Bannister Bolling Allen

Notes:

Said to have married three times, to Rachael STARKES (m. 19 Jan 1812), Nancy SCUDDAY (m. ca 1824), and Ann Elizabeth OVERBY (m. 3 Jun 1845 in the home of her parents, Nicholas and Mary HALLUM Overby, Williamston Springs, Pickens Co., SC), having 14 children between the three wives. Source: Genealogy.com, FamilyTreeMaker online, "The Watson/Moorhead/Allen Family of Upstate South Carolina" Updated 7 Mar 2005. Jane Martin, 214 Aberdeen Dr, Anderson, SC 29621.

Said to be on the 1860 Slave Schedule for Abbeville, SC, with 11 slave homes, 30 male and 27 female slaves. His personal estate, at age 71, was valued at $166,000. His date of death is shown as 24 September 1876.

(Research):

This obituary appears likely to be for a daughter-in-law of a descendant, as she is shown as the mother of Bannister Bolling Allen III.

Obituary from the Washington Post:

Sylvia Allen, 95: Former Nutrionist at Madeira
Friday, March 2,3 2007

Sylvia Spaulding Allen, 95, a former nutritionist and house director at the Madeira School, an all-girls private boarding school in McLean, died of congestive heart failure March 3 at a hospice in Naples, Fla.

Mrs. Allen began working at the school in 1935, a few years after Madeira opened its campus amid a rolling rural landscape in Fairfax County.

The students addressed Mrs. Allen, who was single during her first eight years at the school, as Miss Sylvia.

Initially, her responsibilities dealt primarily with health and nutrition. Later, as assistant house director and then house director, she supervised the school's facilities and all events on campus.

She also chaperoned students on shopping trips and theater outings in Washington.

"She was young and energetic with a sense of joie de vivre," said her daughter, Joy Allen Thornton of Arlington, noting that her mother was not much older than some of the students when she joined the administrative staff at Madeira.

Mrs. Allen, a Detroit native, attended Albion College in Michigan, where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, before graduating in 1933 with a bachelor's degree in home economics from Simmons College in Boston.

In 1946, Mrs. Allen left the school, and with her husband, Rembert Gary Allen, raised a family with two children. They lived in the Windy Hill area of McLean, where her husband designed and built a modern redwood house.

She took up organic farming and gardening and became an active member of the Great Falls Garden Club.

In the early 1950s, Mrs. Allen accompanied her husband to Wiesbaden, Germany, where he worked as a civilian architect for the Air Force.

A few years after returning to the Washington area in 1955, she went back to the Madeira School, where she worked part time in the treasurer's and business office until 1971.

In 1973, Mrs. Allen and her husband moved to Marco Island, Fla., where she was active in a local historical society and helped found a chapter of the American Association of University Women.

The association recently established a college scholarship in her name.

She also cared for a granddaughter, Rebecca Ruth Gill, who lived with the Allens part of each year in the 1970s and the mid-1980s.

Her husband died in 1987. Her son, Bannister Bolling Allen III, died in 2004.

Survivors include her daughter and granddaughter.

Notes:

Tuck Wilson, a descendant of Arva's eldest son, John Showell Allen, provided the following biography of Arva:

"Arva Allen was born around 1765 in Mecklenburg County Virginia. The date is established by the following:Arva paid taxes on the Purchase of a horse in 1785 when " he is not yet 21 years of age" and he paid his first "head tax" levied on persons 21 years or older the next year , 1786. He married Polly Clarke in 1786, Bolling Clarke, surety. Arva and Polly lived in Mecklenburg Co. as evidenced by the head tax that he paid in 1787, 1788 and 1789 and then they moved to Abbeville District, South Carolina, a trip by wagon train of over 300 miles. Their first two children, John Showell Allen and Banister Allen were born in Virginia and their third child, Charlotte Allen was born in Elbert County Georgia in February 1791. They made their home here for a number of years, surrounded by large numbers of Allen relatives.

