In front of you is the Backcountry Patriot Statue, which recognizes Hezekiah Alexander and his family, who settled this once 600-acre plantation, where the Rock House was eventually built in 1774. The Alexanders were a prominent family in the Carolina Backcountry and, like many settlers in Mecklenburg County, they were Scots-Irish Presbyterians.
Hezekiah's father, James Alexander, originally purchased 262 acres in this area. Four years later, his older brother, John McKnitt Alexander, arrived to claim the land, followed by Hezekiah, their brother Ezekial, and their four sisters, along with a sister-in-law, all bringing their families with them.
In 1767, Hezekiah moved from the Maryland/Pennsylvania border to Charlotte with his wife Mary Sample Alexander and their six children. He was trained as a blacksmith, while his brother John McKnitt was a weaver and tailor. Hezekiah first bought 250 acres, and later an additional 350 acres, becoming known as a successful planter.
The Backcountry Patriot statue represents a wealthy male colonial settler from the backcountry. He is dressed in clothes suitable for church or social events, not work attire, and he holds a book—a symbol of learning and education. While the statue resembles Hezekiah Alexander, it’s important to note that we don’t have a commissioned portrait of him, so this statue is based on five of his male descendants, making it our best guess of his appearance. Interestingly, the statue looks like a shorter version of Jamie Fraser from the series Outlander, which portrays the lives of Scottish settlers in the Carolina Backcountry during the fight for independence. Check out photo [2] and see for yourself!
The Alexander Homesite was classified as a smaller plantation and eventually became the residence of Hezekiah and Mary, along with their ten children, all of whom reached adulthood. This site served not only as a homestead but also as a successful cash crop farm, where they cultivated crops specifically for sale rather than solely for personal consumption, as would be the case with a subsistence farm. Historians have identified at least 17 enslaved individuals who were owned by Hezekiah and lived and worked at this homesite in the 18th century.
For many years, the narratives of enslaved people were often overlooked in historical accounts, leaving us with many gaps in our understanding of their lives here—a common reality at many sites of enslavement across the country. While this work is undoubtedly challenging and complex, it is not impossible. In recent years, the museum has made concerted efforts to research the lives of the enslaved and their descendants, emphasizing the importance of uplifting these vital stories rather than shying away from them. During this time, there were three cultural groups living in the Carolina Backcountry: Indigenous Nations, European immigrants, and African Americans. Our mission at the museum is to share the complete history of this homesite.
Head towards the path to the left hand side of the statue - you will see a red bench up ahead on your left. Continue on the path as you hear about the many changes North Carolina has experienced, from its environment to its inhabitants.