In 1858, George Edwin Emerson was born. Several sources establish his birthplace as Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. This, together with Alex’s stating his birthplace as Queen Anne’s, firmly places the original Emersons in Maryland.

William Henry (Willie) Emerson, Alex and Elizabeth’s last child, was born in 1866 at Talbot County, Maryland. This place of birth may indicate that the family had moved to Talbot; or it may be that Willie was born while the family was en route to Virginia.

During the family’s stay in Maryland, Alex and Elizabeth were involved in several land transactions. On February 19, 1861, the Emersons bought a house and “between three and four acres of land” located in Queen Anne’s County from Alec Johnson, a free negro, and William Hall. They sold the same real estate to James Hameley, a free negro, for $100 on October 18, 1861. While living in Maryland, Alexander Emerson owned thirty acres of land jointly with William H. Emerson in Kent County, Delaware. This property was sold to Henry Graces and Levy Boyers on March 20, 1863, for $300. The deed of transfer identifies the sellers as “William H. Emerson and Alexander Emerson of Cecil County, Maryland.” The place of residence may only refer to William since his name is always listed first on the deed.

The exact identity of this William H. Emerson is not known; however, he definitely is not Alex’s father; a brother would be a more likely guess. The 1880 census lists William at age 62 living in Cecilton, Maryland. He married Sophia Ruly in 1849. He had many land transactions in Caroline, Kent, and Cecil counties, Maryland, as well as Kent County, Delaware.

Alex cosigned a bond with Joshua Emerson as required for the said Joshua and Cassandra Libby to be married in Delaware. Maybe, Alex named his son Joshua and daughter Cassa after this couple which may indicate that this Joshua was his brother. Note that Emerson is spelt with two “m’s” when written by the clerk of court but with one “m” in both Alex’s and Joshua’s signatures.