Alexander (Worke) Work Jr. (abt. 1750 - bef. 1806)

Biography

Col. Alexander (Worke) Work Jr. served with Rowan County Regiment, North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Col. Alexander Work(e), Jr. was born about 1750 in Pennsylvania (probably Lancaster County) to Alexander Worke, Sr. and his wife Isabella Baird or Beard. He died in 1806 in Iredell County, North Carolina. Alexander, Jr. never married but he did acknowledge an illigitimite child, Alexander Jefferson Work, that he had with Esther Lewis^[1].

His title of "Colonel" appears in several documents but uncertain as to how it originated. Various references say that Alexander served during the American Revolution, possibly in the Company of his brother, Captain John Work. He died before the War of 1812, so it is assumed he was a peacetime Colonel of North Carolina militia.

Alexander's brother, John Work, acquired large tracts of land for his father, Alexander, Sr., which they held jointly and for the benefit of the whole family of Alexander Worke, Sr. Upon coming of age in the 1770s, Alexander, Jr. sought a share of the property in his own right. His father apparently agreed and left Alexander, Jr. his share of the jointly owned land in his Will of 1777. The brothers, John and Alexander, Jr. could never agree on a proper division of the land and it led to increasingly bad blood between them. John Work died in 1792 and his estate papers contain many pages of transcripts from the lengthy court battles between he and Alexander^[2]. Alexander Work, Jr. died in 1806 but legal confusion over the land continued for decades because Alexander Work left shares of the land to the many children of his brothers and sisters, as well as a 1/3 portion to his own illigitimate son, Alexander Jefferson Work^[1]. Much of the land was in Iredell and present Catawba County, but there were also large parcels in Tennessee and in other places. The lands included a saw mill on Mountain Creek in Catawba County and a Still House in Iredell County.

The Work(e) families were slave holders. Alexander owned 25 slaves in 1790 and more than seventy by the time he died in 1806. In his Will, Alexander made provision for the freedom of some, but not all, of his slaves^[1]. In 1809, Montford Stokes, Administrator of the Estate of Alexander Work (and later Governor of North Carolina), filed a petition for the emancipation of Alexander's slaves, as stipulated in his Will, to the General Assembly of North Carolina^[3]. The Petition distinctly spelled out the freedom for Alexander Work's named slaves and was granted and entered into the Laws of North Carolina in 1809^[4]. One of the slaves, Harry, "of a yellow complection about 10 years old"^[1], took the name Harry Work. Harry Work became a brick maker and mason in Iredell County and married a slave named Rebecca, owned by Margaret Torrence. At some point Harry was able to obtain Rebecca's freedom and by 1850, the couple and their children, were living in Van Buren County, Michigan^[5].

He was a Represenitive to the North Carolina House of Commons.^[6]

Alexander is buried in an unmarked grave in the Centre Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Mount Mourne near Mooresville in southern Iredell County. Also in his Will, Alexander bequeathed $2000 for "a tomb or some other neat ornament be raised over the graves of my deceased parents and other near relations" at Centre Presbyterian Church^[1], near Mooresville, Iredell County, North Carolina. Findagrave does not list any Work/Worke family graves at Centre Presbyterian and it is assumed that this bequest was never followed through on.

Family

Alexander Work had an illegitimate son with Esther Lewis, named Alexander Jefferson Work, born about 1803. He claimed the child as his own and left him one third of his estate in hs Will^[1]. Alexander Jefferson Work reached full age (21) by 18 May 1824^[7] which indicates a birth date of abt 1803.

Will

Will of Alexander Work (Jr.) of Iredell County, NC^[1]
This is an unusual Will for several reasons: To start, the available copy is neither dated nor signed and may come from one of the copies that were to be made as a stipulation of the Will; the Will is very complicated in the manner of which bequests were made; there are a number of very specific orders made, some of which may not have been carried out. Additionally, the Administrators Bond that was filed at his death, 22 May 1806^[8], says, "Alexander Work late of Iredell is dead and having made no last will and testament in writing or that an instrument said to be his will is caveated..." James Locke was named Admin "Pedente Lita" (mispelled "Pendente lite" meaning - awaiting the litigation). Bond set at 200,000 pounds.

