank you for your assistance, support, and for not only being my big brother 
but a great friend too.


Forward  

My first thoughts in preparing this information pertaining to our family 
heritage was to put together some facts from the book, Alderman’s in America, 
that was relevant to our direct family tree.  Every time I was interested in 
reading upon the family tree, I would have to skip around within the 
Alderman’s in America book, which not only took time but was tedious. 
Furthermore, I wanted to compile information for my son’s to read to fully 
understand their heritage and the direction of the Alderman lineage. 

As a result, I begun typing information directly from the Alderman’s in 
America book in chronological order so it was easier to follow the family 
tree.  Well, one thing led to another and four years later, working a little 
here and there, the following book was born.  It actually took a life of its 
own because I begun to do some research on the Internet and embark on tons of 
information pertaining to the Alderman family.  For instance, we were unaware 
that a direct family member served in the Civil War, which was discovered 
through an Internet search.  I also started to communicate with distance 
relatives (related to a member of our Southern branch) and collected data and 
pictures.  Additionally, I conducted research in libraries by viewing old 
documents and unfolding the pages of the past in books covering the history 
of our country and state.  

I must admit that one person who has inspired me to seek out our family 
heritage is my brother, Lance, who has completed a tremendous amount of 
research and work in gathering and preparing information relevant to our 
family lineage.  I hope you enjoy this brief observation of our family 
heritage and come to pay homage to our ancestors for the sacrifices they made 
in order to bestow us a future. 


Kirk Mitchell de la Torre Alderman

England to America 

In 1555, Giampietro Caraffa was elected Pope Paul IV, the English parliament 
refuses to recognize Philip of Spain as king, Oxford Bishop Nicholas Ridley 
is sentenced to death as a heretic, and the Lord Mayor of London was Sir. 
William Garrard, a post that has existed ever since 1189.  According to 
historical records, Sir. Garrard’s coat of arms was Argent, on a fess sable, 
a lion passant on the field. His crest is a leopard sejant proper.  He was 
born in at Dorney, England, in which, his father was John Garrard (a grocer) 
born about 1456.  Sir. Garrard seemed to be involved in trade to Morocco, 
exporting cloth and arms, and importing sugar. According to past records, in 
1553, some men in the Merchant Adventurers earlier exporting cloth, and the 
new rising trades were Edward Jackman, Francis Bowyer, William Allen and 
William Garrard, which began some merchant syndicates seeking direct trade 
with Guinea, and here were involved some Spanish merchants who were 
developing the Morocco trade.  Sir William was knighted in 1555. According to 
his will, he "dwelt in Pissing Conduit in Christopher's Parish", London. He 
also owned property in Sitingborne, Newington, and Milton, in Kent. Sir 
William Garrard died on September 27, 1571 and was buried in Church Of St 
Magnus, London, England.  

He married Isabell Nethermill, who was born in 1507, and daughter to Julius 
Nethermill (1457- 1540) of Coventry, Warwickshire, England who was a draper 
and an Alderman of Conventry.  Sir William and Isabell Garrard’s daughter Ann 
Garrard married John Spencer  of South Mills, Bedfordshire, England.  Ann and 
John Spencer’s son, Michael, born 1532 in Edworth, Bedfordshire, England, a 
midland county of England, bounded by the counties of Northampton, Cambridge, 
Herts, and Bucks with the silver thread of the River Great Ouse that winds 
and loops its way across North Bedfordshire, and away from the towns, the 
river links a string of beautiful limestone villages in the Ouse Valley.  
Some years later, he came to live in Stratford in 1576, with his wife, 
Elizabeth Agnes Limer (married on January 25, 1555) and their eleven children.
Garrard, the son of Michael and Elizabeth Spencer, was born at Stotfold, 
Bedfordshire, England, on May 20, 1576 and baptized on the same day at St. 
Mary’s Parish.  On November 10, 1600, in Upper Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, 
England, Garrard Spencer married Alice Whitbread (1578 – 1629).  Alice was 
the daughter of John Lawrence Whitbread (1548-1598) and Eleanor Radcliffe 
(1550- 1628) of Upper Gravenhurst, Bedshire, England.  It was from his 
grandfather (Sir William Garrard) that he received his name, which was 
provincialized to Jared in New England. Garrard (Jared) Spencer, being friends 
of Governor Winthrop, who was known for his famous sermon " A Model of 
Christian Charity" which outlined god's purposes for New England,  pioneered 
to America by settling in Newton, known now as Cambridge, Massachusetts in 
1632 with his five sons, John, Thomas, William, Michael and Gerrard, Jr.  

In 1636, one of the most famous early Connecticut settlers, the Reverend 
Thomas Hooker, traveled from Massachusetts with a group of colonists. They 
founded the town of Hartford, which soon became an important center of 
government and trade.  Many of the settlers bought land along the river from 
the Mohegan Indians. Because they wanted to create a plan for the type of 
government they wanted, Thomas Hooker, John Haynes and Roger Ludlow wrote a 
document which has been called the first written constitution. This was the 
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (Many historians have said that this was 
the basis for the United States Constitution). It was adopted in 1639 by 
Freeman of Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. At the same time, the first 
Governor, John Haynes, was chosen.

In October of 1687, the English Governor, Sir Edmund Andros, who had been 
appointed by King James, came to Connecticut to take away the charter and the 
colonists' legal rights. A large assembly was called to discuss the situation,
and the charter was put on a table. Suddenly, someone put out the candles, 
and in the darkness the charter was taken away. Captain Wadsworth of Hartford 
is credited with taking the charter and placing it in a hollow spot in a 
large oak tree. This tree became known as the Charter Oak.  

Honorable William Spencer (1601-1641) who was the son of Jared and Alice 
Spencer, whose ancestors are traced back to 1100, was born in England. In 
1632, William Spencer married Agnes Harris (1604-1680) in Hartford, 
Connecticut.  Agnes Harris was born at Barnstaple, Devon, England (a county 
of England, reaching from the Bristol to the English Channel, and bounded by 
Cornwall, and Somersetshire, and Dorsetshire. It is very hilly, and abounds 
in huge granite rocks, some of whose peaks are above 1500 feet in height).
She was the daughter of Bartholemew Harris and Elizabeth Collamore. In 1633 
William Spencer returned to England to bring back his wife Agnes. They 
returned on the ship "Marie and John" which was owned in part by John 
Alderman, Gent. of Ipswich, England. John Alderman was also part owner in 
other sea-going vessels which plied the Atlantic. 


"William Spencer was much betrusted; he was one of the committee appointed 
May 9, 1632, at a meeting of the whole people to confer with the assistants 
about raising a common stock which soon led to the erection of a House of 
Representatives, of which he was from the first, in 1634, a member and 
continued to serve until 1638. He took the freeman’s oath in 1633 at 
Cambridge, Massachusetts.  While William was still in Massachusetts he was 
appointed by Governor Winthrop to serve as judge in Ipswich and Newberry in 
order that he might hold the courts in those precincts. William Spencer was 
one of the founders of "The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of 
Boston," which has continued to be the oldest military organization in 
America. He was appointed by Governor Winthrop with four others to raise a 
military company for the protection of the people of the colony. IN March 
1636, he was appointed Lieutenant of the Military Company of Newton.  He was 
one of the committee on fundamental laws in 1638. He moved to Hartford, 
Connecticut, in 1638 and was immediately selected as one of the 
Representatives  to the General Court of Connecticut in that colony.  He was 
selected as Lieutenant of the Train Band in the Militia.   Along with Mr. 
Wyllis and Mr. Webster, he was selected to prepare the first Code of Laws for
Connecticut. Today, his name is inscribed on the imposing Founders Monument 
in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford as one of the founders of the 
Connecticut Colony.  

In his nuncupative will, dated 14 March and 4 May 1640, William Spencer 
“bequeathed that the estate that he hath in New England, and also that which 
may come to his wife hereafter, that is, any part of his wife's portion if 
any do come, that all the estate be divided as followeth: ...to my wife one 
third part of all my estate ... to my son Samuel one third part ... to my two 
daughters Sarah and Elizabeth one third part ... the children to be brought 
up with the improvement of the whole estate that I leave both to my wife and 
children. Also my mind is my Cousin Matthew Allyn, my brother John Pratt and 
John Taylcoate, that these three parties or any two of them shall have the 
oversight of my estate, and in case that they shall see in their judgment the 
estate to be wasted, that they shall have power to take the children and 
their portions for their bringing up, and to pay the children their portions 
that remain at the several times above written. Also my mind is that my wife 
shall have no power to alienate or make sale of my house or any part of my 
land I leave without the consent of two of the parties that are to oversee my 
estate.”  The undated "inventory of the estate of the said William Spenser" 
totaled £67 12s. 2d. in movables; there were "several debts ... owing in the 
Bay, which most of them were denied, and those that are confessed are very 
doubtful whether much of it will be paid, being in the hands of some of his 
kindred that are poor." The supplement to this inventory also included "the 
house and houselot containing about 2 acres, with some outhouses; also 
several parcels of upland lots, to the value of  74 acres, as may appear by 
the records to that purpose, whereof, besides the right which he had in any 
other lands to be divided"; "also, eleven acres of meadow and swamp, lying in 
the North Meadow"; "also, one parcel lying on the east side of the Great 
River, containing ten acres"; "also, there is land yet remaining at Concord 
in the Bay, which while he lived he esteemed at £120"   It was agreed that if 
any of the children died before they came of age, "the survivor & survivors 
shall receive it at the time when it should have been paid to the deceased, 
if he or she had lived, and if they all die before the said time, then it 
shall be paid to Agnes Edwards or her lawful attorney of the said Agnes, the
mother of the said children"   The estate of William Spencer, deceased, was 
brought to court 24 June 1650 and, "with the information of the overseers in 
the presence of Thomas Spencer, brother to the said William, with the consent 
of the wife of William Edwards, they do judge that £30 is as much as the 
estate here will bear to be sequestered for the use of the children, which is 
to be paid to them according to the will of the said William Spencer ... 
provided also that whatsoever shall be paid here or in England of any estate 
due to the wife of the said William Spencer while she was the wife of William 
Spencer, or that shall come from Concord, two thirds thereof shall be and 
remain to the proper use of the children aforesaid"  The ancient family of 
Case had its seat in Aylesham, England, where they were a noted family, as 
far back as the time of Oliver Cromwell. They accumulated their fortunes by 
furnishing leather for Cromwell’s army, being tanners and farmers.  It is 
from this family that John Case was born in 1616 at Aylesham, England.  
According to Drake's "Founders of New England," the ship ' Dorset, in which, 
John Flower served as the master, sailed from Gravesend, England on September.
3, 1635 for the Bomodes (Bermudas) and made a port of call at Newport, Rhode 
Island.  Among the passengers was Mr. John Casse, aged  19."  It may be said 
here that this spelling of Casse only appears in the ship record, and in a 
power of attorney given in 1656 by John Casse, and witnessed by his brother, 
Thomas Casse, John’s will is signed Case.   

John Case fought in the Pequot Indian War of 1636/7, where Captain John Mason 
led the colonists to victory over the Pequots, in which, John Case was granted
two parcels of land for his "military service".  The Pequot Indian War was 
based on a warlike North American tribe of the Algonquian language family and 
of the Eastern Woodlands culture area. They formerly occupied the coast 
region of northeastern Connecticut from the Rhode Island border westward. 
Once identified with the Mohegan people, they were virtually wiped out by the 
English in the Pequot War (1636/7).  

