Ezra Alexander was a son of Abraham Alexander, the President of the Mecklenburg Convention of the 20th of May, 1775.  He and William Alexander each commanded a company in Colonel William Davidson’s battalion, under General Rutherford, against the Tories assembled at Ramsour’s Mill, near the present town of Lincolnton.  He was also engaged in other military expeditions during the war, whenever the defence of the country demanded his services.

Charles Alexander and John Foard, two of the signers, served as privates in Captain Charles Polk’s company of “Light Horse” in 1776, in the Wilmington campaign, and in other service during the war.  John Foard was, for many years, one of the magistrates of Mecklenburg county, and both have descendants living among us.

David Reese was a son of William Reese, a worthy citizen of Western Rowan (now Iredell county), who died in April, 1808, aged ninety-nine years, and brother of the Rev. Thomas Reese, whose ministerial labors were chiefly performed in Pendleton District, S.C., where he ended his days, and is buried in the Stone Church graveyard.

James Harris was from Eastern Mecklenburg (now Cabarrus county), a neighborhood universally holding Whig principles.  He was the Major in Colonel Robert Irwin’s regiment at the battle of the Hanging Rock, and elsewhere performed important services during the war.  Next to the Alexanders the name Harris was most prevalent in Mecklenburg county preceding the Revolution, and both still have numerous worthy descendants among us to perpetuate the fair name and fame of their distinguished ancestors.

Matthew McLure, one of the signers, was an early and devoted friend of liberty.  Some of his worthy descendants are still living among us.  Other descendants of the same patriotic family reside in Chester county, S.C.  One of his daughters married George Houston, who, with a Spartan band of twelve or thirteen brave spirits, under Captain James Thompson, beat back a British foraging party of over four hundred soldiers, at McIntyre’s Branch, on the Beattie’s Ford road, seven miles north-west of Charlotte.  His son, Hugh Houston, served throughout the Revolutionary war.  The rifle used on that occasion by George Houston is still in possession of the family.  His son, M.M.  Houston, Esq., of Hopewell congregation, is one of the few grandsons now living of the original signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration.

William Graham, an Irishman by birth, was one of the early advocates of liberty in Mecklenburg county.  He was intelligent and highly respected by all who knew him.  He lived on the plantation now owned by Mrs. Potts, about four miles south-east of Beattie’s Ford, on the public road leading to Charlotte, where he died at a good old age.

It is hoped others will prosecute this branch of historical research, here imperfectly sketched, supply omissions, and favor the public with the result of their investigations.  In this Centennial year it is pleasant and profitable to revert to the deeds of noble daring and lofty patriotism of our forefathers, and strive to emulate their illustrious examples.