• In the name of God Amen. I Alexander Work of the County of Iredell and the state of North Carolina, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as following, that is to say,

• I give and bequeath to the infant Boy child of Ester Lewis which she the said Ester Lewis did swear it to be begotten by me Alexander Work (which said man child by the name of Jefferson or Jeferson Work I acknowledge myself to be the natural father of) one third part of all my money goods and chattels or what may be called moveable property. Also I further give and devise to the said child of Ester Lewis by me begotten as aforesaid one third part of all the lands that I have or may be seized or possessed of at my death to have and to hold the same him and his heirs forever. But still provided that the said infant shall not have any right whatever to sell dispose of or convey any part or parcel of sd lands let it be in what part of the world it may be until he is at the full age of twenty five years and then not more than one half but the other moiety he may dispose by bargain, convey at the full age of thirty years and not sooner, he shall not sell any of the slaves that may fall to his share or their increase before he is a twenty three years old and then not more than one half until he is twenty five years old when he may be at liberty to sell the remainder of the sd slaves he the said man child be taken the best care that is possible of at the discretion of this my last will and testaments Executors by me appointed as will hereafter appear and that his mother the said Ester Lewis may have the keeping of the said child until fit to go to school and then if fit and convenient but if otherwise he is to be removed as my executors may think fit and farther the said Ester Lewis shall have sufficient recompense for keeping her said child at the discretion of the executors of this my will and devise and twenty five dollars per year to her own use for five years & twenty dollars for five years more to be laid out out of the interest and profits of my will and devise to said child Jefferson the negroes that may fall to his share is to be hired out to masters or mistresses that shall be bound to use them well only one or two to wait on said child until he is 12 years old then at the discretion of my executors more or less until he is the full age of twenty one when he is to have the full use of their labor to cultivate his lands or to hire out as he may think fit. That the greatest care may be taken of his education that it may be bestowed upon him in the fullest and best manner and to the most highest extreme & that his morals may be cherished and improved all which shall be taken out of the profits and emoluments of his estate real or personal. All his personal effects to be sold on credit with good security & that & the interest to be applied to his uses as before mentioned so far as may be needful. That if his mother the sd Ester behaves herself decently without commiting any crime and keep from marriage and not be guilty of fornication or worse crime in like manner she shall have a further sum per year of ten dollars provided the said child of hers doth live for the above term of ten or twelve years and the second mentioned sum of twenty dollars if she behaves well for twenty years But if she behaves herself very ill or brings on herself a bad or scandalous character then and in that case she shall be deprived of all emoluments whatsoever before mentioned as to her own use and the child taken from her. It is to be observed that she the said Ester is not to have the first mentioned 20 dollars both per year but and one of the said sums & that the expression above of selling the childs personal or goods and chattels property dosnt mean that his part of his negroe or slave property is to be disposed of until he is of the age above mentioned, unless necessity requires that the said slaves should be sold._

