William Allen, Jr.

DAR Ancestor # A001886 Patriotic service for Pennsylvania

William Allen Jr.

• BIRTH: Feb 1706, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
• DEATH: 26 Dec 1781 (aged 75) Pennsylvania, USA
• BURIAL: Old Hanover Presbyterian Churchyard, Grantville, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA

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Biography

William Allen, Jr. was the son of William Allen, Sr. and Sarah (unknown). He was born in County Antrim in the northern most part of (current) Northern Ireland. His father was born in Scotland but removed to Ulster, Ireland due to religious persecution of the times, by the English. Senior had two known sons, William Jr. and Joseph who arrived here in about 1730.

He married Elizabeth at unknown date and place.

They had 8 known Allen children:

1. John
2. Sarah, (James Dixon), below
3. Jean/Jane, May 1736 (John Sawyer, Sr.), below
4. Elizabeth, D 22 Sep 1823 (Saml Mann 1 Sep 1749 - 3 Dec 1806)*
5. Joseph, Sr., abt 1739, below
6. Samuel (Rebecca Smith), died 1777, below
7. William, 1740 (Rebecca Green), below
8. Mary, abt 1747 (John Snodgrass), below

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Here is the DAR ancestor webpage for this William Allen and his wife Elizabeth (birth surname unknown):

https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=ful...

Note by this volunteer: there are millions of men named William Allen. The source attached to this profile for a William Allen and an Elizabeth Aldworth, married in Ireland in 1742, is likely NOT this William Allen. DAR records show this William Allen married Elizabeth circa 1729.

ALLEN, WILLIAM
Ancestor #: A001886

Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE

Birth: 2- -1709 CO ANTRIM IRELAND

Death: ANTE 3-26-1782 HANOVER TWP LANCASTER CO PENNSYLVANIA

Service Source: PA ARCH, 3RD SERIES, VOL 17, P 619

Service Description: 1) PAID SUPPLY TAX 1779

SPOUSE
1) ELIZABETH X

Children listed by DAR:
JEAN married JOHN SAWYER
SAMUEL married REBECCA SMITH

Historical Sketch of Old Hanover Church by Rev. Thos. H. Robinson, D.D., Published in 1878 by the Historical Society of Dauphin County, p 39 says William was born in Feb 1709 and died 26 Dec 1784 (sic).* It says wife Elizabeth was born in Mar 1705 and died 3 May 1800. It is no longer legible, but perhaps it listed the months of her age at one time. *His will was probated on 26 Mar 1782 so it had to be 1781 instead, though the last numeral is hard to make out on his marker.

The following has some errors but appears to be describing this family: Allen, William, of Hanover, died (sic) in March 1782 (probate date instead).leaving a wife Elizabeth, and children: John, Sarah, m. James Dixon, Jean, m. John Sawyer, Elizabeth, m. Samuel Mann, Mary, m. John Snodgrass, Samuel and William. He mentions grandchildren Sarah and Allen Dixon, Mary and William Allen. Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, J W Runk, PA, 1896, p 57.

William and his family are recorded in "Allen of Hanover" in Pennsylvania Genealogies: Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German by Dr. William Henry Egle, Harrisburg, PA, 1896, page 7-14. It says his father Wm Allen, Sr. left Scotland due to religious persecutions, relocated to Ulster, Ireland. William, Jr. settled in Hanover Twp. in 1730, and that he took the (Rev. War) oath of allegiance in 1777. Jr. was much too old in 1777 to do so. He is on early tax lists in Hanover. Instead, I believe it was his son Col. William Allen, III, who took the oath.

29 Mar 1735, on PA Warrant #24 to William Allen for 200 acres in (Manada Creek) Derry Twp, Lancaster Co. It was returned on 19 May 1761 to James Wilson for 194 acres, patent book #AA5 p 561 and survey book #A59 p 250 in Lancaster Co. (A James Wilson is one of William Allen’s two executors. Plus I found a 2nd Resurvey warrant #202 to Wm Allen, Esq et al for 49 acres in "? Twp." on 7 Nov 1763 and returned on 18 Aug 1815 for 50 acres & 39 perches, patented to 1) David Bowen in H11, p 366, survey copied C2, p 109 on B3-127, p 126; and 2) Jacob Ritz returned 1 Oct 1826 for 36 acres, 24 perches in patent H23, p 328, survey copied C 11, p 77 on B3-127, p 126 (latter one could be for his son, Col. Wm Allen, Jr.

Also see copy (on side of last page of William's will, p 42) of the 1772 W Hanover Tax Assessment for 3 Allens, William, Samuel and Joseph. I suspect Wm. Jr. has given his sons Samuel and Joseph part of his land and they are paying the taxes for same.

