William Franklin Fullen

Notes:

His Texas Death Certificate, viewable online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, show that he was a retired poultry farmer. The informant was his daughter, Mrs. Elvin Edgar.

(Research):
Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 6
Enumerated 15 Jan 1920
SD 326, ED 173 Sheet 13A
256-258
Fullen, William F Hd M W 30 M Tx Tx Tx Farming
Fullen, Nannie L Wife F W 34 M Tx Tx La
Fullen, Lois Dtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Byron Son M W 2 S Tx Tx Tx

1930 Federal Census
Texas, Sabine County
Fullen, Frank Head Y M W 41 M-21 N Y TX TX TX
Fullen, Nannie Wife Y F W 44 M-24 N Y TX TX TX
Fullen, Byron Son Y M W 12 S N Y TX TX TX
Fullen, Bobbie Sue Dtr. Y F W 2 S N Y TX TX TX
Fullen, John W Father Y M W 85 Wd-23 N Y TX PA PA

William married Nannie Etta Eddings before 1912. Nannie (daughter of Sterling W. Eddings and Lyda E. Hutto) was born on 5 May 1885 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 24 Jan 1947 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Lois Fullen was born about 1912 in Sabine County, Texas; and died.
2. Byron Fullen was born on 20 Dec 1917 in Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas; died on 14 Dec 1970 in Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas.
3. Living

Notes:

Most official documents and census records simply show him as either John Fullen or John W. Fullen. His middle name is not known with certainty.

Frances Simmons [mailto:fsimmons@ruralcomm.com], in an email dated June 10, 2000, wrote that she discovered that John's middle name was Willoughby "last year at the Fullen family reunion by looking at notes and articles they had kept. I think one article called it the James Willoughby Fullen reunion. Before that I only had James W. Fullen...." However, Danice Hurt, a direct descendant through son William Franklin Fullen, emailed in January, 2012 that "my mother (Bobbie Sue Fullen Lunsford) has always told me that his name was John Whitney Fullen. He lived with Frank & Nannie Fullen when my mother was a child. Unfortunately, so far I have been unable to find any documentation as to the middle name, your website is the first time I had heard of any other name." A third possibility is that his middle name was Whitaker, as this is the middle name of his eldest son.

John and his brother, William were orphaned sometime before 1860. They lived with their stepfather, Solomon Causey, and his new wife until the Civil War.

John was just 16 when he enlisted in the Confederate States Army in February, 1862, alongside his brother William. John served in Company F, 11th Texas Regiment, from February, 1862 through February, 1864. The 11th Texas Infantry Regiment was placed under the command of Colonel Oran M. Roberts (a later governor of Texas). The 11th was marched to Arkansas where it combined into Randal's Brigade, McCulloch's Division in September 1862. The regiment is later moved to Louisiana. They combined forces with Green's 15th and 18th Texas Infantry on November 1, 1863. The combined force went south from Opelousas, Louisiana toward Grand Coteau in what Roberts described as a "rapid and fatiguing march." The 11th was ordered forward towards the enemy by the commander of the Confederate District of Western Louisiana, Major General Richard Taylor. On November 3, 1863, they were deployed in the Battle of Bayou Bourbeau. Several companies were sent out as skirmishers. The remainder of the 11th, including Company F, were deployed on the left wing of the lines, roughly two miles south of Opelusas. The infantry force retired from the field after approximately 3 hours of combat. The 11th reported 4 killed, 15 wounded, and 32 missing. Union casualties in the whole engagement numbered approximately 716 men. On November 4, 1863, the 11th joined the rest of Walker's Division in holding the country from Simsport to Opelousa against future assaults by Union forces.

Source: http://www.cba.uh.edu/~parks/tex/texreb.htm

I was unable to locate John W. Fullen in Sabine County, or anywhere else, at the time of the 1870 census. It was possible he was simply missed by the enumerator due to the turmoil of the reconstruction.

John W. Fullen made an application for a Pre-emption grant of land in Sabine County on August 12, 1876. In this application he, and two witnesses (G. Guthrie and A.C. Woolam), swore that he was a bona fide settler on vacant public land, and the head of a family. Pre-emption grants were made after statehood, and from 1866 to 1898 up to 160 acres could be claimed. Homesteaders were required to live on the land for three years and make improvements (such as building a barn) in order to qualify for a pre-emption grant of 160 acres. He patented his application on December 11, 1879. In his affadavit John Fullen swore, and his two witnesses affirmed, that he had occupied the land he was claiming for three consecutive years, from Sept. 30, 1876 through the current date. Witnesses were J. P. Payne and Wm. W. Weatherred. J. P. Payne was a step-son of Thompson Allen, the grandfather of John's wife, Jane Allen Fullen. The original Sabine Preemption Grand is on file at the Texas General Land Office, File #68.

As of 1880, John was living in Bronson and working as a farmer. He and Jane had four children at the time: James, Leala (Lula), Viola, and John. Viola can be found on the actual census microfilm, but is missing from Toole and Speight's transcription of the 1880 census.

None of his children appeared to have been recorded as attending school at the time of the 1890 Scholastic census,unlike those of his brother William, who had attended school. Presumably they were needed at home to help John and Jane on the farm.

According to the Sabine County 1910 Federal Census, John and Jane Fullen had been married for 42 years. They had had 9 children, 7 of whom were still living.

In his Confederate Pension Application file, the Application for Mortuary Warrant indicates that he died of Bright's Disease (kidney disease) in the home of his son, W.F. Fullen of Bronson.

