SAMUEL ALLEN'S HISTORY
The following is a revision by Genee Tyler of Samuel Allen's history by Maud Bliss Allen as found in the Salt Lake Genealogical Library. (Revision 1955]
Very little is known of the ancestry of Samuel Allen. Family tradition states that his parents came from Ireland and that the maiden name of his mother was Warren (possibly of the Governor Warren family of Virginia) It is probable that her name was Elizabeth, since each of the children of Samuel named a girl Elizabeth, and this name was carried on down through the generations. It is most interesting to note the number of Warren families found in Somerset, Pulaski, Kentucky. Judge Adams of Pulaski County, in an interview with Maud Bliss Allen said that the Warrens, Adams, Allens, Easters and Evins all came to Kentucky from South Carolina in a group with their covered wagons, provisions and families.
Might then, Miss Warren be a native of South Carolina? It is probable. It is sad these ancestral problems remain obscure in spite of every effort to bring them to light. The facts remain that Samuel had a mother named Warren, that there are many descendants of the Warrens in his home county Pulaski, Kentucky, and that the name of Cerenus Warren is listed in the Somerset Families. The descendants of Samuel clung to this name Cerenus, although it is not found at any time among the Allen families of Virginia and North Carolina except among the Allen descendants with the name Warren. It was Catherine and Aliza Frazure (daughters of James and Julia Saunders Allen) who lived in Somerset in 1934 and first told the story to Maud Bliss Allen of Samuel's mother being a Miss Warren.
From this same source comes the story that he was an only child and that his mother was in her 50th year when he was born. Whether he was by a second marriage or there were half brothers or sisters from either of his parents, it has been impossible to discover. The story of his birth and being an only child was verified by Mary Allen Tibbles, "Lum" Allen, and others of the family who had arrived at an advanced age and yet could remember these stories. Being much concerned over a problem of this kind, Maud Bliss Allen visited a noted doctor who said that it was possible, though not a common occurrence for a woman in her 50th year to give birth to a first child.
It is very noticeable that the wills of the Allens of Orange County, North Carolina, mention in their list the names that fit in so perfectly with the Samuel Allen Families. It is most probable that they were of kin; however, nothing has been proved and there remains only the similarity of names and location to substantiate the theory.
Samuel Allen was born, according to his own statement in his application for Revolutionary War pension, on 30 December, 1756. On the last page of the "William Coleman Allen Ancestry and Descendants" the following is found concerning Samuel: "Andrew Jackson Allen's grandfather (Samuel) was born under the Blue Ridge, the side of which is blue in the evening light He was born in the wild land of game forests and rushing waters. Here on the fork of a creek that runs into a foaming river is a cabin that was chinked with red mud. He came into the world subject to Kind George III in that part of the realm known as the Province of North Carolina and was of English and Irish descent as far as we have been able to learn.
On 19 November 1832, when Samuel was 75 years old, he went to the
Pulaski County Court to make application for a pension due him because of his service in the Revolutionary War. This application states that he volunteered in Redford County, Virginia, as a Mounted Volunteer Militia and furnished his own horse, rifle, and gun. He could not (at the time of applying for his pension) remember in what year he first volunteered, but stated that it was in the spring or summer of the year that the big frost fell on the 4th of May. He served in the Militia for six months making trips or tours in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He was discharged in Orange County, North Carolina, and soon afterwards moved from Bedford County, Virginia, to Orange County, North Carolina. He then volunteered to perform a second term of duty of nine months. During this time, he was in a battle at Heutau Springs. Then, as nearly as he could recollect, it was in July of 1782, that he volunteered for a third term of duty of eighteen months. However, before the company marched to which he belonged, his mother was taken dangerously ill. Since the family consisted only of Samuel, his mother, and a Negro girl, he did not wish to leave her, and so persuaded Robert Childress to substitute for him in this last term with the militia. For this service, he paid Robert Childress the sum of 160 pounds and attached to his Revolutionary War pension application is a copy of his promissory note to that effect. This note has Samuel's signature " X" mark as he could not write his name, torn off signifying that he had paid the debt and Robert Childress returned the note to him. (Samuel did receive a pension of $50 per year for his Revolutionary War Service
It was apparently while Robert Childress was serving out Samuel's third term in the Militia that Samuel married Nancy Easter on 27 August, 1782 at Hillsboro, Orange County, North Carolina. Their first child, John, was born in the county in 1783. They then apparently moved to Somerset, Pulaski, Kentucky, where Frankey, Rial, and David were born. Then in 1799 they were in Charleston, South Carolina, where their last child, Samuel, was born.
