Allen Family History

Sources of Information: 1. Virgil D. White, “Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files,” (Waynesboro, TN: The National Historical Publishing Co., 1990) (FHL #973 M28g) 2. Massachusetts, Probate Court (Hampshire County), “Probate Records, 1660-1916; Index, 1660-1971,” (Salt Lake City, UT: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971, 1988-89) (FHL #879203) 3. DAR Patriot Index, volume 1, A-F, (Baltimore: GPC, 2003) page 42 (FHL #973 C42da) 4. Barbour Collection, “Somers, Tolland, Connecticut,” volume 40, page 45 (FHL #974.6 V2wl) 5. Allis Genealogy, #158 (FHL #929.273 Al56ac) 6. Revolutionary War Pension File for Lemuel Allis, S32636 7. Horatio Dana Allis, “Genealogy of William Allis of Hatfield, Mass. and Descendants, 1630-1919,” (Hartford, CT: Art Press, ca 1920), page 32-33 8. 1800 US Census, Ashfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, page 471

ROBERT G. ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[allenUS080904 / 0346] 8 September 2004

The objective of this research project was to search primary sources to verify the ancestral lines of Leonard, Allis, Burkhead, Harvey, and Comstock, and to update family group records and pedigree charts with source information. Sources consulted were maps, vital records, tax, land and property, town, church, census, and court records, and computer databases. We will briefly discuss sources found concerning each family as well as evidence used to prove or disprove generational links. Leonard Research began with the Leonard line, beginning with Truman Leonard, born 23 March 1784 at Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. His birth information was documented through the published vital records of the town of Worthington, and was given as the following [document #1a-b]: LEONARD: Truman, ch. Capt. Ezra, Mar. 23, 1784 Truman, [ch.] Capt. Leonard, bp. June 13, [1799]. C.R.

The birth information of Truman's father, Ezra, as well as the marriage of his parents, Nathan Leonard and Abigail Herrick, was documented through town and vital records of Preston, New London, Connecticut. Their information is as follows [document #2]: Nathan Leonard and Abigail Herrick both of Preston were married November the 12th A.D. 1739 Ezra Leonard their son was born June ye 30th 1755 Nathan Leonard's birth information, as well as information for his parents, was also found in these records [document #3a-b]: Saml Lenardson dyed ye 11th of May 1718 Samuell Lenardsons junr children by Lydia Cook . . .
Nathan their son born ye 22nd of August 1717

It appears Leonard and Leonardson were interchangeable in the Preston records [document #3c-d]. We also documented Abigail Herrick's birth information in these records [document #4]: Ephraim Herrick Junr. was maried to Rachel Fellows ye 19th day of February 1719/18 . . . Abigail their daughter was born ye 21 of October 1721

Through a memorial for Solomon Leonard, we found Truman and Roxanna (Allis) Leonard named a son Ezra [document #5]. This supports the parental link between Truman and his father, Ezra. This memorial also gave migrational information which will be helpful in future research. We sought to locate the location of Truman Leonard's marriage to Roxanna Allis. An unknown source gives their marriage date as 1 June 1811, but place information differs between Hampshire County, Massachusetts and New Canaan, Columbia County, New York. We found Nathan's father, Ezra, in Worthington, Hampshire, Massachusetts in the 1810 Federal Census, just a year before the supposed date of Nathan's marriage [document #6]. Nathan would have been about 26 and was not enumerated as part of his father's household. We did not find him listed separately in Hampshire County. This may mean he was not married there, but future research will be necessary to determine this. We also found Ezra in the 1820 Federal Census in Wayne, Ashtabula County, Ohio [document #7]. Although not yet documented, this supports the claim he died in 1823 in Ashtabula County.

