Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part I
Central Virginia Heritage (Fall 2018)
If your families settled in Buckingham County in the late 18th or early 19th century, and lived in the northeast corner of the county, you might have an Allen in your family tree.
The Fall 2018 Issue of Central Virginia Heritage includes three Allen family wills transcribed by Jean L. Cooper. These rare documents go a long way toward illuminating one of Buckingham County’s earliest settlers and inspired the following series at Slate River Ramblings: “The Allens of Hunts Creek.” Images of the original wills can be found here:
Library of Virginia: LOST RECORDS LOCALITIES DIGITAL COLLECTION
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During the 18th century, one Allen family migrated west from New Kent County, Virginia to Henrico/Goochland/Albemarle/Buckingham counties. The patriarch, William Allen, would become one of the founders of the newly formed Albemarle County where he was involved in the establishment of the courthouse at Scott’s Landing.
In the 1990s, Rev. Richard Fenton Wicker, Jr. compiled a thorough genealogy of this Allen family entitled The Allen Family of England, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas and Illinois, 1600–1995. While some of his conclusions have since been disproved, his work is full of primary source references and clues for more research. Throughout this series, I rely on his work, which includes this statement about Capt. William Allen:
Mr. Allen also had the contract for the construction of the new courthouse for Albemarle County at Scottsville. This courthouse was to be a duplicate of the ‘fine courthouse’ in Goochland County. (The bond for the Courthouse read as follows: Sealed with our seals & dated 27 June 1745. The condition of this obligation is such that Samuel Scott shall by or before the last day of June 1747; build at his own charge and expense, a court house, prison, stocks & pillory for use of Albemarle County. The prison is to be built first, according to the dimensions of those in Goochland County. Samuel Scott (seal), William Allen (seal).
William Allen and his family came west over several decades. Following the death of his first wife, Hannah, Allen left New Kent County, Virginia sometime after the spring of 1720 and moved westward to Fine Creek in Goochland County. There, his neighbor was Peter Jefferson (father of President Thomas Jefferson). Together, they served the county as Gentleman Justices.
William Allen’s second wife, born Mary Hunt (1695–1763, was the widow of Robert Minge. (After William Allen’s death, Mary married Field Jefferson, brother of Peter Jefferson.)
The Allens began their family in 1721, rearing at least nine children. In about 1745, Allen sold his Fine Creek property, relocating to Albemarle County, south of the James River, near Slate River at Hunts Creek. Between 1735 and 1756, he accumulated six patents in what would become Buckingham County.
This William Allen wrote his will on August 15, 1751 and it was recorded in Albemarle on June 11, 1752. In it he named his widow, sons, daughters, and various grandsons. Some of these individuals will appear again in the wills transcribed in Central Virginia Heritage.
Coming next: Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part II
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Available at Amazon: Central Virginia Heritage (Fall 2018)
Also featured in this issue is my article, “Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire: Tracing My Harris Ancestor from One Burned County to Another.”
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- Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part VI | slate river ramblings . . . .
- Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part V | slate river ramblings . . . .
- Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part IV | slate river ramblings . . . .
- Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part III | slate river ramblings . . . .
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This Mary Hunt was apparently a daughter of William Hunt of James City/Charles City Co., VA (JCCo/CCCo). In 1688 in JCCo, a William Hunt and a Thomas Hamblen/Hamblin assisted Mrs. Sarah Davidson with the estate of her deceased husband David Davidson (David and Sarah were my ancestors). I do not know, however, if Sarah was also a Hunt descendant (some claim that she was a Miss Lide/Loyd).
Bill,
Thanks for adding the possible Davidson connection!
Joanne
In searching the Chancery Court Records, I’ve seen the name of a man called Thomas Jefferson, Jr. Have you run across that name before? I was wondering if he might be related to Randolph Jefferson or his descendants.
Jean,
Thanks for your question. Until President Thomas Jefferson’s death, his nephew (son of Randolph Jefferson) appears as “Thomas Jefferson, Jr.” in Albemarle County records — taxes, court, etc. He can also be found living in Buckingham and Fluvanna counties. After 1826, he is in the record as Thomas Jefferson.
Joanne