The Allen family was not in the 1800 census of Abbeville District. In 1799, they moved to Elbert County, Georgia and were living on Beaver Dam Creek for two years before returning to Abbeville. Family tradition states that Arva was a millwright. This could have been the reason for their living there for two years. There was a water mill on Beaver Dam Creek until the 1930's, perhaps built by Arva. Arva also had property on Coldwater Creek in Elbert County in 1804 - Elbert County, Georgia Deed Books K-R, 1806-1819, Abstracted and Indexed by Michal Martin Farmer; Farmer Genealogy Company, Dallas, TX, 1997. Elbert Co., Ga. Deed Book R, 1818- 1819: p. 72. 2 Feb. 1804, Samuel Means, Sen., & Margret, his wife, to Joshua Jinkins, all of Elbert Co., for $300, on a branch of Cold Water Creek in sd. co., supposed to be 100 acres, adj. Hugh Means & Arva Allen, John Beard & others, in fee simple. (signed) Samuel Means, Margret (/) Means. Wit: Micajah Farrel, Jno. Cunningham, J/P., Hugh Means, W. Martin. Rec. 4 May 1818. I believe Allen family kept the property for many years as grandsonson George W. Allen used it as his address while he attended Franklin College and grandson Alex went there to visit father John Showell Allen and his second wife in 1843.

The 1810 census has them in Abbeville again. It lists 2 males, 16 - 26 (John Showell Allen and Banister Bolling Allen), 2 males under 10 (Thompson and Leroy Allen), 1 male 45 and up (Arva Allen) , 3 females 10 - 16 (Charlotte, Polly and Nancy Allen) and 1 female 45 and up (Polly Clark Allen).

The 1820 census has no mention of Arva or his family in Abbeville and no one knows for sure what happened to them. One conjecture is that Arva, Polly, and the four younger children moved to Alabama after 1810. There is an Arva Allen, living alone, in Pickens County Alabama in the 1830 census. It is possible that Arva went there to pursue his trade, the building of grain mills. Family tradition says Arva died and is buried in Huntsville, Madison County,Alabama but I can find no evidence of that. Some researchers feel he died in Covington County, Mississippi.

The Allen family migration to Alabama & Mississippi included several family members, Charlotte Allen Porter and her husband James M. Porter, Thompson Allen, Leroy Allen, Banister Allen's son Byrd Oliver Allen, and John Showell Allen's son, Samuel Linton Allen (a few years later).

Charlotte Allen Porter got Arva's bible after his death but tracking this family has been difficult. I have not found them in the 1830, 1840 or 1850 census but James M. Porter bought or sold property in Huntsville, Madison County Alabama in 1839 and 1840. Their son 2 Arva Allen Porter is in Holmes County Mississippi in in 1850 listing 5 children born there since 1839. Thompson and Leroy Allen are separate head of households found in Winston County Mississippi in 1840. Leroy Allen also buys (or sells) property in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama in 1840. Byrd Oliver Allen is found in Noxubee County MS in 1840. Samuel Linton Allen is in Sunflower County MS during the mid 1840's and 1850's from letters.

Arva could be buried anywhere in Alabama or Mississippi from the evidence I can collect. James Porter and Leroy Allen had property in Huntsville at about the right time. As to when he died, Alexander Arva Allen (grandson) writes 16 March 1843: " News had arrived when I was over (at Uncle Banister's) that Grandpa Allen was dead obtained through Bird's (Bird is Arva's grandson and Banister's son) writing to Uncle Banister. Uncle LeRoy (Arva's son) had obtained the Power of Attorney from him before his death, gone to Virginia, received the legacy and pocketed it safe enough, a great piece of rascality indeed having enclosed in the Power of Attorney a deed of gift to the legacy." This says quite a bit. Most importantly, Arva had a legacy in Virginia and likely we can identify his father and family. Also, grandson Bird was living in Choctaw County Alabama at the time, suggesting Arva died in western Alabama. It also establishes Arva's death in about late 1842 as Bird's letter arrives while Alex is visiting in early 1843 and Uncle LeRoy had already gone to Virginia to obtain the legacy.

The Allen plantation was located on a hill overlooking the Rocky River in Abbeville District. There is such a place shown on the 1820 Mills Atlas (conveniently next to a water mill) that may be the old homestead although it could also easily be Banister or John Showell Allen's place. Rembert Allen , in "The Arva Allen - Polly Clark Family of Virginia, South Carolina and other Southern States" says that the original plantation was three miles southeast of Lowndesville and it became the home of Bannister Allen. John Showell Allen had a place three miles southwest of Lowndesville, close to Samuel Linton's " Mt. Pleasant" home, near the Savannah River.

Diane Click writes that Mecklenburg was cut out of Lunenburg VA in 1765.

Christine Allen Bevans emailed, in August 2020 that:I believe that Arva Allen is Arvey Allen. I have a copy of the original Marriage Surety Bond for Arvey Allen to Polley Clarke 08/01/1786. Secured by Bolling Clarke.