Allis Attention was first given to documenting the birth and parental link of Roxanna Allis, supposedly born 15 September 1786 at Chester, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Chester is now part of Hampden County, which was created 1812 from Hampshire [document #8a-b].
We searched vital records of Chester and found information for a brother of Roxanna named Lemuel [document #9c]: ELLIS: Lemuel (dup. Allis), s. Lemuel (Ellise) and Rebecca, July 9, 1784

It appears Allis and Ellis were used interchangeably in many records. Other members of the Allis/Ellis family were also found in these records [document #9a-f, 10-12]. We found Lemuel's birth information in many other sources [document #13a-b, 14-15] , but found no source to document the birth of Roxanna. We sought to document Lemuel in Chester, and also to prove the parental link between him and his supposed father, Samuel. As vital records for the area of Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut (the place of Lemuel's supposed birth) do not exist at the Family History Library, we first focused on records in Chester, and then turned to land records in Somers. We searched tax lists for Chester, but did not find any Allis/Ellis individual in Chester until December 1779, when the name of Samuel Elliss appears [document #16a-b]. His name was in the tax lists through their end in 1788 and is joined by Lemuel and John Elliss in 1784 [document #16d]. We found Lemuel and Samuel had pew assignments relatively near one another in the town meeting house in 1785 [document #16e-f]. Lemuel's name was in the tax lists through 1788 [document #16g-i].
We found Lemuel and Samuel Ellis in the 1790 Federal Census in Chester [document #17]. Lemuel's household consisted of one male over age 16 (Lemuel Sr.), three males under 16 (one of which was Lemuel Jr.), and three females (one of which was probably Roxanna). Obviously, the town and vital records are incomplete in documenting births, as they are missing several of Lemuel's children. We also found Lemuel Allis in the 1800 Federal Census, but he was further north, in Ashfield [document #18]. His household consisted of two females under age 16 (Roxanna would have been age 14). Since Roxanna's birth information was not found (as well as many of her siblings), the source of her complete birth date is unknown. Perhaps there are additional records for Chester that could be searched in the future. It would also be worthwhile to search Ashfield for additional information. We found Lemuel applied for a Revolutionary War pension in 1818 [document #19a-b, 20]. This should be obtained in the future, as it may contain very important clues concerning his parentage. From a pension index we learned Lemuel died between 1818 and 1820, and we searched probate and court records for additional information concerning his death and family. We discovered Lemuel Allis Jr. was made guardian of the estate of Lemuel Allis Sr. by October of 1820, and Lemuel Allis, Sr. was a tipler or spendthrift of Plainfield, Hampshire County [document #21a-b].
In summary, through Chester town records we discovered Lemuel was related to Samuel and John Allis, and Samuel resided in Chester from December 1779 to at least 1790 and Lemuel from 1784 to at least 1790. We learned from census records Lemuel moved from Chester to Ashfield between 1790 and 1800, and died at Plainfield (just west of Ashfield) around 1820.
We next moved to Somers, Tolland, Connecticut (Lemuel=s supposed birth place) to seek to verify his parentage. Somers was part of the town of Enfield until 1734, and a history of Enfield gives the following information about Samuel Allis [document #22a-c]: The first minister of the Eastern Precinct was Mr. Allis who was settled in 1727, he was from Hatfield Mass, he was dismissed in 1747 & died in 1796 aged 91.

We found some vital records for Samuel Allis in this history [document #22f-j]: October 19th 1729 marriage is intended between Mr Samll Allis of this town and Mrs Hannah Shelding of Deerfield . . .
Samuel Allis son of the Revd Mr Samuel Allis and Hannah his wife was born Sept: 19th 1730. . . . Julius Allis son of the Rev Mr Samuel allis and Hannah his wife was born Septbr: 18th 1732.

