Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part VIII
“A Typical Mammy,” 1897. Social Life in Old Virginia before the War, by Thomas Nelson Page.
Illustrated by Genevieve Cowles and Maude Cowles.
The Fall 2018 Issue of Central Virginia Heritage includes three Allen family wills transcribed by Jean L. Cooper. These wills inspired “The Allens of Hunts Creek.”
Need to catch up? Click here: Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part I
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William Hunt Allen, 1806 will, continued
William Hunt Allen widely dispersed his slaves, especially to younger family members, some of whom did not live or remain in Buckingham County. Some African-American families may have been divided, though Allen did make an effort to keep at least two mothers together with their children.
Following his widow’s death, William Hunt Allen desired that the “negro girl” Aggy, go to his great-niece Elizabeth Gates. Also, without qualification, Elizabeth received the direct gift of Maggey and her daughter, Fanny. Elizabeth Gates died in Bedford County, Virginia, which may have been the eventual home for these women.
Also following Elizabeth Allen’s death, a “negro boy” named Archer was to be given to William Hunt Allen’s great-nephew, George. His brother, Walter Clopton Allen, received “a negro boy” named George as an outright gift. This Allen line removed to Tennessee, possibly taking their slaves even further from Buckingham County.
Other slaves stood a better chance of staying in Buckingham.
Martha A. (Jones) Cottrell, the mother of George and Walter Clopton Allen, was remembered by William Hunt Allen. Her current husband, Richard Cottrell/Cottrill, inherited two slaves—Candice and Tomboy. William Hunt Allen also left a “negro boy” named Vincent to a man named William Cottrell, who married William Hunt Allen’s niece, yet another Elizabeth Allen, daughter of George Hunt and Mary (Ballard) Allen.
Three sons of Col. Samuel Allen of Buckingham County received the following individuals: William was given Charity and her two children Cissely & Betty; John received a boy named Solomon; and Sutton Farrar Allen became the owner of a boy named Ben.
William Hunt Allen’s great-nephew, Benjamin Clopton Glover, also of Buckingham County, inherited a “negro girl” named Rhoda.
Coming next: Buckingham Notables: The Allens of Hunts Creek, Part IX
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Dear Reader:
George Hunt Allen was the child of Capt. William Allen and his second wife, Mary Hunt Minge, who married as her third husband, Field Jefferson, uncle of President Jefferson. Through George Hunt Allen’s wife, Mary Ballard, these Allens are of royal descent (through Mary’s mother who was a Clopton–kin to the Diuguids and the Holmans).
George Hunt Allen’s brother was Valentine Allen, who left Buckingham and settled in Rockingham County, North Carolina. He was the ancestor of U. S. Sen. John McCain and Mrs. Laura (George W.) Bush.
Harry Stuart Holman
Harry,
Many thanks for expanding on this post about the Allen family in Buckingham County. Not only are they notable, they are royal!
Valentine Allen, in addition to having a great name, produced notable descendants!
More about the Buckingham County Allens to come….
Joanne