Will Book D1, p 40-42, 3 pages recorded Lancaster Co., PA. It was written on 27 Sept 1780. Codicil made 20 Dec 1781 and it was proven on 26 Mar 1782. The letters of testamentary were given on 12 Nov 1782. Transcription of recorded will (PAGE 40, see photos) WM Allen Deced (deceased) In the Name of God Amen. I William Allen of Hanover Township in Lancaster County and State of Pennsylvania being infirm in Body but of sound and disposing mental and memory thanks be given to God, therefore and calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that disappointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in Order following that is to say I Give and Recommend my Soul into the hand of Almighty - God that Gave it, and my body I Reccomend to the Earth to be Decently Interred at the Discretion of my Executors herein after named and touching such Worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to blefs - me with(.) I will and Bequeath in the following manner and form Imprimis it is my Will and I allow that all my funeral charges and just Debts be Discharged of the whole of my Estate. Item(:) it is my Will and I Bequeath unto my well beloved Wife ELISABETH Allen - during her Natural life the produce of the one forth part of the Lands & Improvements whereon I now live on with all the Bed and furniture within the House belonging to me also the sum of four Hun- dred pounds of Continental mony to be given her as soon as it can be procured after my Decease all which I allow to be at her own Disposal to whom she sees Cause amongst my Children at her Decease - Item I will and Bequeath unto my well beloved son JOHN Allen the sum of ofix (six?) Hundred pounds of the aforesaid Continental mony to be paid him after my wifes Decease and I also allow him to much thick Cloth as will make him a suit of Cloths. Item, I will and Bequeath unto my Beloved Daughter SARAH Allen, Intermarried with JAMES Dix’ on one silver Milled Dollar Item. I will and Bequeath unto my - Beloved Daughter JEAN. Intermarried with JOHN Sawyer the sum of four Hundred pounds of the aforesaid Continental mony to be also paid after my wifes Decease. Item I will and Bequeath unto my - Daughter ELIZABETH Intermarried with SAMUEL Mann the sum of eight Hundred pounds of the money, aforesaid to be also paid after (END of page 40)

(PAGE 41) my wife Decease. Item I will and Bequeath to my Daughter MARY married to JOHN Snodgrafs the sum of Eight Hundred pounds of the money aforesaid to be also paid as aforesaid. Item I will and Bequeath into my Grand- Daughter SARAH Dixon the sum of two Hundred pounds to be paid as aforesaid and of the aforesaid Money. I also Bequeath unto my Grandson ALLEN Dixon the sum of two Hundred pounds like money to be paid as aforesaid. Item I also Will and Bequeath unto my Grand Daughter MARY Allen and to my Grandson WILLIAM Allen (Children to my deceased son SAMUEL Allen) the sum of two Hundred pounds to- each of them, of the aforesaid money and to be paid at the time aforesaid. I also Allow I_at(?) my Wife shall have a Horse Creature for her use during her Life with two Cows and what other and what other Stock she may be pofsefsed off at her Decease I allow to be sold and Divided amongst my Children(.) Item I will and Bequeath unto my Son WILLIAM Allen the sum of two Hundred pounds of the aforesaid money to be paid as beforesaid - with the whole of my Real Estate(.) I also do hereby Nominate & appoint my son in Law JOHN Snodgrafs & my trusty friend James McCreight** the Executors of this my last Will & Testament and thereby Revoke & Disanul all former Wills Testaments by me before made ratifying & Confirming this none other to be my Last Will & Testament. In WItnefs Where of I have here unto set my hand & seal this twenty seventh Day of September A. Dom. 1780. Signed Sealed published pronounced and} Willam Allen (seal) Declared by the said William Allen his} last Will & Testament in presence of us} Wm Swan(,) James Byers - - - - - - - - - - -}

By way of schedule or Supplement to the within Will I the within Testate of William Allen being still indisposing mind & memory Do further Will & Bequeath unto my son John Allen my Black, Mare which I allow to be given unto him next fall if hosus (horses?) cause to come for his. I allow her to be kept on the premifses until he can Conveniently take her away & if she be now with Colt(,) I allow the Colt to be Raised an her and Given to Samuel Mann my son in Law. It is also my will that after my son John Allen takes away sd (said) Mare that my son William Allen do - always furnish my wife during her life with a horse Creature to ride to meeting & all other nefefsary Riding which she may have, but on Case said mare does not prove with Colt and my son John takes her away - before there can be on Raised by her It is my will that there be Given to Samuel Mann in Mony to the Value of a Colt which my Son in Law John Snodgrafs hath got of me raid by sd (said) Mare - -

the above I do also publish pronounce and declare to be also my will Ratifying & confirming it with the within & foregoing will to be my - last Will & Testament In Witnefs where of I have here unto set my hand & seal this twentieth Day of December Anno Dom 1781, Witnefs present Wm Swan (,) Jas Byers - - - -

