Stirling Baronetcy Patents and Gen. William Alexander's Claim

Sir William Alexander of Clackmananshire, Scotland, received a patent to Nova Scotia from James VI of Scotland (later James I of England). Granted also were the titles Vicount Canada and Earl of Stirling. With the honors came two hundred unsigned baronetcies for Stirling to grant to supporters of his scheme to populate Nova Scotia with sturdy settlers. In the 1800s, many of these titles were nullified by King Edward. Article also discusses Gen. William Alexander's pretensions to the Earldom in the 1750s. (NJHS 1922)