Individual Details

Two sons of Alexander Kirkpatrick emigrated to the colonies together. Their story is recounted in an article titled "Kirkpatrick Family of Somerset Co" in the "Somerset County Historical Quarterly" vol. III (1994). They came over with their wives and children in a particularly bad crossing where they ran out of food. The families landed in New Castle, DE starving and broke and ended up going to New Jersey on foot.

According to the book "Kirkpatrick Memorial" published by Westcott & Thomson, 1867 in Philadelphia;
The name of the immediate ancestor of that branch of the family of which this volume is a memorial is ALEXANDER. he was born in Watties Neach, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He removed with his family to Belfast, Ireland, after the birth of his son DAVID, in the latter part of the reign of George I. Probably about the year 1725, that he might enjoy greater liberty of conscience and additional religious advantages. In the spring of 1736 he embarked at Belfast for America, and after a stormy passage of thirteen weeks landed at New Castle, Delaware. The passengers and crew were almost starved owing to the unexpected length of the passage. David, who was then twelve years old, speaking of this to a grandson in after years said: "The first thing I got to eat after we got on shore was corn, in the state which we call roasting ears, and without roasting or boiling I ate till the milk of the corn ran down both sides of my mouth, and I have never eaten anything since that tasted sweeter." The narrative by the grandson adds: "They crossed the Delaware at Philadelphia, and wandered up through the State of New Jersey (which was partially settled) till they reached Boundbrook, and from that they went over the mountain. This incident he (the grandfather) used to tell me, and smile at -- they were all on foot -- there was no road other than the Indian path. In the path before them they saw a land tortoise, speckled, sticking up his head; and as they had heard of 'rattlesnakes', they thought that 'monster' must be 'one'; so they turned out in the woods and went away round leaving his 'torkleship' in full possession of the path. When they came to a spring of water at the side of what has since been called "Mine Brook", there they settled down, built a log house and went to work."

The spot was well chosen, about two miles west from the present site of Baskingridge in Somerset County, New Jersey. It embraced the southern slope of Round Mountain in a well-timbered region, with unfailing springs of pure water, the rich meadow-land through which Mine Brook runs with a sufficient fall of water for a mill-seat, and with these material advantages, a charming picturesque view of the adjacent region. The spring of water is still there, marking the site of the original log-house, and until within a few years could be seen the remains of the apple-trees planted by Alexander Kirkpatrick and his sons. This improvement many of the early proprietary leases required. In a lease of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, (which it may be remarked was a minor portion of what the family eventually obtained by title in fee simple) granted November 23, 1747, to Alexander Kirkpatrick, he agrees "to plant an orchard of at least one apple-tree for every three acres, and in case this lease shall continue beyond three years, then (to) plant one apple-tree for every six acres, all regular in one orchard, and to keep up the number planted and to keep the orchard in good fence."

Alexander Kirkpatrick died at Mine Brook, June 3, 1758, mentioning in his will, which was executed "in articulo mortis," his wife Elizabeth, his sons Andrew, David, and Alexander, his son-in-law Duncan McEowen, his youngest daughter Mary, and his grandson Alexander.

It is worthy of notice that when he came to America with his family he was accompanied by his brother Andrew. This brother Andrew had two sons John and David, and two daughters, Martha, wife of Joseph Linn, and Elizabeth, wife of Stephen Roy, all of whom removed to Sussex County, and there remained.

Andrew, who married Margaret, daughter of Joseph Gaston, and had one son, Alexander, and seven daughters, viz: Jennet, wife of Abner Johnson; Elizabeth, wife of Hugh Bartley; Margaret, wife of Joseph McMartin; Mary, Sarah, Anne, and Hannah. This Andrew inherited the homestead, but not long after the death of his father sold it to his brother David and removed to what was then called "the Redstone Country," or in other words, to Western Pennsylvania.

According to another source, Cheryl Kirkpatrick:

Andrew was a Captain in the First Brigade of Somerset Militia during the American Revolution.

When Andrew Kirkpatrick sold the Kirkpatrick homestead to his brother David and removed to Washington County, PA, he probably thought the land he occupied was in Public Domain, so he did not apply for a deed to it. He lived there in peace and contentment with his family for about 17 years. In 1759 the Penn brothers, William and Richard, sued him for trespassing upon land that they owned. The suit, which Andrew lost, was not settled until 1766.

Fact 1	Abt 1706
Birth	1720	Kirkmichael, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Birth	1720	Nithsdale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Death	1790	Sussex Co., New Jersey
Marriage		New Jersey - Margaret Gaston

Spouse	Margaret Gaston (1728 - )
Child	Alexander Kirkpatrick (1741 - 1825)
Child	Jennet Kirkpatrick (1742 - 1772)
Child	Elizabeth Kirkpatrick (1749 - )
Child	Mary Kirkpatrick (1752 - )
Child	Sarah Kirkpatrick (1753 - 1838)
Child	Anne Kirkpatrick (1754 - )
Child	Hannah Kirkpatrick (1755 - )
Child	Margaret Kirkpatrick (1771 - 1855)

Father	Alexander Kirkpatrick (1697 - 1758)
Mother	Elizabeth ???-AK ( - )
Sibling	David Kirkpatrick (1723 - 1814)
Sibling	Alexander Kirkpatrick (1726 - )
Sibling	Jennett Kirkpatrick (1728 - )
Sibling	Mary Kirkpatrick (1729 - )