 (signed on the right:)   William Allen (seal)

(PAGE 42) the same and being severally Sworn According toLaw did depose and say that they were present & saw and heard William Allen the Testator within named sign seal publish prounounce and declare the within writings as & for his last Will and Testament and that at the doing there of at the severall days within mentioned he was of sound and disposing mind Memory and Understandng to the best of their knowledge Observation and belief. - Signed __ John Hubley Regr. Be it Remembered that on the twenty sixth Day of March and on the 5th Day of November in the year of our Lord 1782, the last Will and Testa- ment of William Allen late of Hannover Township in the Count of Lan- caster yeoman deceased was proved in due for of Law & Letters Testa- mentary thereon were granted on the 12th Day of November in the year aforesaid to John Snodgrafs and James McCreight the Executors there in -named(,) they being first duly Sworn According to Law well & truly to - Administer the Estate of the said deceased and to exhibit a true and perfect Inventary there of within one Month into the Registers Office at Lancaster and to render a true and Just Account of their Administration on the said Estate within one year or when there unto lawfully required Given under the Seal of the sd (said) office. &__ me John Hubley Register Examined with the original by me John Hubley Regr.

• *Note: Capt. James McCreight was the brother in law of daughter Elizabeth Allen’s husband, David Strain, Jr.

"Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania, by John Woolf Jordan," Lewis Historical Publishing Company, NY, 1913, is the source of the photo on the right. Vol. 3, p 957-959. It begins with William Allen, Sr., left Scotland for N. Ireland, due to religious prosecution. He had sons WM, Jr. and Joseph, both born in COUNTY ANTRIM.*** Both sons came to PA in 1730 with their father, and resided in Hanover Twp., in now Dauphin Co., PA. This Joseph, married in Ireland, had son Joseph Jr. (subject of this memorial) and Thomas. Joseph, Sr. died in Philadelphia. Joseph Allen and Jane Riddle had a son James born 1760 in Hanover Twp. He married Elizabeth Painter and had sons: Thomas and James. The rest of article is about kin to son Thomas, son of James, born 1789, died in Warren Co., PA in 1855. There is more data on this family in this source.

• **Along the coast, County Antrim is so beautiful and you can see the western Scottish Isles, close by on a clear day.

Note there are 2 other Wm Allens listed in Will Abstracts of Lancaster Co., PA. in 1744 (Wm, of Hanover, died Feb 1744, leaving a wife Sarah, and children: Wm, John, Benj, and Jas.) and one in 1747 also. I strongly suspect that William, who died in 1744 and had a son William, was his father. He also had children named Sarah and William, a traditional Scottish naming pattern.

"Andrew Snoddy McReynolds, grandfather of Mrs. Richard B. Ziegler, was commissioned sheriff (1st) of Columbia county, October 4, 1822, says the "History of Columbia and Montour counties." He married, March 7, 1 816, Jane Mann, who was born in Hanover, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1787, and died at Muncy, Pennsylvania, March 31. 1850. Jane (Mann) McReynolds was a granddaughter of William Allen on the mater nal side; he was born in Scotland, but left his native country on account ot religious persecution and settled in the province of Ulster, Ireland. Among his children was a son, William, Jr., born February, 1709, in county Antrim, Ireland, and died December 26. 1784. WILLIAM, Jr., came to America about 1730 and settled in Hanover township. Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He took the oath of allegiance in 1777. His wife, Elizabeth Allen, was born March, 1705, and died May 3, 1800. Their daughter, Elizabeth Allen, who died September 22, 1823, was the wife of Samuel Mann, born September 1. 1749, died December 3, 1806. Samuel Mann's mother, Margaret Mann, was born June 15, 1713. Jane Mann, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Allen) Mann, married Andrew Snoddy McReynolds." The History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Luther Reily Kelker, Vol. 3, p 594.

• ***James Dixon, died 19 Sep 1782, married Sarah Allen, of Hanover, daughter of Wm and Elizabeth Allen, and had Allen. James Dixon and his wife are buried in old Hanover churchyard. Dixon of Dixon's Ford. William Henry Egle’s Pennsylvania Genealogies: Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German, 1896, Harrisburg, PA, p 157.

William and his wife Elizabeth share a gravestone. I believe it says:

 In Memory of

 William Allen

who Departed this

Life Decm 26th 1781

Aged 75 Years 10

Months & 21 Days

Also his wife Eliza

beth Allen Depart

ed this life May 3

1800 (aged) 95 Years

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Bio researched and written by LSP

References

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 29 2020, 7:07:27 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 13 2021, 3:22:18 UTC
• https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L5J4-NQ7 (has errors)