B A C K G R O U N D
I cannot prove the identity of the parents of Mary Flavilla ALEXANDER, but I believe that there is strong circumstantial evidence which indicates that she was the sister of Susan Clarissa ALEXANDER who married Andrew C. MILLER, and daughter of Elizabeth LEMMOND and John Garrison ALEXANDER.
Mary's husband, Silas ORR was executor for both John Garrison ALEXANDER (d 1827) and Elizabeth Lemmond ALEXANDER (d c 1834). Silas was guardian to the young daughters of this couple after their death a few years apart. I have learned that Silas was also executor for the estate of Jane/Jean LEMMOND nee McCULLOCH, mother of Elizabeth Lemmond ALEXANDER (and perhaps the
grandmother of Mary Flavilla ALEXANDER.)
Another tantalizing bit of evidence - in the 1870 census, Susan C. MILLER was recorded as the head of a household which included her nephew, Cunningham Miller ORR, son of Silas ORR and Mary Flavilla ALEXANDER. In 1880, Cunningham was named as the head of the household, which consisted of his wife, children, and aunt Susan MILLER. I believe that Susan MILLER was Susan Clarissa ALEXANDER who married Andrew C. MILLER (from her father's estate, Susan C. MILLER, daughter, named as orphan of John Garrison ALEXANDER.)
Also, the oldest son of Silas ORR and Mary Flavilla ALEXANDER was named John Garrison Alexander ORR, perhaps after Mary's father.
The estate papers for Andrew C. MILLER show that it took years to settle his estate because of three lawsuits involving his heirs. The records from the Mecklenburg County Superior Court and North Carolina Supreme Court proceedings include the names and relationships of heirs and witnesses. The records also provide a fascinating look at the life of some members of the ORR family during the period.
[ b a c k g r o u n d ]
