Susan "Sudie" Benina Speights

Notes:

Name: Sudie B. Blackshear
Death Date: 29 Oct 1938
Death Place: Chireno, Nacogdoches, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: W
Death Age: 68 years 4 months 4 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 25 Jun 1870
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name: Dr. W. R. Blackshear
Father's Name: William Green Speights
Father's Birthplace: Mississippi
Mother's Name: Jerusha Allen
Mother's Birthplace: Mississippi
Informant: Mrs. Ima Howell, Chireno
Occupation: Housewife & Post Master
Place of Residence: Chireno, Texas
Cemetery:
Burial Place: Chireno, Texas
Burial Date: 30 Oct 1938
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2117824
Digital Film Number: 4030411
Image Number: 2376
Reference Number: DTH Rec cn 47224
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Susan married William Royal "W. R." Blackshear, M. D. on 13 Oct 1889 in Texas. William was born on 26 Jan 1850 in Texas; died on 4 Nov 1930 in Chireno, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Lower Chireno Cemetery, Chireno, Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Ima Lillian Blackshear was born on 7 Aug 1893 in Texas; and died.
2. Pearl Vivian Blackshear was born on 18 Dec 1898 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; and died.

Notes:

Lived with his son John in his later years. A grave marker indicates he was a Sgt. in Co. F of the 11th Texas Infantry, C.S.A.

Green married Jerusha Caroline Allen in Nov 1865 in Sabine County, Texas. Jerusha (daughter of Thompson Allen and Elizabeth Wooldridge) was born on 16 May 1845 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 10 Jul 1888 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Enrolled in the District 10 School in Sabine County in 1854. Sharon Speights Varney quotes Virgie Collier Speights as writing that when Jerusha changed religions, joining the Campbellites (forerunner of the Church of Christ), whe was denounced by family and friends as "a heathen" and "no longer a Christian."

Notes:

Might instead have been born in South Carolina.

From FindAGrave:

"William and a brother, probably Asa, signed on a note for yet another brother, when he could not pay the note, William and Asa were unwilling to pay the note so to protect their assets, they left the state in the middle of the night, crossing the Mississippi River family and slaves.

William was suffering from yellow fever, and died in the river crossing and was buried on the banks of the river. His new widow, Rebecca Hopkins Speights continued the journey to Texas and settled in Sabine County in 1843...

William married Rebecca Hopkins on 17 Dec 1817 in Virginia. Rebecca was born about 1796 in South Carolina; died on 4 Oct 1857 in Texas; was buried in Speights Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Per "1850 Census Sabine County, Texas with added Family Information and Corrections", Rebecca Hopkins Speights owned 20 slaves. She might instead have been born in North Carolina, or Virginia.

On April 27, 2013, a Historic Marker was dedicated at the Speights-Pratt Cemetery in Sabine County and reads "Rebecca Hopkins Speights (b. 1796) arrived in Sabine County in 1842 as a widow with four sons and a daughter*. She owned about 250 acres including this site, which became a cemetery with her burial in 1857. Sited near the Speights' home, the cemetery was actually on land granted to Mathew Arnold Parker, a Texas Revolutionary veteran and First Chief Justice (County Judge) of Sabine County. Joshua M. Hopkins Speights, buried here, was a State Legislator and County Judge. he and Hampton Pratt were among the first merchants in Hemphill. Of fifty-one marked graves, more than half bear the Speights surname. An unknown number of unmarked graves include Speights family slaves. The Speights-Pratt Cemetery Association manages this historic burial ground. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2010."

*Most family descendants instead have attributed four daugthers to Rebecca, the eldest Susan, dying as an infant. The other daughters generally are shown as Susan Green Speights Low, the wife of Dr. James Low; Amands Melvina Speights, who died at age 14; and Mary A. F. C. Speights Caraway, wife of Nathaniel Caraway. More work should be done to verify the exact family makeup, and ensure which children commonly attributed to William Speights and Rebecca Hopkins were actually born to them. It may also be possible that the historical marker is incorrect, though that seems less likely.

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:

"WM SPEIGHTS, (son of Wm and Sarah Speights) was born June 25, 1745, probably in N.C. The family Bible also listed Mary b Nov 2, 1736; John b. Sept 30, 1739; Ruth, b Mar 25, 1742; Joseph, b Nov 20, 1748; and Leah, b June 19, 1751. In this same Bible was the name only of Mary Minchew. This younger Wm Speights is believed to have m Ann Phelps in 1772 (Chowan Co N.C. Records). He fought in the American Revolution and rec'd Bounty land in Hancock Co, Georgia and according to family legend, John and Levi Speights were brothers. They also rec'd bounty grants in the same county. Levi's family did not come to Texas so far as is known."

William married Ann Phelps about 1772 in Chowan County, North Carolina. Ann was born before 1752; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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.

Notes:

Lieutenant-Colonel, Lincoln County, Georgia Militia, 1797. He was the father of one son, William, and six daughters. (McIntosh, HISTORY OF ELBERT COUNTY)

John married Martha "Patsy" Ellington about 1803 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Martha (daughter of Jeremiah H. Ellington and Frances "Fanny" Jones) was born on 27 May 1783 in Amelia County, Virginia; died about 1825 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]