We did not find any mention of Lemuel Allis/Ellis in this history, and at present do not know the source of Lemuel's full birth date (22 June 1747).
Turning to Somers land records, we found information which may discount the parental link between Lemuel and Samuel, unless a birth record can be found. We found deeds of Samuel Allis Jr. of Somers, Hartford County (now Tolland County), Connecticut from 1786 to 1788 [document #23]. In one of these deeds, Samuel Allis Jr. gave land to his AFather Mr Samuel Allis Sr of said Somers in July of 1781. This deed is preceded by a deed of John Allis of Somers, in which he gives land to his Honored Father and Mother Mr Samuel Allis of Somers and Hannah his wife in November 1774. The fact Samuel and John Allis were brothers makes it more possible they were the same individuals of Chester, although it seems difficult to believe they were of both places during the same years residing in Somers according to deed records and in tax lists and holding pew assignments in Chester. The fact Samuel Allis Jr. was of Somers 1786 through 1788 means there were probably two individuals by the name of Samuel Allis/Ellis at this time, one in Somers and one in Chester. If the Samuel Ellis of Chester was a close relative of Lemuel (which their proximity in town records implies), Lemuel was probably not a part of the Samuel Allis family of Somers. It is possible, however, the Samuel Ellis of Chester was a cousin or somehow Samuel Allis, Jr. resided in both Somers and Chester from 1786 to 1788, and Lemuel was still tied closely to the family of Somers. We consulted Ancestry.com's WorldTree for information concerning Lemuel's parentage and found a submitter included Lemuel as the twelfth child of Samuel Allis, saying he was born at Hatfield, Hampshire, while the preceding siblings were born in Somers [document #24a-b]. This may be possible, but still does not explain the difficulties found in the deed, tax, and town records of Somers and Chester. Future research is necessary to fully verify or disprove the parental link between Lemuel and Samuel Allis. Obtaining Lemuel Allis Revolutionary War pension file, as well as locating additional extant vital records for Somers, Tolland, Connecticut and for Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts will aid in this process. Burkhead We first documented the marriage of Nathan Haverfield Burkhead and Rebecca Andrews in Adams County, Indiana, and found they were indeed married 8 June 1848 [document #25a-b].
We found a Mahalalel Buckhead was also married in Adams County 27 December 1873 [document #25c]. We followed him and another Mahalaleel in several censuses [document #26-27]. One of these was Nathan's son and supports the statement Nathan's father was named Mahahlaleel. We also documented the marriage of Nathan's father, Mahalaleel, to Sarah Barnett Blair through a book of marriage permissions (Sarah was previously married to a man named Randel Blair) [document #28a-c]: James BURKHEAD s [whose son is] Mahalaleel to Sarah BLAIR 19 Aug 1824 Wit: Nathan HAVERFIELD

The fact a man named Nathan Haverfield was a witness to their marriage supports the link between Mahalaleel and the son he and Sarah had five years later, named Nathan Haverfield. We documented the birthplaces of Nathan, Mahalaleel, and Sarah through the 1880 Federal Census [document #29], and documented Nathan's month and year of birth through the 1900 Federal Census [document #30]. Nathan and his wife were in Nodaway County, Missouri in the 1900 Federal Census, which supports the claim he died in this county three years later. We also found Mahalaleel and Sarah near their son, Joshua, in Adams County in the 1870 Federal Census [document #31a-b].
Harvey We first documented the marriage of Anna Elizabeth Harvey and Joseph E. Shewell at Iola, Allen, Kansas [document #32a-32b]. Information from their marriage license is as follows [document #33]: Allen County, State of Kansas, Iola, July 25th A.D. 1871 To any person authorized by Law to perform the Marriage Ceremony Greeting: You are hereby authorized to join in Marriage Joseph Shewell Allen county Kansas aged Twenty Seven years and Annie E Harvey of Allen co Kansas aged Eighteen years I W W Welch do hereby certify, that in accordance with the authorization of the within License, I did no the 25th day of July A.D. 1871, at Iola in said County, join and unite in Marriage the within named Joseph Shewell and Anne E Harvey.

