Mary Alexander

Mary Spratt Provoost Alexander (April 16, 1693 – April 18, 1760)

Early life Mary was born in New York City on April 16, 1693. She was the daughter of John Spratt (c. 1650–1697) and Maria de Peyster (1659–1700), who were both from prominent families of colonial era New York.

Her mother, Maria de Peyster, was from a respected Dutch family of goldsmiths. Her maternal grandfather was Johannes de Peyster Sr. (c. 1600–c. 1685), a Dutch merchant who emigrated to New Amsterdam.

Under her leadership, the Provoost business grew extensively. She imported goods on such a large scale that it was said that hardly a ship docked in New York City without a consignment of goods for her. She sold these goods in her own store and, during the French and Indian Wars, supplied William Shirley’s Fort Niagara expedition with food, tools, cannon, and boats. In 1743 her fortune was estimated at 100,000 pounds, and she and her family lived in a mansion on Broad Street. Samuel Provoost was a merchant haberdasher, dry goods importer, and real estate agent. Mary invested her inheritance in his trading venture. She had three children with Provoost:

Maria Provoost (1712–1713), who died young. John Provoost (1714–1767), who married Eva Rutgers (1719–1788), daughter of Harman Rutgers and aunt of Henry Rutgers, David Provoost (1715–1741).

On June 5, 1721, widowed Mary Spratt Provoost married James Alexander (1691–1756), a prominent attorney and politician. James Alexander (1723–1731), who died young. William Alexander (1725–1783), who married Sarah Livingston (1725–1805), a daughter of Philip Livingston, in 1748.

Alexander died on April 18, 1760. She was buried alongside her husband in the family vault at Trinity Church, Wall Street. Perhaps indicative of her social influence, the pallbearers at her funeral included the governors of New York and New Jersey.

Descendants Mary was originally a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, but later joined the Anglican church.

Through her daughter Elizabeth, she was the grandmother of John Stevens III (1749–1838), a lawyer, engineer, and inventor who constructed the first U.S. steam locomotive and first steam-powered ferry, and Mary Stevens (d. 1814), who married Chancellor Robert Livingston, negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase.

Through her daughter Catherine, she was the grandmother of John Rutherfurd (1760–1840), a Federalist member of the United States Senate from New Jersey who served from 1791 to 1798. He was married to Helena Magdalena Morris (1762–1840), daughter of Congressman Lewis Morris of Morrisania.