M. A. Alexander Civil and Criminal Docket Books and associated papers
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
- 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.
Processing Information
J. Henry, 2018.
- Actions and defenses -- North Carolina -- Mecklenburg County Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Civil procedure -- Forms Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Forms (Law) -- North Carolina Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Justices of the peace -- Handbooks, manuals, etc. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- 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
Atkins Library, UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte NC 28223 United States
spec-coll@uncc.edu