Several photos exist of John Fullen. One is a family grouping, but only he and Jane have been identified positively.

(Written by Melinda McLemore Strong circa 1986 and revised periodically)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Milam Beat, PO Milam
Enumerated 12 Jun 1860
Page 2, Stamped 318
7-7
Solomon Cawsey 44 M Farmer 1000 2625 Miss
Harriet L. Cawsey 34 F $--- $1320 La
William M. Fullen 16 M Tx
John W. Fullen 12 M Tx
William E Cawsey 12 M Tx
Sebern J. Cawsey 2 M Tx
Geo W Cawsey 1/12 M Tx

1870
Not located

Texas, Sabine County, JP 6
Enumerated 9 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 70 Sheet 6B
100-100
Fullen, John Head W M Aug 1844 55 M 33 Tx Tn Tn Farmer
Fullen, Jane Wf W F Dec 1849 50 M 33 12/9 Tx Miss Tx
Fullen, Daisy Dau W F Nov 1883 16 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Wiley Son W M July 1886 13 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Fullen, Franklin Son W M Jan 1889 11 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Clyde Son W M Nov 1890 9 S Tx Tx Tx

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 6
Enumerated 11 May 1910
SD 2 ED 133 Sheet 32A
211-211
Fullen, John W. Head M W 64 m1 42 Tx Tn Pa Farming Home Farm
Fullen, Jane C Wf F W 57 M1 42 9/7 Tx Mi Tx
Fullen, Clyde Son M w 19 S Tx Tx Tx Farming

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 6
Enumerated 17 Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 173 Sheet 16A Stamped 212
306-306
Becton, Jim L Hd M W 36 M Tx NC Miss Farmer
Becton, Daisie M Wf F W 36 M Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Ivie B Dtr F W 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Howard I Son F (sic) W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Fay A Dtr F W 7 Tx Tx Tx
Becton, Gladis R Dtr F W 2 8/12 S Tx Tx Tx
307-307
Fullen, John W Hd M W 72 M Tx Ms Ms Farmer
Fullen, Jane Wf F W 69 Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, James W Son M W 50 Wd Tx Tx Tx Farmer
Fullen, Drew O Grandson M W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Fullen, Luke T Grandson M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx

(Medical):Brights Disease (Kidney Disease)

John married Jane Allen about 1868 in Sabine County, Texas. Jane (daughter of John Wooldridge Allen and Caroline C. McGrew) was born on 5 Dec 1850 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 6 Jan 1926 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her middle initial is shown sometimes as C and sometimes as K. It is not known what her actual middle name was.

Nina Fuller always said that her grandmother, Jane (Allen) Fullen was "half Indian." It has not been proved if this is true, or merely a legend. The name ALLEN appears to be of common use among the Cherokees, and perhaps this is where either the actual Indian blood, or legend of Indian blood, came from. The mtDNA of a child of Nina Fuller, a direct female descendant of Jane, was classified as H. This is the most common mtDNA in Europe, and not one associated with Native American lineage. If Jane was part Indian, it was through her father's family, and not in her direct maternal line.

There is a photo of Jane Fullen, presumably taken shortly before her death in 1926, in a black silk bonnet. This bonnet was given by Jane to her granddaughter Nina (Fuller) McLemore. Nina's daughter, Evon Tisdale gave the bonnet to Melinda (McLemore) Strong.

(Research):A photo of her headstone on Find A Grave appears to be incorrect in listing her birthday as 5 December 1849. Blanche Finley Toole showed this instead as 5 December 1850, supported by census records below:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 1 Oct 1850
12-12
John W. Allin 27 M Farmer South Carolina
Cariline C " 23 F Miss
Jamest T. " 3 M Tx
Elizabeth " 1 F Tx

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Redland Beat No, 4, PO Milam
Enumerated 27 Jun 1860
Page 22
156-156
Allen, J.W,37,M,W, Clock Pedlar, $--- $700 SC
" , James T,13, M, W, TX
" , Elizabeth Do,11,F,W, TX (married to William Fullen)
" , Jane (*),9,F, W, TX (married to John Fullen) (brothers)
" , Susan (#),1, F, W, TX

*Jane is the daughter of J.W. Allen by wife Caroline. Jane was born in December 1850, and the 1850 census was taken in October 1850. Therefore, Caroline would have been between 6 and 7 months pregnant at the time of the census. The 1860 census was taken in June, before Jane had reached her 10th birthday.

#The mother of Susan Allen is not known. It does not seem likely that she is the daughter of John's second wife, Margaret Harvey Allen, who had moved back home with their one year old daughter, Mary Allen. Did John have a daughter by a woman other than his then wife, perhaps leading to their separation? Or is Susan perhaps a niece or other family member? Or are Mary/Susan the same child, listed in both households?

His former wife, Margaret, and his daughter Mary are living in another household in 1860, as follows:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Patroon Beat No 5, PO Milam
Enumerated 6 July 1860
Pages 29 and 30
224-224
ZMA Smith 59 F Farmer 400 671 NC
Margaret Allen 34 F La
W.H. Harvey 21 M Farmer LA
ZMA Smith 8 F Tx
MAA " 5 F Tx
Mary E. Allen 1 F Tx

Notes:

Little is known about James C. Fullen, even his exact name is uncertain. W. F. Fullen, a grandson, reported that both his father AND his grandfather were named JOHN W. FULLEN. He reported this in 1933 however, some 80 years after his grandfather's death, when he was completing his father's death certificate. The name John is inconsistent with several published histories of Sabine County, all of which list the progenitor of the Fullen family of Sabine County as James W. Fullen. No sources are cited.

