Alexander Garrett

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Alexander "Alex" Garrett (April 20, 1778-February 29, 1860) was a resident of Charlottesville in the early 19th century who served as Albemarle County's Clerk of Court from 1818 to 1831. He owned an 117 acre estate called Oak Hill, part of which was purchased by the city to serve as Oakwood Cemetery after Garrett died in 1860. [1]

Garrett was born in Nelson County but moved to Albemarle County by 1794, where he served as postmaster of Charlottesville, 1797–1799, and as deputy sheriff in the latter year. He was appointed deputy clerk of the Albemarle County Court in 1806, promoted to county clerk in 1815, and made clerk of the Albemarle County Superior Court of Law in 1819. His brother Ira Garrett replaced him in the latter two positions in 1831 and 1852, respectively.[2]

Garrett was a successful businessman who owned significant acreage in Albemarle County. He served on a committee appointed in 1814 to revive the moribund Albemarle Academy, an effort that eventually led to its evolution into the University of Virginia. Garrett was proctor of Central College for a few months in 1817 and served as its treasurer from that year until 1819, when he became the first bursar of the University of Virginia.

He was a superintendent of the Rivanna Company in 1806, a member of the Albemarle Agricultural Society in 1817, and county representative to the James River and Kanawha Company in 1834. TJ and Garrett were longtime acquaintances and frequent correspondents. Garrett’s second wife, Evelina Bolling Garrett, was a daughter of TJ’s nephew John Bolling.

In March 1826 TJ requested Garrett to safeguard a copy of his will. Garrett was present at Monticello when TJ died, acted as an executor for his estate, and was himself buried at Monticello.

On July 16, 1803, the Virginia General Assembly amended an act for appointing Electors to choose a President and a vice president of the United States, and advised the appointment of George Divers, Rice Garland and Alexander Garrett to the commission for representing Albemarle County.[3]

Captain Alexander Garrett, who was for many years Clerk of the Circuit Court of Albemarle county, Va., died on the 29th of February.[4] Garrett was buried in Monticello Graveyard.


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References

  1. Web. Oakwood Cemetery, Neighborhood Development Services, State and National Historic Districts, Resources & Surveys in Charlottesville, City of Charlottesville, retrieved May 7, 2012.
  2. Web. Alexander Garrett to Thomas Jefferson, 14 January 1813, Founders Online, retrieved October 28, 2022.
  3. Web. In Council, July 16, 1803, Virginia Argus. (Richmond, Va.), 21 Oct. 1808. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
  4. Web. Virginia Argus. (Richmond, Va.), 17 Sept. 1806., Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress., retrieved October 28, 2022.