I am having a great deal of difficult reconciling ALEXANDER MCCUTCHEN’S family linage. The most accepted linage is that he is the eldest son of SAMUEL SANFORD MCCUTCHEN, son of Lt. WILLIAM MCCUTCHEN. However this is in conflict with the fact that SAMUEL MCCUTCHEN married FRANCIS MCCUTCHEN on October 04, 1804 in Tinkling Springs, Augusta County, Virginia. They then moved to Eastern Tennessee and remained there until 1815 and their son, WILLIAM S. MCCUTCHEN was born there in about 1807 (The 1850 Federal Census, Floyd County lists WILLIAM MCCUTCHEN, Age 42, born: Tennessee.) The 1850 census is the first census we have an opportunity look at the individual family names). References from "History of the Ohio Falls Cities and Their Counties" Vol. 2 1882

“Mr. WILLIAM McCUTCHAN was born in Tenn. in 1807; was married in 1831 to MISS AMERICA SCOTT, of Floyd co., Indiana. They have three children: two of who are married. WILLIAM S. McCUTCHAN has for several years held offices of trust in the gift of people of his township. The other son, ALEXANDER (Williams's brother) is a farmer of Lafayette Township”.

“SAMUEL McCUTCHAN came to Indiana from Tenn., in 1815, and settled on land which still belongs to his son WILLIAM S. "BILLY" McCUTCHAN. His grandfather (SAMUEL & FRANCIS NOBLE McCUTCHAN) came to America before the Revolution and served as a soldier in General Washington's army, and his father (LT. WILLIAM McCUTCHAN) in that of General Harrison in 1812.”

Other researchers dispute this and cite James Bell as the father of ALEXANDER. Submitted by PAUL E. AND PATRICIA A. COFFMAN of Borden, Indiana.

The problem is that according to 1850 Federal Census, Floyd County, IN lists ALEXANDER MCCUTCHEN as follows:

Alexander McCutchen, Age: 27, born: Ind. (This the only Alexander I have found listed in the 1850 census.)
Mary, Age: 27, born Ind. I assume this is Mary Jane Johnson

It is impossible for me to understand how SAMUEL BELL MCCUTCHEN could be considered as ALEXANDER’S father, since it clearly states BILLY MCCUTCHEN and ALEXANDER were brothers.

1. The reported birth date for ALEXANDER MCCUTCHEN is November 27, 1804 in Scottsville, Indiana. This is not in agreement with the other written data. If he was in fact born in 1804 he most likely would have been born Augusta County, Virginia, where SAMUEL AND FRANCES were married only one month prior or in Tennessee, but not IN. Further according to the census he would have been born in about 1822. That is seven years after their youngest child, Elizabeth, was born.

2. The 1850 Federal Census of Floyd County lists ALEXANDER MCCUTCHEN as being born in about 1822 and in Indiana. The given date of birth of 1804 disagrees with the 1850 census by a very large number, SAMUEL STANFORD MCCUTCHEON did not get to Indiana until 1815 so Alexander would have been born in either Virginia or Tennessee. The same holds true FOR SAMUEL BELL MCCUTCHEN would who others think maybe his father.

The Alexander MCCUTCHEN that seems plausible is SAMUEL MCCUTCHEN, JAMES H. MCCUTCHEN'S son SAMUEL and his first wife, NANCY WELL'S had the following children: 1. ELIZABETH, b: 1818 AND 2. ALEXANDER, b 1820. These dates are circa. This ALEXANDER was born about 1820 and most likely in Indiana. Further this ALEXANDER more matches his wife, MARY JOHNSON'S age. At this point I am not sure where his age of 1804 or his birthplace Scottsville, Indiana originally came from?

I would very much to know if anyone else has any additional information or other thoughts concerning the linage of ALEXANDER MCCUTCHEN of Floyd County, Indiana and exactly what documentation is being used?