Mary Sample Alexander (1734-1805)

Portrait by Nony, 2024

Mary Sample was born in January 1734 in Cecil, Maryland to a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian family. Like many other Scots-Irish Presbyterians, the Sample family made their way northwest toward the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania around 1750 after a militia from Cecil County was called to suppress an Indian rebellion in the area. By 1752 she had married Hezekiah Alexander, also from a Scots-Irish Presbyterian family, and they began to establish a homestead together.

However, the threat of uprisings from the native people was not gone. The region saw periodic rebellions throughout Mary's time in Pennsylvania until a particularly brutal attack in 1756 prompted Hezekiah and Mary to leave for Delaware. After about ten more years, Mary was a mother to at least five children and the Alexander family sought cheap land and labor in the South. Mecklenburg County was a natural choice, since many Alexanders and Samples had already settled in the area.

In or around 1764, Mary arrived in Charlotte and began the work of establishing a homestead. Within a few years, Hezekiah purchased enslaved people in Delaware or Maryland, and Mary likely would have overseen much of their work as housekeepers, cooks, and other "domestic" trades that were associated with women's work. Reports from the time indicate that all people struggled to make a living in the Carolina backcountry, but Mary's wealth and status likely allowed her to live a relatively comfortable life. She died in 1805 as the owner of the 1774 Rock House and 600 acres of land.

Hear From the Artist

1 – State your full name, where you are from, and how long you’ve been painting.

Nony, I’m a Peruvian born native and I arrived in Charlotte in 2000 when I was 10 years old. I’ve been drawing my whole life, but just started painting right before I turned 30.

2 – Describe your artistic style

I would say my style is very contemporary, raw, street-self-taught meets fine art. I’m learning as I go, which has really help grow my range of styles.

3 – Why did you choose to portray the subject the way you did?

The style I used plays with your vision a bit in sort of a blurry way, I chose this style because there had never been any photographs of Mary and I wanted a way to commemorate that blurred face from long ago.

5 – What does “the history of Charlotte” mean to you?

The last 24 years I’ve seen this city grow through the hands and labor of immigrants like myself who don’t do it for the glam, but for a chance to make this place home, just like British, Irish, Scottish, etc… people did when the city was born.

6 – Anything else you’d like to add?

Charlotte will forever belong to the Iswa Natives that lived here long before any of us and would love to see that commemorated more in all of our museums.

See more of Nony's work on Instagram: @nony_clt