The Family of Samuel Allen

Henry County, Virginia

Generation One

1.     Samuel Allen

B: 1730 most probably in Halifax or Henry Counties, Virginia.

D:

Married: 17 Sep 1783 in Henry County, Virginia.

Sarah Prater

Born:

Died:

Samuel Allen’s family lived in Halifax or Henry Counties in Virginia.  Over the years, Samuel and Sarah Prater Allen became the parents of eight known children.  They moved their household to Beaver Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky.

Known children of Samuel and Sarah Prater Allen:

11. William Allen

12. George Allen

13. Sarah Allen

14. Samuel Allen, Jr.

15. Elizabeth Allen

16. John Allen, Jr.

17. Daughter Allen

18. Margaret [Peggy] Allen

Franklin County, Virginia

Generation Two

11. William Allen [Samuel]

B: 1783 in Henry or Franklin County, Virginia

D: 8 Feb 1854 in Breathitt County, Kentucky - Found dead in the woods.

Married: 19 Jun 1808

Katherine Gearhart

Born:

Died:

12. George Jackson Allen [Samuel]

B: 1784 in Patrick County, Virginia

D:

Married: 1806

Cynthia Patton, daughter of James Henry and Florence Graham Patton.[1]

Born: 1785 in Virginia

Died:

13. Sarah Allen [Samuel]

B: Dec 1810 Floyd County, Kentucky

D: 26 Nov 1876 Beaver Creek, Floyd County, Kentucky. He died at the age of sixty-five years.

Married: 27 Nov 1825 Beaver Creek, Floyd County. Kentucky.

Reuben May, son of John and Sarah Jane Phillips May,

Born: 12 Oct 1800 Shelby Creek, Pike County, Kentucky

Died: 20 Sep 1840 Maytown, Beaver Creek, Floyd County, Kentucky at the age of thirty-nine years.

Floyd County, Kentucky

14. Samuel Allen, Jr [Samuel].

B: aft. 1784

D:

Married: 28 Dec 1815

Virginia Jane [Jenie, Janey] Patton, daughter of James Henry and Florence Graham Patton.[2]

Born: ca. 1796 in Virginia

Died:

15. Elizabeth Allen [Samuel]

B:1794

D:

Married: 12 Apr 1810 in Floyd County, Kentucky

Samuel Patton, son of James Henry and Florence Graham Patton.[3]

Born: 1787 in Virginia

Died:

  

16. John Allen, Jr  [Samuel]

B: aft. 1794 in Virginia

Born:

Died:

Married:17 Sep 1783 in Henry County, Virginia

Sarah Prater, daughter of Jonathan Prater.

Born: ca. 1796 in Maryland     

Died: ca. 1870 

17. Daughter Allen [Samuel]

Born:

Died:

Watauga River Settlement

18. Margaret [Peggy] Allen [Samuel]

B: ca. 1800

D:

Married: 8 Dec 1824 Floyd County, Kentucky

Daniel May, the fourth son of John and Sarah Jane Phillips May.

Born: ca. 1791 Washington County, North Carolina in the Watauga River Valley Settlement [now in Tennessee]

Died: after 1839

            After the death of John May in 1813, Daniel May was named the administrator of his father’s estate.[4]  Most probably Daniel and his brother, Reuben May, were the two young men cited as being between the ages of 16-26 years living in the household of their brother, Thomas May in the 1820 United State Federal Census.

           It is most reasonable to conclude that Daniel and Margaret [Peggy] Allen May left the area shortly after their marriage to establish their home in another area as did many other young people of this era.[5]   Records do indicate that all of his brothers did purchase property in the area prior to 1830; however, as of 2016, documentation is lacking to cite the names of children  for this couple or to cite positive dates and location for this couple’s death and burial.

          Daniel May’s name is on an indenture in Pike County, Kentucky for the transfer of property to “the only brothers and sisters of Tilpolard May, deceased” dated 1839; however, this document  does not state where Daniel May is residing.[6]

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[1]  James Henry Patton was the son of John J. and Mary _____ Patton, III of August County, Virginia.   James Henry Patton married Florence Graham.  He died in 1818 in Martin, Floyd County, Kentucky.  James Henry Patton was the father of Christopher Patton, John Patton I, Henry Patton, Cynthia Patton Allen, Samuel Patton, brother to Martha Graham and William Patton.

His daughter, Dorcas Patton married Thomas May, Sr. the son of John and Sarah Jane Phillips May, and a brother to both Reuben and Daniel May that are the husbands of Dorcas’s sisters.

James Henry Patton was one of the first Clerks of Floyd County, Kentucky serving as early as November 1803. He was appointed Sheriff of Floyd County, at the sitting of the 1809 County Court and served until 31 December 1810. He is last mentioned in the Floyd County Court records in August 1815. James Henry Patton was born ca. 1751 and died ca.1818. His wife, Florence Graham, was a sister to John Graham, who was perhaps the most prominent man in the early years of Floyd County.

James Henry Patton was a son of Henry Patton, who was born in Ireland ca. 1720 and died in Augusta County, Virginia ca. 1765.  Henry Patton is believed to have been a close relation to Colonel James Patton, a well-known historical figure of the early western frontier.  Colonel Patton was killed on the 31 July 1755 in an Indian raid at Draper's Meadows.

Colonel Patton's will, dated 1750 and probated in Augusta County, Virginia.  The will [Augusta County Will Book: 2:131], shows that Henry Patton was living at Colonel James Patton's plantation on Back Creek, which was called "Springfield." Henry Patton was born too late to be a brother of Colonel Patton, but could have been a nephew or other close kin.

Henry Patton is known to have been a juryman in Augusta County in 1747, Thus proving that he was also a landowner at that time. Other records indicate that he was living in the area, including land purchases on Peak Creek where some of his sons chose to live in later years. Henry Patton apparently died ca.1765. No record indicating the name of his wife has been located.  No estate appraisal or will have been found indicating that he made property settlements upon his children prior to the time of his death.

[2]  Ibid.

[3]  Ibid.

[4]  Floyd County Court Book 2: March 28, 1815 Session.

[5]  Daniel May nor his immediate family is cited on the 1830 U.S. Federal Census for either Floyd or Pike Counties, Kentucky. Also, there are no court records to indicate that he, Daniel May, ever purchased property in Floyd or Pike Counties, Kentucky.

[6] Pike County, Kentucky Deed Book B:75.