Buckingham Houses: Allendale
In 1937, Elizabeth McCraw surveyed “Allandale” for the Virginia Historical Inventory. The proprietors she listed included Allen Jones, owner 1832–1857, and Dr. William McDowell Swoope. Lost Buckingham County deeds forced Mrs. McCraw to rely on oral history to establish the owners of Allendale. Today, Roger G. Ward’s collected and published Buckingham land and tax summaries offer significant clues to the chain of deeds.
Allendale
In 1847, Allen Jones purchased 175 acres on the Slate River from Charles Christian and, in 1854, sold the land to W. H. Word. This tract was identified as two miles north of Buckingham Courthouse.
In 1856, Charles L. Christian bought 200 acres from William H. Word located five miles north of Buckingham Courthouse. Christian owned numerous tracts in this section of Buckingham County some of which were purchased directly from the extended Jones family.
In 1858, Dr. William M. Swoope purchased 225 acres on the North River, described as five miles north of Buckingham Courthouse, from Charles L. Christian and others.
Are these tracts actually overlapping? Were the locations “2” and ”5” miles north of the courthouse misread or misrecorded over the years?
According to Mrs. McCraw, the house at Allendale was built in 1832, its construction possibly pre-dating Allen Jones’ ownership of the land in the area. Who built the house?
Today, the dwelling house at Allendale survives and sits on 54 acres, on the North Fork of the Slate River, near Buckingham Court House. For a gallery of image of the house, follow this link: Allendale
Coming next: Buckingham County Mystery: Naming Allendale
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Trish and Joe, I don’t know if the cemetery is on the land that remains with house today. The Allens may be buried there; however, there are no markers. The “Swoope Family Cemetery,” on Rt. 648, is surveyed in BUCKINGHAM BURIALS, VOL III (pp. 458-450). Dr. William M. Swoope and Mrs. Elizabeth M. (McCraw) Swoope are buried there among others. Joanne
Thank you for the response. We are currently in the process of purchasing Allendale and we are interested in its history.
I’m so glad you found your way to Slate River Ramblings. Readers and I will look forward to more comments from you both as you settle in at Allendale!
Is the graveyard where the family of Allen, and McGraw buried on the Allendale’s grounds?