Windsor, Connecticut's first community was launched in 1633, when settlers 
sailed from Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts to establish themselves at the 
confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut rivers. The Indians called this 
place Matianuck.  The Reverend John Warham and 60 members of his congregation,
a church organized in England in 1630, arrived two years later, and renamed 
the settlement Dorchester. A final name change to Windsor was decreed in 1637 
by the colony's General Court. Windsor has been the home of one Governor, two 
Lieutenant Governors, two Secretaries of the State, and one State Treasurer. 
Its original land has been used to spin off no less than 20 other Connecticut 
towns, in whole or part, from Litchfield and Torrington to the west, to 
Tolland in the east. For approximately 100 years (1830-1930) woolen mills and 
paper mills located on the Farmington River in the Poquonock and Rainbow 
sections of Windsor provided employment for up to 500 people. Historically, 
Windsor's economy has been dominated by two pursuits: tobacco farming and 
brickmaking (since 1675). In its heyday, there were more than 40 brickyards 
in Windsor. The last one disappeared in the 1960's. The first tobacco crop 
was planted in 1640 with seeds brought to Connecticut from the Virginia 
tobacco plantations. While many acres still remain ``under tents" much of its 
original land has been redeveloped for recreational purposes or for today's 
modern office and corporate parks. 

It was Windsor, where John Case married Sarah Spencer in 1656. Sarah was born 
1636 in Hartford, Connecticut and was the daughter of William and Agnes 
Spencer.  She passed away on November 3, 1691 in Hartford, Connecticut.  By 
1660, the colonists had become uneasy about their legal standing with England.
The colonies were still under English rule then, but there were many 
disagreements about land claims. Governor John Winthrop went to England in 
1662 to talk to King Charles II. He returned with a royal charter. This 
document was important because it gave the colony a legal basis and the 
approval of the King. 

It is interesting to speculate about who John Case was on the basis of what 
we know. It seems that John came from a good family for it is unlikely that 
he would have had the opportunity to know Sarah, much less marry her, if he 
himself did not have a comparable background. Most parents in early New 
England were very careful about their daughters associations and it was 
generally necessary for a young man to secure the permission of a girl's 
parents prior to courting her. This concept was firmly embodied in New 
England law, which made it a crime punishable by a fine for a young man to 
see a girl without first obtaining her parents' consent. It is also apparent 
that John had traveled widely in southern New England and had either lived at 
or visited both Maspeth Kills, near Brooklyn on Long Island, and Hartford, 
Connecticut, by 1656.  John was made freeman (rights of citizenship) in 1666. 
He resided in Windsor until spring of 1669, when he settled at Weatogue 
(Simsbury), where he was appointed constable October 14, 1699, being the 
first person that ever held office at that place  In 1670 he was a 
Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly and served some years. At 
one time he was one of a committee to invite Rev. Mr. Stone to become the 
Resident Minister and to look after the school affairs of the town. John Case 
was recognized for his moral influence, as well as his business integrity.  
His house in Windsor was on the corner of Mill Highway and Bloomfield Ave; in 
which, he sold his house, lot and shop to Nathan Cook, in 1689.  Before his 
death at Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut on February 21, 1704, John 
Case acquired a very considerable estate for the times, however, his property 
was destroyed in the King Philip's War 1675/6.  The King Phillip’s War, which 
was lead by Philip, Chief of the Wampanoag tribe of Native North Americans 
and the second son of the Wampanoag Chief Massasoit, who for nearly 40 years 
had been the first and staunchest ally of the Pilgrim settlers of Plymouth, 
in what is now Massachusetts.   Originally named Metacomet, he was called 
Philip by the English settlers.  In 1662 Philip succeeded his brother and 
formally renewed the treaties of his father, which he honored for some years. 
The colonists, however, made continual encroachments on native lands. In 
retaliation Philip formed a confederation of tribes and in 1675 led an 
uprising now known as King Philip's War. They burned towns and killed many of 
the inhabitants. In return the colonists captured Native American women and 
children, destroyed crops, and promised immunity to Native American deserters.
In December 1675 the colonists won a major victory. During the spring of 1676 
the Native Americans held out, but their numbers steadily diminished, and in 
August 1676, Philip was slain, his body drawn and quartered, and his head 
paraded in triumph in Plymouth. Philip's son, Massasoit's grandson, was sold 
into slavery in Bermuda. The generosity of Massasoit in 1620 indirectly 
resulted in the enslavement of his grandson 56 years later.

The last will and testament of John Case, Senior, of Simsbury: 
I give to my wife Elizabeth Case œ5 annually during life, which was engaged 
before marriage.  
I give to my son John Case land I bought of Mr. Samuel Stone in Simsbury, 
also œ5.  
I give to my son William Case land I bought of Thomas Hart in Farmington, 
joining lands of the heirs of Capt. Marshall, and land in Weataug I bought of 
John Clark.  
I give to my son Samuel 5 acres of land given me by the inhabitants of 
Simsbury at Weataug, adjacent to Benajah Holcomb's houselot; also I give him 
my whole share in the two mills, viz., corn mill and saw mill, standing on 
Hop Brook in Simsbury; my share in the mill lott and the lott in Hazell 
Meadow I bought of John Humphries; also the land in Hazell Meadow I bought of 
Joseph Skinner.  
I give to my son Richard Case that allotment being situate in Weataug Meadow 
which I bought of Eliakim Marshall, and the houselott at Weataug which I 
bought of John Clark.  
I do give to my son Bartholomew Case my proper allotment given me in Hazell 
Meadow and at the Common Land lying on the west side of the river, and 12 
acres adjacent to it, and 1-2 of the new barn, and 5 acres of land on the 
Plaine against Sergt. Wilcockson's houselott.  
I give unto my son Joseph Case, by deed of gift, in consideration of his 
living with me during my lifetime and managing my whole affairs and business 
of husbandry according to my ordering and discretion, my now dwelling house 
in Simsbury and the whole of my houselott, bounded east by the river, north 
by John Pettebone's houselott, west by the highway and south by Benajah 
Holcomb's lott, with the barn, fences, orchards, and all edifices directed 
and built thereon.  
I give to my daughter Elizabeth Tuller œ10 more besides what she hath already 
received.  
To my daughter Mary œ15, also 12 acres of land lying in Simsbury.  
To my daughter Sarah Case, alias Phelps, œ20.  To my daughter Abigail
Case œ30.  
And although William be dead, yet an equal share shall appertain to his 
estate to be distributed to his children.             

Moreover, if there be not estate enough left of the moveables at the time of 
my death to discharge the several legacies herein held and contained, after 
my other debts be paid, as these legacies (John œ5, Elizabeth œ10, Mary œ15, 
Sarah œ20, Abigail œ30, Joseph œ2, total œ82), then it is my will that my 
sons herein named, or their heirs, do make good to each legatee herein 
mentioned their several sums by an equal dist. of each person excepting 
Joseph, who shall pay double to the rest of his brethren, whose names are 
William, Samuel, Richard, Bartholomew and Joseph Case.  I appoint my brother 
inlaw Samuel Spencer of Hartford and my son John Case of Simsbury to be Adms. 
Witness: John Slater, Clerk, William Gillett, Elias Slater.  John x Case, 
Sen., ls.   

William Alderman   

Past records have presented various directions, in which, the ancestry line 
of the Alderman family could have gone.  Unfortunately, we may never be 
knowledgeable about the true course that the Alderman family originated.  In 
a sense, as the past is swallowed up, so may the mystery of the Alderman’s 
lineage.  

One possible course, which I personally feel is the direction that the family 
tree may have progressed, starts with Robert Alderman of St. Margaret’s, 
Ipswich, England who earned his keep as a weaver (cloth maker) and died 
approximately 1639.  Within his will, he left to his son William, all the 
shop stuff, which were in his possession and that Robert had purchased from 
John Alderman of Belstead.  He left his son Thomas, the shop stuff he still 
had in his possession and provided his son Robert, £5.  Robert was reported 
to having three sons and three daughters (William, Thomas, Robert, Thomasin, 
Anne, and Elizabeth).    

It is believed that on July 8, 1679, Thomas Alderman, sailed aboard the ship 
Friendship from England to New England.  Thomas Alderman, who’s trade was 
also a weaver (cloth maker), like his father, was originally from St. 
Margaret’s, Ipswich, England born about 1620.  Whom Thomas Alderman was 
married to is also a mystery due to the numerous records showing various 
Thomas Alderman marriages:  

There was a Thomas Alderman married to Sarah Bolton, London, England (1637).
There was a Thomas Alderman married to Elizabeth Manning, Ipswich, England (1640).
There was a Thomas Alderman married to Mary Shuckburg, Ipwich, England (1640)
  
It is believed that Thomas Alderman’s son, William Alderman, was born in 1640,
perhaps in Massachusetts or in Windsor, CT, or he may have been an immigrant 
from England. 

Another interruption that comes from Savage Dict. First Settlers of NE, Vol. 
1, as well as Leighton Alderman (1835 - 1886), is that, William's parents are 
John and Jane Alderman. The source cited shows John as born 1634 in 
Dorchester, England, and dying August 1657 in Salem, Massachusetts. As stated 
by History of Salem, "John Alderman dies 1657, apparently alone in the world, 
and having acquired a considerable estate, especially in live stock, he 
displayed in his will a real philanthropy for that time in giving his best 
cow to Rev. Mr. Norris of Salem, and a cow each to Rev. John Eliot, the 
Apostle to the Indians, at Natick, the Indians he preached to, Mr. Thacher of 
Marblehead, Rev. Mr. Whiting of Lynn, Rev. Mr. Walton of Marblehead, and Rev. 
Mr. Cobbet of Ipswich. One of his heifers he gave to Deacon John Horne of the 
Salem Church."  

History reports there was a John Alderman, Gentleman of Ipswich, England.  He 
was part owner of the ship Marie and John, which landed passengers at 
Nantucket, Massachusetts on 30 May 1630.  He was also part owner of other 
ships and was buried in 1642.  There was a John Alderman (the younger?) who 
helped to settle Mattopan, later Dorchester, in 1634 (possibly with his 
brothers), and a town officer in Salem in 1636. He received land grants in 
1637, a freeman in 1639, and juryman in 1646.  He died in 1657.  Left bequests
to his brother Marshall Alderman, and the Clapp family.   In any case, John 
and Sarah Case’s daughter Mary was born June 22, 1660 in Windsor, Hartford, 
Connecticut.  Mary received full communion by the church at Simsbury on 
December 11, 1678.  In 1679, Mary married William Alderman in Windsor, 
Connecticut.  Records indicate that William Alderman lived in Windsor in 1672,
however, later moving to Farmington, as well as Simsbury, Connecticut, where 
through his travels traded land and was the holder of extensive real estate 
in Farmington, Windsor, Simsbury, and Hartford, Connecticut William and Mary 
Alderman had six children (Mary, Thomas, Jr., John, William, Jr., Sarah, and 
Joseph).  Supposition by John Thomas Alderman (1853 - 1932), is that William 
may have been the son of a Thomas: Possibly Thomas, Sr. (grandfather) since 
William had a son, Thomas, Jr., who was a weaver.  The grandson may have been 
named junior to avoid confusion with the elder Thomas, especially if he came 
to America.   William Alderman died on August 01, 1697, Mary, his widow, was 
made executrix to his estate. Several years elapsed before the estate was 
finally settled and at the time of his death there were some claims against 
him which were not adjusted until later.   Additional facts concerning his 
will comes from the Connecticut Probate Records, 1635-1650, specifically "A 
Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. 1687 To 1695", which 
disclosed the following: Page 59-60 Invt. in Vol. VI. Name: William Alderman 
Location: Farmington 42-09-06. Taken 25 August, 1697, by John Hart & Daniel 
Andrews sen. Invt. of Land in œ53-00-00. Taken 13 April, 1698, by John 
Higley, Samuel Wilcoxson, John Moses & John Slater sen. The children: Thomas 
age 14 years, William 12, John 3, Joseph 1, Mary 17, Sarah 6 years. Court 
Record, Page 134--2 September, 1697: Adms. Granted to the Widow of William 
Alderman, late of Farmington, Decd. Page 30--(Vol. VI) 14 April, 1698: Invt. 
exhibited by Mary the Relict, who appeared in Court and was given full power 
to Adms. on the Estate. 56--1st September, 1698: It appears that the Estate 
of William Alderman is non solvent. The Court orders the Creditors to bring 
in their Accounts to the Clerk of the Court.  