In Gifford White's book, FIRST SETTLERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS, there is a James C. Fuller (sic) listed as receiving 320 acres of land on 4 Mar 1844. The Texas archives show that this land grant was actually made to a James C. Fullen. Due to both the time frame and the relative rarity of the last name Fullen, it is assumed that James C. was the husband of Rebecca, and father of William and John.

CHEROKEE County Texas

Survey - Person or Concern bearing the land certificate at time survey filed. Block - Block number. Grantee - Person or Concern to whom the land was actually awarded. Leag - League Flag. L = 4,428 acres, B = League + Labor. Labor = 177 acres. Section - Section Number Abs - Number of the Abstract on file at county courthouse and at the
Texas General land Office in Austin.

Survey Blk Grantee Leag Section Abs
JAMES C FULLEN J. FULLEN 724 281


What is known is that Mr. Fullen and his 18 year old wife, Rebecca, moved to the Republic of Texas sometime before the birth of their son William around 1844. They had two more sons over the next three years, and he probably died sometime around or after 1848, when his youngest son was born. He is listed on neither the 1850 Sabine County census, nor is his death reported on the 1850 Mortality Schedule. In the Family Bible owned by Catherine Parker Fullen, thought to be a daughter in law, the following entry is found under Burials: Daddy Fullen 1850.

Even his birthdate is unknown. Presumably he would have been the same age, or older, than his wife Rebecca, who was born circa 1826. The 1850 census indicates that both Rebecca and her husband were born in Pennsylvania. As Rebecca was the only adult in the household, she probably reported this information herself. It appears that their families must have migrated to the South when they were young however. W. F. Fullen did not recall his grandparent's Pennsylvania orgins, but rather reported his grandparents born in North Carolina and Tennessee. On the 1870 census, their oldest son William reported that both his parents were both born in Pennsylvania, while his younger brother John reported them both born in Alabama. In 1900, John reported their place of birth as Tennessee.

There are other families from Pennsylvania on the 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, but none seemed to live nearby the young widow, who was in household number 81. Rebecca's closest neighbors were the Jackson and Davidson families from North Carolina and Tennessee, the Oliphant's from Mississippi, and the Smith's from Virginia. Families with Pennsylvania origins were headed by 70 year old David Welch, household #138; 70 year old George Koher, household #180; 94 year old Henry Stagner, household #191; and 90 year old Michael Widner, household #192. There were a scattering of other families from Pennsylvania as well, but none have obvious links to the Fullen's.

(Research):
Items for later follow up

1810 Census
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Chestnut Ward
HOH James Fullen
Free White Males under 10: one
Free White Males 26-44: one
Free White Females under 10: two
Free White Females 16-25: 1
Number of HH members under 16: 3
Number of HH members over 25: 1
Number of HH members: 5

Also, the 1850 US Census Mortality schedule shows a James Fullen, age 43, and whose occupation was Cooper, as dying of dyspepsia in Westmoreland County, PA in 1850

James married Rebecca Bal(L)\(Dwin) before 1844. Rebecca was born about 1826 in Pennsylvania; died after 1850 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A mother at age 18, and widowed with three young sons at the age of 24. She appears to have remarried Solomon Causey sometime after the 1850 census. It appears that she died prior to 1860, as only her sons, William and John were living in Solomon's home at the time of the 1860 census, along with Solomon's new wife Harriett.

A listing in the Family Bible of Catherine Parker Fullen, under burials, shows:

Becky Fullen 1852

Her grandson, W.F. Fullen, reported her maiden name as Baldwin. Some published histories of Sabine County show her instead as Rebecca Ball. No other Ball or Baldwin families are listed on the 1850 or 1860 Census for Sabine County. The census shows Rebecca as being born in Pennsylvania. Her grandson William reported that she was instead born in North Carolina.

Notes:

Said to have been born in the Old District 96 of South Carolina.

Per FIRST SETTLERS OF SABINE COUNTY he received 320 acres of land on March 4, 1844

It is currently not known where he was located in 1840. There is a John W. Allen listed on the Carroll Parish, Louisiana census at that time. However, that John Allen was born sometime between 1800 and 1810, and has two daughters over the age of 10. It is not currently known if they are the same man.

On the 1854 Scholastic Census, his children Jas T. and Martha (s/b Margaret Elizabeth) were shown as being enrolled

In YELLOWED PAGES: VOLUME XXIV, No. 1, Spring, 1994, page 43, a list of Sabine County Voter's registrations are shown. Information about J.W. Allen is shown as follows:

January 29, 1868: 478 J.W. Allen Pct. Mi3, Years in State--27, Years in County--27, Years in Pct--27, Native of South Carolina.

According to the book "Selected Tax Rolls of Shelby County, Texas 1837,1845,1855,1865,1875,1885," a J.W. Allen paid taxes in Shelby County in 1885.

In her notes, Kate Allen Tirado erroneously list her uncle as John T. Allen, and shows his place of death as Sabine County.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Sabine District
Enumerated 1 Oct 1850
12-12
John W. Allin 27 M Farmer South Carolina
Cariline C " 23 F Miss
Jamest T. " 3 M Tx
Elizabeth " 1 F Tx

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Redland Beat No, 4, PO Milam
Enumerated 27 Jun 1860
Page 22
156-156
Allen, J.W,37,M,W, Clock Pedlar, $--- $700 SC
" , James T,13, M, W, TX
" , Elizabeth Do,11,F,W, TX (married to William Fullen)
" , Jane (*),9,F, W, TX (married to John Fullen) (brothers)
" , Susan (#),1, F, W, TX

*Jane is the daughter of J.W. Allen by wife Caroline. Jane was born in December 1850, and the 1850 census was taken in October 1850. Therefore, Caroline would have been between 6 and 7 months pregnant at the time of the census. The 1860 census was taken in June, before Jane had reached her 10th birthday.