• I will give and bequeath to my nephews and neices as follows (viz) as I do not know how many there is of them neither do I know all their names or how many there is of the female or the male kind as they are at a distance from me and at a distance apart from each other I can and will name my Brothers and Sisters according to their ages and lay down a plan for my executors to go by & it is to be understood that the remaining two thirds of my estate is to be divided by the said rule or plan according to the construction that may be put upon it which may appear difficult. My Brothers name John Work, Sisters in rotation Rebecca the wife of James Scott, Jane the wife of William Guy, Sarah the wife of Francis McCorkle, Easton the wife of John Brandon, Ann the wife of George Locke. I desire that the two thirds thus is not before willed or devised be divided as follows into shares half shares and quarter shares as some is to have more and some less according to family and circumstances. My brother John Works children men and women is to have three fourths of a share each except Robert Work who is to have but one half of a share. My sister Rebecca Scotts children is to have one half share each except her son Alexander Scott and her youngest child who are to have three fourths of a share each, My sister Jane Guys is to have a hole share each except her son William who is to have but a half a share he is the eldest of her family, My sister Sarah McCorkles children is to have a whole share each except Alexander McCorkle her son who is to have but one half share and Isabell Beaty the wife of William Beaty my sister Sarahs oldest daughter is to have five pounds only but her children is to have one whole share equally divided amongst them, that is to say the children of the said Isabell Beaty is to get one share as much as any of my said sisters children equally divided between them and my sister Sarahs daughter Jean McCorkle who lives with me over and above her full share as before expressed in the bulk of the family is to have one third part of my household furniture such as as she may choose My sister Esther Brandons children each is to have three fourths of a share except Richard Brandon who is to have one full share and no more. My sister Ann Lockes child (having but one) Alexander Locke is to have one share and one fourth of a share It is to be fairly understood that these shares is to include my land as well as the personal or moveable property which lands as above mentioned does and shall consist of two thirds of my real estate which I devise in proportion with all the giving willing and bequeathing of the personal estate.

• It is my will & desire that the following named negroes my lawful slaves be emancipated and set free and forever to be free from the claim of me my heirs or assigns and all other persons whatever (viz) Doctor and Sall his wife now in Lincoln County at my plantation on Mountain Creek, Big Pegg niece of said Doctor and the said Peggs son being the only one she has now alive, Harry of a yellow complection about 10 years old but not certain Priss and a small boy by the name of Ned all of which Pegg, Harry, Press and Ned is mostly kept in my kitchen and garden at work Granny Nun old Bet the mother of Mage and old Hannah the freedom of which is much desired by me and wishes a petition for that purpose for the setting free all the said Slaves to be laid before the assembly of North Carolina and my estate shall be bound that the said slaves shall not be a charge to the said State of North Carolina And all or any of said slaves that is not now more than 12 or 20 years old at my death it is my will that they should be taught to be as good scholars is necessary for good farmers to be so as near as possible before they arrive at twenty years of age and the costs and charges to come out of my estate or the interest there of if the said slaves is set free or emancipated according to this my last will and testament. It is my will and desire that each and every one of them get & receive a true copy of this my will so far as it concerns them with the names of each and every one of them inserted in each certificate as aforesaid with the seal of the state affixed thereto and the seal of the county of Iredell They are to be directed to keep safely first reading it to each and every one of them. But if they be liberated by some legislative body or otherwise they are to have a copy or copies of this my will with the seal of the County of Iredell fiixed those to all or any of such copies as aforesaid is to be in plain print and to be registered in the state office and in the registers office in the county of Iredell. Whether the said slaves is set free or not by the legislature of this state they are to be taken safely to the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania (only them and two children that came from there) Viz, the before mentioned Doctor Sall Pegg Harry Priss & Ned who is to be delivered up to some of the most respectable of the Quaker or Methodist abolition or emancipation societies with true copies of all papers necessary to shew faith that my will is such as that they shall be free people and that every endeavor shall be used to make them so - that some good judicious person may be employed for said purpose and sworn to deliver the said negroes as aforesaid who will take an oath perform as directed by this my will directed and that they bring back to my Executors a satisfactory account of their conduct and a receipt from said society that they have received them as free people and will take care of them accordingly with the public seal of the state of Pennsylvania annexed thereto and that they shall swear that they have truly performed the trust and duties that they were entrusted with for which services they shall have a reward of 300 dollars beside all reasonable costs and charges borne.