On August 22, 1725, Mary Alderman deceased.  She signed a will on August 12, 
1725 in Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, whereupon it stated:

  
"To my three sons, William Alderman, junior, John Alderman, and Joseph 
Alderman, my lands - twopieces or parcels lying in Simsbury aforesaid. 
The first is a piece of pine land or plain on the west side of the river, 
given me by my father, John Case, deceased. 
The other is five acres of marsh land lying under West Mountain, which fell 
to me by division of my father's estate. To be equally divided among them. 
All my movable estate, except my wearing apparel, I give to my daughter, 
Elizabeth (Hillyer). And I appoint my well beloved son, John Alderman, my 
Executor." 

Mary Hillyer; L. S. 
Witnesses: Samuel Pettibone, John Humphrey, and Samuel HumphreyIssue of 
William and Mary Alderman: Mary Alderman was born on September 22, 1680 in 
Simsbury, Harford County, Connecticut.  Mary, the eldest child, was accepted 
into full communion by the church at Simsbury on December 11, 1698. Nothing 
further has been learned about her except that the court records show that at 
the time of the settlement of her father's estate in 1698 she was 17 years of 
age, but her mother made no mention of her in her will which was dated August 
17, 1725. There is neither a church record of her marriage nor a gravestone 
record of her death. 

Thomas Alderman Jr. was born on June 9, 1683 in Simsbury, Harford County, 
Connecticut.  He died on August 15, 1715 in Cohansey, Salem County, New 
Jersey. Thomas, Jr. went to Long Island, and later to Cohansey, N. J. His son 
Daniel was the progenitor of the southern branch of the Alderman family. The 
late Hon. Edwin A. Alderman, a former president of the University of Virginia,
was perhaps the outstanding representative of this branch. 

John Alderman was born in 1684 in Simsbury, Harford County, Connecticut. He 
died on 25 Feb 1758. John Alderman married his cousin, Sarah Case, and they 
made their home in Windsor. Their descendants have been people of excellent 
standing and worth. We find them in central New York and in many sections of 
the west.

William Alderman Jr. was born on 20 Oct 1686 in Simsbury, Harford County, 
Connecticut. He died about 1768. William Alderman, Jr. married in Simsbury, 
Rebecca Osborn, of Windsor. Some of their descendants are still to be found 
in Connecticut, but many of them went to New York State and are now scattered 
throughout the west. William took an active interest in civic affairs, though 
most of his time was devoted to looking after his farming interests. He was 
married to Rebecca Osborn on 28 Mar 1716. 

Sarah Alderman was born in 1691. She was born in 1691 in Simsbury, Harford 
County, Connecticut. Sarah married Thomas, a son of John Moses, Sr., all of 
Simsbury, Conn.

Joseph Alderman was born on 30 Jun 1697 in Simsbury, Harford County, 
Connecticut Joseph married Mindwell Case, his cousin, and continued to live 
in Connecticut where many of their descendants may yet be found. Some removed 
to New York state, some to Pennsylvania, and others to Ohio, while a few went 
farther west, perhaps to Michigan.

Thomas Alderman 

In 1653, New Amsterdam (later renamed New York City) is incorporated.  
Ferdinand IV is elected King of the Roman; Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord 
Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland: the Taj Mahal is finished; and 
Thomas Alderman Jr. is born on June 9, 1683 in Simsbury, Connecticut. Records 
show he travel with friends to live in East Hampton, on Long Island.  During 
this time, he engages in the romance of his life at the mere age of nineteen, 
to marry Mary Seagrave on April 27, 1702. Shortly after their marriage, they 
settled in Cohansey, New Jersey where they purchased a tract of land south of 
the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay.  While in Cohansey, Thomas and Mary 
sign the Covenant of the “The Church of Christ in Fairfield, New Jersey on 
the Cohansey River, which was founded May 19, 1708.    

Thomas Alderman was known to be a weaver by trade but was not permitted to 
live out the allotted time of life, for he died at the age of 32 on August 
15, 1715, while yet in the time of his life. However, during his life he 
acquired an estate of considerable value for the times, which he mainly left 
to his wife, Mary.  Thomas and Mary Alderman in total had five children, in 
which their first died as an infant and no name is known, however, their 
other children were:  Mary, Thomas, William, and Daniel.  Executors of his 
will were Mary Alderman and Levi Preston. Witnesses were David Shepherd, 
Ephraim Dater, John Ware, Hen Buck. Proved 28 Sep 1715. On August 20, 1715, 
the inventory of the personal estate, £55.8, made by Rich'd Whitacar and John 
Fithian.


Daniel Alderman 

Daniel Alderman was born in 1711 and it’s through him that the name and 
bloodline came down to the southern branch of the Alderman family.  Within 
the same year, the Tuscarora War began with the massacre of settlers in North 
Carolina, following white encroachment of their lands and the enslavement of 
their children.   The Tuscarora, with the Machapunga, Pamlico, and Coree 
attack the settlement at Pamlico River killing 130 colonists. . In 1715, when 
Daniel’s father, Thomas Alderman passed away, by his will he gave a New 
England property to Daniel, which was located in Simsbury, Connecticut, who, 
however, continued to reside at Deerfields, Conhansey Precinct of Salem 
County, New Jersey.  About 1740, Daniel married Abigail, third child of 
Nathaniel Harris, by his first wife, Miriam Brooks.   Nathaniel was born 
October 8, 1693, and died in Cumberland County, New Jersey on November 02, 
1775.  Miriam was born August 16, 1698 and died February 13, 1722.  Nathaniel 
was one of 64 soldiers in Captain Joseph Seely’s Company of Militia in Salem 
County, New Jersey, on the south side of Cohansey River in the Munster Roll 
of November 16, 1715.  The Harrisses were reported to have been Welsh and 
descended from the old country close to Wales with a direct bloodline to 
Malcolm II-King of Scots, Ethelred II-King of England, and St. Olave of 
Norway (992-1030), about 28 generations back, and Henry II – King of England 
(21 generations back) from Nathaniel Harris in 1715.  Our branch of the Harris 
family came first to Connecticut and then later moved to Cohansey, New Jersey,
where they became prominent in public affairs, as well as members of the 
Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church.  The children of Daniel and Abigail (Harris) 
Alderman were the 27th generation from Robert d’ Abbetot, the first of the 
name Despencer and who went from France to England with William the Conqueror 
in 1606.    

It is understood that Daniel and Abigail Alderman were members of the 
Deerfield Presbyterian Church in Cohansey, which was erected in 1775.  From 
the papers of Rebecca Alderman in 1850, who personally knew the children of 
Daniel, wrote some sketches, which were nearly destroyed by vermin.  However, 
the following information was salvaged:  In 1755, Daniel moved his family to 
Duplin County, North Carolina.  Their seven children:  John, Rachel, Mary, 
Daniel, David, David, Hannah, and Abigail; perhaps all of them were born in 
Deerfields.  The pages are blank on why he decided to leave his New Jersey 
home and seek new fields of life in the Southland, we do know that they went 
by boat from New Jersey to Wilmington and overland about forty miles to their 
new home.  

In Duplin County, they selected a small tract of land on the west side of 
Doctor’s Creek and made their home in the forest.  The county was formed in 
1749 from New Hanover County.  Daniel was a skilled cabinet-maker by trade; 
making finely turned and closely jointed wood ware. Within the Revolutionary 
War Records of Duplin-Sampson Counties, Daniel is listed as a Corporal, 10th 
NC Continental Line, Widows Pension Application W # 9696.  Daniel is reported 
to being a quiet man attending strictly to his own affairs where he lived the 
remainder of his days in Duplin County until his dead in October 1785 and 
believed to be buried in Duplin County in the family cemetery (location 
unknown). 

The following is from Daniel Alderman’s will signed December 19, 1782 in 
Duplin County, North Carolina, and probated in October of 1785:  

"In the name of God, Amen. I, Daniel Alderman, Sr., of Duplin County, North 
Carolina, carpenter, being sick and weak of body but of sound mind and memory 
and understanding, praise be God for same, and being sensible of the 
uncertainty of this mortal life, do make and publish my last will and 
testament in manner and form following:  
"First: I leave and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Abigail, one third of all 
my cleared ground and also one third of my orchard, after my decease, during 
her lifetime and likewise of all my furniture and other movables cush as 
cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. 
Also I leave and bequeath unto my son, David Alderman, the plantation whereon 
I now live with the other half of my house-furniture and other movables as 
mentioned above.  
"Secondly: I leave and bequeath five shillings apiece to all my sons and 
daughters that are not above mentioned and likewise I appoint my sons Daniel 
and David Alderman Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby 
requiring them to pay all my just debts after my decease as soon as possible, 
and I do hereby revoke and disannull all other will or wills by me heretofore 
made and do make and publish this my last will and testament. 
Daniel Alderman (seal)" 
Signed, sealed, and published. Daniel Alderman (Seal) 
December 19, 1782. 
in the presence of 
Robert Rollins - Witnesses 



David Alderman 

David Alderman was the youngest son of Daniel Alderman, Sr., who was born at 
Deerfield, Cohansey, New Jersey in 1749.   He was only six years old when his 
parent moved to Duplin County, North Carolina.  In 1773, he married Jemina 
Hall (born in 1756), who was the daughter of Thomas Hall and his wife Rachel 
Goff, the daughter of John Goff.  The Halls were highly esteemed in the 
Harrell’s Store section were member of the Wells Chapel Baptist Church.  
David Alderman lived with his wife, Jemina and their 14 children at the old 
home place in Duplin County, which Daniel Alderman, Sr., had left David in 
his will.  Like his father, according to the records of that time, David 
served as a Revolutionary soldier, having served in the militia, along with 
his brother John (Private, 1st NC Continental Line), as a Private, North 
Carolina Militia, North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts under Captain 
Aaron Williams and Capt. Shadrack Stallings, in which, direct descendants of 
the Alderman’s are eligible for membership in one of the Revolutionary 
Patriotic Societies.  Very little is to be found regarding the records and 
dress of the ten regiments of infantry recruited by North Carolina for 
Continental service from 1775 to 1782.  In the field both officers and men 
wore the hunting or rifle shirt and long overalls, of wool in winter, and of 
linen in warm weather, exactly as shown in the drawing. Their equipment was 
either made in the colonies, or captured from the regular British service and 
their arms the same. In the picture on the previous page, a private with a 
home made haversack of painted linen, an English musket, and a cartridge belt 
like those worn by the British Army.   