Anna's age in this marriage license does not match the 1855 year of birth we have for her. We followed her in several censuses, however, and her age consistently matched 1854/1855 [document #34-37]. In fact, the 1900 Federal Census gave her birth information as February 1855, which documents her birth month and year [document #35]. We were unable to find Anna or her supposed father, Ed (probably Edward) in the 1860 Federal Census. We located two Edward Harveys in Virginia in the 1850 Federal Census [document #38-40]. As one of these individuals was still single in the 1860 Federal Census [document #41], the most probable father of Anna (if his name was indeed Edward) is Edward B. Harvey, of Appomattox County, Virginia. He was age 25 in the 1850 Federal Census, but was not found in 1860.
Future research is necessary to extend the pedigree of Anna Harvey. We suggest ordering her death certificate, 29 March 1933 at Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas, as it will likely give her parents names. This information would be extremely helpful for future research. Comstock Research on the Comstock line began by verifying Sarah's marriage to Isaac Underhill. We obtained their marriage license and found they were married 15 December 1864 at Holmes County, Ohio [document #42a-b, 43]. Through this license, we learned Isaac was named after his father and his middle initial was C., not L. This will need to be investigated in the future, as our present information gives the name of Sarah's husband as Isaac Lincoln Underhill. We sought to verify Sarah's birth and parental information through census records, and found her and Isaac in the Federal Census records of 1880 and 1900 [document #44a-b, 45]. In the latter, Sarah=s birth information was given as November 1844, rather than October, and in both censuses her birthplace was given as Ohio, not New York. The fact the family was found in Mitchell County, Kansas in the 1900 Federal Census supports the death place we have been given. Her death certificate, 7 April 1925 in Mitchell County, could be ordered in the future as a verifying document for her death information. We sought additional information for Sarah (especially on her birthplace and parentage) through earlier census records. We found her with her parents in the 1850 Federal Census [document #46]. They were in Clark Township, Coshocton County, Ohio. Sarah was six years old and was born in Ohio. Her father, who we previously thought was born in New York, was said to have been born in Pennsylvania, although her mother was reportedly born in New York. We found the family in Tiverton Township in the same county in the 1860 Federal Census [document #47a-b]. Again, the birthplaces above were given for each family member. We found Sarah's parents in Holmes County in the 1870 Federal Census [document #48]. Again, Lyman's birthplace was given as Pennsylvania. We next searched for Lyman in earlier censuses. He was not found in 1840, but, as discussed in a previous report, he was found in 1830. In this census, he was enumerated next to Alexander Comstock in the town of Chautauqua (similar to a township in other states), Chautauqua County, New York [document #49]. Mayville, Lyman's supposed birthplace, is located within the town of Chautauqua, and is near the border of Pennsylvania [document #50a -b]. At this point, we have not yet verified the birth dates or places of Lyman and his daughter Sarah. Sarah's birthplace of Mayville, Chautauqua, New York has been disproved through census records, and she was most likely born in Coshocton County, Ohio. Lyman's birthplace, whether in Mayville, New York, or in Ohio, is presently undocumented.
We found Alexander Comstock in the 1820 Federal Census also, again in Chautauqua [document #51]. Many children were included in the household, including children in Lyman's age bracket, who would have been about sixteen. We sought to verify Alexander's death information, and thus be able to locate probate records for him. He supposedly died at Sycamore, DeKalb, Illinois in 1856. We found him in this county in the 1840 Federal Census [document #52], and found a possible entry for him in Kane County in 1850 [document #53-54]. Kane County is adjacent to DeKalb [document #55]. We found the Family History Library does not contain many probate records for Illinois, and these records will have to be sought locally in Illinois. Vital records for the area of Chautauqua will also have to be sought elsewhere, as they were not found at the library.
The best evidence found to support the parental link between Alexander and Lyman is Lyman's enumeration next to Alexander in Chautauqua in the 1830 Federal Census, but more substantial evidence should be sought in the future.
Summary In summary, much additional information was found in this research project both to document and verify the generational links on the pedigrees of Leonard, Allis, Burkhead, Harvey, and Comstock. Future research should be directed to obtaining vital certificates and pension records as recommended previously in this report. Efforts may also be directed to locating additional vital records and using probate, court, and land records to continue to verify parental links. It is a pleasure to assist you in researching and documenting your family history. We look forward to continuing research according to your instructions. _2004 Price & Associates Incorporated JMD/mh

