Hugh Allison, Sr.

HUGH ALLISON was born in Scotland in 1714. At the age of 22, he immigrated to America, landing on September 13, 1736, and first settling in Harford County, Maryland. About 1738, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, he married Margaret Hope (born before 1721), a daughter of James and Anne McCrockey Hope of Scottish heritage. In 1769, they travelled down the Great Wagon Road and settled on the upper waters of Bullock’s Creek in the western section of what in 1785 became York County, South Carolina. Hugh and Margaret Allison had seven known children: Alexander Allison (born 1740); Catherine Allison (born 1750); Robert Allison, Esq. (1754-6/29/1827); Margaret Allison; Rosanna Allison; Martha Allison; and Hugh Allison II.

Hugh Allison died in York County on March 7, 1799, and is buried somewhere in Beersheba Presbyterian Churchyard, his tombstone and that of his wife having been lost to time. His will dated January 19, 1799, indicates he was a man of property:

“In the name of God, Amen. January the nineteenth in the year of our Lord, One Thousand seven hundred & ninety nine, I, Hugh Allison of the County of York and State of South Carolina, I am old and infirm in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks BE to God, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament.

Viz Principally and First of All I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and for my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executor Nothing Doubting By the Power of God by at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again and touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the manner and form following.

First I give and Bequeath unto my Dearly Beloved Son Robert Allison my dwelling -- plantation likewise my right of all horses cattles sheep & hogs and Negroes by giving sums as I shall mention hereafter to the rest of my family.

Secondly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret ten pounds sterling and her mothers blue cubbert.

Thirdly I give and bequeath to my daughter Rosanah ten pounds sterling or the value to be put to the use of her children likewise my bed and furniture I allow her to keep herself.

Fourthly I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha one shilling likewise to her son Robert Johnston I allow ten pounds sterling or the value after my decease.

Fifthly I give unto my daughter Catherine one shilling.

Sixthly I give and bequeath to my son Alexander one shilling.

Seventhly I give and bequeath unto my son Hugh one shilling. I do hereby assert that I have been deliberate in the study of this my will and take God to be my witness that I have cleared my conscience of any partiality and that I have done for the best. Likewise I constitute and ordain my son Robert Allison shall be my only sole executor to this my last will and testament and do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanul all & every former testaments & wills & legacies beqauests and executions by me in any wise before this named will & testament--Ratifying & confirming this to be my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & year above written.”

Signed sealed and published in the presence of us as the last will and testament of the s'd Hugh Allison: Isaac Hope Robert Love Hugh Allison (seal) Catren Hope Book A-12, pg. 189, York County, SC NOTE: Except for the capitalizing of proper names, the inscriber tried to follow the original style of spelling, punctuation (or lack thereof) use of capitals, etc.