After 1780, when Washington's general order of October 2, 1779, provided that 
the dress uniform of the North Carolina Regiments should be blue faced with 
blue, and the button-holes bound with white tape or lace. It is possible that 
the officers or some of them wore this dress when on parade, but we have no 
authority or record of it, as yet.

The Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783) led to the birth of a new nation.
The war began on April 19, 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. 
For about a decade, tension had been mounting between Great Britain and the 
American Colonies. The British government had passed a series of laws in an 
attempt to increase control over the colonies. But Americans had become used 
to having control over their local government. They objected to the new laws 
and protested being taxed without their consent. In 1775, Britain's Parliament
declared Massachusetts, the center of most of the protests, to be in rebellion. 
British troops were placed in Boston to take swift action against the rebels. 
Shortly afterwards, war broke out. 

The Colonies were largely unprepared for war. They lacked a central government
and had neither an organized army nor navy. Delegates from the colonies 
formed the first Continental Congress, which took on the duties of a national 
government. Congress directed the war effort and voted to organize an army and
a navy. George Washington, a wealthy Virginia landowner and former military 
officer, was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army. On July 4, 
1776, the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, in which the 
colonies declared their freedom from British rule. 

Tension had been building between Great Britain and the American Colonies for 
more than 10 years before the Revolutionary War began. Starting in the 
mid-1760's, the British government passed a series of laws to increase its 
control over the colonies. Americans had grown used to a large measure of 
self-government. They strongly resisted the new laws, especially tax laws. 
Fierce debate developed over the British Parliament's right to tax the 
colonies without their consent. Great Britain with its larger and better 
trained army and navy launched a huge land and sea effort to crush the 
revolution. However, they had to transport and supply its army across the 
Atlantic Ocean. As the war continued, the British won many battles but gained 
little from their victories. The American patriots always formed new forces 
and continued the fight. 

In appearance, David was a lean and tall man, somewhat negative in manner, 
however, honorable in all respects.  He was devoted to his beloved family, 
home and the farm life that he had provided for himself.  During the early 
years of the nineteenth century, several of David’s older children followed 
the trend of migration and moved to Bulloch County, Georgia.   It was not 
until 1816, when David and the remainder of his family followed the elder 
children to Bulloch County, in which, he purchased 200 acres of land on 
January 13, 1817.  David had never connected himself with any church until he 
went south; he then joined a Baptist Church.  David lived the remainder of 
his days in Bulloch County until his death on October 23, 1831 and was buried 
in the Brannen cemetery.    



James Alderman 

James Alderman was the youngest of 14 children and a twin (Timothy) from 
David and Jemina Alderman.  James was born February 19, 1801, along with his 
twin Timothy in Duplin County, North Carolina, and within the same year, the 
Tripolitan War begins between the United States and the North African state 
of Tripoli and British physicist Thomas Young demonstrates the wave theory of 
light.  However, in 1815, he moved to Bulloch County, Georgia with his father 
and the rest of his family.  It was there that he married Roxy Ann Holloway 
(born February 16, 1882), daughter of William Holloway.  Shortly after their 
marriage, they pulled up stakes and relocated to Brooks County, Georgia.  

However, in 1848, he moved again, this time to Hillsborough County, Florida, 
where he engaged in cattle raising, in which, he became very successful.  It 
is reported that at one time he numbered his cattle at approximately thirty 
thousand head of cattle.  In total, James and Roxy had 15 children (Matthew, 
Jency, Timothy II, Eliza, Mitchell, Elizabeth, Michael, Susan, Rachel, 
Catherine, Mary, Nancy, David, and Hiram).  During the War Between the States,
bitterly known as the Civil War, several of James’s sons and sons-in-law 
volunteered for service in the Confederate Army.  During those times, James 
and Roxy opened their doors to their daughters and daughters-in –law, whose 
husbands had entered this great conflict. 

In James’ attempt to conquer a new frontier, he forded the Alafia River 
located in Hillsborough County in 1848 by cutting down trees along its steep 
banks near where the river's north and south branches converge. Alderman's 
Ford, as the site became known, grew into a gathering place for local 
residents. Alderman's Ford is now a county park and a popular spot for a 
picnic, bike ride, and campout or canoe trip. Old oaks heavy with moss 
provide shade and some relief from summer heat. 

In Dec, 1860, James Alderman signed a petition in Hillsborough County for 
secession from the union when Lincoln was elected President. However, there 
is no record that James participated in the Civil War.  Ultimately, James is 
recognized as one of the leading men in pioneer history for the state of 
Florida.  James Alderman deceased February 9, 1880 and is buried at Pelot 
Cemetery, Lithia, Florida, with his wife, Roxanna Holloway Alderman (deceased 
March 6, 1868).



Mitchell Alderman

United States President Andrew Jackson becomes the first President to ride a 
train in 1833; Parliament within the United Kingdom passes an act that makes 
it illegal to employ children less than 9 years old in factories and limits 
the child workers 9 to 13 years of age to maximum of 9 hours a day; and of 
James Alderman’s many children, Mitchell Alderman is born November 18, 1833 
and a native of Thomas County, Georgia, but relocated to Hillsborough County, 
Florida.  By occupation, Mitchell was a successful cattleman and in 1852, he 
married Lenora O’Neal (born Jan 17, 1838), daughter of Douglas O’Neal from 
Frog Creek, FL (1802-1882) and Sarah Hair from North Carolina (1805-January 
4, 1850).  He was in religious faith a Baptist and had 10 children with 
Lenora (Sarah, Michael, William, Mary, Louisa, Clifford, Jacques, Jency Dora, 
Susan, and James Elam).  Records indicate that Mitchell and his father (James)
joined a local company in 1856 when the third (and last) Seminole War broke 
out.  In Feb 1864, cattle owners in Florida who had been exempt from military 
service were subject to the Confederate draft, either as conscripts or 
reserve soldiers, and many served in Munnerlyn's 1st Battalion, Florida 
Special Cavalry, also known as Munnerlyn’s Cattle Guard Battalion or Cow 
Cavalry, (Mitchell and some of his brothers, and brother-in-laws, show up on 
one of the company rolls, which was Captain John T. Lesley’s Company “B” The 
Sandpipers).  They were sort of a home guard to protect Florida herds from 
deserters/marauders, they drove approximately 15,000 head of cattle north to 
Confederate Army depots during the war, checked raids by Union troops, 
assisted in blockade running operations, and protected the salt works, as well
as other duties. The battalion witnessed action against organized groups of 
deserters/marauders and the Union forces in Florida:  Bowlegs Creek, April 7, 
1864; Fort Meade area, May 1864; Brooksville area, July 1864; Fort Myers area,
August 1864; Rocky Point near Tampa, December 3, 1864; Cedar Keys, February 
13, 1865; Fort Myers, February 20, 1865.    

According to his pension papers, Pvt. Mitchell Alderman, Co. B, 1st Btn., FL 
Spec. Cavalry remained with his company until the end of the war since he 
surrendered in Tampa, which is where most of the battalion’s companies 
formally surrendered after Appomattox. Mitchell lived the remainder of his 
days in Hillsborough County until his death on December 14, 1895.  

 

Hillsborough County

"An Act to organize a County to be called Hillsborough was approved January 
25, 1834, which is to be enacted by the governor and Legislative Council of 
the Territory of Florida, That the district of country bounded as follows, 
to-wit, on the north by Alachua County, a line running east and west from the 
Indian village of Toachatka, 40 miles from Tampa, east by Mosquito County, 
south by Monroe County, and west by the Gulf of Mexico, shall constitute a 
county to be called Hillsborough."Hillsborough County, as chartered in 1834, 
encompassed what are now Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte, 
Highlands, Hardee, Pinellas and Hillsborough County. The county was named in 
honor of the Earl of Hillsborough, a titled Englishman with huge land 
holdings in Florida.For many years, the history of Hillsborough County was 
primarily the history of Tampa. Even though the county was larger in area 
than some of the smaller states, it was so sparsely settled that there was 
little county organization and little county business for the officers. The 
small burg of Tampa was the county seat. Tampa, in the early-mid 1800's was 
both a military encampment and a commercial district serving a large part of 
the southwestern region.The first white man of record to reach Florida was 
Ponce de Leon in 1513. There are mixed opinions on whether he visited the 
Hillsborough County/Tampa Bay area. In 1528, Panfilo de Narvaez landed in 
Hillsborough County. He had been appointed to succeed Hernandez Cortez in 
Mexico. He and most of his followers perished before reaching Mexico.When the 
white man first came to Hillsborough County he discovered many small Indian 
villages. The numbers of size of the shell mounds indicated that Indians had 
resided here for many centuries. Tribes of the Muskogans, Tomokans, Caloosas, 
Creeks, Tocobagas and Seminoles were present.In March 1567, the Menendez 
flotilla sailed into Tampa Bay. Menendez met with the Tocobagans who seemed 
interested in using the Spanish soldiers as a peace keeping buffer between 
them and the Caloosas. After a 4 day conference Menendez was given permission 
to set up a mission at Tocobaga village. Menendez left soon afterward and 
relations between the Tocobagans and the Spanish began to sour. All residents 
of the mission were slaughtered.Formal territorial government was established 
in 1822 with William P. Duval as governor. It was necessary to establish 
outposts to protect the settlers from the Seminoles, now the prevailing tribe.
The outpost to the south was established on the present site of Tampa on 
March 5, 1823. Four companies of US troops from Pensacola under the command 
of Colonel George M. Brooke and Lieutenant Gadsden landed their vessels and 
moved to what later became known as the Garrison district. A fort was 
immediately erected which came to be known as Fort Brooke. For years few 
lived outside the garrison, the exceptions being a couple of families on the 
shores of the bay to the east and the members of a small colony who comprised 
the Spanish settlement on Spanishtown Creek, the Bay Shore section of what is 
now Hyde Park.In 1835 the Seminoles made war. Known as the First Seminole 
War, it lasted from 1835 until 1842. Its cause is said to be the suspicions 
of the Indians in regard to treaties between the Seminoles and the United 
States in which the Seminoles agreed to move west beyond the Mississippi 
River to land offered them. During this time, Fort Brooke became the chief 
supply depot. As many as 3,000 troops were stationed there. Fort King, 
located 100 miles to the north, was the station of next importance.  In 
December 1835, an order came to the Fort Brooke commander to send one company 
to Fort King. This company was led by Major Francis L. Dade. He and his 
company left Fort Brooke on December 23, 1835 for Fort King (site of the 
present city of Ocala). The company of 107 men was massacred.In October, 1837,
Osceola, the leader of the Seminoles, was captured. The war continued another 
7 years, but the hostilities were somewhat diminished. 

Mitchell Alderman was reported by the local paper (Tampa Times) to 
have been engaged in cattle raising and general livestock when the country 
was fresh, and by his courage and industry, he soon amassed a large fortune.  
It was the continued exposure to frontier life that he fell victim to 
consumption, which he battled for fifteen years before his death in December 
14, 1895.  He lived a very picus life when he was young, having never used a 
profane word, and was very adverse to engage in any act that might have an 
immoral tendency.   Soon after he married, he became converted and attached 
himself to the Baptist church at Alafia, afterwards moved to it’s present 
location and better known as “Hurrah,” where he was a member and a great 
pillar to the church for about forty years, and in whose cemetery, purchased 
and prepared mainly be himself, his body was consigned to it’s last resting 
place.   Despite his feeble health, he was almost always present on his 
church days, in which, he delighted himself in the counsels and communion of 
his fellows, ever ready with his mind and money to do battle for the Lord, 
right, reason, and will.   He was always cheerful, candid, humble, yet brave. 
To him, the defenseless always found counsel, the needy a friend, the wander 
a home.  In him, the qualities of modesty and common sense were strongly 
mingled.  He was prudent, far-slighted, and resolute, thoughtful, calm, and 
just.  Mitchell was educated from the common schools, for which he did much 
for the civil conventions or political campaigns of the country.   He was 
reticent and reserved.  He never sought nor held public office.  He reared a 
family of ten children, two of them preceded him to the same cemetery only a 
few years before his death.  The remainder were around the bedside and 
witnessed the sad death just preceding which a few heard him say to his wife, 
who had nursed him for so long, “Oh, how I have suffer!  But I should not 
complain.  My Savior suffered the more for me.”  He left a large circle of 
relatives and friends that mourned his death.      