ROBERT G. ALLEN REPORT ENDNOTES

[allenUS080904 / 0346] 8 September 2004

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[bass011204 / 0346] 16 January 2004

The objective of this research project was to identify as many new ancestors as possible to at least the tenth generation, if possible, of Robert Grant Allen [1st generation], focusing o the New England lineage of Sarah Read [8th generation], Luther Bass [6th generation], Joseph Rawson [7th generation], Rhoda Gough [7th generation], Ezra Leonard [6th generation], Hannah Marsh [6th generation], Lemuel Allis [6th generation], and Rebecca Davis [6th generation]. All of the above names were sought in the Ancestral File. Two connections were made. Joseph Rawson's ancestry was copied back to the ten hundreds where it connects to a number of Magna Carta Sureties and the Royal Lines of Great Britain, Scandinavia, and Europe. Many of the client's lines were extended back numerous generations, some as early as the first century A.D. [document #8-25]. Joseph Rawson's ancestral connections appear to be correct, although many of the dates are questionable, especially in sixteenth century England. Each connection should be verified in an original document, family history, or other acceptable record.
Lemuel Allis ancestry was also located in Ancestral File and copied through the eleventh generation. Each connection appears to be correct. Some of these lines will extend numerous generations. An online genealogy was located showing Lemuel Allis was the ninth and final child born to Hannah (Sheldon) and Samuel Allis. Many of Lemuel's New England lines are included in the genealogy which again appears to be correct. Lemuel married Rebecca Davis, but her parentage was not identified in this genealogy [document #32]. The above online genealogy includes the ancestral Leonard ancestry. Ezra Leonard is shown to be the son of Nathan Leonard and Abigail Herrick. An extremely well-documented Leonard family history was found which extends the ancestry of Ezra Leonard beyond the tenth generation. A number of lines go back to the twelfth and fourteenth generations. The Herrick line extends to the nineteenth generation. Two of the ancestors were Mayflower Pilgrims. Susanna (Furner) and James Children made the family voyage with their daughter Mary, who later married Governor Edward Winslow. James Chilton was one of the signers of the Mayflower Compact. His daughter, Isabella Chilton, the ancestress, and her husband Roger Chandler came to America later. This Leonard genealogy is extremely well done and is a rare find and should be considered a gold mine of genealogical data on many of the ancestral lines. Included are abstracts of many documents relating to the client= ancestors. Due to the tremendous amount of data in this family history, it was not possible to add all ancestors onto pedigree charts. However, all pages pertaining to ancestral families were copied. Summary The Family History Library's computer catalog was searched for published and microfilm genealogies and family histories which could extend other New England lines, at least to the tenth generation. These should be examined in a future project. As noted above, some verification of the New England connections needs to be done, especially on the ancestry of Joseph Rawson. It has been a pleasure to assist you in research and documenting your family history. We look forward to continuing research according to your instructions. _2004 Price & Associates Incorporated KHW/mh

