(Thanks to Doug Allen for sharing this article)

ALLEN FAMILY - WRITTEN TO JOHN D. ALLEN
(Written August 1st, 1895 by J.F. Lander)

The progenitor of our branch of the Allen family in America was William whose father, Robert Allen, a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and father, by one wife, of twenty-three children, lived near the city of Larne, in the County of Antrim, Ireland; and that house is said to be in the Allen family to this day.

William was born in 1711, and died in 1799; came to this country when he was eighteen years old; married and settled in Virginia on the south branch of the Potomac.(Loudoun County) He married three times. By his first wife he had one daughter, Jane, who married Ephraim Herriott, hence our relation to the Herriott family. By his second wife, he had eight children, five sons and three daughters.

His youngest son by this wife was Joseph, my grandfather. By his third wife he had three children, two daughters and one son, James, who became the father of an interesting family of children, three of whom I will speak of later.

Grandfather, Joseph Allen (your great-great-grandfather) was born in Virginia, on the south branch of the Potomac, Apri1 20th 1764, and dated March 1st 1843. He married Fanny Wright, of a wealthy and distinguished native American family of Virginia in 1787, and came to Kentucky and settled in Clark County on the classic waters of Donaldson Creek.

Grandfather was a tall and slender man, florid complexion, and hair white as cotton, from the first I knew of him. A staunch and devoted Presbyterian; never missed having family prayers, and I have knelt on such occasions asleep on foot! I believe Grandmother Allen was one of the best women I ever knew. How I enjoyed, as a little boy, standing and looking into her precious face as she sat and smoked her pipe. She was born January 6th, 1766 and died November 17th, 1843. They were Married August 10th, 1787, and had born unto them ten children, eight sons and two daughters, all except one lived to raise pretty large families.

The oldest child was my mother, Margaret, known to the day of her death as "Peggy". She was born in 1788, married in 1807, and died while on a visit to Indiana in 1833. There were born to her eight children that lived to marry and raise large families, five daughters and three sons, viz: Levena, Charles Fielding, Joseph Allen, Sallie Ann, John Franklin, Fannie Catherine and Rebecca Louisa. Three of us are living to date, besides myself, sisters, Fanny and Rebecca.

The next was Uncle William, born 1790. Was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was in the deadly charge under Dick Johnson, when he killed Tecumseh. Uncle Billy was twice married, first to Julia Skillman, by whom he had five children, viz: Kitty Ann, Isaac Newton, Washington. Adelade, and Christopher.

The next is John, killed when a young man by the falling of a tree, born 1792.

The next was Uncle David (your grandfather) born 1794. He was twice married, first to Susan Thompson, by whom he had four children, viz: Thompson, Alfred, Martha and Henry. His second wife was Priscilla Neff of Harrison County. (I was at the wedding) by whom he had four daughters, viz: Levene, Adelaid, Elizabeth and Amanda.

The next was Uncle Bobbie (Robert) born 1797, died September 30th, 1866. He married Polly Allison. Some of their children were Zerilda, Armilda, Matilda, Tandy and I think one or two younger.

The next was Uncle Douglas, born 1799. He married Annie Allison.

I don't know the names of his children or how many be had. He moved at an early day to Indiana, and thence to Iowa.

The next was Uncle James, born 1802, married twice. First to Sally Gilkey, by whom he had two children, Edgar and William. He next married Peggy Bratton, by whom he had five children, viz: Sally Ann, Melissa, Elizabeth, Louisa and Robert Wright.

The next was Aunt Louisa, born 1804, and twice married. First to George Morris, by whom she had two children, Sarah Frances and William Andrew. Her second husband was James Boardman. They had one son, Jimmie, they lived in Indiana.

The next was Uncle Wright, born 1807, twice married, first to Frances Arnold, by whom he had two children, viz: Martha and Francis. His second wife was Polly Arnold, sister to his first. They had some children, two sons I remember, Dillard and Dunlap. Dillard was a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. The next and last was Uncle Joseph of Green Castle, Indiana. He may be living yet. Born 1812. He was twice married. First to Paulina Gilkey, by whom he had several children, viz: Mary, James, Artemus, Margaret and I think another or two. His last wife was Sarah Allen (no kin) married her in Indiana. They had several children, I never knew them, some of them were said to be highly educated and quiet smart.

And thus ends the chapter of our branch of the Allen family. I was always proud of my Allen kin. They were all good, staunch Presbyterian. Uncle Billy and Aunt Louisa, however, were Methodists. They were all strong temperance people. there was not a "black sheep" among them and their descendants, so far as known to me, having been and are nice, honorable, highly respected people. I never was ashamed of any of my Allen kin.

Grandfather Allen has a brother David, who lived near him in Clark County, who raised a very nice family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, viz: "Peggy" who married a Spurgeon; Elizabeth, who married a Skillman; Asa, who married a Dooley, a Berry and Morgan (3); Alfred, who married a Thomas; Harrison, who married an Owen; Iva who married a Clinkenbeard; and David who married a Talbert, a Berry and a widow Weigh. They all raised families, so you see how extensive the kin. Some in Kentucky, some in Indiana, some in Missouri, some in Illinois, some in Iowa and I don't know where else.

Then the youngest of our progeniture - James Allen, half brother of grandfather, raised a family of children. They were somewhat wealthy, continued to live in Virginia for many years. I knew three of his sons, Dr. William Allen of Tennessee; David and Samuel C. Allen of Illinois, nice highly educated men, and born gentlemen.

This record you may not now appreciate, but you will later on. Keep it and show it to your children.

August 1, 1895 (Signed) J. F. Lander

 

		Pamela Klein [email protected]