Re: Alexander McKee - Mississippi
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In reply to:
Alexander McKee - Mississippi
Paula Emigh Brusso 7/12/03
Paula I saw your posting on Alexander McKee and thought I would post a reply. Your Alexander may be the Alexander McKee who along with Major John Gowen was petitioned by the state of SC to build the Court house in Spartanburg co. SC. It is possible that I am related to both men however I have no proof.
Here is how it reads........James StewartLakewood, CA.
"General Assembly Petitions, 1801, No. 49.
"To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina:
"The humble petition of the undertakers of the public Building for Spartanburgh District Sheweth that whereas they have engaged to compleat the Court House and Jail for the above District at an underrate much less than you in your liberality were pleased to appropriate for that purpose in each District.From inexperience of the expense of so great an undertaking, the scarcity of provisions sustained by the late dearth of corn, in our District, and the shortness of time which they have been allowed, being only eighteen months, that unless you in compassion to their weakness lend them some assistance they must in their private property be materially injured.They also beg leave to lay before your honor that whereas they contracted to compleat the Court House of Wood they for the publick benefit have raised the same of well-burned Brick relying on your justice to make them compensation.The brick work of said Court HouseJail are now nearly compleated and that the whole of the moneys which they have received are already expended.The Jail is thirty feet long, twenty-four feet wide and Three Storey in height:The Court House is Forty feet long, Twenty-six feet wide and two storey in height, the whole to be compleatly finished--equal to any in this State.And this we are bound to do for the sume of Four Thousand four hundred Dollars.This small sum we need not state to you is inadequate to the expense of so great an undertaking by at least Sixteen hundred Dollars which will be a triffle more than what was a first appropriated for that purpose.This request being so Just and mourall they sincerely hope you will not in humanity to their loss refuse it and your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray.
John Gowen
Jno. Murrell
Alex'r. McKee"
"To the Honorable vice president of the Senate and the members of the same the Humble Petition of John Gowen, John Murrell and Alexander McKee Sheweth that your Petitioners became undertakers for the buildings of the Gaol and the Court House of Spartanburgh District for the sum of Four Thousand Four Hundred dollars that by our contract we were to have built the Court House of Wood, but believing it be much sounder built the same of brick, resting on the generosity of the Legislature to indemnify us for the Extra expenses.That in consequence of building this Court House of brick your Petitioners have sunk the sum of one thousand dollars.Therefore your Petitioners most humbly pray that your Honorable House will pass a resolution for the payment of this sum of aforesaid and your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray.
John Gowen
Alexander McKee
Jno. Murrell