In 1803 Samuel Allen and his family, with the Adams, Easter, Warrens, Evins and others left Chester, South Carolina and traveled in a covered wagon driven by two double yoke of oxen, north into Kentucky. This migration was made because game was beginning to be very scarce in the Carolinas. The early pioneers of that time depended greatly upon the deer and other wild game and so followed it northward where the woods were more dense and their quest more plentiful. Samuel came to a little valley encircled by hills with only one entrance and here he decided to settle. It was located nine miles from what is now Somerset, Pulaski, Kentucky. As he took his family and wagon down into this valley around the winding edge of the hill, he had to cut two large trees and fasten them to the back of the wagon and drag them to keep the wagon from rolling down the steep incline on the hoofs of his oxen. The soil of the valley was very fertile and Fishing Creek with cedar, spruce, and ash growing along it's banks ran through the valley at the south.
The hills contained much slate rock and were covered with foliage. One can imagine the pleasure and contentment derived from the toil of farming and stock raising in so beautiful a place.
On the south side, Samuel cleared away the timber from an acre and here built one of the finest homes of that period. It was made of logs and built a distance from the creek facing south. Both the ground floor and the upper half story were divided into two rooms and both had a fireplace. Many years ago the cabin was weather boarded covering the logs, but it stood until the 1930's with its narrow staircase and partly decayed wooden floor---a relic of the forgotten past and a sturdy generation who thrived in this little nook of lovely blue grass country.
About 10 rods west of the home on the banks of Fishing Creek in a cozy shady nook near the cedar and oak trees where the graves of Samuel and his wife with their grandson (Gilmer Allen) and also three slaves. They were marked with a stone of slate-like slab taken from the hills. For many years these stones lay covered and un-noticed until Mr. Cornelius Wesley, the owner of the plantation, found them and took up the stones, scrubbed and scoured them until the crude markings were legible. On one was written Samuel Allen, born 30 December 1756, died 11 December 1841, and on the other which was broken into three parts was "Nancy Allen, died 13 February, 1829". Some time after 1936 a monument was placed here by the DAR.
The valley Samuel settled and where he lived for 38 years tilling his soil and growing his thoroughbred horses and prize cattle was sold by Mr. Wesley (in about 1940) to Pulaski County. The small entrance and the natural small outlet from this valley with more than 45 acres of deep valley made a wonderful natural reservoir and today it is filled with the rushing waters of Fishing Creek before they go down to the Cumberland Gap. The graves were moved to the city Cemetery in Somerset. Though all vestige of the past removed and the blue waters cover its many land marks and trees, the memory of the six graves resting in the quiet shade of the tall trees on the banks of the creek, the old log home with its discarded fireplace, old spinning wheel in the corner and tall bell once used for calling the hungry men to a fine hot dinner, and the gardens and fertile valley, will remain as a vivid picture in the writer's (Maud Bliss Allen) vision always .
* * *
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #0032]
Samuel Allen enlisted at Bedford Court House, Virginia, in Captain David Grissom's Company of Colonal Jefferson's Virginia Regiment, in the spring of the year (Year unknown) and served six months in the American Army. About 1780 he moved from Bedford Court House, Virginia, to Orange County, North Carolina, where he served nine months under Captain Grissom, who also had moved there. He fought in the Battle of Guilford Court House and Eutaw Springs. August 27, 1782, he married Nancy Hester in Orange County, North Carolina.
Later he moved to Chester County, South Carolina, and removing from there in 1803, to Pulaski County, Kentucky. In 1805 he entered 76 acres of land on Cold Weather Creek, which is a tributary of Fishing Creek, and in 1815, he entered 47 acres on Fishing Creek. Here Nancy Hester Allen died February 13, 1829. In 1832, Samuel Allen applied for a pension and received fifty dollars a year form the government. The last payment of pension was made September 4, 1841. His death occurred December 11, 1841. Both he and his wife were buried in the family burial ground on the banks of Fishing Creek. The place of his burial is located on a place later owned by Cornelius Wesley, and is about nine miles northwest of Somerset, Kentucky. * * *
The following was sent by Curtis R. Allen, 31 Jan. 2003:
SAMUEL ALLEN REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION RECORD
The following is a transcription of the pension application of Revolutionary War soldier Samuel Allen (spelled "Allin" in the Application). This was taken from the original application papers on file at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Some of the script is difficult to interpret and some words are therefore shown as "--------". Other words may have been misinterpreted. I have been as careful as possible and apologize for any error. Inserted in the transcription are comments intended to clarify the meaning. These are italicized. The original spelling has been retained, as much as could be deciphered.
