Rev. William M. Alexander (1852? - 1919)

Image Sources

William M. Alexander: Sharon Baptist Church: Centennial Celebration, Baltimore, 1985, p.5, MSA Library, No. 1550, c.1.

Text Sources

About Alexander's Year of Birth: Conflicting information exists pertaining to William Alexander's birth. Most likely, he was born in January 1852. This information appears with the most specificity in the records. However it is worth noting that census information only clouds the issue. He first appears in the 1880 census, with an age listed at "30," making his birth year 1850. His 1900 census information list his birth information as "Jany. 1852," (that identical birth information, however, is also given for his step-brother, Robert A. McGuinn, of a different father, whom William Alexander was resideing at the time). In the 1910 census, his age is listed at "55," making the year of his birth 1855. An obituary appearing in the Baltimore Afro American gives his birth year as 1854. The birth information on his 1919 death certificate was given as "unknown," although his age at time of death was given as "75," -- approximated, no doubt -- making his year of birth 1844. Finally, a Sharon Baptist Church Centennial Commemorative Booklet also marks his birth year as 1852, yet it is unknown from what source the authors of the 1985 work took their information. See: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Tenth Census of the United States (Maryland), 1880, s.d. 1, e.d. 211, sht. 416B, ln. 46; U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Twelfth Census of the United States (Maryland), 1900, s.d. 1, e.d. 196, sht. 12B, ln. 62; U.S. CENSUS BUREAU Thirteenth Census of the United States (Maryland), 1910, s.d. 3, e.d. 235, sht. 17B, ln. 70; BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record) MSA CM1132, "William M. Alexander," April 10, 1919, No. D30799; "Was 1st Editor of the 'Afro'," Baltimore Afro American, April 11, 1919; Sharon Baptist Church: Centennial Celebration, Baltimore, 1985, p.5, MSA Library, No. 1550, c.1.


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