James Elam Alderman 

James Elam Alderman was Mitchell and Lenora Alderman’s tenth and youngest 
child, who was born June 12, 1874, which was the same year Levi Strauss 
receives a US patent for blue jeans with copper rivets and the United States 
Greenback Party is established as a political party, which was an American 
political party that’s name referred to paper money, or "greenbacks,"that had 
been issued during the American Civil War and afterward. The party advocated 
issuing large amounts of money, believing this would help people, especially 
farmers by raising prices and making debts easier to pay. It was established 
as a political party whose members were primarily farmers financially hurt by 
the Panic of 1873.  James Elam was cattleman and citrus fruit grower in 
Hillsborough County, Florida, his native county.  His wife, Avannah Hendry 
(born in June of 1871), daughter of Arch Hendry, was from Desoto County, 
Florida, where they were married.   



The Hendry Family

Robert Hendry  

The Hendry family can be traced back to Robert Hendry, a native of the Isle 
of Arran, Scotland, was a farmer, Revolutionary soldier, and patriarch of a 
prominent American family.

The Hendry family is believed to have lived mainly on the north and west of 
Arran; early records tend to confirm this. A Hendry, named John Hendry, who 
died in February 1738, age unknown, is buried in the churchyard at Lochranza.
The Book of Arran, in a list of principal tenants in 1766 recorded Robt. 
Hendry of Glenrosie farm. New divisions in 1773 had: Rot. Hendry in Little 
Laggan, Rot. Hendry in Penrioch, J. D. Hendrys in Algollach and Rt. Hendry in 
Glenrosie.

Rev. John Littleberry Hendry in "A Brief History of the Hendry Family in the 
South" related of John Hendry, born 1720:

"He was by trade a hatter. While walking one day to his shop in his bare feet,
he stepped on a pin that penetrated one of his feet. Blood poisoning resulted 
and he died. This bit of history was handed down to us by our forefathers."

Tradition holds that John Hendry, born 1720, had three sons, Robert, James, 
and William, who migrated from Arran and settled in America. 

Robert Hendry, son of John Hendry, was born 17 March 1752 on the Isle of 
Arran, Scotland. Circa 1770, Robert Hendry emigrated from Arran and settled 
in New Hanover County (now Pender County), North Carolina. In February 1778 
in New Hanover County, he married Ann Lee. Born 26 December 1752 in the Black 
River Settlement of New Hanover County, she was the daughter of Ann Lee, who 
died 26 November 1800 near Buckhead, Burke County, Georgia. Ann Lee Hendry's 
father's name is unknown.

Robert enlisted in the Revolutionary War on 20 September 1776 as a Continental
(private) in the 5th South Carolina Regiment. His service carried him into 
North Carolina and Virginia where he served under Light-Horse Harry Lee. He 
was present at the surrender of the British at Yorktown on 19 October 1781 
where he was mustered out of service.

Robert and his family were listed in the 1790 New Hanover, North Carolina 
census; one male over sixteen, six males under sixteen, and three females 
comprised the household, who would be Robert and Ann, their six oldest sons, 
and two undetermined females.

The Hendry family moved to Georgia about 1796 and lived in Burke County until 
1801 when they settled at Taylors Creek, a rural community in the western 
part of Liberty County. There Robert purchased lands four miles northwest of 
Taylors Creek. About 1807, Robert, Ann, and most of the children are believed 
to have relocated to Morgan County, Georgia. On 24 December 1816, the state 
of Georgia granted 450 acres in Liberty County to Robert Hendry and his 
assigns. The family, except Neal and Archibald who had died there, returned, 
date uncertain, to Taylors Creek.

Robert was a Scotch Presbyterian and a member of Midway Congregational Church 
of Liberty County, of which he was listed as a member in 1807. Ann Lee Hendry 
was a charter member of the Taylors Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, founded 
in 1807.

Robert became Liberty County tax Collector in 1827 and served until his 
demise. His son, Robert, Jr., filled the unexpired term.

In the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery, Robert, Sr. was granted lot # 229 in the 
2nd District of the 1st Section in the County of Lee for his service as a 
Revolutionary soldier. After his death, Ann (Lee) Hendry was granted lot # 70 
in the 9th District of the 4th Section in the County of Cherokee (now Walker 
County) as the widow of a Revolutionary soldier.

Robert Hendry died 31 August 1830 at Taylors Creek. Ann (Lee) Hendry died 31 
May 1834, also at Taylors Creek. They were buried in the Hendry Cemetery, 
which was about four miles northwest of Taylors Creek.

A marker, formerly in the Hendry Cemetery, now in Taylors Creek Cemetery, 
erected by Elizabeth Ann Hendry Floyd, contains these inscriptions: 

  
Sacred
to the memory of ROBERT HENDRY a native of the
Island of Arran, Scotland. Died August 31, 1830,
Age 78 years, 5 months
ANN HENDRY. His Wife, Died May 31st, 1834
Age 81 years 6 months 6 days.
ARCHIBALD HENDRY, their son, Died December 22, 1818
Aged 27 years 8 months.
MARY HENDRY, their daughter, Died November 15, 1841,
Age 46 years 4 months 7 days.
GEORGE HENDRY, their son, Died April 15, 1852
Age 63 years 2 months 15 days.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Erected by Mrs. E. A. Floyd in memory of her
deceased parents, brothers and sister.

The will of Ann Hendry was made 3 February 1834 and was probated 14 May 1835 
in Liberty County. It follows:

State of Georgia 
Liberty County In the name of God, Amen. I Ann Hendry, of the State and County
aforesaid, being very sick and weak of body but of perfect and sound mind and 
memory, Do make and ordain the following as my last will and testament.
1st. I give and bequeath unto my daughters, Elizabeth Ann and Mary, the lot of
land drawn by me in the late Land Lottery in the County of Cherokee, together 
with all the personal property of which I may be seized in my own right at my 
decease of every kind whatsover, to be shared by them equally, to them and 
their heirs.
2nd. It is my will that the fractional lot lately drawn to my name should be 
sold by my executor, and divided equally among my children which are now 
living, and the children of those which are dead, each family of orphans of my
deceased children to have a part equal to my children which are living.
And lastly, I hereby appoint my son Robert Hendry executor of this my last 
will and testament.

February 3, 1834
Signed, sealed & published by the testratix her
as her last will & testament this Ann X Hendry 
day of 1834 in mark
presence of
         Eli H. Hendry
         Andrew Floyd
         Jackson Drigers
         X
         his cross

State of Georgia 
Liberty County Andrew Floyd, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is 
a subscribing witness to the within last willand testament of Ann Hendry 
deceased, which he saw duly executedby the said testatrix in the presence of 
Eli Hendry & Jackson Drigers, the other two subscribing witnesses; and that 
the said testratix appeared at the time to be in her perfect senses.



Sworn to before us this 4 May 1835 Andrew Floyd
         John Dunwody 
         Enoch Daniel 
         W. B. Fleming Recorded 14 May 1835
         E. Baker, Clk.

The old Hendry plantation is now a part of U. S. Army Fort Stewart. The old 
tombstones were removed from the cemetery in 1944 to the Methodist Cemetery 
at Taylors Creek. The church and town of Taylors Creek were razed. When the 
work of removing the tombstones began, it was found that the marker of Robert 
Hendry's grave had been gently pushed up by the limb of a growing oak, which 
over the years had elevated the stone to a distance of about fifteen feet 
above the ground. 

Issue of Robert and Ann (Lee) Hendry, all born in New Hanover County, North 
Carolina:

1. John Hendry, born 1 Dec 1778; died in Dec 1858 in Hamilton Co., Fla.; 
married 13 Dec 1808 Catherine McFail, daughter of James McFail and Judith 
McFail.

2. Neal Hendry, born in Jul 1780; died 21 Apr 1820 in Morgan Co., Ga.; married 
ca. 1805 Pamelia _______.

3. William Hendry, born 12 Feb 1783; died 6 Jun 1840 in Lowndes Co., Ga.;
married 7 Dec 1807 Nancy McFail, daughter of James McFail and Judith McFail. 

4. James Hendry, born 1784; died 25 Dec 1803 in Liberty Co., Ga.; never married.

5. Robert Hendry, Jr., born 4 Mar 1787; died 30 Jan 1846 in Liberty Co., Ga.; 
married 25 Mar 1819 in Liberty Co., Ga., Nancy Daniel, daughter of Abraham 
Daniel.

6. George Hendry, born 1 Feb 1789; died 15 Apr 1852, Liberty Co., Ga.; married
(1) Levicy (Luisa?) Fuller 2 Dec 1817 in Morgan Co., Ga.; (2) Mrs. Sarah 
Miller 2 Dec 1846 in Liberty Co., Ga.

7. Archibald Hendry, born 20 Mar 1791; died 22 Dec 1818(16) in Morgan Co., 
Ga.; married in Morgan Co., Ga. on 20 Dec 1816 Nancy Johnston.

8. Elizabeth Ann Hendry, born 26 Feb 1793(17); died 12 Mar 1879 in Liberty 
Co., Ga.; married 4 Apr 1843 Jesse Floyd. No issue.

9. Mary Hendry, born 8 Jul 1795(18); died 15 Nov 1841 in Liberty Co., Ga.; 
never married.

 

John Hendry  

John Hendry, a pioneer settler of Jennings, Florida, was a veteran of the War 
of 1812, farmer, and patriarch of a prominent Florida family.

John Hendry, son of Robert Hendry and Ann (Lee) Hendry, was born December 1, 
1778 in New Hanover County, North Carolina. With his parents he moved to 
Burke County, Georgia about 1796 and to Taylors Creek, Liberty County, 
Georgia in 1801.

In Liberty County, Georgia on December 13, 1808, John married Catherine 
McFail, born April 18, 1789, Barnwell District, South Carolina, daughter of 
James McFail and Judith McFail.



James McFail  

Tradition relates that John McFail, born circa 1730, father of James McFail, 
migrated from Scotland circa 1746-47 to Cape Fear in North Carolina. 
Following the defeat of the Scots at Colloden Moor, near Inverness, on April 
16, 1746, which routed the Stuart pretender, Prince Charles, the British army 
tried to destroy the clan system. According to Major Roderick L. Carmichael 
in "Migration of Scotch Highlanders to the Carolinas," the Royal governor of 
North Carolina, a Scot born in Ireland, was sympathetic with the persecuted 
Scots. On a visit to London, he suggested that for punishment the clans be 
deported to America and offered an area in North Carolina for settlement. His 
plan was approved with two resulting waves of migration to Cape Fear in 
1746-47 and 1769-76. The first Scots settled in the region, which is now 
Fayetteville, with a resulting overflow in South Carolina. In Gaelic M'phail 
is son of Paul.