Curtis R. Allen
1960 (amended 2001)
THE APPLICATION AS INTERPRETED:
Declaration in Order to Obtain the Benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June
4th, 1832.
State of Kentucky, County of Pulaski, Att.
On this 19th day of November 1832 personally appeared before the County Court holden for said County of Pulaski, Samuel Allin, Sen., a resident of said County of Pulaski and state of Kentucky, aged Seventy Six on the 30th day of December next, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision, made by the act of Congress passed June 4th 1832. That he served during the Revolutionary War, between the United States & Great Britain as herein below stated.
To wit: He volunteered in the County of Bedford in the State of Virginia as a mounted volunteer Militia, furnishing his own horse, Rifle gun & c. in the spring or summer of the year, but the year he cannot state, but well recollects that it was in the same year that the bigg frost fell which was on the 4th day
of May, and was of the same year he volunteered, that he volunteered as aforesaid to perform a tour of duty of six months at Bedford Courthouse in the State of Virginia under Capt. Davis Grissom and to the best of his now recollection his Col. named Jefferson.
(Comment. The commander of the Virginia Militia was Col. William Washington, a relative of George Washington. It is possible Samuel, aged 76, remembered thesurname was that of a President and confused it as Jefferson. No Col. Jefferson has been found in revolutionary war history to have been associated with theVirginia militia).
The troop to which he belonged marched from Bedford Courthouse to Hillsborough in the State of North Carolina. From thence to Guilford Court house marching to the border of the State of South
Carolina, and performing many other trips or tours were frequently visited by officers of the Regular Army of the United States but being very young at the time cannot at this time give their names. Was discharged after serving out said tour of duty in Orange County in the State of North Carolina by my Capt. Davis Grissom, but which said discharge I have lost or mislaid, not having seen it for many years. Afterward, time not recollected, the said Samuel Allin as also the said Capt. Davis Grissom,
removed from Bedford County, Virginia to the State of North Carolina, and settled in Orange County in that State North Carolina, that he the said Samuel Allin, volunteered to perform a second tour of duty as a mounted Volunteer Militia of nine months tour, equipping himself as in the 1st tour, with horse Rifle gun & c. under the same Capt. Davis Grissom, then of Orange Cty, North Carolina, turned out at Hillsborough in the said State of North Carolina as a Militia man, but was repeatedly during this tour of duty engaged in Scouting Parties after the Tories, and scouting forage waggons. That he states he cannot recollect the name of the Regiment, nor the officers comprising it. nor can he state the day month or year he Volunteered to perform this 2nd tour of duty. Marched from Hillsborough, was at the battle of Guilford under the command of General Butler. Afterward, the Troops to which he belonged marched to the Catawba River at a little town called Camlin. There I met Genls Sumpter & Green of
the Regular Army, marched from there to the High Hills of Santee, in the State of South Carolina, in view of the British Army, but not being able to cross over, the Troops of the American Army to
which I belonged was marched back and crossed above the mouth of Santee River. Over to Thompson's Fort, where the enemy lay, but they had left there before our men reached that place, from thence pursued the British Army on foot, drawing at that place, Thompson's Fort, three days provisions, (Comment: Thompson's Fort was on the Congaree River south of Colombia,S.C. and is mentioned in some other pension records. At least two others mention serving under Capt. Grissom but some spelled it Grisham.) pursued the enemy to Heutaw Springs at which place the American Army came up with the British Army, and put them to flight, after a very severe Battle, taking many Prisoners. After the Battle, the army marched back to Thompson's Fort. While there, my said tour of duty of nine months expired. But was not discharged, as it was said then least the men might scatter, and be taken by the Tories, but had a written Discharge afterward by my Capt. in Orange Cty North Carolina, the County and place of my residence, afterward to the best of his the said Samuel Allin's recollection, in the County of Orange in the State of North Carolina, he thinks in the month of July in the year 1782, at Staggs Old Field, being the place of mustering of the Company to which he belonged in said County of Orange, he volunteered to perform a tour of duty of eighteen months. (Comment: This date is unlikely. By October of 1781, Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown. Also we know Samuel was married in August of 1782 and was not likely in the militia at that time).