• That I will and bequeath out of my personal or moveable estate to the poor of Iredell County as a gift one hundred & fifty pounds not to be any advantage to the county but extraordinary to accomodate them better than they have been heretofore and to give them by installments at or in three different or seperate years after my death

• It is my will also that a tomb or some other neat ornament be raised over the graves of my deceased parents and other near relations at the discretion of my executors not to exceed two thousand dollars at the graveyard of Center Meeting House all of which expeses is to be out of my whole estate personal first but real and personal both bound for the performance. that not one of my legatees or devisees that is free people shall have or receive any part or parcel of the before bequeathments devises until they take an oath not to interupt the operation not to intercept this my will & devise and that they will use their reasonable endeavors and influence to have this my last will and testament carried into effect but them that lives very inconvenient if they send the probate of their deposition by some other person under or in due form under the seal of the county they live in But this is not to be required of those that are minors or infants at my death but only these that are at full age

• It is my will that if any of these my heirs die before they become of full age that their shares real and personal shall be equally divided amongst the whole of my heirs in proportion to the shares here bequeathed to each one - except the deceased shall have a lawful child or children in case the said children shall enjoy the deceaseds part but if the said deceaseds said children should die before as aforesaid it to revert back in like manner as aforesaid Ex what would be needful for maintaining and supporting them as long as they had lived.

Notes

Land Divison between Alexander & John Work^[2]
After the death of John Work in 1792, the Court stepped in to settle the division of land between Alexander Work and the heirs of John Worke. The following transcript is the final summary of much Court testimony:

• 25 Mar 1797

• State of North Carolina, Salisbury District
• In the Court of Equity Friday 25th of March 1797 and in the 21st year of the Independence of the United States between Alexander Work complainent and John Work's Heirs Defendents

