Alves, Walter, 1768-1819

Landowner, state legislator, and university trustee, of Orange Co., N.C.; had considerable land holdings in several southern states.

Landowner.

Walter Alves of Orange County, N.C., was the son of James Hogg (1730-1804) and Ann McDowal (Alves) Hogg (1732-1801) of Scotland. The family emigrated to America in 1774, settling in North Carolina. His father legally changed his sons' last names from Hogg to Alves in honor of their mother. Walter Alves married Mary Amelia Johnston, daughter of William Johnston (d. 1785) and had with her nine children. Alves, a staunch Federalist, served in the North Carolina General Assembly, 1793- 1795; was a trustee of the University of North Carolina, 1795-1813; and speculated heavily in North Carolina and Tennessee lands.

Walter Alves (1768-1819) was a landowner, state legislator, and university trustee, of Orange Co., N.C.. Alves had considerable land holdings in several southern states.

Walter (Hogg) Alves was born on 6 October 1768 in Scotland, the son of James Hogg (1730-1804) and Anne McDowal Alves Hogg (1733-1801). James Hogg was a native of East Lothian, Scotland, where he lived until after his marriage and the birth of several children. A short time before the Revolution, he decided to leave Scotland for America, landing at Wilmington, N.C., in 1774. During the Revolution, Hogg stood with the colonists and served on the Committee of Safety. He was also a member of the Transylvania Company. In 1775, he represented the Transylvania Company at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where he spoke in favor of allowing Kentucky to enter the union as the 14th colony, a measure that was blocked by Patrick Henry. James Hogg was one of the founders of Henderson, Ky.; he was also active in the founding of the University of North Carolina. At some point, Hogg successfully applied to the General Assembly of North Carolina to change the names of his sons Gavin and Walter Hogg to Alves in their mother's honor.

On 11 May 1787, Walter Alves married Mary Amelia Johnston, daughter of William Johnston (d. 1785), agent to noted Virginia lawyer John Wickham (1763-1839). Nine children were born of this union: Annie (1788-1852); Elizabeth (1790-1852); James (1792-1853); William Johnston (1793-1866); Mary (1797-1806); Haywood (1799-1854); Samuel Johnston (1801-1821); Walter (1803-1856); and Robert (1806-1860). Walter Alves served in the North Carolina General Assembly, 1793-1795. He was trustee of the University of North Carolina, 1795-1813, and treasurer of the board of trustees, 1795-1799. A staunch Federalist, he counted William B. Grove, William Polk, and William Gaston as close political allies. His business interests centered on land speculation in North Carolina and Tennessee.