Whether correct in the time as above stated or not, it was at the time Cornwallace with his army had possession with his Army of Hillsborough in said State of North Carolina, he turned out as a Volunteer under Capt. Davis Grissom, again which is his 3rd & last Tour. ______ a footman belonging to what was called the North Carolina Militia but before the muster or before the Company of said Capt. Grissom rendezvoused, Corn Wallis, with his Army vacated Hillsborough and marched his army to Little York, where he surrendered to the American Army under the command of Genl. George Washington. But of this tour of duty he states, that before the Company marched to which he belonged his Mother was taken seriously dangerously ill or sick, and the family consisting only of her, himself & a negro girl, he was compelled to furnish a substitute (to wit) Robert Childress to perform said last named Tour, and to promise to him said Childress the sum of one hundred sixty pounds in specie to take the said Allin's place, and perform said tour of duty for him, which the said Allin afterward on the 24th day of February 1783 _____ his promissory note and for greater calamity, refers to said note at this time without his name, it being torn off after payment being made or the same discharged, rather than to have his Mother in her sickness , said note referred to and accompanying this Declaration is marked A, and the said Saml. Allin states it was agreed upon between himself the said Samuel Allin & and his substitute Robert childress, that for the sum aforesaid the said Childress was to perform said tour of duty in his said Allins stead and place and to furnish him said Allin with the discharge which he said Childress did so and which said discharge the said Samuel Allin states he has lost or mislaid long since, he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state, sworn to and subscribed in open
court the day and year aforesaid.
Samuel Allin
X
his mark
(The Promissory Note)
I promise to pay or cause to be paid unto Robert Childress on his order the just
and full sum of one hundred and sixty pounds specie on or before the 25th Day of December 1786 it being for Value Recd as witness my hand and seal this 24th Day of February 1783.
Test. (corner torn off)
(Also attached is a testimonial by persons knowing the applicant and supporting
statements by the court)
Jas. Alston [end]
In Pulaski Margaret, [widow of John Dick] filed for a Widow's pension (Grant 8668, Archieves film
0809.)
Samuel Allen wrote in support of the application, an acquaintance of the family had spoke with John of their experiences in the war.
The following info was sent by Curtis R. Allen a descendant of Andrew Jackson Allen, Sep 2002:
"The "Governor Warren of Virginia" connection figures in these unverifiable connections. There was never a Governor of Virginia named Warren either in colonial times or later. There was a General Governer Warren in the Civil War but he was a New Yorker and saved the union from disaster on the second day at Gettysburg.
In 1960, I was in D.C. for a business meeting which extended past a weekend. I went into the National Archives and looked at Samuel's pension file. They allowed me to check the entire folder of the original papers. I was able to get a photostat (before the Xerox days) of the papers, including the
promissory note to Robert Childress. I have since reviewed Samuel's recollection in comparison to accepted history and found it to fit quite well except for dates, which can be a problem for a 76 year old man. One error of memory I think he made was the Colonel's name. It was probably William
Washington, a cousin of George, who commanded all the Virginia militia. Jefferson would be a natural error as both names were of Presidents. I also visited Kentucky in 1960 and was able to verify Rial's marriage date and some other things but found nothing new. The old homestead is covered by a lake.
I have had a bit of a problem with the description of Samuel's birth experience. It seems a romanticized story. If he was born in 1756, he was not a subject of King George III, who did not ascend the throne until 1760. Further, the East side of the Blue Ridge (blue in the evening light) of the Carolinas was a wilderness in 1756, with few inhabitants. I wonder what daughter of a governor would be in those circumstances when, as some claim, she was from a family in well-established New Kent county, near Richmond.
A few years ago, on a trip to satiate my hobby of history, we went to Bedford County, Virginia; Hillsboro, North Carolina and Guilford Courthouse battle site. There is little of genealogical interest in any of those places except the fact, from his pension application, that Samuel was there. At Guilford, it was clear where Samuel, who was then a rifleman in the North Carolina militia, would have stood as a sharpshooter aiming at Cornwallis's redcoats. It was September and I would have liked to have been there in March, the season of the actual battle in 1781.
