Joshua Barnes Allen Sr. (1728 - 1810)

Born 1728 in Scotland

Husband of Elizabeth (Barnes) Allen — married about 1750 in Hunterdon, New Jersey Colony

Husband of Mary (Duval) Swiger — married 1780 in Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 23 Nov 1810 at about age 82 in Hepzibah, Harrison, Virginia (now WV), USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sharon Baker [send private message]

Biography

Joshua Allen Sr. served with 1st Virginia Regiment (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

This info in my notes is from Harrison county, West Virginia, deed book 3, p 232. The Joshua Allen of Harrison County W.V.(Deed Book 3, Page 232) says: ...one of the legal heirs of the estate of William Allen deceased of Hunterdon, in the state of New Jersey... He is granting Power of Attorney to his son Barnes Allen and his son-in-law Aaron Smith. October 16, 1798.

Marriage

Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth Barnes

Date: abt 1750

Place: Hunterdon County, New Jersey Colony ^[1]

Wills

West Virginia Estate Settlements

Harrison Co., WV (formed 1784)

Joshua ALLEN, Inventory dated Nov 23, 1810

Research

Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement of Virginia ^[2]

VOLUME II, p. 307 - 1787,

August 8, Solomon Townsend and James Townsend, surety. Solomon Townsend and Elizabeth Allen, daughter of Joshua Allen (consent). Teste: :Peter Sanders,

Samuel Tompson.

The Allen Family;

When the Revolutionary War soldier James Townsend was stationed at Nutter's Fort on his fourth tour, he became acquainted with the Joshua Allen family. In 1775, Joshua Allen settled at what is now Hepzibah but was then the Allen farm, five miles outside of Clarksburg. Joshua Allen owned 350 acres on the West Fork of the Monongahela River, adjoining lands claimed by John Simpson, this land was to include his settlement made in 1775, and a preemption right to 1000 acres adjoining (History of Harrison County, West Virginia, by Henry Haymond, 1910, p.32). John Wilson, 400 acres, on both sides of West Fork of Monongahela River, adjoining lands of Joshua Allen, to include his settlement made in 1775 (p. 32, ibid).

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 (p. 144, ibid). This was on the opposite side of town from Elk Creek where James Townsend eventually settled. James probably made several returns to Clarksburg after his tour of 1779, in his courtship with Catherine, born Oct. 10, 1761, daughter of Joshua Allen. They were married Jan. 20, 1784, probably eloping to a yet unknown place back east, since their marriage is not on record at any logical archive deposit. After their honeymoon, they settled on the Back Creek of Jackson River, Augusta County, now Bath, where James had purchased 153 acres of land on November 21, 1780.

Solomon Townsend;

Perhaps it was due to Catherine's need for a "nanny" that her sister Elizabeth Allen came to Back Creek from her father's homestead near Clarksburg. As it is, James' brother Solomon obtained a marriage bond on August 8th, 1787 and married Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua Allen. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Archibald Scott. The church for which Rev. Archibald Scott was pastor is the Bethel Church, located five miles outside of Durbin, which is now Pocahontas Co., WV. (EHB)^[3]

"Joshua Allen was a widower when he married Mary Swiger, a widow who's husband had died at sea on a voyage to Germany. Soon after John William Swiger's presumed death at sea, Mary remarried to Joshua Allen, a widower at Fort Pitt (now Pittsburg), Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the 1780's.

After their marriage, Mary and Joshua, along with both of their families, came down the Monongahela and the West Fork Rivers to take up a land grant on the West Fork River near Hepzibah, Harrison County, Virginia (presently West Virginia) before 1790, and here on this farm they spent the remainder of their lives.

Joshua Allen died near Hepzibah, WV, (c) Novermber 1810, at the age of about eighty-two. He apparently died intestate; however, and inventory of his estate is recorded in Harrison County, WV and dated November 23, 1810. (Harrison County will book 1, page 443).

Mary was a homemaker and the mother of 7 children.

Excerpt from Swiger Family History by Ira L. Swiger, located in the New Martinsville, WV Public Library^[4]

Nola lists the following:

• Mary Allen wife

• James Allen son

• Sarah Allen mother
• Joseph Allen father

• Christopher Columbus Swiger stepson
• John Swiger stepson
• Eve Allen (Swiger) stepdaughter
• Elizabeth Kelly stepdaughter
• Luvinia Ash stepdaughter
• Jacob Swiger stepson
• Mary Ann McCamie stepdaughter
• Everson Swiger stepson

The following is what Cathie Musser has shown citing Swiger Genealogy by Ira Swiger, page 15.:^[5]

Notes for John William Swiger: Descendants of John William Swiger Generation One 1.John William1 SWIGER; Born circa 1730 at Germany; married Mary (--?--) before 1750 at Germany. He and Mary (--?--) immigrated to America from Germany and first settled in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1755, where all but one child was born. Then they removed to Fayette County, Pennsylvania.John William, during the Rev War was engaged in Mercantile pursuits, and had a large distillery in Greene County, Pennsylvania, where he made a large amount of money. His executors invested the money that was obtain by John William in a large track of land, in what is now Barbour County, West Virginia. The heirs of this land failed to look after and pay the taxes and revenues upon it, and the land reverted to the government. John William, finding that his stock of wares was becoming short, and desiring to replenish it -- sailed back to his homeland for that purpose, and was never heard from again. It is assumed that he was lost at sea during this trip. Mary, his wife, then married Joshua Barnes Allen, a Scotchman and widower, who had one son, Barnes, that was born in Scotland, who married Eve Swiger, the daughter of John William and Mary Swiger. Mary and her second husband, Joshua Allen removed to the Katy's Run, Clay District, Harrison County, West Virginia and then to the Allen Farm near Hepzibah, where they spent the rest of their lives

