Born in Dunclug, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. With both parents and seven siblings emigrated to South Carolina in August 1772. They settled for a short time at Jackson's Creek. There Alexander married Margaret Hodges also from Ballymena and at start of American Revolution enlisted in the American Army in which he served from 1776 until 1779. After surrender of Charleston to the British forces in May 1780 Chesney joined the British Loyalist Militia where he attained the rank of Captain. In October of that year a significant British defeat took place at King's Mountain and Captain Chesney was among those taken prisoner. Although severel ywounded in the knee he and his fellow prisoners were forced to march to Gilbertstown where a number of them were executed. Chesney made a daring escape with two of his cousins. The three men hid in a cave near his home and were supplied with food and news of the war by their wives. Here they remained for several weeks until the British victory at Blackstall Hill.
Alexander Chesney's first wife died in 1781. He continued to serve the Loyalist cause until in January 1782 when he was forced to resign owing to ill health. He sailed to Ireland from Charleston in April and arrived at Castle Haven, Ireland in May and travelled to Dublin where he was forced to sell his few belongings and walked to Ballymena. He arrived destitute, but after a period of rest obtained a temporary job. He married a second time to another Ballymena lady called Jane Wilson.
Alexander Chesney's first wife died in 1781. He continued to serve the Loyalist cause until in January 1782 when he was forced to resign owing to ill health. He sailed to Ireland from Charleston in April and arrived at Castle Haven, Ireland in May and travelled to Dublin where he was forced to sell his few belongings and walked to Ballymena. He arrived destitute, but after a period of rest obtained a temporary job. He married a second time to another Ballymena lady called Jane Wilson.
Born in Dunclug, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. With both parents and seven siblings emigrated to South Carolina in August 1772. They settled for a short time at Jackson's Creek. There Alexander married Margaret Hodges also from Ballymena and at start of American Revolution enlisted in the American Army in which he served from 1776 until 1779. After surrender of Charleston to the British forces in May 1780 Chesney joined the British Loyalist Militia where he attained the rank of Captain. In October of that year a significant British defeat took place at King's Mountain and Captain Chesney was among those taken prisoner. Although severel ywounded in the knee he and his fellow prisoners were forced to march to Gilbertstown where a number of them were executed. Chesney made a daring escape with two of his cousins. The three men hid in a cave near his home and were supplied with food and news of the war by their wives. Here they remained for several weeks until the British victory at Blackstall Hill.
Alexander Chesney's first wife died in 1781. He continued to serve the Loyalist cause until in January 1782 when he was forced to resign owing to ill health. He sailed to Ireland from Charleston in April and arrived at Castle Haven, Ireland in May and travelled to Dublin where he was forced to sell his few belongings and walked to Ballymena. He arrived destitute, but after a period of rest obtained a temporary job. He married a second time to another Ballymena lady called Jane Wilson.
Alexander Chesney's first wife died in 1781. He continued to serve the Loyalist cause until in January 1782 when he was forced to resign owing to ill health. He sailed to Ireland from Charleston in April and arrived at Castle Haven, Ireland in May and travelled to Dublin where he was forced to sell his few belongings and walked to Ballymena. He arrived destitute, but after a period of rest obtained a temporary job. He married a second time to another Ballymena lady called Jane Wilson.
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