John Allen, 1805-1886, Lowndes County

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John Allen, a prominent ancestor of a large Lowndes County family, was born in 1802 in Barnwell District, South Carolina, to John and Ann Allen. Around 1834, his widowed mother, Ann Allen, along with several of her sons, relocated to Lowndes County, Georgia, settling in what is now the Naylor (661st) District. John Allen’s plantation was located approximately one mile southeast of the present-day Good Hope Baptist Church near Naylor.

Mr. Allen was married twice. His first wife, Eliza Jeter, was the daughter of Samuel Jeter and Susannah Grubbs Pryor of Barnwell District, South Carolina. John and Eliza had eleven children together. She died in January 1860 from a liver complaint. His second wife was Cherry Wadsworth Mullis, a widow from Middle Georgia, who had a son named Thomas by her marriage to Culpepper Mullis. They married around 1864 and had six daughters.

The children by Eliza:

  1. Wilson Allen, born 22 Oct 1825, married Mariah _______, Jun 1847.
  2. Orsamus D. Allen, born 17 Oct 1827, married (wife unknown).
  3. Elizabeth Ann Allen, born 20 Aug 1829, married (1) James Carter, 1 Jul 1847, (2) William Robinson, sometime between 1851 and 1860. Died 1 Oct 1920 in Lowndes County and is buried in the Union Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lakeland. The representation of her family on FamilySearch is a mess and best not to be used. Children.
  4. Richard S. Allen, born 27 Aug 1831, nothing known, prob. died young.
  5. John Thomas Allen, born 25 Oct 1833, married Emily Zeigler, daughter of Jacob J., 10 Aug 1856. Died 21 Jun 1911 in Lenox, Georgia. They are both buried in the Lakeview cemetery in Lenox. Children.
  6. Hansford D. Allen, born 12 Feb 1835, married Rebecca A. (Walker) Carter, widow of Irving Carter, daughter of James Walker, 28 Oct 1865. He died 30 Aug 1913 and is buried in the Union Priitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Lakeland, Georgia. Children.
  7. Barzilla Allen, born 29 Nov 1837, married Rachel Moore, daughter of John. Died in the Civil War on 24 Jun 1862 in Albemarle County, Virginia. Children.
  8. James D. Allen, born 15 Dec 1839, married Sarah Herrin. Served in the Confederate Army. Died 27 Mar 1913 and is buried in the Good Hope Cemetery in Naylor, Georgia.
  9. Susannah Allen, born 12 Nov 1841, married William Alfred Fender, 24 Oct 1861. died in 1920 and is buried at the Beaver Dam Cemetery in Ray City, Georgia. Children.
  10. Sarah Louise Allen, born 20 Feb 1845, married Dr. Edward Green Kirkland, Jr., 24 Jun 1861. Died 17 Jun 1923 in Waycross, Georgia. Buried there in the Lott Cemetery. Children.
  11. Martha Ann Eliza Allen, born 11 May 1848, married about 1870, Lewis J. Allen (1st cousin), son of James Richard Allen. In 1900 she reported 11 children of which 10 were still living. They were at the time living in Lowndes County.

The children by Cherry:

  1. Mary Allen, born 1865, married 4 Dec 1879 Ransom Ulyssus “Lish” Carter, son of Isaac W. Died 28 May 1937 and is buried at the Good Hope Cemetery in Naylor. Children.
  2. Ella Allen, born 18 Mar 1866, never married. Alive in 1930 when she is enumerated with her sister, Ida Coker.
  3. Eugenia “Lula” Allen, born 27 Sep 1867, married 12 Aug 1900, Barzilla Carter, as his second wife. He is the brother of Ransom Ulyssus who married Mary, and son of Isaac W. Children.
  4. Anna Allen, born 3 Dec 1868, married Allen Moore, Jr. Died 25 Mar 1946 in Lowndes County. Buried at the Good Hope Cemetery in Naylor. Children.
  5. Ida Allen, born 7 Oct 1871, married 21 Aug 1913 in Lowndes County, Alexander J. Coker, as his second wife. Both her and her busband were alive in 1930 in Naylor. No children.
  6. Julia Allen, born 13 Feb 1873, married 15 Nov 1888 in Lowndes County, Daniel Edward Connell. Died 29 May 1962 in Lowndes County. Resided in Naylor.

