Maxey, Alexander

continued…
Updated: 19 Mar 2019

SPOW DNA Study:Family Tree DNA – Scottish Prisoners of the Civil Wars (Dunbar and Worcester) Group 1-B, Haplogroups variant 1 R-Z39298, variant 2 R-A1284

TORREY’S NEW ENGLAND MARRIAGES LISTING THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN ALEXANDER MACXY/MAXCY AND MARY (ABBE).¹

PROBATE RECORD ²

Sources and Notes:

WikiTree collaboration for Alexander Maxie aka Maxwell – https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Maxie-19

FamilySearch collaboration for Alexander Maxey – https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LYJ3-4RR

Comments on research completed 17 Mar 2019 by Rosann Beauvais to determine if Alexander Maxwell, #59, and Alexander Maxcy ‘asl’ Maxwell #60, were the same individual:It goes without saying that there would be no additional records concerning SPOW Alexander Maxcy/Maxie after his date of death, or will probate, 24 June 1684. Any additional references to an Alexander Maxcy or similar name variation should be from his son, Alexander born 1668, according to information provided from those believing to be a descendant. I have not located a source for Alexander Maxcy II birth at this time.

From what I have determined, Alexander Maxwell #59 (also referred to in documents as Elexander Maxwell, Alexander Maxell, and Alexander Maxsell), had no surviving offspring. That means no DNA trail, no records concerning this individual after his date of death, or will probate, 8 Oct 1707. I attempted to express this on his profile page, as well as sharing a portion of the documentation I located for this individual which does show that Alexander Maxwell #59 lived in Kittery/South Berwick, York County area throughout his time in New England after indenture.  This Alexander Maxwell participated in a deed of exchange as well as a deed of sale in the area of York after the date of death recorded for Alexander Maxcy, showing they could not have been one and the same man. In addition to these court documents, there are other records which display the different locations of their communities. Refer to Alexander Maxwell’s profile page for sources from York County Register of Deeds, York Court Records, Torrey’s New England Marriages…, Maine Wills and others: /alexander-maxwell/.

In comparison, primary sources displayed in the profile above for Alexander Maxcy demonstrate that the individual referred to as Alexander Maxcy ‘asl’ Maxwell #60 lived in Wenham, Essex County area throughout his time in New England after indenture. He was known by and referred to with the surname variations of Maxcy, Maxsy, Maxie and Maxey in the aforementioned sources, NEVER as Maxwell, Maxell or Maxsell. The mention of ‘als’ in his name on the document from the Stewart Papers has been thought to mean he was also known of as Maxwell, or also called Maxwell, was not found to be in appearance in any documentation during my research. Therefore, I can make no claim that it was originally his surname, or changed due to another Alexander Maxwell being on board, although this does seem to be a plausible explanation. The reasoning behind the notation of “‘als’ Maxwell” is not clear.

In conclusion, Alexander Maxwell #59 and Alexander Maxcy #60, living in two separate areas of New England, one in York County, Maine and one in Essex County, Massachusetts during the same time frame and who referred to themselves with two separate surnames were without a doubt, two seperate men. I have shown this through sourced documentation provided on both SPOW men’s profile pages and I have found no record in which they crossed paths or were mentioned in the same document other than the initial listing for Alexander Maxwell, #59 and Alexander Maxvy ‘als’ Maxwell, #60, both being Dunbar prisoners on the compiled Unity list (Source reference: /battle_of_dunbar_pows_america/ship-unity/).

I hope this assists you in your endeavors. Rose Beauvais

Black, George Fraser, 1866-1948. The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin Meaning and History, (New York : New York Public Library & Readex Books, 1962), First published in 1946.:”MASSIE. Perhaps from Fr. Massd, a pet name for Matthew, Matte. The Rev. A. B. Scott (Rise and relations of the Church of Scotland, p. 300) erroneously says that in Northern Britain ‘Vass’ and Massie’ are formed from Brit, gwas, a servant. William Massie, Brig of Don, received payment in 1607 for ‘drink silver’ (SCM, v, p. 80), and George Massie is recorded in Stevinsburne, 1633 (ibid, ra, p. 72).” page 586.”MACZEWNIE. (3 here = Scot. y). Finlay M’Zewnie in Darcholar, 1621 (Dunblane). Donald Mc Zowne in Auchnafoile was charged with repudiating his wife, 1654 (IDR, p. 260).” page 572.

1. Clarence Almon Torrey, Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700. [↩]
2. Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB515/rd/13788/18030-co1/245872201 [↩]