DAR Record

ALLEN, JOSHUA B

Ancestor #: A001723

Service: VIRGINIA Rank: PRIVATE

Birth: CIRCA 1728 SCOTLAND

Death: ANTE 11-23-1810 HARRISON CO VIRGINIA

Service Source: NARA, M246, REV WAR ROLLS 1775-1783, ROLL #95

Service Description: 1) CAPT MINNIS, 1ST & 10TH REGTS

Spouse: MARY SWIGER born on c - - 1725 at Hunterdon Co NJ died at Hunterdon Co NJ on p 1 - Oct - 1757 married on - - 1751

Children:

• BARNES married EVE SWIGER

Barnes Allen born on 1 - Oct - 1757 at Scotland died at Harrison Co VA on p 18 - Feb - 1820 and his ( 1st ) wife Eve Swiger born on - - 1761 at Loudin Co VA died at Harrison Co VA on p - - 1820 married on a - - 1787

• SARAH married AARON, SR. SMITH

Aaron Smith born on 21 - Mar - 1751 at Hampshire Co VA died at Harrison Co VA on 11 - Oct - 1826 and his ( 1st ) wife Sarah Allen born on 3 - Apr - 1753 at Mercer Co NJ died at Harrison Co VA on 6 - Apr - 1837 married on 3 - Apr - 1772 married at Frederick Co VA ^[6]

NOTE: The above information on Mary Swiger was gleaned from all records for this Joshua Allen listed on 12 June 2015.

Census Records

1810

Dumfries, Prince William, Virginia

NOTE: Not sure if this record is for this Joshua.

Joshua Allen Event Place: Dumfries, Prince William, Virginia ^[7]

Name: Joshua Allen

Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Dumfries, Prince William, Virginia

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1

Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1

Number of Household Members Under 16: 2

Number of Household Members Over 25: 2

Number of Household Members: 4 ^[8]

A James Allen in Harrison County:

Name: James Allan [James Allen]

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

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 3

Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44 : 1

Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2

Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2

Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1

Number of Household Members Under 16: 8

Number of Household Members Over 25: 2

Number of Household Members: 10 ^[9]

1820

Harrison, Virginia

NOTE: Unknown if this is this Joshua Allen...and at the top of the image, which is in two sections it states Free Colored? Do not know if this pertains to the bottom section of the image.

It is definitely not the son Joshua Barnes Allen, because he died in February of 1820, according to the profile, and this was enumerated in August of 1820. There is also no Eve Allen listed in the 1820 Virginia Census...several Eliza, and Elizabeths in Virginia, not Harrison County though.

Joshua Allen Event Place: Not Stated, Harrison, Virginia ^[10]

Name: Joshua Allen

Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Harrison, Virginia

Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820

Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1

Number of Persons - Engaged in Commerce: 1

Free White Persons - Under 16: 1

Free White Persons - Over 25: 2

Total Free White Persons: 3

Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 3 ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Title: U.S. & International Marriage Records; Date: 1560-1900; Location: Ancestry.com
2. ↑ Lyman Chalkley, 1980
3. ↑ Source: Harold Bright
4. ↑ Nola Ann Wilson Joshua B. Allen, Last Updated: February 14, 2015 http://www.geni.com/people/Joshua-Allen/6000000002847961943 Accessed 12 June 2015
5. ↑ Cathie Musser, John William Swiger (b. Abt. 1730, d. 1780), http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/m/u/s/Cathie-Musser-CA/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0024.html Accessed 12 June 2015
6. ↑ DAR Genealogical Research, http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A001723
7. ↑ Page Number: 290 Line Number: 90 Affiliate Publication Number: M252 , Affiliate Film Number: 70 , GS Film number: 0181430 , Digital Folder Number: 004433236 , Image Number: 00551 "United States Census, 1810," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH28-DT4 : accessed 12 June 2015), Joshua Allen, Dumfries, Prince William, Virginia; citing p. 290, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 70; FHL microfilm 181,430.
8. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Dumfries, Prince William, Virginia; Roll: 70; Page: 290; Image: 00551; Family History Library Film: 0181430
9. ↑ Year: 1810; Census Place: Harrison, Virginia; Roll: 69; Page: 952; Image: 00209; Family History Library Film: 0181429
10. ↑ Page Number: 86 Affiliate Publication Number: M33 , Affiliate Film Number: 138 , GS Film number: 0193697 , Digital Folder Number: 004433182 , Image Number: 00100 "United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLZ-XDT : accessed 12 June 2015), Joshua Allen, Not Stated, Harrison, Virginia; citing p. 86, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 138; FHL microfilm 193,697.
11. ↑ 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Harrison, Virginia; Page: 86; NARA Roll: M33_138; Image: 100

• From DAR Patriot Index

POB listed as Hunterdon, NJ in Find A Grave. Find A Grave #142277484

Sources listed by other researchers:

• Harrison County Will Book 1 page 443
• HISTORY OF THE SWIGER FAMILY pgs. 10-13
• A HISTORY OF NORTHERN HARRISON COUNTY pg 64.