John Allen served as a private in the Company commanded by Captain Samuel E. Swilley, of the 2nd Regiment, Florida militia, in the Seminole War from 16 Jun to 16 Dec 1837. In 1838, John may have also served in Captain Jesse Carter’s Company as part of the Lowndes County militia.

In the 1840 Lowndes County Georgia census, the household of John has the following aged individuals:

Census ListingSuggested Individuals
2 males under 5James and Barzilla
2 males 5-10John and Hansford
1 male 10-15Wilson, Orasmus, or Richard
1 male 20-30unknown, brother of John?
1 male 30-40John
1 female 10-15Elizabeth Ann
1 female 30-40Eliza

Folks Huxford gathered a lot of his information from family sources, but also claims to have seen and copied from the “John Allen family Bible.” I can find no mention of Wilson, Orasmus, or Richard outside of the Pioneers of Wiregrass, but it is apparent by the 1840 census, that at least one of them was likely still alive.

John died 27 Oct 1886 and was laid to rest at Good Hope Baptist Church, where his second wife, Cherry Allen, was also later buried. Both were members of that congregation. Cherry Allen died around 1915.

Cherry filed for an Indian War pension on 1 Sep 1892 and claimed the following:

John Allen served as a private in Capt. Samuel Swilley’s company, Lowndes County militia, June 16th to Dec. 16th, 1837; that he and his said wife, Cherry were married at her home in Lowndes County, in September, 1865, by James R. Allen, J. P., and that her name prior to her said marriage was Mrs. Cherry Mullis; that the said John Allen died 27 Oct 1886, aged 82 years; that her first husband’s name was Culpepper Mullis who was killed when thrown from a horse, 20 Feb 1860. The pension was granted to her and she drew it until her death 13 April 1912.

John Allen had several brothers who also settled in Lowndes and Echols Counties: Norman (born 1806), Richard (born 1808), James (born 1810), Hansford (born 1811), and William (born 1819).

Sources

  • Huxford, Folks, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, vol. 1, p. 8-9, vol. 2, p. 297, 335, vol. 3, p. 357, 392, vol 4, p. 289, vol. 5, p. 528, Jacksonville, Florida : Cooper Press, 1951-1967.
  • John Allen Family Bible. Due to the loss of portions of the John Allen family Bible, some dates remain incomplete.
  • Chancery and equity court records, ca. 1818-1870, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/catalog/462111 : Thu Mar 13 2025) John J Clayton et al vs Isham H Clayton & wife Admx of Samuel Jeter, 1823 – box 5, no. 9-10, image 534-547 of 566.
  • “United States, Census, 1840”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBN-6WD : Mon Apr 29 18:01:58 UTC 2024), Entry for John Allen, 1840.
  • “United States, Census, 1850”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZYB-QJZ : Thu Jan 16 15:18:47 UTC 2025), Entry for John Allen and Eliza Allen, 1850.
  • “United States, Census, 1860”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZMT-78B : Mon Jul 08 04:43:33 UTC 2024), Entry for John Allen and James D Allen, 1860.
  • “United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850-1880”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6PFD-RLBH : Thu Mar 06 21:46:00 UTC 2025), Entry for Elisa Allen, Jan 1860.
  • “United States, Census, 1870”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC3X-9BG : Sun Jan 19 06:33:51 UTC 2025), Entry for John Allen and Cherry Allen, 1870. This census lists an additional male, aged 11, Thomas Allen, aged 11 (born in 1859). This is the son of Cherry and her first husband Culpepper Mullis.
  • “United States, Census, 1880”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8GD-F5F : Sun Jan 19 18:00:49 UTC 2025), Entry for John Allen and Cherry Allen, 1880.
  • “Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1762-1984; Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Volunteeer Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Florida During the Florida Indian Wars, 1835-1858” , images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZP-B8GK : Thu Mar 06 21:46:00 UTC 2025), National Archives Microfilm Publication M1086, 63 rolls; Roll #: M1086:18, image 671 of 1,633. References cards #11872264 and #11872341.
  • “United States, Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDRR-YBV : Fri Mar 08 17:45:39 UTC 2024), Entry for John Allen and Cherry Allen, 1892.

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