James McFail, son of John McFail, was born ca. 1760 in North Carolina. He 
later moved to Barnwell District, South Carolina. He married ca. 1785 Judith 
______, born 1767.

James McFail was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and also reportedly 
served in the Indian wars. He lived in the Barnwell District of South 
Carolina during and after his service.

On July 1, 1799, John McFail of the Barnwell District of South Carolina for 
twenty pounds sold to James McFail 185 acres "originally granted to John 
McFail the 16th day of Nov. 1787 situate in the District aforesd. on the NW 
side of the Great Salkehatcher River." The deed was signed by John McFail and 
Esther McFail and recorded 4 November 1800. That the deed was signed by 
Esther McFail would tend to show that she could be the mother or stepmother 
of James McFail.

On February 4, 1800, James McFail of the District of Barnwell for fourteen 
pounds sold to Ann Collins 142 1/2 acres, "originally granted to John McFail 
the 16th day of November 1787 Situate in the District aforesd. on the NW. 
side of the Great Salkehatcher River." The deed of sale was recorded on 
November 4, 1800 and duly executed on February 27, 1800. It was signed by 
James McFail, with "X" in lieu of signature for Judy McFail.

By 1805, the McFails were living in Georgia. About 1807, they moved to 
Taylors Creek, Liberty County, Georgia. Some details have been learned of 
James' land acquisitions there. John G. Underwood was authorized to survey 
200 acres in Liberty County, which was executed in January 1807. On October 
7, 1816, Robert Hendry, Jr., County Surveyor of Liberty County, was 
authorized to survey 200 acres for James McFail, which was executed on 
October 10, 1816. Robert Hendry, Jr.'s survey plat of the McFail land showed 
it to be in Section 28. Written on the plat was, "Warrant dated 7th October 
1816 and Surveyed 10th October 1816 by R. Hendry Jun. C. S. Advertised 18th 
November 1816." The names of Eli McFail and William Hendry C.C. appeared on 
the document. James McFail on March 24, 1817 received a headright grant of 
200 acres in Liberty County.

James McFail died ca. 1817 and was buried at the old Baptist Church Cemetery, 
which was located about one-fourth mile east of the Methodist Church Cemetery 
at Taylors Creek.

Judith McFail and family, together with the families of her sons-in-law, John 
Hendry and William Hendry, moved about 1825 to Lowndes County, Georgia and 
settled a few miles north of what is now now Quitman, Brooks County, Georgia. 
Later she returned to Taylors Creek where she lived with her son, Eli McFail.

Judith, as a widow of a Revolutionary soldier, drew Lot # 170 in the 4th 
Section, 6th District of Cherokee County in the 1832 Georgia Land Lottery. 
She did not accept the land and it reverted to the state. In 1838 she 
received a land grant in the Cherokee Land Lottery. The 1835 Lowndes County 
Tax Digest showed that Alex- ander McFail, agent for Judith McFail, owned one 
slave. Judith McFail, 83, was enumerated in the 1850 Liberty County, Georgia 
census. She died sometime after the census at the home of her son, Eli McFail,
in Liberty County, Georgia.

Issue of James and Judith McFail:

1. Nancy McFail, born Nov. 4, 1786; died June 27, 1840 in Lowndes Co., Ga.;
married on Dec. 7, 1807 in Liberty Co., Ga., William Hendry, son of Robert 
Hendry and Ann (Lee) Hendry.

2. Eli McFail, born Oct. 3, 1787(?); died March 11, 1867, Taylors Creek, Ga.; 
married (1) in 1814 Harriet Harville (died without issue); (2) Feb. 14, 1817 
Elizabeth Smart, born Feb. 24, 1802; died Oct. 4, 1863. Eli McFail owned a 
large plantation and also operated a hotel at Taylors Creek. 

3. Catherine McFail, born April 18, 1789; died ca. 1889; married on Dec. 13,
 1808 in Liberty County, Georgia , John Hendry son of Robert Hendry and Ann 
(Lee) Hendry.

4. Sarah "Sally" McFail, born ca. 1793; md. Daniel E. Martin.

5. Judith McFail, born ____; married Columbus Johnson.

6. Alexander McFail, born 1802; married on May 11, 1843 in Thomas County, 
Georgia, Evreen Moore.

7. Zilpha McFail, born 1805; lived 1850 in Thomas Co., Ga.; married on May 1, 
1827 in Thomas Co., William Sloan, born 1804, NC.

8. Isaac McFail, born c1807; lived in Lowndes Co., Ga. in August 1850; married
(1) Martha Blair, born 1808, daughter of William Blair; (2) _________.

9. Jacob McFail.

 

John Hendry (Con’t)  

John Hendry served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a private in 
Captain Robert Quarterman's Co. of Infantry, 2nd Reg't Georgia Militia (War 
of 1812). Jno. Hendry appeared on "Company Muster Roll" for January 18 to 
February 13, 1815, roll dated Riceboro April 22, 1815, date of joining 
rendezvous, January 18, 1815, remark: discharged February 13.

On December 9, 1816, John Hendry of Liberty County, carpenter, sold 202 1/2 
acres in Morgan County, Georgia to Richard Smith of Morgan County, blacksmith,
for $575. On the same day Catherine Hendry relinquished her dower in the 
property to Richard Smith.

The 1820 census of Liberty County, Georgia recorded John Hendry as a head of 
household. About 1825, John and his family, together with his brother, 
William and family, and mother-in-law, Judith McFail and family, moved to 
Lowndes County, Georgia. John was enumerated in the 1830 census of Lowndes 
County. He was 2nd Lieutenant, 790th District, from February 29, 1832 to 1835.

Deed records show John bought his first home place consisting of 200 acres of 
lot 515, 12th District, Lowndes County (now Brooks County), Georgia on June 
16, 1826 from Rev. Melus Thigpen. On August 22, 1842, he sold it to Abraham 
Hargraves of Ware County for $1,785.00. The 1830 Lowndes County "Tax Digest" 
showed John with 565 acres pine land, 125 acres oak & hickory, quality 2 
(granted Melus Thigpen); 220 acres pine land, 25 acres oak & hickory, quality 
3; all in District 12. The 1840 "Tax Digest" recorded John Hendry Senr. with 
75 acres pine land, 125 acres oak & hickory, and additional lands which's 
acreage is not clear (to this writer).

John Hendry, age 72, and Catherine Hendry, age 61, were enumerated in 
household # 62 in the 1850 census of Lowndes County. Ellen C. Martin, age 22, 
was living with them. Later they moved to Jennings in Hamilton County, Florida.

John Hendry died in December 1858 at Jennings. Burial was in the Hendry 
Cemetery, about three or four miles from Jennings.

On February 16, 1859 at Jasper, Florida, Henry J. Stewart, Judge of Probate of 
Hamilton County, granted to John Hendry Junior "administration of all & 
singular the goods & chattels lands & tenements rights & credits to which the 
late John Hendry senior to which were of the said John Hendry senior at the 
time of his death." On February 16, 1859, John Hendry, James N. Hendry and 
Charles W. Hendry were "held & firmly bound to the Governor of Florida & his 
successors in office in the sum of eight thousand dollars" in regard the 
estate of their late father John Hendry Sr.

Catherine Hendry was enumerated in the household of her son, John Hendry, 
Jr., in the 1860 census of Hamilton County. It is believed Catherine moved 
about 1869 with her son, John, Jr., to Fort Green, Manatee (now Hardee) 
County, Florida. According to her grave marker in the Fort Green Methodist 
Cemetery, she died in 1889. On the front of the headstone of Robert Hendry, 
her son, in Fort Green Baptist Cemetery is the inscription: "Catherine McFail 
Hendry born 1789, died 1889, married 1808, John Hendry."

Issue of John and Catherine (McFail) Hendry:

1. John Hendry, Jr., born Feb. 2, 1810; died July 30, 1891, Fort Green, Fla.; 
married (1) June 13, 1833 Clarissa Maulden; (2) May 19, 1855 Margaret Cheshire.

2. James Norton Hendry, born July 2, 1812; died 1861, Hamilton County, Fla.; 
married (1) Nov. 8, 1836 Priscilla Johnson; (2) Nancy Campbell.

3. Robert Hendry, born March 4, 1815; died Feb. 3, 1863, Fort Green, Fla.; 
married on April 12, 1835 Zilla Ann Moody.

4. Judith Hendry, born April 16, 1817; died after 1860 in Bradford Co., Fla.; 
____; married ca. 1835 James Holloway.

5. Archibald Hendry, born Feb. 18, 1820; died June 16, 1897, Fort Pierce, 
Fla.; married on April 10, 1853 Mary Ann Clardy.

6. William McFail Hendry, born Feb. 8, 1824; died ____; never married. The 
1850 census of Hamilton County, Fla. listed William McFail, age 27, a farmer, 
in household # 93 of his brother, Andrew J. Hendry. The 1860 census of 
Hamilton Co., Fla. recorded William M. Hendry, age 38, an attorney, with $400 
realty & $4,700 personal property in household 14. Nothing further has been 
learned of him.

7. Charles Wesley Hendry, born July 11, 1825; died July 14, 1893, Fort Myers, 
Fla.; married (1) Jan. 10, 1847 Jensie Alderman; (2) Dec. 8, 1853 Mrs. Vianna 
(Clardy) Watts; (3) Jan. 9, 1866 Mrs. Jane Louise (Brown) Mansfield.

8. Andrew Jackson Hendry, born Aug. 23, 1827; died ____; never married. The 
1850 census of Hamilton County, Fla. listed Andrew J. Hendry, age 29(?), a 
farmer, in household # 93. The 1860 census of Hamilton Co., Fla. recorded 
Andrew J., age 34, a farmer, living in household # 14 of his brother William 
M. Nothing more has been learned of him.

9. George Washington Hendry, born Feb. 14, 1832; died March 3, 1882, Peru 
(Riverview), Fla.; married on Feb. 7, 1867 Sarah Ann Hague.




John Hendry, Jr.

   
John Hendry, Jr., son of John Hendry and Catherine (McFail) Hendry, was born 
2 February 1810, Liberty County, Georgia. About 1825, he moved with his 
parents to Lowndes County, Georgia.   John married (1) 13 June 1833 Clarissa 
Maulden. Born ca. 1812, she died in June 1848 after the birth of her eight 
child Judith on 16 June 1848. John Hendry and eight children were enumerated 
in household # 830 in the 1850 census of Lowndes County.

John in the 1850s moved to Hamilton County, Florida where he married on 19 
May 1855 Margaret Cheshire, born on 11 February 1826, daughter of William 
Cheshire. The 1860 census of Hamilton County listed John and Margaret Hendry 
and his unmarried children and his mother, Catherine Hendry, in household # 18.  

John, Margaret, and their children were recorded in township 33 of the 1870 
census of Manatee County. 1873 Manatee County tax records listed John with 
one horse and forty cattle and for Margaret seventy cattle. John Hendry and 
family were enumerated in the Fort Green precinct in the 1880 census of 
Manatee County.

John Hendry, Jr. died 30 July 1891, Fort Green in then DeSoto County (now 
Hardee County), Florida. Margaret Hendry died 5 July 1899. They are buried in 
Fort Green Methodist Cemetery. John's tombstone is inscribed with this 
epitaph:
"He was an affectionate husband, an indulgent father & for over 40 years 
lived a devoted Christian of the M. E. Church."

