Record of the descendants of John Alexander

Hugh Alexander. 17
the utmost of his endeavor to Teach and Instruct the
said Apprentice in the Trades, Arts and Mysteries of a
Carpenter & Wheel Wright according to the best of
his knowledge during said term of Eighteen Months;
and shall procure and provide for said Apprentice Suffi-
cient Meat, Drink, Washing, Lodging & apparel suita-
ble for an Apprentice during the Said Term ; and at the
expiration shall give him one new suit of wearing
apparel : and for the true performance of the said Cove-
nants & Agreements either of the said Parties do bind
themselves to the other by these Presents; In Witness
whereof they have interchangeably set their hands and
seals this Thirteenth Day of October, Anno Domino,
One Thousand Seven hundred & Fifty Seven — 1757.
W t illiam Brown, [seal.]
Witnesses Present,
John Gartril,
William Allen.
About this time he made with his own hands for his
brother James, a secretary with drawers below, and slips
and pigeon-holes above for books and papers, with
hinged lid to close and lock upward, or to open down-
ward for a writing-desk. The drawers are bordered
with vine work of inlaid wood of lighter color, and the
whole exhibits a degree of curious art and skill of which
no workman needs be ashamed. This heirloom is still
in its integrity, preserved in the old homestead of James
by his grandson Napoleon B. Alexander, in Kishaco-
quillas Valley.
The papers referred to show that Hugh Alexander
was residing in Nottingham, Chester county, in 1757,
and that before that date he owned land in Tyrone town-
ship, Cumberland county (now Perry county), in Sher-
man's Valley. There is a reliable tradition that his