Alexander McCormick UEL (1728-1803)
by Rick McCormick
Alexander McCormick’s father, a Scot, arrived in Ireland in the mid 17th century to fight with William of Orange. Like many Scots he remained there to raise his family. Irish-born Alex, at 33 years of age emigrated from County Down, Ireland to Philadelphia, PA, in search of adventure and prosperity.
There he worked with a fur trade merchant for several years before he and others set out to trade in the burgeoning Ohio Valley. Not long after arriving, he was captured by Delaware natives. His business acumen was soon recognized, and he became an agent of the Shawnee, trading their valuable pelts with the British.
In his travels he met a white captive woman named Elizabeth Turner. Developing a relationship, Alex bargained for her release but when the tribe reneged on the deal, Alex quickly devised a daring plan to steal her away. Hidden under a cargo of pelts in his boat destined for trade in Detroit, as promised, once free they were married. Undaunted by their past captures, they returned to the Ohio Valley in 1784, built their trading post & home, and raised 6 children. American settlers were pushing westward encroaching on ancestral Native lands. The Battle of Fallen Timbers would ensue with the McCormick land right in the midst. In 1794, the family was forced to quickly abandon everything they had built, seeking safety in British-held Detroit.
Soon they settled in Colchester, Upper Canada along the north shore of Lake Erie, adding two Canadian-born children. Their Loyalist legacy continued forward through McCormick generations: protecting the British colony through the War of 1812 & Patriot War of 1838-39. Descendants have represented Essex County in parliament, held local public offices, and have long serviced the community through many local physicians & pharmacists.
For more information on Alexander & his extended family history, visit www.alexandermccormickuel.weebly.com
Two books, written by their 2x Great-Grandson, Rick McCormick, are available from Amazon, HEIRS (Harrow Early Immigrant Research Society) in Harrow, and at ArtWorks on Pelee Island.
CAPTIVATING: The extraordinary lives of Alexander McCormick & Elizabeth Turner
FIRST FAMILY: The McCormicks of Pelee Island