• This cause coming yesterday, as also on this present day, to be heard and debated before the Honorable John Haywood and David Stone Esquires Judges of our said Court of Equity, and in the presence of counsel learned on both sides the substance of the plaintiffs bill appeared to be that the Defendant John Work in his lifetime was employed by his father Alexander Work the older who then resided in the State of Pennsylvania to come to the State of No Carolina to procure a settlement of land for him the said Alexander the Elder and his family, that he the said John did come into this state pursuant to the said agreement with his father the said Alexander and did purchase a tract of six hundred and ninety three acres of land in the County of Iredell where the late John Work the Defendant and the Complainant now resides, that he purchased the same and the payment was made by Alexander the father and the title was made to the said John and his father the said Alexander, but as they lived together no division was made and the Bill states that he Alexander the younger was intitled to the father's part of said land _ The Bill further states that Alexander the father agreed to have his estate in common with the said John, that the said John should trade thereon and otherwise manage the same for the joint interest of his the said John and his said father until the said Alexander the father should require a division when (it was agreed) every thing the said John and his said father should possess should be equally divided, that the said John should have one half for himself and his father should take the other half, that in the year 1775 the said John had acquired by trading on the stock aforesaid two hundred and thirty eight acres of Land situate at that time in Rowan County now Iredell which he purchased of John McConnell Jr and Andrew McConnell, also four hundred acres situate on Second Broad River in Rutherford County purchased of Francis McCorkle & John Brown, two lots of land in trade steet in Charlotte Mecklenburg County two hundred acres in Rowan now Iredell County lying between the first mentioned tract of 693 acres, and the lands of Gilbert Dunlap and also one undivided fourth part of 2400 acres on the waters of Mountain Creek in Lincoln County for all which tracts of land except the two pieces last mentioned the said John had obtained titles in fee in his own name_ Therefore that the said John may be compelled to convey to the Complainant in fee one half of all the real property which the said John hath titles to in his own name and that the right title and interest which the said John hath whether in law or equity in and to one half of the Real property which the said John had at the time of the division aforesaid or account for the profits thereof if he has sold any of them, and to be relieved in the scope of the plaintiffs Bill whereto the Counsel for the Defendent alledged that he by answer admits that sometime in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty two he the defendant came from Pennsylvania with an intention of setling in No Carolina but that this Defendant came on his own account and not set by Alexander Work the father nor no other person and puchased a tract of land of six hundred and ninety three acres, being that tract of land on part of which the Complainant now lives and on the other part he the Defendant resides and denies that he was ever employed by his said father to purchase the said tract or any other lands or that he was furnished with money or any other property to purchase lands for his said father or in partnership with this defendant or that this defendant was under any obligation agreement contract promise or otherwise bound or required to purchase land for his said father in partnership with this Defendant tho true it is that Deed of conveyance for the said tract of 693 acres was made to this defendant and his father the said Alexander Work the elder but only on his consideration that the Defendants said father has removed himself and family from Pennsylvania when old and in very moderate circumstances, had a desire of living with this Defendant this Defendant out of filial regard for his said father and wishing that he and his mother should live in comfortable circumstances, this Defendant had the title of said tract of land made in the name of his said father as well as his own and upon no other consideration whatever, and true it is the Defendant had acquired titles for the lands set forth in the Complainants said Bill of Complaints by Defendants own industry and with his own money or other property and not by any joint stock of his father as charged in Complainants said Bill of Complaint. The Defendant further states in his answer that Complainant was very uneasy and much disatisfied that he the Defendant should have so much property whilst he possessed so little and threatened the Defendant with very harsh expressions such as that he would burn or destroy his property Viz unless he would give him up one half thereof _ This defendant therefore in order to procure fr(?) and quietness and in order that his father and mother might have a comfortable support and that he the said Complainant for whom he the Defendant had an intire fraternal regard and afection might have some thing to begin the world with did on or about the 24th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six enter into an agreement in writing together with his father Alexander the elder and his brother Alexander Work Jun whereon he the Defendant and the said Alexander Work the elder bind and oblige them selves to make good and sufficient title in fee simple to the said Complainat for the one half the tract of 693 acres of land aforesaid as likewise to make alike sufficient title to one half of two hundred and thirty eight acres that they purchased from John McConnell Jur and further that he the Defendant and the said Alexander the elder would make a good and sufficient deed for one half of four hundred acres of land lying on Second Broad river to the said Complainat which last mentioned tract they purchased from Francis McCorkle and John brown, and further that he the said Alexander the elder and the said Defendant should also convey to Complt by a deed in fee simple the one half of the two lotts in the town of Charlotte in the County of Mecklenburg County, as also to convey the Deed in fee to the Complainant the one half of a piece of land taken by the Kings patent lying between the first mentioned tract of 693 acres and the land of Gilbvert Delap. They also agree to convey in fee to the Complainant the fourth part of twenty four hundred acres on the waters of Mountain Creek taken up by the Kings patent and the said agreement states that if the said two tract held by the Kings patents should not enure to them or that the said patents should prove insufficient to hold the said land by, that they the Defendant nor he the said Alex should not be bound by the said agreement to make Complainant a title to the sames. And the Defendant denied all unlawful Combination and Confederacy, and concluded his answer with the general traverse, as by the said _ and answer, remaining as of record in this Honorable Court more fully (?). The Defendants the Heirs at Law of the said John Work deceased having been duly served with process to shew cause (if any they _ why this suit and the proceedings herein should not be revivied against them, and the said Heirs not appearing or shewing any cause it _ is ordered that this suit and all the proceedings herein be revivied against the said Heirs at law, and the Bill answer and other proceedings in this cause being read it is further ordered and Decreed that the Defendant Robert Work one of the Heirs at law of John Work deceased do immediately, and the Defendants Alexander Work, John Work, and Joseph Criswell Work the infants do upon their arriving at the age of twenty one years execute one or more Deeds of Conveyance to the Complainant Alexander Work and his heirs with warranty against them the said John Works Heirs and their Heirs and all claiming under them or any of them or all of them of all that part and share of the six hundred and ninety three acres in Iredell County (formerly Rowan) in the pleadings mentioned in this cause according to the Division made between the Complainant and the said John deceased in his lifetime and also of one undivided moiety of and in the following tracts (Viz) two hundred and thirty eight acres purchased from John McConnell Jun and Andrew McConnell, four hundred acres on Second Broad River in Rutherfor County purchased from Francis McCorkle and John Brown two lotts of land in Trade Street Charlotte Town in Mecklenburg County a piece of land taken by the late King's patent lying between the said six hundred ninty three acres and the land of one Gilbert Dunlap, and also of one undivided fourth part of two thousand four hundred acres on the waters of Mountain Creek in Lincoln County and that the master do settle the conveyances in case the parties differ about the same, and until such conveyance or conveyances shall be made the the Complainant and his heirs be put in to and quieted in possession of the premises so to be conveyed by the Injunction of this Court: Provided always that this Decree is to be binding on the said Infants unless on being served with process to show cause against the same, they shall within six months after they shall severally attain to the age of twenty years show unto this Court good cause to the Contrary.