#The mother of Susan Allen is not known. It does not seem likely that she is the daughter of John's second wife, Margaret Harvey Allen, who had moved back home with their one year old daughter, Mary Allen. Did John have a daughter by a woman other than his then wife, perhaps leading to their separation? Or is Susan perhaps a niece or other family member? Or are Mary/Susan the same child, listed in both households?

His former wife, Margaret, and his daughter Mary are living in another household in 1860, as follows:

1860 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Patroon Beat No 5, PO Milam
Enumerated 6 July 1860
Pages 29 and 30
224-224
ZMA Smith 59 F Farmer 400 671 NC
Margaret Allen 34 F La
W.H. Harvey 21 M Farmer LA
ZMA Smith 8 F Tx
MAA " 5 F Tx
Mary E. Allen 1 F Tx

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Beat 4, PO Milam
Enumerated 2 July 1870
Page 3
112-112
Allen, John W.,47,M,W,Farmer,300, 800, S.C.
" , Frances A., 27,F,W, Ala
" , Britton (*),5,M,W,TX
" , Robert K,4,M,W, TX
" , Theodore I, 2,M,W,TX
Seaford, Frank ,32,M,W,Laborer,Prussia

*Esther McGrew Hardin in San Antonio notes that this is a name often used in the Odom and Means family (associated with the Blackburn and McGrew families of Sabine County). John and Frances Allen were living only two households away from M. Blackburn (Martha Cole Blackburn), a 72 year old Widow (of Alexander Blackburn, brother of Eliz. Blackburn) born in South Carolina and living with the family of J.N. and Susan Bailey.

1880 Census
Texas, Shelby County, Precinct 3
Enumeratd 13 Jun 1880
Page 13 SD 1 ED 89 Stamped 1 56
106-108
Allen, J.W., W,M,67,Farming, SC,GA,SC
" ,F.A., W,F,38,Wife, Keeping House,AL,AL,AL
" ,J.B.,W,M,15,Son,at home, TX,SC,AL
" ,R.G.,W,M,13,Son,at home, TX,SC,AL
" ,Theodore I,W,M,10,Son,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Bannister,W,M,8,Son,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Adelia,W,F,6,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Alarissa?,W,F,4,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Laura,W,F,3,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL
" ,Annie,W,F,1,Dtr,at home,TX,SC,AL

John married Caroline C. McGrew on 22 Apr 1845 in Louisiana. Caroline (daughter of Alexander McGrew and Elizabeth Blackburn) was born about 1827 in Marion County, Mississippi; died before 1853 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
It appears from the preponderance of evidence that John Allen's first wife, Caroline C., was the daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew. The 1850 Sabine County, Texas census shows that she was born circa 1827 in Mississippi. Alexander and Elizabeth McGrew lived in Marion County, Mississippi at the time of 1820. 1830, and 1840 Federal census. They also had a daughter who has not been accounted for by other researchers that was born sometime between 1820-1825.

Blanche Finley Toole, a Sabine County Genealogist, writes that Caroline McGrew and John Wooldridge Allen were married in Louisiana on 22 April 1845. She was given this information by Edna Mae Hackney, an Allen family researcher. Mrs. Hackney did not cite a source, and to date a marriage license has not been located.

Blanche Toole indicated that both Harriet (McGrew) Partin and Caroline (McGrew) Allen are mentioned in the Estate Settlement of Alexander McGrew who died in late 1849. The Sabine County Clerk notes that the records from this time period were burned in a Courthouse fire.

The strongest written evidence located to date is a deed showing John W. Allen purchasing the former homestead of Alexander McGrew from the Estate of Elizabeth Blackburn McGrew. This is the land that was deeded to her by her husband on January 22, 1849. Blanche believes that the careful wording of the deed shows that they wanted to be very careful and take all precautions to ensure that no questions arose, since relatives were selling to relatives. According to the deed, the land was sold at public auction "in strict conformity to the law, for the sum of four-hundred and one dollars, that being the highest and best bid therefore at sale and whearas afterwards, to wit, at the November term 1868 of said Court, report of said sale having been made in writing on oath and the court having inquired into the manner in which said sale was made and conducted and having found that the same was conducted fair and in accordance with the law, did order and decree that the undersigned administratix make the conveyance." Frances Steel, the Administratix of the Estate of Elizabeth McGrew was the daughter of Harriet McGrew and John Partin, and granddaughter of Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew. The deed was recorded on August 17, 1869 at the office of D. Pratt Clk. Ct. and on March 25, 1882 at the office of W.T. Arnold Co. Clk. Sabine Co, Texas.

Notes:

In a Family Group Sheet prepared by Eva Mae Halbert Hackney, whose father was a grandson of Thompson Allen, she lists Thompson's birth as occuring on 22 Dec 1802, Elbert County, Georgia. His parents are not listed, though the parents of his wife, Elizabeth Wooldridge, are shown. No sources are cited by Eva. This handwritten group sheet was provided to me by Blanche Finley Toole in January, 1995. Blanche said she helped Eva prepare her DAR and DRT records applications. Blanche and Eva were connected through the Burton family. Neither Blanche nor Eva knew who Thompson Allen's parents were.

