Joshua Barnes Allen Jr (1757 - 1820)

Born 17 Mar 1757 in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon, New Jersey, Colonial America

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 8 Apr 1820 at age 63 in Hepzibah, Harrison, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Joshua Barnes Allen Jr. went by his middle name Barnes perhaps to distinguish himself from his Father.

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA

Clarksburg, Sept 20, 1909

Col. Henry Haymond,

Dear Sir:--At your request I will give you the tradition of my grandfather, Barnes Allen's adventure with the Indians as I heard it from my father, Stephen C. Allen.

Joshua Allen and his son, Barnes Allen, came from Scotland to Virginia, from there to Fort Pitt, thence up the river to what is now known as Hepzibah, or the Allen farm, five miles from Clarksburg.

Joshua Allen entered a large tract of land, and his son, Barnes, planted and matured four (4) hills of corn, which gave him a settlement right to 400 acres, built a log cabin on his land and went to Fort Pitt, and was married to a German woman named Eve Swiger, and returned to his cabin in the wilderness, and started to establish a home and clear out a farm.

To this union six children were born, four boys, John, Joshua, Israel, and Stephen and two girls, Catherine (married Sterling Bartlett) Rebecca was born in 1784, (married Thomas Bartlett) lived ninety-six years, died and was buried in Hepzibah church yard, all on or in the close vicinity of the original Allen farm.

Sometime in the early (18)80's while Barnes Allen was away from home watching a deer lick, his wife, who was alone became alarmed at the continual barking of their dog, and, going to the door to see what was the matter, discovered a small party of Indians approaching the cabin. She hurried out the back door and through the thick underbrush until she reached a large beech tree with low spreading branches which stood near the Spring. She climbed this tree and hid herself in the heavy foliage.

As a boy, I well remember seeing this tree. It was known as Grandmother's tree. My father never allowed it to be disturbed and it was left standing until it wasted away.

The Indians entered the cabin and after taking everything they could carry, set it on fire, and while it was burning stood under the beech tree in which Grandmother was hidden.

From the hill back of where Hepzibah church now stands, Grandfather saw the light of his burning cabin, and hastened towards it to find what little he possessed, in ruins, and his wife gone. He supposed that she had been killed, but lingered about the place hoping to find some trace of her, and after some time, hearing a peculiar bird call, which he recognized as a signal agreed upon between himself and wife in time of danger, answered the call and his wife came down out of the tree, unharmed.

He took her to the house of a settler, near the Maulsby Bridge, I think by the name of Shinn. The next morning he and Shinn started to Power's Fort, near Bridgeport, to give the alarm.

On the way, and opposite the brick house built by William Smith, on Simpson's Creek, three Indians came out from some overhanging rocks, and fired at them.

The sudden starting of Allen's horse caused him to drop his gun in the sand. Shinn fired at the Indians, and they galloped on to the fort which they reached about noon.

A party was at once made up to pursue the Indians and on reaching the place where the two had been fired upon, it was discovered that the Indians had encamped the previous night under the rocks spoken of, and that they had left a belt, a knife, Allen's gun and two while scalps.

The men took up the trail, and discovered that one of the Indians has been wounded by Shinn's shot, and that he was hidden in a swamp on the farm afterwards owned by Jefferson Smith. He was finally discovered, shot and scalped. Further pursuit was then abandoned.

Very respectfully,

JAMES F. ALLEN

Name

Joshua Barnes Allen Jr.

Barnes Allen

Birth

17 Mar 1757 in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., NJ

Scotland ^[1].