• And provided also that this Decree is to be binding on the said Robert Work the Heir of full age unless being served with process he shall at the next Court show cause to the contrary.

Race & Slavery Petitions Project - Petition 11280901 ^[3]

• Petition 11280901 Details
• State: North Carolina
• Location: Iredell
• Location Type: County
• Salutation: To the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina
• Filing Date: 1809-November-24
• General Petition Information
• Abstract: Gen. Montford Stokes, the administrator Col. Alexander Worke's estate, seeks to comply with Worke's wishes to emancipate certain slaves. Stokes asserts that the said Worke provided in his will that nine slaves "be set free" and that he "has provided that they shall not become chargeable to the public in any respect, by appropriating a part of his Estate for their support, and by providing for the removal of some of them to Pennsylvania." Noting that one of the said slaves has died since Worke's death, the petitioner prays that an act be passed "for the emancipation of the said Surviving negroes." Stokes states that Worke died seized and possessed "of several tracts of land and upwards of seventy negro slaves."
• Result: committee report favorable; concurred with

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Will of Alexander Work of Iredell County, NC. Not dated. Iredell County Original Wills, North Carolina. Division of Archives and History, Jones St., Raleigh, NC. Archived at Ancestry.com
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Rowan Co. Estate Files - "John Work, 1777". Rowan Co., NC boxed estate records, North Carolina. Division of Archives and History, Jones St., Raleigh, NC. Archived at Ancestry.com.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Race & Slavery Petitions Project, Petition 11280901. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro - Digital Library on American Slavery
4. ↑ Laws of North Carolina, 1809. Pg 41. Accessed at Heinonline
5. ↑ "The Aptly Named Harry Work", MHA NEWS, Mecklenburg Historical Association September 2019, Volume 17, No. 3, Pg 5.
6. ↑ #C1790, #Estate, pages 111, 131, 146 #Keever
7. ↑ Iredell Co. Estate Files - "Alexander Worke 1808". Iredell Co., NC boxed estate records, North Carolina. Division of Archives and History, Jones St., Raleigh, NC. Archived at [ Ancestry.com]
8. ↑ Rowan Co. Estate Files - "Alexander Work(e) - Iredell Co., 1806". Rowan Co., NC boxed estate records, North Carolina. Division of Archives and History, Jones St., Raleigh, NC. Archived at Ancestry.com

• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2M-9ZD : accessed 19 August 2017), Alexander Work, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 388, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7; FHL microfilm 568,147.
• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: accessed 1 November 2017), Alexander Work, Salisbury, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 659, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 29; FHL microfilm 337,905.
• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (Link: 21 November 2016), Alexander Worke, 1808; citing Iredell, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm .
• Iredell Piedmont County, by Homer M. Keever, with illustrations by Louise Gilbert and maps by Mildred Jenkins Miller, published for the Iredell County Bicentennial Commission by Brady Printing Company from type set by the Statesville Record and Landmark, copyright, November 1976, see Iredell, Piedmont County
• Genealogy of Alexander Worke, accessed Nov 1, 2017
• Iredell County Genealogical Society, NC Revolutionary Soldiers’ Graves – Iredell, Davie & Alexander Co., Iredell County Tracks, fall 2006.
• See also Space:Iredell County Revolutionary Soldiers for a comprehensive list of Iredell Revolutionary War Veterans.