ROBERT ALLEN RESEARCH REPORT

[marshdavis102504 / 0346] 10 November 2004

The objective of this research project was to identify the parents of Hannah Marsh and/or Rebecca Davis in New England. We were able to find one possibility for the parents of Rebecca Davis, but could not locate the parents of Hannah Marsh at this time.
Leonard/Davis We searched the records of Massachusetts and Connecticut in an effort to locate the marriage of Ezra Leonard and Hannah Marsh. The only marriage of interest located was at Griswold-Preston, Connecticut where we found the marriage of Ezra Leonard to his third wife, Dorcas Brown, on 4 March 1793 [document #1]. Prentice Leonard, son of Ezra and Hannah (Marsh) Leonard, was located with his wife and children in the 1850 Federal Census of Esperance, Schoharie, New York. Prentice, a physician, was born about 1787 in Massachusetts. His wife, Harriet, was born in Connecticut, and their four children were born in New York. One of the children was listed as Louis J. Leonard, age 20, a female, born in New York [document #2].
According to the family group record provided at the onset of this project, the first child of Ezra and Hannah Leonard was named Louis, assumed to be a male child. However, Ezra's will (found previously) listed the child as Lois, and no son Louis was mentioned. Apparently, in this family, and at the time period, Lois was spelled Louis. While reviewing other records, we noticed several females with the name of Louis (Lois). A family record was located on Ancestry World Tree for Lois Leonard and her spouse, Samuel Tuttle [document #3]. No children were listed in the record. In the 1820 Federal Census of Wayne, Ashtabula, Ohio, we found Ezra Leonard living near Samuel Tuttle [document #4]. In Worthington, Massachusetts Vital Records to 1850, we found the five children of Ezra Leonard listed. Lois was definitely listed as Louis when born in 1782. However, when she was baptized in 1799, she was listed as Lois. Knowing the exact marriage date of Ezra Leonard to Dorcas Brown, it is obvious Mervin and Rachel were their children and not the children of Ezra and Hannah. In One Line of the Solomon Leonard Family of Monmouthshire, England, Leyden, Holland, and Plymouth, Duxbury, and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, we located information on the parents and siblings of Ezra Leonard. Information was also given on Ezra Leonard, his three wives, and five children [document #6]. With all the records searched, we were unable to locate any further information on the parentage of Hannah Marsh during this project. Allis/Davis In Allis Genealogy, we located Lemuel Allis in the fifth generation [document #7]. His wife was Rebecca Davis of Somers. Lemuel was listed as born in 1749 instead of 1747. No parents were listed for Rebecca Davis. They married on 20 January 1779. Their only child was John Allis, born 19 May 1779. A search was made in DAR Patriot Index, volume 1, for the Allis surname. Lemuel Allis was listed in this book as born 22 June 1749 in Connecticut, died about 21 November 1820 in Massachusetts, and married to Rebecca Davis [document #8]. A family group record was located at Ancestry World Tree on Lemuel and Rebecca (Davis) Allis. However, once again, no parents were given for Rebecca. Six children were listed, Roxanna being the fifth child in order of birth [document #9]. The Barbour Collection, a series on early Connecticut vital records, was reviewed for the birth of Rebecca Davis. Nothing could be located at Somers, Tolland, Connecticut for her birth. However, the marriage of Rebeckah Davis to Lemuel Allis was found there [document #10]. A review of the LDS Ordinance Index produced a Rebeckah Davis who was born 20 May 1758 at Stafford Township, Tolland County, Connecticut. Her parents were Benjamin and Hannah Davis. This is an excellent possibility to be the parents of the ancestral Rebecca (Davis) Allis due to the following known information: Lemuel Allis was also born in Tolland County, Connecticut.

The marriage of Lemuel Allis and Rebeckah Davis took place at Somers, Tolland, Connecticut.

Rebecca and Lemuel also named a daughter Hannah, possibly after her mother.

Since Lemuel and Rebecca were both listed on their marriage as being of Somers, it would make sense Rebecca was also born in Connecticut. At this time, we were not able to absolutely verify the parents of Rebecca Davis as Benjamin and Hannah Davis, but they are an excellent possibility.

Conclusion Although we were not able to identify the parents of Hannah Marsh and Rebecca Davis, we feel this has been a successful project as we have been able to verify and add information to the family group records compiled during a previous project. We found two of the children listed in the family of Ezra and Hannah (Marsh) Leonard were actually the children of Ezra and Dorcas (Brown) Leonard. The marriage date for Lemuel Allis and Rebeckah Davis was also located as were four additional children. Suggestions for future research include the following: Further search records in Connecticut for the Rebeckah Davis who was born to Benjamin and Hannah in 1758 to see if we can determine who she married or what happened to her.

Search all of the town records of Hampshire County, Massachusetts in an effort to determine who the parents of Hannah Marsh were.

It has been a pleasure to assist you with your research endeavors. We look forward to continuing research according to your instructions. _2004 Price & Associates Incorporated DEM/mh