BRYAN FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

BRYAN FAMILY HISTORY 8-87The 1873 newspaper, The White Hall Register, has a detailed biographicalsketch of Thomas Allen and his brother, Zachariah Allen and states: the“progenitor of the Allen family, came from Tennessee to Madison County,stopping near Upper Alton, about as early as any other white settlers in thatregion. His wife was a Miss Bryant having been married in Tennessee. Hishouse at Belltown was the first house built north of Apple Creek, in GreeneCounty.” Author’s note: It appears that Thomas and Zachariah may have livedin Davidson County, Tennessee prior to migrating to Greene County, Illinois.However, Thomas Allen married Margaret Bryan in 1789 in Rowan County,North Carolina (not in Tennessee as stated in the newspaper article). Thenewspaper article continues: Thomas Allen “was a sociable, cheerful and a realphilosopher. He was a Calvinist seceder from the Presbyterian Church. He diedat Belltown about 1835.” Thomas and Margaret Allen were the parents of eightchildren:. . . Elizabeth Allen (1.9.1), b. February 14, 1790, Rowan County, North Carolina. . . John Allen (1.9.2), b. December 17, 1791, Rowan County, North Carolina. . . William David Allen (1.9.3), b. July 15, 1793, Rowan County, North Carolina. . . Thomas Allen, b. November 9, 1795, Virginia. . . Samuel Allen, b. February 9, 1798, Virginia. . . Unknown Child (implied from Bible record). . . Sarah Allen (1.9.7), b. September 23, 1804, Tennessee. . . Josiah Allen (1.9.8), b. 1806, TennesseeAccording to the History of Greene County, “Thomas Allen was a large,corpulent man, weighing over 250 pounds, and was good natured and jolly, andespecially delighted in romping with children. He had a great love for youngfolks, common to all men of his build.” Thomas Allen died on September 7,1832 in Belltown, Illinois and was buried in Belltown, Illinois. In 1840,Margaret (Bryan) Thomas was living with her son, Thomas Allen, in GreeneCounty, Illinois. Margaret (Bryan) Allen died on November 29, 1846 inBelltown, Illinois and was buried in Belltown, Illinois. In 1820, Thomas Allen,Jr. (born 1775 to 1794) was living in Madison County, Illinois. In 1840,Thomas Allen, Jr. was living in Greene County, Illinois. Thomas’ mother,Margaret (Bryan) Allen was living with him. Thomas Allen never married andmoved to Missouri. Thomas Allen died in 1853 in Lawrence County, Missouri.In 1820, Samuel Allen (born 1775 to 1794) was living in Madison County,Illinois. Samuel Allen never married and moved to Missouri. Samuel Allendied in 1857 in Lawrence County, Missouri. For many years, this author andseveral descendants of Nathan Allen (born 1799) believed that Nathan Allen wasthis missing child. However, recent discoveries by descendants of Nathan Allenhave now greatly discounted this connection where it is now longer consideredplausible.References: 1) Will of Erasmus Wethers Allen, Book C, Pages 259 and 260, RowanCounty, North Carolina, 1787; 2) Will of John Bryan, Book D, Pages 1 and 2, RowanCounty, North Carolina, 1797; 3) 1820 Census, Madison County, Illinois; 4) 1830 and1840 Censuses, Greene County, Illinois; 5) Newspaper article, White Hall Register,February 15, 1873; 6) “History of Greene County, Illinois,” Page 1060; 7) “Historyof Davidson County, Tennessee,” by W. W. Clayton, 1880, (1816 Tax List), Page 372; 8)McCubbins Collection, microfilm reel #11; 9) “Ansearchin News,” Summer, 1979,