In a history of the W. W. Allen family, prepared by Thompson Allen's granddaughter, Kate Allen Tirado, she also writes that "Thompson Allen (Father of W. W. Allen, Levi T. and John Allen) was born December 22, 1802 in Albert (sic) County, Georgia. Thompson Allen departed this life at the age of 67 years, 10 months, and 5 days at his residence in Sabine County, Texas on October 17, 1870." Again, Thompson's parents are not mentioned by Kate. Kate prepared this four page, typewritten manuscript sometime after 1955, but before her death in October 1964

The "1850 Census Sabine County, Texas with added family information and corrections" by Helen Gomer Schluter and Blanche Finley Toole, shows that Thompson Allen in Household number 277 was the owner of 9 slaves. On this census, he is shown as age 48, and born in South Carolina. The 1860 census lists his place of birth instead as Georgia. Kate Allen Tirado, a granddaughter, writes that Thompson lived first in Houston, Texas ca 1840, later moving to Milam, Sabine County, Texas.

Sally Clark, a niece of Kate Allen Tirado, emailed that a Thos WG Allen was listed in the "First Settlers of the Republic of Texas Vol I." He was given a second class land grant as a resident of Harris County. He rec'd 1280 acres, and listed as Thos WG Allen - 3-16-1839. He woud have needed to be here prior to 10-1-1837 to be first class." It is possible this land grant in Harris county was for our Thompson Allen as Kate Tirado wrote that he lived in Houston, which is in Harris County, before moving to Milam, Sabine County in January, 1841. However it is also possible that this is another Thompson Allen, as the extract of a voters registration list from 1867 (shown in full below) for Thompson Allen shows "Yrs in State: 26, Yrs in County: 26, Yrs in Pct.: 12." This would seem to indicate that he settled directly in Sabine County around 1841, as the years in the state and county match.

According to a list of Sabine County Voter's registrations appearing in YELLOWED PAGES, Winter 1993, Page 27, "Aug 6, 1867 #322 Thompson Allen Prct 5, Yrs in State: 26, Yrs in County: 26, Yrs in Pct.: 12, Native of Georgia."

Gifford White's book, "The First Settlers of Sabine County, Texas" has the following listing: 19 Thompson Allen 1840, 640 acres, Dec 1843, noting further that a Wm D Fry and Bede Johnson are listed with the same dates.

According to an Affidavit of Mrs. C.D. Gooch, dated 25 May 1910, and on file in Sabine County, "Thompson Allen was married twice, that his first wife, whose name was Elizabeth Wooldrige before marriage; died about the year 1848, that she left surviving her, her husband, Thompson Allen and six children as follows: (1) John Allen, who died eight or nine years ago, and left a widow and children; (2) Connilia L. Allen, who married Annanias Oliver about the year 1840, and died 1909, leaving children; (3) Levi Allen who now resides in Lampasas County, Texas; (4) W.W. Allen who now resides in Lampasas, Texas; (5) Mary F. Allen who married W.W. Halbert in 1858 and died about 1900 in Sabine County, Texas leaving her husband and children; (6) Jerusha Allen, who married G.W. Speights in November 1865, and died in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas in 1888 leaving husband and children; That the said Thompson Allen and his first wife, Elizabeth, had four other children, namely Marion, Martha, Elizabeth and Augustus, all of whom died without marrying and leaving no children; that the above mentioned ten children, were all and the only children of the said Thompson Allen and his first wife, Elizabeth Wooldridge, that reached maturity."

After the death of his first wife, Thompson married second Jane Russell, the widow of Epperson Duke Payne.

On the 1854 Sabine County Scholastic Census, Thompson Allen was shown as having five children and stepchildren enrolled in District 10: William, J.P. Pain, J.D. Pain, Mary, and Jerusha.

Blanche Toole, a Sabine County Genealogist and historian stated that, "Thompson and Elizabeth Wooldridge Allen are buried in the Oliphant Chapel Memorial Garden cemetery, and Thompson was a veteran of the Mexican War. " His name has not be located in the index of Mexican War veterans, however. Blanche also indicates that Thompson Allen's sister was Jemima Allen, the first wife of A.D. Oliphint. [Note: This is not proven and may be in error]. Blanche also said that Thompson "came to Texas with his wife, Elizabeth Wooldridge, and with the Oliphints. He settled just south of the Oliphint Chapel Community, on the Palo Gacho Bayou, where he had a grist mill and lumber mill. He lived near the Oliver family. He and his wife had a large family. Elizabeth died 7 March 1847, and was buried in the Oliphint Chapel Cemetery. They were parents of seven children. Three died young. When Thompson Allen died, after 1870, family tradition says that he was buried by his first wife, Elizabeth. It is presumed the three young children were also buried nearby." [Note: presumably Blanche means Thompson and Elizabeth had a total of TEN children, three of whom died young, and seven who lived into maturity]

In the family group sheet given to me by Mrs. Toole, one that was prepared and/or extracted from the notes Edna Mae Hackney, a total of twelve children are shown. It appears that two of these twelve children died before 1836, before the families move to Texas circa 1841. This may account for the discrepency in the number of children. Mrs. Hackney listed detailed birth and death dates for the parents and children, but no support was provided for these dates. Or Mrs. Hackney may have been in error about the two children who died young.

All twelve are shown in this file, however.