Spouses

Eve Swiger Allen (1761 - 1850 or 1852)

Children

Catharine Duval Allen Bartlett (1784 - 1878)

Joshua Allen (1787 - 1867)

Death

8 Apr 1820 in Hepzibah, Harrison Co., VA now WV

ABT 1820 Harrison Co., VA now WV

Map

Allen Farm at Hepzibah, WV: Map showing the location of the farm of Barnes Joshua Allen. ^[2]

Will

Will of Barnes Allen (exact copy)

In the name of God amen I Barnes Allen of the County of Harrison and Commonwealth of Virginia being sick and weak in body But of Sound Mind and Disposing Memory for which I thank my God and calling To mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirus To Dispose of all Such Wordly Estate as it has Pleased god to bless me with I Give and bequeath the same in manner Following That is to say

First my will is that my first debts and Funeral Expencs be paid as Spedely as Can be Conveniently done After my Decease

Secondly I will To my wife Eve all my moveable Estate Including my Negro woman and Children during her Natural life or as long as she Remains my Widow I also will to my wife Eve the full use and Income of the plantation I now live upon also all Notes due me at my Decease which I also will To her during her Natural life or as long as she remains my widow --and after my wife Decease or after she should mary I will the same as Follownig

Thirdly I will to my son John Allen Four Hundred Dollars Which Sum shall be paid out of the Estate I have left to my Wife as Soon as it possably can be done Which Sum of Four Hundred Dollars I Will to my son John Allen and his heirs forever Fourthly I will to my son Joshua Allen One Hundred and Fifty Acres of land or there abouts lying at three Forks of Middle Island Creek in Harrison County Virginia and being the land he now lives upon I will the said One Hundred and Fifty acres of land to my son Joshua and his heirs forever

Fifthly I will To my son Israel Allen one Hundred and Fifty acres of land Adjoining of his Brother Joshua Allen lying and being In Harrison County Virginia at Three Forks of middle Island Creek being the land he now lives upon I will the said one hundred and Fifty acres to my son Israel Allen and his heirs forever

Sixthly I will to my Daughter Catherine married to Starlin Bartlett Ten Dollars To be paid To her after my wife Decease in Property and if my Daughter Should depart this life before she Receives Said Ten Dollars in that case her Husband and her heirs are not to be paid Said Ten Dollars

Seventhly I will To my Daughter Rebecca married to Thomas Bartlett Fifty Dollars To be paid to her after my wifes death In property and if my Daughter Rebecca Bartlett Should Depart this life before her mother decease or before the property is paid in that case the said Fifty Dollars are not to be paid to her husband or her heirs.

Eigthly I will to my son Stephen Allen plantation I now live upon containing Three Hundred and Fifty Acres There abouts that is after my wifes Decease or after She Should Marry and all that property that should Remain After Satisfying my son John Allen Four Hundred Dollars willed by me to him and Ten Dollars To my Daughter Catherine and Fifty Dollars To my Daughter Rebecca after thare three legesee and deducted and my Just Debts and Funeral expence of Settling My Estate that is after my Wife Decease or after she Should Marry I will to my son Stephen Allen To him and his heirs forever in case he should have no heirs I will the same To his three Brothers and lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint my friends Joshua Smith and my son Stephen Allen Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills or testaments by me here to fore made

In witness whereof I have here un to set my hand and Affixed my seal This Eighteenth day of February Eighteen Hundred and Twenty

his BARNES x ALLEN (Seal) mark

Signed sealed published and Declared as and for the last Will and testament of the Above Named Barnes Allen in presence of us John Righter, Josiah Henderson Sr. William Martin. ^[3]

Burial

Allen Cemetery, Hepzibah, Harrison Co., VA now WV ^[4]

Census Records

Harrison County, Virginia

Bonns Allen [Barnes Allen] [Barns Allen] [Barns Allen]

Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Harrison, Virginia

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 2

Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1

Numbers of Slaves: 1

Number of Household Members Under 16: 2

Number of Household Members Over 25: 2

Number of Household Members: 7 ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Research of Harold Bright, 5/24/1998
2. ↑ Map source by hkwerb1 at ancestry.com
3. ↑ Copy of Will provided by the research of hkwerb1 originally shared this at ancestry.com
4. ↑ Photo of headstone provided by 27withers, ancestry.com
5. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Harrison, Virginia; Roll: 69; Page: 958; Image: 00214; Family History Library Film: 0181429