On a trip to Independence and Nauvoo, I took a sidetrip to Andrew County, Missouri. I was able, from land ownership records and maps, to find properties that had been owned by Rial, James and Lewis Allen but was not able to verify a burial place for Rial. Although some say it was St. Joseph, I think it is possibly on the land he owned and has lost its identity.
I am certain there is a record somewhere that will connect Samuel to his parents, and Warren may be his mother's name. I will remain skeptical until I can verify it.
Incidentally, my grandfather's name was Thomas Warren Allen, and none of his children could ever tell me how the "Warren" came to be chosen." [end]
Father: ALLIN
Marriage 1 Nancy EASTER b: ABT 1761 in Columbia, Chester, South Carolina
Married: 27 AUG 1782 in Hillsboro, Orange Co., North Carolina, USA 2 1
Original source for this family was Ella Maud Bliss Allen.
Noth & South Carolina Marriage Records [book] page13:
Allen, Samuel and Nancy Hester, 27 August 1782, Orange Co., N. C.
DAR Patriot Index, book p. 11:
Allen, Samuel: b 12-30-1756 d 12-11-1841 m Nancy Hester Pvt VA & NC*
Book TWO. Orange County, NC Marriage Bonds. A - C
Groom Bride Date of Bond Bondsman
Allin, Samuel Nancey Hester 27 Aug. 1782 Henry Burch
Pulaski County, KENTUCKY: 1810 Census Index
ALLEN 122
Allen, Samuel; 2 males age 10-16; 1 male age 45 & over; 1 female 26-45; no slaves
Allen, Jno; 1 male age 16-26; 1 female under age 10; 1 female age 16-26; no slaves
Pulaski County, KENTUCKY: 1820 Census Index
ALLEN 61-62-65
Samuel Allen; 1 male age 45 & over; 1 female age 45 & over, 2 [?] slaves
Pulaski County, KENTUCKY: 1830 Census Index
ALLEN 31-46-47-53
Pulaski County, KENTUCKY: 1840 Census Index
ALLIN 305-324-329
Pulaski County 1840 Slave Schedule
Age Categories [males/females]:
10, 10-23, 24-35, 36-54, 55-99, 100 and up
Slave Owners:
Pg Head of Household Slaves
329 Allin, David 200000/110000 [2 males under age 10; 1 female under age 10;
and 1 female 10 to 23]
329 Allin, Samuel 010000/000000 [1 male age 10-23]
Pulaski County, KENTUCKY: 1850 Census Index
ALLEN 40B-115B-123A-140A-156B
1860 Slave Schedule, NARA Film M653, Roll 405
This film shows the name of the slave owner and the age/sex/color of each slave. The information is presented here in the same order as that found on the original document. There were also 2 blank columns: "number manumitted" (freed from slavery), and "Fugitives from the State".
Samuel P. Allen, 1 slave: 03 F (B)
Richard H. Allen, 6 slaves:
28 F (B)
23 M (B)
17 F (B)
12 M (Mu)
6/12 F (B)
6/12 M (B)
Children
John Easter ALLEN b: 1783 in Orange Co., North Carolina, USA
Frances "Frankie" ALLEN b: 6 MAY 1784 in North Carolina, USA.
Rial Easter ALLEN b: 1791 in Orange Co., North Carolina, USA
David ALLEN b: 17 SEP 1797 in Chester Co. SC.
Samuel "Uncle Sam" ALLEN , Jr. b: 15 SEP 1799 in Charleston, Chester Co., SC
Sources:
Title: "Allens, Seven Generations of Allens"
Author: Maud Bliss Allen
Repository:
Media: Book
Title: Ellen Byrne, 1993
Repository:
Media: Book
ID: I0232
Name: Samuel ALLEN 1
Sex: M
Birth: 30 DEC 1756 in North Carolina 1
Death: 11 DEC 1841 in Fishing Creek, Pulaski Co., Kentucky, USA 2
Event: Buried at AFT 11 DEC 1841 Family burial ground on Fishing Creek, KY then graves were moved to City Cemetery, Somerset KY.
Event: Miltary ABT 1776 Revolutionary War Veteran.
Residence: Bedford Co., Virginia; Orange Co., North Carolina; Chester Co., South Carolina & Pulaski Co., Kentucky. 2
Burial: UNKNOWN City Cem., Somerset, Pulaski Co., Kentucky 2
Medical Information: 85 yrs. old at time of death.
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