William Allen (abt. 1791 - 1829)

Born about 1791 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1829 at about age 38 in Anderson, Madison, Indiana, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Josette Wood [send private message]

Biography

William was born in 1791 in Philadelphia [one of his 2 FindAGrave memorials says he was born in 1761]^[1]

About 1808, he married Anna Mary John (1776-1840). Both were born in Pennsylvania.^[2] The couple had the following children [note the spacing between the two, suggests more children, and indeed a biography of William Allen says there were 10 children]:^[3]

1. John (1809-1881) [born in Kentucky??]
2. Sarah (1828-1881)

Military: He fought in the War of 1812, but his Company and commanding officer are not indicated at the National Archives. However, the following muster roll entries were found:

• A muster roll for 5 May 1813 to 5 Nov 1813 shows a Private William Allen, who volunteered on fleet 3 Aug 1813--under Capt. Matthew Rogers company of the Pennsylvania Militia, regiment commanded by C. Rees Hill.

• muster roll for a 6 Sep 1814-3 Oct 1814 shows a Corporal William Allen as a member of a volunteer company of infantry, under Capt. William Mitchell, commanded by Col. Clement C Biddle

• a 1 Nov 1814 muster roll for the Pennsylvania Volunteers, first Divison (Philadelphia City and County) shows a Private William Allen under the command of Lt. Col Andrew Gilkesson^[4]

About '1816, he moved to Ohio

About 1821, he moved to the New Purchase in Indiana, settling 2 miles East of Andersontown

19 Jun 1823: he purchased his homestead near Anderson

William Allen became one of the first settlers of Anderson Township, Indiana, which later became the city of Anderson. He was later described as "tall, slim, well-informed, and of good business qualifications." The first election in Anderson Township took place in his home. He served as Justice of the Peace, a schoolteacher, county commissioner, first county assessor, and he owned the first whipsaw in the county, and with it he sawed lumber for the Makepeace mill in Chesterfield

He also served as county commissioner and county Coroner

1824: William Allen was a correspondent for the War Department, during the Indian Massacre, in which 9 peaceful Native Americans were killed and mutilated. Four white men were convicted of the murders and executed. John Forkner, a historian for the county wrote in 1909: This was the first time, and is perhaps the only instance in the history of American jurisprudence, where white men were legally executed for the killing of Indians.^[5]

Buried: Although he was originally buried at the Otterbein Cemetery, Chesterfield, Madison, Indiana^[6], the gravestone was relocated by his son to the new city cemetery at Maplewood ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ https://cemeteries-madison-co-in.com/west_maplewood_cemetery.htm
2. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 at Ancestry
3. ↑ https://www.heraldbulletin.com/community/local-war-of-1812-vets-blazed-trail/article_331e1a25-69d3-5334-a278-d4769b5cba05.html
4. ↑ Muster rolls of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, Pennsylvania Archives
5. ↑ https://cemeteries-madison-co-in.com/maps.htm
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #105689743
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #115767045. The birth year on one of the memorials is 1767, and on the other, 1791

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L22F-VG8
• https://cemeteries-madison-co-in.com/anderson_twp.htm
• Find A Grave: Memorial #105689743
• Information obtained at Indiana State Library in Indianapolis

Acknowledgements

• First-hand information as remembered by Josette Wood, Tuesday, September 30, 2014.