(Research):In March 2014, Tuck emailed that some Public Member trees on Ancestry.Com show that Arva's father was Richard Allen. Most have this Richard dying in Cumberland County Va 1832 and had two known sons Arva and Henry. Some have Arva Allen listed as Alfred Arva Allen, a name that I have seen as Thompson Allen's youngest (although it is A. Arva Allen in the census).

The following is a summary of public member trees on Ancestry.com. If you have anything to add, I would appreciate haring from you.

Public Member Tree '96 Davis Family Tree. In this tree , Richard Allen 1740-1825 has two sons,Arva 1764-1842, and Henry Allen 1760-1830.
Henry Allen is living in Halifax County Va. In 1783, unknown spouse, has child that is Lawson R. Allen Sr. 1783-1861. No proof offered.
Lawson Allen m. Nancy Clark, Halifax Co. in 1806. This Nancy Clark is thought to be related to Polly Clark. They moved to Williamson Co. Tn with 8 Clark head of households and a number of grandchildren of Bolling Clark d. 1809 Dinwiddie Co. Doug Tucker wrote me in 2005 "Here's a couple of possible leads for your search for Arva's parents. You already know that Bolling Clark's daughter married a Lawson Allen in Halifax Co., VA in 1802. My research notes show that Lawson Allen's father may have been a Henry Allen and that his grandfather may have been named Richard Allen. I don't think that Henry and Richard came directly from my research, but rather from another Allen researcher who may have been swayed by Lawson naming his oldest son Richard Henry Allen. There is ample reason to look hard at this and I did but other than the connection of Lawson Allen back to Bolling Allen d. 1809 Dinwiddie, the records have not been much help. There is no Henry Allen in Halifax WB 0,1,and 2 1782-1792 (as far as I went). There is no Henry Allen in the 1782 Continental Census Halifax or "Records of State Enumerations 1782 Halifax. Also for 1783, and 1785. There are no marriages of Henry Allen in Halifax, in "Some Virginia Marriages" '96 Wulfleck, " Virginia Marriages1740-1850"- Ancestry.com or "Virginia Marriages 1660-1800" Ancestry.com."

Public Member Tree Charles Robbins Harris Tree '96 same as above but no proofs.

Public Member Tree '96 Jenkins In this tree, Richard Allen is b. in Hanover Co. va. Nov 21 1741 of parents James Allen (1699-1771) and Anne Anderson (1706-1776). Richard dies in Cumberland Co. Virginia in 1832. Richard Allen has two sons, Henry Allen (1760-1830) and Alfred Arva Allen (1764- 1842). No evidence is provided except for unnamed Ancestry.com trees. Searching thru the Cumberland County Will books 6-11, 1817-1852, there is no Richard Allen will or estate and he is not mentioned as a legatee in another Allen will. A Richard Allen is mentioned twice as the administrator of a William Allen dec'd. who apparently died in 1841 and his estate ran to 1846. Also no Arva or Henry appears in these willbooks at all.
What is in the Jenkins tree is a detailed list of children of James Allen d. 1771 Hanover Co. , supposed father of Richard.

Public Member Tree '96 Cohn Family Tree states Richard Allen b.741 Hanover, d. -1832 Cumberland has son Alfred Arva Allen b. 1764. Offers no proof.

Public Member Tree '96 Wilson Tilquist Allen Family. States that Arva Allen is the son of a Richard Allen (abt 1740-abt 1825) and does not claim Henry or claim to know where Richard died. No proof

(Medical):


yDNA results

A direct male descendant of Arva Allen's (through his son Thompson Allen and grandson 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."

Arva married Polly Clarke on 19 Aug 1786 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Polly was born about 1765 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia; died on 4 Jul 1835 in Alabama. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Tuck Wilson writes that "Family tradition has it that Polly Clark was a "Bolling". The Bolling family was quite prominent and so although she was a Clark, her grandmother was a Bolling (Penelope) , thus she was known by her famous family name. An important clue to her lineage is that Bolling Clark stood surety for her marriage. Records were destroyed by Tarleton when the British troops burned the Louisa County courthouse." Tuck addes that Bolling Clark's daughter married a Lawson Allen in Halifax Co, VA in 1902.

Notes:

Married:
Bolling Clarke was shown as their second (witness?). They also had two sons and one daughter that died as infants.