In an article entitled "Mrs Etta Nichols Speeks on History of Low's Chapel" published in the August 26, 1965 issue of the SABINE COUNTY REPORTER, "John Morris gave land for church, school and Cemetery about 1890...the school was named for Thomas Allen, and called Allen's Old Mill. Thompson Allen owned a mill that sawed logs into lumber as well as ground corn for meal. It was located about 1/2 mile north of Tuckers Bridge on Palo Gacho. A dam of boards, which was called a tumbling dam, produced the power. The saw worked vertically. Thomas Allen married Glendy McLanahan's mother, who was my great grandmother. Curtis Jackson owned the mill first."



(Research):Timeline (Courtesy of Tuck Wilson)

1802 - Dec 22, Thompson born in Abbeville District, SC (Arva Allen Bible notes). Other family records show location of birth as Elbert County, GA. 1850 census shows him as age 48, born SC. 1860 census shows him as age 58, born GA.
1820 - Thompson a minor, not found in Census in Alabama or SC
1828 - dau Ruthie Ann Allen b 13 Nov 1828 in SC
1830 - dau Minerva Jenkins Allen b. in Alabama
1830- should be living in Selma, Alabama Dallas County (birth of Minerva Jenkins Allen 23 Nov 1830) but not found in census SC, Ala, Mississippi
1832 - son Thomas Bannister Allen b. 29 Sept 1832 in Alabama
1833 - son Thomas Bannister Allen d. 4 Aug 1833 in Alabama
1834 - dau Caroline Woolridge Allen b. June 1834 in Mississippi
1836 - son Levi Thompson Allen b. 3 May 1836 in Noxubee County Mississippi
1836 - dau Caroline Woolridge Allen d. 26 Oct 1836 in Mississippi
1839 - son William Washington Allen b. 12 Sep 1839 in Noxubee County Mississippi
1840 - should be living in Noxubee County Mississippi. He is not shown there but there is a "T. Allen one county over in Winston County, Mississippi with 9 people that looks good. There is an Alfred E. Oliphint in Holmes County, 1 county west of Winston.
1840-43 Thompson Allen has moved to Texas by 28 Feb 1843 when dau Mary Frances is born.

Census Listings:

1850 Census
Texas, Sabine District in the County of Sabine
Enumerated 27 28 and 29 of Nov 1850
277-277
Thompson Allen 48 M Farmer $2000 South Carolina
Jane C --- 39 F
David R Payne 16 M Alabama
Margaret E --- 15 F Alabama
Jane E ---13 F Texas
J. Peckins 11 M Texas
Caroline D --- 9 F Texas
Tery Allin 13 M Mississippi
William --- 11 M Mississippi
Mary --- 9 F Texas
Jerusha --- 5 F Texas
Alfred A --- 2/12 M Texas
Alexander Bains 21 M Farmer Alabama

1860 Census
Texas, Redland Beat No. 4 in the County of Sabine, P.O. Milam
Enumerated 30 Jun 1860
Page 23
167-167
W.A. Payne 36 F Farmer $7500 $15782 La
Margaret A Payne 15 F Texas
Sarah A Payne 10 F Texas
Benjamin R Payne 6 M Texas
William E Payne 5 M Texas
Mary R Payne 2 F Texas
H.B. Bachtlor 18 M Overseer Ga
168-168
Thompson Allen 58 M Farmer $3000 $8451 Ga
Jane C. Allen 49 F S.S.
Caroline D. Payne 19 F Texas
J.C. Allen 15 F Texas
169-169
unoccupied
170-170
Levi and Telitha Allen family




(Medical):
yDNA results

A direct male descendant of Thompson Allen's (through his son William Washington Allen), born with the Allen surname, volunteered to submit a yDNA sample to FamilyTreeDNA.com.

His kit number, in the name of William Allen, is 237184.

The results showed that he was in the R1b1a2a1a1b haplogroup.

He was a 37 marker match to the following :

Samual Doyle Allen Jr (Ancestor Ephraim P. Allen, b. 1820 North Carolina)
Ronald Lee Allen (Ancestor Edmond Allen)
Henry Walton Allen (Ancestor not indicated)
Jerome Brady (Ancestor Richard Brady b. ca. 1805 Co. Caven or Claire, Ireland)
Williams Adams (Ancestor William Adams b. 1816)

Bill Adams emailed the following about his "Adams" lineage: "I can trace my lineage back to William Adams born in Mecklenburg, VA in 1816 or 1820. I know his mother was Sarah/Sally "Adams". (And I think he may have had brothers Alfred and James). I cannot determine who his father was. His grandfather appears to be James Adams who fought in the Revolution. Sarah/Sally having a last name of "Adams" is weird.

Due to the exact match between us, I am wondering whether Sarah/Sally actually had a husband named "Allen" who died or something. Maybe Sarah/Sally went to live with her "Adams" dad for this or some other reason and the kids were raised with an Adams last name. I sayy this because it seems weird to me that Sarah/Sally's husband would also be the same last name of "Adams".

You show your earliest ancestor being 1820, but I do know that the "Adams" in Mecklenburg lived on "Allen's" creek. Also, one of them married an "Allen" (maybe it was William, I can't remember for sure.) I know there were "Allens" living in close proximity to the "Adams" in Mecklenburg, VA."

Thompson married Elizabeth Wooldridge on 8 Feb 1821 in South Carolina. Elizabeth (daughter of John Wooldridge and Martha "Patsy" Ellington) was born on 7 Mar 1804 in Abbeville County, South Carolina; died on 25 Nov 1847 in Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Said to be the sister of ex Mayor A. P. Wooldridge of Austin, Texas. He lived at 3122 Wheeler Street, Austin. If she is related, she is more likely an Aunt or Cousin, as Alexander Penn Wooldridge, mayor of Austin, was born on 1847 in New Orleans, and therefore would be much younger than Elizabeth.