Issue of John, Jr., and (1) Clarissa (Maulden) Hendry:

1. Clarissa Elizabeth Hendry, born 28 May 1836; died 19 Sep 1903; married 29 
Aug 1852 Matthew Alderman.

2. Emily Amanda Hendry, born 23 Jan 1837; died 23 Sep 1852.

3. Mary Hendry, born 11 Feb 1838; died ____; married on 4 Jan 1857 in Thomas 
Co., Ga., Henry Raley.

4. Nancy J. Hendry, born 13 Dec 1839; died 21 Dec 1909; married 15 Sep 1859 
Henry Jackson Downing.

5. John McFail Hendry, born 19 May 1841; died ____; married ca. 1864 Sarah ______.

6. Priscilla Rebecca Hendry, born 7 Mar 1844; died on 19 Nov 1925; married 6 
Feb 1862 James Osgood Andrew Moody.

7. Archibald William Hendry, born 20 Jan 1846; died on 1 Jun 1920; married 
ca. 1866 Elizabeth (Coulter) Gill.
 
8. Florida Judith Hendry, born 16 Jun 1848; died 4 Sep 1899; married (1) 19 
Apr 1866 Maxwell Whidden; (2) on 15 Mar 1893 Henry Langford.

Issue of John, Jr., and (2) Margaret (Cheshire) Hendry:

9. Penelope Hendry, born 27 Jan 1856; died 27 Jul 1861.

10. Alfred Asbury Hendry, born 14 Jun 1858; died 8 Dec 1918; married 29 Jul 
1885 Emma Ward.

11. General Lafayette (Fate) Hendry, born 3 Dec 1860; died 3 Dec 1944; married
12 Dec 1889 Jessie Pauline Keen.

12. Georgia Hendry, born 18 Jun 1863; died 21 Jul 1943; married 4 Nov 1880 
Gabriel Hall Gill.
      
13. Margaret Hendry, born 17 May 1866; died 9 Sep 1957; married (1) on 18 Dec 
1890 Francis McDonald Durrance; (2) Readding J. Blount.




Archibald William Hendry

Avannah Hendry’s father, Archibald William Hendry, was a pioneer settler of 
Fort Green, Florida, as well as a Union soldier and farmer.  Archibald Hendry 
was born January 20, 1846, Lowndes County, Georgia. He was a son of John 
Hendry, Jr. and Clarissa (Maulden) Hendry. With his father (his mother died 
1848) he moved in the 1850s to Hamilton County, Florida. 

On May 15, 1864 at Fort Myers, Florida, Archibald W. Hendry enlisted as a 
private in Company B, Second Florida Cavalry, and United States Army. Company 
muster rolls described him as being: 5 ft. 10 inches; complexion, eyes and 
hair, light; occupation, farmer. The medical records show that on June 10, 
1865 he was treated for rubella. He enlisted May 15, 1864 and was mustered 
out with his company on November 29, 1865 at Tallahassee, Florida.

In 1866, in Hamilton County, Florida, Archibald married Mrs. Elizabeth 
(Coulter) Gill, born October 29, 1830, in Georgia, widow of William Gill.  
About 1871, the family moved to Fort Green, Manatee (now Hardee) County, 
Florida where many of Archibald's relatives had already settled. A. W. Hendry 
was listed as a taxpayer in 1872 in Manatee County. The A. W. Hendry family 
was enumerated in the 1880 census of Manatee County, Fort Green precinct.

About 1871, the family moved to Fort Green, Manatee (now Hardee) County, 
Florida where many of Archibald's relatives had already settled. A. W. Hendry 
was listed as a taxpayer in 1872 in Manatee County. The A. W. Hendry family 
was enumerated in the 1880 census of Manatee County, Fort Green precinct.

The Hendry’s were members of Fort Green Methodist Church. Two of Archibald's 
sons, John A. Hendry and Archibald B. Hendry, were Methodist ministers 
although the latter's ministry was short lived due to his early death. Rev. 
John A. Hendry served missions at Lake Worth and Volusia and churches at 
Appalachicola, Starke, Lakeland, Bradenton, Madison, Ocala, Quincy, Hampton, 
Plant City, and Fort Pierce.  

In April 1891, Archibald applied for an invalid pension from service in Co. 
B, 2nd Fla. Cav. His claim was based upon an accident, of which J. M. Altman 
described in an affidavit on July 13, 1894:

  "On the 14th day of July A.D. 1888, I saw A. W. Hendry driving on the road 
from Fort Green, Fla. to Bowling Green, Fla., when about 2 3/4 miles from 
Bowling Green the team of horses which the said A. W. Hendry was then and 
there driving, suddenly became frighten and runaway, throwing Mr. Hendry 
from his buggy. I immediately caught and teed the horses and went to Mr. 
Hendry, who seemed to be suffering very greatly from bruises and bodily 
injuries, having his leg broken.  I think the cause of the team becoming 
frighten was the dislocation of the small bolt from side of the buggy, 
thereby causing the tongue to drop."

His claim was approved under certificate no. 925642. Records as provided by 
the National Archives do not specify when he became eligible for a pension 
but at his death he was receiving $38 per month. It should be noted that 1845 
was given as his birth in his pension records, but all other sources cite 
1846.  Elizabeth Hendry died June 10, 1912. Archibald William Hendry died 
June 1, 1920. They are buried in Fort Green Methodist Cemetery.

Issue of Archibald W. and Elizabeth Hendry:

1. John Alexander Hendry, born April 28, 1867; died July 30, 1925, Fort 
Pierce, Fla.; married on January 4, 1892 Sarah Susannah Fussell. 
Sarah "Sallie" was one of seven graduates of the first graduating class 
of Florida Conference College at Leesburg (now Florida Southern 
College, Lakeland) in 1890.

2. William Alderman Hendry, born October 28, 1868; died August 31, 1948, Fort 
Green, Fla.; married Mary Walker.

3. Avannah Hendry, born 1870; died 1950, Fort Green, Fla.; married on 
September 8, 1892 to James Elam Alderman.

4. Harry Hendry, born 1871; died in childhood after 1880 census.

5. Judith Hendry, born November 16, 1873; died July 29, 1927; married on April
18, 1897 to James Lucian Durrance.

6. Archibald Benjamin Hendry, born May 1, 1875; died June 7, 1899; never married.

7.Sanky Hendry, born June 10, 1877; died September 30, 1886, Fort Green, Fla.



James Elam Alderman (Con’t)  

A 1900 census record listed the family of James Elam, Avannah and Robert (5 
years old).  All the electronic records on Avannah, misspell her name 
(probably because the records are faded and it may have been difficult to 
figure out her name).  

In 1912, James Elam and Avannah Alderman moved from Hardee County to Desoto 
County, and raised three children (Robert Mitchell, Civell, and Elam James), 
as well as two additional children (that they took in).  James Elam worked 
with Avannah’s brother (William Alderman Hendry) raising cattle in Fort 
Green, Florida.  Before his death, James Elam left two gold pocket watches 
with the general store clerk to give to his son (Robert Mitchell Alderman), 
which is now in the possession of Lance and Kirk Alderman.  They were both 
lifelong Methodist and until their deaths, James Elam (January 24, 1955) and 
Avannah (February of 1950), they are both buried in Ft. Green Methodist 
Church in Hardee County.                                    



Robert Mitchell Alderman 

Robert Mitchell Alderman (Mitchell from his grandfather Mitchell Alderman), 
the oldest son of James Elam was born May 27, 1895 in Chicora, 
Florida located in Hardee County.  In 1895, the first professional football 
game is played, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, between the Latrobe YMCA and the 
Jeannette Athletic Club; Wilhelm Röntgen discovers a type of radiation later 
known as X-rays; and the wild west is drawing to a close when the first 
patent is issued for the automobile and Russian Konstantin Tsiolkovsky 
publishes his first scientific papers about space flight, which he proposes 
that liquid-fueled rockets can be used to propel vehicles in space.  As a 
boy, he lived in Wauchula and Fort Green, Florida and attended school in Ft. 
Green and Manatee County.  As a young man, Bob tended business with his 
father by raising cattle.  However, World War I broke out and Bob answered 
his country’s call by enlisting in the United States Navy (July 1, 1918 – 
June 29, 1922) and later continuing his service in the reserves until 
January 29, 1929.  After he left active duty with the Navy, he moved to Bee 
Ridge, Florida where he owned and managed a meat shop.  Bob moved to Tampa, 
Florida in 1926, where he joined the Tampa Police Department (October 1, 
1926 – October 1, 1947), continuing there for twenty-one years.  After Bob’s 
retirement from the Tampa Police Department, he worked for Joe Carter 
(Detective Agency until December 12, 1947; with Stone and Webster on Hooker’s
Point until July 6, 1948; R.J. Gould Welding Company (July 20 – October 29, 
1948); then eventually went to work for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s 
Department (1948) as a jailer in the county jail, which he continued until 
1960.    Bob met Pearl Coldiron in Bee Ridge, Florida where she was a school 
teacher.  Bob was friends with the family (Tatum) that Pearl was boarding at 
and on April 10, 1929, Robert Mitchell married Pearl Coldiron in 
Jacksonville, Florida.   Pearl was born November 17, 1895 in Tanksley, 
Kentucky to John H. and Martha F. Coldiron. According to the Census of 1900, 
at age four, she resided in Laurel Creek, Kentucky located in Clay County 
with her family. Pearl’s father, John Coldiron, a logger by trade, was born 
March 3, 1871 in Laurel Creek, Kentucky and decreased July 23, 1963 in 
Tanksley, Kentucky (buried in Coldiron Cemetery located in Laurel creek, 
Kentucky.  John married Martha Frances Rawlings in Clay County, Kentucky on 
April 30, 1891.  Martha was born in August 1868 in Illinois and decreased 
January 4, 1944 in Tanksley, Kentucky (buried in Coldiron Cemetery in Laurel 
Creek, Kentucky).  John and Martha had five children (Stella, Lily, Pearl, 
Elmer, and Clara.  Their daughter, Pearl, was educated in Bowling Green, 
Kentucky, and later at the University of Richmond, where upon graduation, 
she became a schoolteacher in New Jersey, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida.   
Pearl received her Christian baptism November 16, 1950 at the First Methodist 
Church in Tampa, Florida.   Robert and Pearl Alderman resided in Tampa, 
Florida and were lifelong Methodist until their deaths, Robert Mitchell 
(March 04, 1982) and Pearl (August 16, 1982).  They are both buried in 
Myrtle Hills cemetery, located in Tampa, Florida, in which they were married 
for 50 years.    



Charles Edward Alderman 

Approximately a year and half after their marriage, their son, Charles 
Edward was born in 1930.  By the 1930s money was scarce because of the 
depression, so people did what they could to make their lives happy.  Movies 
were hot, parlor games and board games were popular.  People gathered around 
radios to listen to the Yankees.  Young people danced to the big bands.  
Franklin Roosevelt influenced Americans with his Fireside Chats.  The golden 
age of the mystery novel continued as people escaped into books, reading 
writers like Agatha Christie, Dashielle Hammett, and Raymond Chandler.   
Songwriters and lyricists like Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, and Richard 
Rodgers composed melodies still being played and sung today. Between 1929 
and 1932 the income of the average American family was reduced by 40%, from 
$2,300 to $1,500. Instead of advancement, survival became the keyword. 
Institutions, attitudes, lifestyles changed in this decade but democracy 
prevailed. Democracies such as Germany and Italy fell to dictatorships, but 
the United States and its constitution survived.   

