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M. A. Alexander Civil and Criminal Docket Books and associated papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS0555

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of two Justice's civil and criminal docket books. They are only partially completed. There is also a loose assortment of legal documents. Some are unused, others are written on and filled out in various degrees of completeness.

Dates

  • Creation: 1890 - 1906

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials written in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Squire Marcus Aurelius Alexander was born on January 20, 1850 and died on April 4, 1906. He was a farmer and served as magistrate or Justice of the Peace for Paw Creek Township in Northwest Mecklenburg County, NC (sometimes referred to as Sandifer which was at one time the post office community name for Paw Creek). He also was a school teacher and served on the Board of Education for Mecklenburg County. M. A. Alexander married Frances Cornelia Williamson on January 10, 1878 in Paw Creek. She was born on October 21, 1860 and died on September 20, 1905. Marcus and Frances had nine children: Bessie May, James Franklin, Mary Catherine, Robert Miles, Olivia Blanche, Herbert Claude “Alec”, Edna Eula, Lillian Myrtle, Martha Ila, Annie Ruby and John Ormand. Marcus and Frances were both from the Hopewell community in Northern Mecklenburg County.

The most powerful County officials in the 1800s and early 1900s were the Justices of the Peace. They were recommended by the local delegation to the State legislature and appointed by the governor, not elected by the people. Justices of the Peace constituted a court that set the tax rate, decided where roads were to be built, made provisions for education and poor relief, settled boundary disputes, and rendered judgments in law suits. ["A History of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County" by Dan L. Morrill, p. 40, http://landmarkscommission.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/History-of-Charlotte-and-Mecklenburg-County.pdf.]

Extent

.25 Linear Feet (2 ledgers and one inch of loose documents)

Abstract

2 Docket books containing summons, judgments, and warrants with various loose legal documents comprise this assortment of papers left by a justice of the peace in the Paw Creek community of Mecklenburg County, NC. around the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. There is also one photograph of an unidentified woman probably from around the turn of the century.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into a single folder title series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was donated by Frances Alexander in 2018.

Related Materials

John B. Alexander Papers (MS0218)

Processing Information

J. Henry, 2018.

Title
M. A. Alexander Civil and Criminal Docket Books
Status
Completed
Date
2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, UNC Charlotte Repository

Contact:
Atkins Library, UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte NC 28223 United States

About this Site

Finding aids are guides to archival collections, including manuscripts, university records, and oral history collections. These guides help you find physical collections which can be viewed in the Dalton Reading Room on the 10th floor of Atkins Library. A small number of finding aids link to digital content online. Please contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment:


Special Collections and University Archives
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