Notes:

According to both THE SOUTHERN McGREWS GREW and the notes of Robert Lee McGrew of Pearland, TX, Alexander was probably born around 1778 in South Carolina. Wynema McGrew instead shows he was born in Louisiana/Mississippi Territory, sometime prior to 1783.

He obtained a passport in St. Stephens on September 24, 1797 to go to Georgia. His father had obtained a passport to go to Georgia earlier that same year. A land record indicates that Alexander inhabited and cultivated land near the Tombigbee River around 1797. In the early 1800's he put up a $700 bond as postmaster of Woodstown, AL. In 1801 he bought some land and in 1802, he and his mother sold land in Mississippi. He signed a memorial to Congress in 1803, and in 1806 he sold, along with other heirs of James McGrew, additional land. Alexander married Elizabeth Blackburn on October 16, 1808. Since she was under 18 years old, her father had to first grant his permission. Alexander was a veteren of the War of 1812. (Nixon's Company, Mississippi Militia), serving for the entire three years of the war. On 3 February 1817, he, a brother, and brother-in-law John Johns were charged with assault and battery. Alexander was the only one who paid a fine. In October 1818, he, John Johns, and brothers (this time William, James, and John) once again were fined for assault and battery. On July 11, 1819 he registered his brand "MC."

In 1843, he was involved in a lawsuit over the ownership of a slave named Elvy he was alleged to have stolen.

Alexander and Elizabeth (Blackburn) McGrew moved to Sabine County in the mid-1840's. They may have moved to join Elizabeth's father, Gabriel Blackburn, who had received a large land grant in Sabine County in 1836. The 1845 tax roll of Sabine County listed A. McGrew as owning 5 slaves. His eldest son, James, paid tax on a horse and a wagon at the same time. Alexander operated a gristmill on the banks of the Palo Guacho Bayou. The Texas Mortality schedule for 1850 showed "Alexander McGrew, age 58, sick 10 days, died 1849 in Sabine County." Alexander's widow, Elizabeth, can be found on the 1850 Sabine County census, along with her children John, Lorenzo, Margaret, and Adaline. She later moved back to Mississippi (Perry County) with her eldest son, James McGrew.

Blanche also indicated that the McGrew family was closely connected to the Methodist Ministers of that time. Son Lorenzo Dow McGrew was apparently named after the "eccentric Methodist Lorenzo Dow. In fact he covered virtually all of the territory of the United States in his peripatetic life, from New England to the Louisiana territory, but his journeys through the Old Southwest left an especially indeliable impression..On September 3, 1804, he married an equally peculiar woman, Peggy, and then the very next morning left her for an eight month trip through the Mississippi Territory." From the book, "A Way through the Wilderness: The Natchez Trace and the Civilization of the Southern Frontier" by William C. Davis (Harper Collins, 1995). According to Robert McGrew of Pearland, the McGrew's were in fact neighbors of preacher Lorenzo Dow in St. Stephens (Alabama) in the Mississippi Territory.

There is a military marker for Alexander McGrew in the Old Milam Cemetery in Sabine County. It is inscribed with a cross and "Alexander McGrew, Pvt Capt Motts Co, 15 Miss Militia, War of 1812. [Died] 2 Oct 1849. "

The Sabine County Reporter
October 22, 2014
Pages 1 and 2

"Milam Cemetery receives marker"

The Texas Historic Cemetery Dedication Ceremony for Milam Cemetery took place on Saturday, October 11, following the annual Nethery reunion...local historian Weldon McDaniel....gave a presentation outlining some of the significant historical events that took place in Milam and the importance of preserving the history of Milam Cemetery. He said as many as 85 percent of all early settlers coming into Texas put their boots in red dirt. Although San Augustine and Nacogdoches counties have a friendly battle over which is older, Milam is just as old as either of them....

Dorothy Nethery Spain had the honor of reading the script engraved on the marker:

"Milam, the first County Seat of Sabine County, has a history of travelers and visitors stretching back centuries. Native Americans and Spanish exploreres, soldiers and missionaries passed through and often camped on Las Boregas Creek. Texian settlers encountering the natural abundance echoed the words of Stephen F. Austin, who recorded in his diary entry of July 16, 1821: "We then suddenly came to an open rolling country thinly timbered soil about the color of Spanish browne, and in some places redder. This Red Land is very productive and is covered with the most luxuriant growth of grass I ever beheld in any country." The settlment first called Red Mound (Red Mount) was the seat of Government for the Sabine District since 1822, and was surveyed as a town site in 1828.

Milam Cemetery is on a high hill overlooking the historic community. The exact dated of the first burial will never be known Spanish Explorers were passing through present-day Milam as early as 1539 and camped on Las Boregas Creek a few hundred yards west of the cemetery. Local hisorians believed Anglo burials occurred here probably as early as 1775, since travelers used the campsite down the hill on the Las Boregas. The land on which the cemetery is located was granted to JOHN SMITH on Feb. 26, 1835. The first marked burial is dated 1864, although more than 100 unmarked graves are suspected. The numerous military Veterans dating back to the Creek War are interred here, as well as prominent early citizens from the CAUSEY, WEATHERRED. McGREW, and NETHERY families. Milam Cemetery may be the oldest organized cemetery in Sabine County, and cherished chronicle of generations of visitors and residents."