Charles (aka: Chuck) grew up in Jackson Heights and Forest Hills with his 
parents, as well as attending Jackson Heights Grammar School, Franklin Jr. 
High School and Hillsborough High School (graduated 1950).  At the age of 12, 
Chuck was forced to quite school in order to work full-time to support his 
parents.  His father, Robert was unable to attend to his duties with the 
Tampa Police Department due to an infection with his sciatic nerve, which 
affected his left leg and he was admitted into Bay Pines VA Hospital during 
this time.  Additionally, as a youth, Chuck worked for a gentleman (Mr. 
Gonzalez) providing music entertainment at dances and announcing baseball 
games.  He also worked for a grocery store, Bennett’s drug store, Madison’s 
drug store, Chandler’s shoe store, and he was a member of the Boy Scouts of 
America receiving the rank of First Class.   While attending Hillsborough 
High School, Chuck was involved with the R.O.T.C. program and played football.    

On July 24, 1950, Chuck enlisted into the United States Air Force to 
fight in the Korean War. He first sought out the United States Marines, 
however, after heavy persuasion from his parents and a local Air Force 
recruiter, Chuck changed services.  The Korean War has been called the 
"Forgotten War," historically overshadowed by World War II and Vietnam, 
though it figures prominently in the development of events. The Korean War 
was one of the first episodes of the Cold War and involved many of the great 
personalities of the era: Truman, MacArthur, Mao, and Stalin. The Korean War 
began in the early hours of June 25, 1950, when North Korean troops crossed 
the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea.  The war featured some of the 
most intense fighting ever experienced by American soldiers -- and some of 
the worst conditions.  Nearly 37,000 American servicemen lost their lives in 
three years, the majority of losses concentrated in the first year. There 
were both severe trials and staggering accomplishments during the war: the 
humiliating retreat of inexperienced U.S. soldiers in the opening days of 
the war; the brilliant Inchon landings masterminded by MacArthur; the 
grittiness exhibited in Chosin by the 1st Marine Division surrounded by a 
vast Chinese force; and the savage hill fighting during the last years of 
the conflict.  Although an armistice was signed in 1953 between the United 
Nations, the US, China and North Korea, South Korea refused to sign, leaving 
the two Koreas separate to this day.While in the Air Force, Chuck served in 
the following military stations:  

Post Location Date(s) 
116th F.A. BN Florida National Guard – Service Battery Florida October 1, 
1947 – July 23, 1950 
Lackland AFB Texas July 1950 – September 1950 
Francis E. Warren AFB Wyoming September 1950 – May 1951 
Warren Robbins AFB Georgia May 1951 – September 1951 
K-6 and K-47 AFB Korea October 1951 – October 1952 
TDY – U.S. Army (82nd Airborne) Camp Drum, Watertown, NY January – February 1953 
Pope AFB North Carolina November 1952 – April 29, 1953* 
      
* Discharged from service     

Chuck recalls that he was suppose to head to Tokyo, however, when he 
arrived in Japan he was issued winter gear, M-1 carbine, and ammunition and 
sent to the front lines instead.  It was so cold in Korea that he would 
gather newspapers to line his bed between the blankets to stay warm, while 
the North Koreans would drop hand grenades upon the military installation at 
night.   After military service, Chuck was employed with Dixie Lily as a 
route driver, a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), 
however, he left to work with the Railroad and Public Utilities Commission 
for approximately two years and then retuned to the HCSO until Chuck changed 
careers to become a City of Tampa Fire Fighter, which he retired as a 
Captain after serving more than 23 years.    

Chuck married Tanya Marlene De La Torre, a Tampa native, which she was born 
in 1936.  In that same year, Life magazine publishes their first magazine; 
the Statue of Liberty has its 50th anniversary; Franklin D. Roosevelt is 
reelected to a second term as President of the United States; the YMCA is 
formed in New York City; and events begin to unfold that leads up to World 
War II.  Charles Edward Alderman died on April 25, 2010 from complications 
with lung cancer.  He was not only a father to his children but their best 
friend too.    

Tanya was the daughter of Amable De La Torre and Beulah Escalante.  Tanya 
was educated at Holy Name Academy (Kindergarten and first grade) and Our 
Lady of Perpetual Help Academy (O.L.P.H.) located within the Hispanic 
district of Tampa (Ybor City), where she graduated from May 29, 1955.  
During her attendance at O.L.P.H., she participated in basketball, Girl 
Scouts of America, softball, Glee Club, Theatrical Productions, Church 
Choir, Queen of the Homecoming Court, and runner-up in the Miss Irish 
Princess.  Upon graduation, she worked for a local Tampa dentist (Dr. Fred 
Lebos) located in the Citizen’s Bank Building.  In October 1955, Chuck 
entered the office for a dental appointment, however, her first impression 
of Chuck was that he was possibly associated with the mafia because he 
removed his coat and was carrying a pistol (because he was working plain 
clothes division with the HCSO). In addition, Dr. Lebos, being the practical 
joker that he was, informed Chuck if the pain got too bad to reach over and 
take hold of Tanya’s leg.  As a result, Chuck did and Tanya squirted him in 
the face with water.   Consequently, on August 19, 1956, Chuck and Tanya were 
married by Hillsborough County Judge Henry and honeymooned in Hollywood, 
Florida.

Marcelino “Amable” De La Torre was born on January 2, 1908 in West Tampa, 
Florida.     He attended West Tampa School, however, due to obligations to 
support his mother and siblings, he never graduated from high school.  
Amable worked with various companies during his lifetime (owned a grocery 
store in Bradenton, Florida in the late 40’s, cigar companies, insurance 
companies, Pepsi Cola: route delivery out of town, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer: 
route delivery, Owner of a restaurant in the 1950’s: El Boulevard 
Restaurant, and Owned a Shoe Repair Shop in the 1960’s: Dale’s Shoe Repair).  
On January 15, 1956, Amable married Rosario Menendez and were married until 
her death in June 1988.  Amable departed in Tampa, Florida on September 28, 
2000.   

Beulah Escalante was born October 11, 1913 in Palmetto Beach in Tampa, 
Florida.  She attended George Washington Jr. High School and Hillsborough 
High School in Tampa, Florida.  October 18, 1931, she eloped (one-week after 
her 17th birthday party) with Amable, where the couple resided in Palmetto 
Beach in Tampa, Florida (111 South 22nd Street; corner of 22nd Street and 
Harper Street), which was across the street from Beulah’s father’s (Jose’ 
Antonia Escalante) cigar factory (La Corina Cigar Factory) and near her 
birth home.  

The Escalante name originated in Rome, Spain and Jose’ Antonia Escalante 
immigrated to America from Ribadosolla, Ovida Spain (a costal town in 
northern Spain).  Jose’ married Lottie Wheeler (born in Thomasville, 
Georgia), who was an employee at the cigar factory and eventually learn to 
speak Spanish fluently.  In 1940, Amable and Beulah divorced and she 
relocated to Bradenton where she owned and managed several businesses in her 
lifetime; in the 1950’s she owned a beauty shop, owned a beach shop, and 
owned and managed Tallent Groff Men’s Department Store after her husband 
(O.D. Groff, Jr.) departed.  She later remarried and departed in Bradenton, 
Florida on October 16, 1975.  



Kirk Mitchell Alderman

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas; 
Vice President Lyndon Johnson becomes President of the United States. The 
accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, is shot and killed a short time later; 
200,000 people march on Washington in support of civil rights; Dr. Martin 
Luther King delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech; "Great train robbery" in 
Britain yields £2.5 million for thieves; Soviet cosmonaut Valentina 
Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space; Dr. Michael DeBakey pioneers 
use of artificial heart for use during heart surgery; Pope John XXIII dies; 
Cardinal Montini elected Pope, takes name of Paul VI; Washington-Moscow "hot 
line" established; Songs like Go Away Little Girl, He's So Fine, It's My 
Party, and My Boyfriend's Back are heard on audio cassettes for the first 
time; and while folks are terrorized in the film, The Birds, Kirk Mitchell 
Alderman (Mitchell from his grandfather, Robert Mitchell Alderman) is born 
May of 1963 at Tampa General Hospital (Davis Island) in Tampa, Florida.  

As a child, Kirk lived in various parts of Tampa, Florida (Palmetto Beach 
and Forest Hills), and then later moved to a tract of land in Riverview, 
Florida, his parents purchased in 1965. Kirk attended Our Lady of 
Perpetual Help Academy, Palm River Elementary School, Jackson Heights Middle 
School, Dowdell Jr. High School and Brandon Senior High School in Brandon, 
Florida.  As a youth, Kirk served in the Boy Scouts of America and while 
attending Dowdell Jr. High School, Kirk succeeded in track and field and 
football.  During Kirk’s attendance at Brandon Senior High School, he played 
on the varsity football and track team, was member of the Jr. Jaycees, and 
performed in numerous theatrical plays and musicals, in which he won first 
place at the State of Florida competition for set and costume design and 
pantomime.   

After graduating high school, Kirk attended Hillsborough Community College 
(HCC) earning an Associate Arts degree in Liberal Arts (received a 
theatrical scholarship), University of South Florida (USF) earning a 
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Vice President of the Pre-Law 
Society, Vice President of the Fraternity Council, and member of Pi Kappa 
Alpha fraternity), and a M.B.A. in Human Resources and Management. 
Throughout Kirk's college career, he worked as an Actor in various stage and 
print productions.

Upon his graduation from USF, Kirk worked with Continental Airlines; worked 
in law enforcement, and human resources management.  Kirk expanded his 
education, by becoming a Chiropractic Physician (served as President of the 
class and the International Chiropractor’s Association) with Palmer 
Chiropractic College. 

Kirk has resided in Florida, Alabama, Georgia; and Texas, in which, he has 
raised three sons:  Seth Mitchell, Noah Robert, and Zackary Charles, in
which, all three were born in Florida  (making them the 6th generation 
Floridian).  All three boys were baptized Catholic in 2005 and Kirk's 
childhood friend, Luke Ledger became their godfather.  



The Next Generation             

Seth Mitchell (Mitchell after his father "Kirk Mitchell Alderman" and 
great-grandfather "Robert Mitchell Alderman"), Noah Robert (Robert after his 
uncle "Lance Robert Alderman" and great-grandfather "Robert Mitchell 
Alderman") and Zackary "Zack" Charles (Charles after his grandfather 
"Charles Edward Alderman").  After six generations, the Alderman family has 
set off on a new path in their family heritage, in which, they relocated to 
Austin, Texas for career opportunities for Kirk and Seth Alderman.   



Conclusion 

The Alderman family has been in America for almost four centuries, in which, 
members of the family has help develop townships and conquer wild frontiers, 
fought in the Pequot Indian War, served in general assemblies and led the 
country in forming laws and rights, captured the Independence for America by 
fighting in the American Revolution, seen and fought in the War Between the 
States that tore a country in two, faced the hardships of conquering a vas 
wilderness, been honored for their heritage with a park named after them, 
protected the world from a Fascist Dictatorship and Communism in the War 
World I and the Korean War, severed in military service, worked to protect 
and serve in law enforcement and fire services, served mankind through 
chiropractic, and have strived forward to ensure the Alderman family 
continues to prosper and grow into the future.  If the future embraces what 
the past has revealed, then the future holds an exquisite and astonishing 
journey.  In the words of John Thomas Alderman, “each generation owes it to 
the past, as well as the future, that no previous attainment or achievement, 
whether of thought, or deed, or vision, be lost.”  And for now, that 
responsibility lies on the shoulders of a new generation to pursue the 
future, as well as preserve the admiration and respect for the sacrifices 
and achievements that numerous ancestors have made.  For it has truly been 
an American saga...    

To Be Continued…





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