Alexander married Elizabeth Blackburn on 14 Oct 1808 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Elizabeth (daughter of Gabriel Blackburn and Frances Tyner) was born between 1794 and 1796 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana; died after 1860 in Perry County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Medical):The child of a direct female descendant of Elizabeth Blackburn (Nina Fuller, the daughter of Viola Fullen and granddaughter of Jane Allen) had their mtDNA analyzed, and it was predicted as H, with only one difference from the Cambridge Reference Sequence, 16519C, which is a fast moving marker. Mitochondrial haplogroup H is a predominantly European haplogroup that participated in a population expansion beginning approximately 20,000 years ago. Today, about 30% of all mitochondrial lineages in Europe are classified as haplogroup H. It is rather uniformly distributed throughout Europe suggesting a major role in the peopling of Europe, and descendant lineages of the original haplogroup H appear in the Near East as a result of migration. Future work will better resolve the distribution and historical characteristics of this haplogroup.

On her Clan Helena website, Amelia Reimer writes that, "Whether just by chance or by the guiding hand of natural selection we do not know, but Helena's clan has grown to become the most widespread and successful of the Seven Daughters of Eve. Her children have reached every shore, settled every forest and crossed every mountain range. Helena's descendants can be found from the Alps in the South to the Scottish Highlands and the Norwegian fjords in the North, and as far east as the Urals and the Russian steppes. Helena was born about 20,000 years ago on the strip of land that joins France and Spain, near what is now Perpignan. She belonged to a family of hunters, who harvested the rich oyster beds in the lagoons of the Carmargue to supplement their diet of meat. Helena's clan arrived in Europe from the Middle East, pushing their way along the Mediterranean, constrained to the narrow strip of land that was still habitable. Not long after she was born, the glaciers that covered the Pyrenees, which Helena could see on a clear day only thirty miles from her camp, began to draw back as, little by little, the summers grew warmer. Some of her clan moved south of the mountains, up the valley of the Ebro to the West to reach the lands of the Basque, where they remain to this day. The most adventurous of her children took advantage of the climatic improvements and journeyed ever northwards to join the great movement of hunters across the plains of France. We know that they reached England around 12,000 years ago because DNA recovered from a young male skeleton found in Gough's Cave in Somerset shows that he too belonged to the clan of Helena. [Same cave as Cheddar Man, but 3,000 years older.] "

Notes:

Married:
Wilkinson County Courthouse--Woodville, Mississippi Circuit Clerks Office Marriage Book A ---- page 293

Know all men by these presents that we, ALEXANDER MCGRAW and Ezekial Petty, both of the county of Wilkinson, Mississippi Territory, are held and firmly bound unto the Governor of the Mississippi Territory and his successors in office, in the sum of $200 which payment well and truly be made, we bind ourselves and each our executors, administrators, and severally firmly by these presences sealed with our seals and dated the 12 of October 1808.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whearas the above bound Alexander McGraw hath this day prayed and obtained the license to be joined in marriage to ELIZABETH BLACKBURN of the County aforesaid, Now if there is no lawful cause to obstruct this marriage for which the license was granted, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Signed, Alexander McGrew and Ezekial Petty (his mark)


Marriage Book A --- page 305 This is to certify that I, G.B. am willing to the marriage of my daughter to Mr. Alexander McGraw. Given under my hand this 13th day of October 1808. Signed, Gabriel Blackburn

Marriage Book A --- page 135 (315?) On the 16th day of October 1808, I joined in Matrimony Mr. Alexander McGraw and Miss Elizabeth Blackburn. Signed, Josias Gray, J.P.

Per a Family Group Sheet prepared by Mary Frances SMITH Fisher of Jackson, Mississippi, Alexander McGrew and his wife Elizabeth Blackburn were the parents of nine known children, and three additional children, a daughter born ca. 1810-1815 per the 1820 and 1830 Marion County, Mississippi census, a daughter born ca. 1820-1825, per the 1830 and 1840 census, and a son born ca. 1830-1835, per the 1840 census. Bettye Bragg Wagstaff of Sabine County, Texas indicated that some researchers indicate 10 children were born.

Mary Fisher used the following information in her research: 1816 MISS Marion County census 7th page 1820 MISS Marion County census page 85 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26-45 3 females under 10, 1 female 16-26 1830 MISS Marion County census page 117 5 sons, 4 daughters plus he and Elizabeth 1840 MISS Marion County census page 117 1850 TEX Sabine County census- Elizabeth McGrew. He was listed on the Mortality Schedule. 1860 MISS Perry County census page 12, Family # 88/81 Elizabeth McGrew

Her family group sheet lists the following children:
**James Alexander McGrew b. ca 1810 m. to Elizabeth Lott
Harriet McGrew b. ca 1813 m. to John C. Partin
**William McGrew b. ca 1815 m. to Dorinda Lott
**Eliza Ann McGrew b. ca 1816 m. to Elisha M. Collins
**John Gabriel McGrew b. ca 1821 d. ca 1857 in Sabine County
**Ferdinand L. McGrew b. ca 1825 died 24 Aug 1846 in the Mexican War
**Lorenzo Dow McGrew b. circa 1828 m. to Mary Margaret Neeley
**Margaret McGrew b. circa 1835
**Adaline McGrew b. circa 1838

**Matches the LDS Family Group Sheet from Ancestral File Ver 4.15. The LDS sheet did not include Harriet McGrew, and additionally showed the following three children, apparently in error:
Thomas McGrew b. ca 1824
Samantha McGrewb. ca 1826
-male McGrew b. prior to 1830, m. 1838 to Serena ? and died 1842

Thomas and Samantha are actually the children of Alexander's brother, James Tate McGrew. They are listed in his will.