James H. M. Allred (abt. 1799 - 1898)

Born about Oct 1799 in Kentucky, USA

Husband of Eliza (Watts) Allred — married 12 Sep 1833 (to 1852) in Jefferson County, Alabama

Husband of Mary N. (Goodmeir) Allred — married about 4 Mar 1852 in Shelby Co., Tennessee [uncertain]

Husband of Hestor Jane (Herron) Allred — married 3 Nov 1889 in Fayette, Alabama

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ronny Mauldin [send private message]

Biography

Most of what we know about James H. M. Allred comes from US Federal censuses on himself, his children and his presumed brother Isaac. There is also a cryptic note generated in a discussion with his grandson that is used to pin down his birth date and two land grants which provide little insight into his life. So this biography is primarily an interpretation of census data.

BIRTH DATE - October 1799
His ages vary in the censuses with him typically getting younger each time. In the Duke Genealogy Bible Notes (see images), it shows him being born in 17--. When I asked the note writer, Mildred Duke Mauldin, about the entry... she said that her father only knew that he was born before 1800.
Here is the census data:
1840 - This is the first census we found on him and it shows him to be 40 to 50 years old... so born after 1790 and before 1800.
1850 - This census shows him to be 51 years old, and since the census was in November, he would be born prior to November 1799.
1860 - This census shows him to be 56 years old, so born 1805.
1870 - This census shows him to be 58 years old, so born 1812.
1880 - This census shows him to be 75 years old, so born October 1805.
So the preponderance of information would indicate that he was born in October 1799, but when he married his second wife... my guess is that he told her he was born in 1805.

BIRTH LOCATION - Kentucky, the part which became Tennessee.
On the censuses, the birth location is also a moving target:
1850 - Tennessee
1860 - Tennessee
1870 - Alabama
1880 - Kentucky
Most of the censuses of his children show him born in Tennessee. The census of his presumed brother, Isaac, is shown born in Kentucky. In an internet search, I found a group of Allreds that migrated to a southern part of Kentucky prior to 1806. After a border dispute resolution with Tennessee, the result is that the same group of Allreds were in Tennessee.[1][2]
So my best guess is that James was born in a part of Kentucky that later became Tennessee.

BIRTH LOCATION - A CLUE TO PARENTAGE
The birth location may also be a clue as to the parents of James... in the 1880 census, he shows them both being born in Kentucky. Based upon moments of this group [3], my guess at the time of this writing that they were not born in Kentucky, but rather North Carolina. Perhaps with autosomal or Y DNA we may be able to link an Allred family in this area of Kentucky/Tennessee.

LONGEVITY GENE - ANOTHER CLUE TO PARENTAGE
A GGG grandson of James has tested positive for the Eastern European Ashkenazi Jew longevity gene (Rs5882) [4] and I have traced it back to James as the gene carrier. People with a single allele of this gene tend to live from 93 to 99 years old. Since this is unusual, we can possibly use it as a tool to identify one of the parents of James who must have been a carrier with a genetic tendency for long life (93 to 99). Here is how I have traced it back to James:
• John Mauldin (alive and tested Rs5882 positive) [5]
• Mildred Duke Mauldin (lived to 97)[6]
• James Parker Duke (lived to 98)[7]
• Malinda Allred Duke (lived to 83)[8]
• James H. M. Allred (lived 94 to 99([9]
Note that sometimes, other factors can cause premature death (see Malinda above).
But the bottom line is that if we can find a pattern of longevity in another Allred group, this may very well lead us to the parents of James and presumed brother Isaac Allred. To be clear, the Rs5882 gene carrier could either be the father Allred or the wife of this Allred.

Marriage To Eliza Watts [10]
Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957
Name: James Alred
Spouse's Name: Eliza Watts
Event Date: 12 Sep 1833
Event Place: Jefferson County, Alabama
(Note: This factoid is further collaborated by the Duke Genealogy Bible Notes (see images) that shows Jim Allred was married to Louisa Watts or Watson. It also fits with the birth of their children.)

OCCUPATION & MIGRATION
On the 1850 census, he is listed as a Sawyer (one who operates a saw mill). In 1860 census, he is listed as a Mechanic (presumably mill mechanic) and in 1870/1880 census, he is listed as a Farmer. So for the earlier part of his life, he was likely migrating to find work.
Per the 1840 census he was in Marion county, Alabama probably working as a Sawyer in one of the four sawmills located in the county (see 1840 data in sources).
Here is a portion of his likely migration path:
• Kentucky/Tennessee - 1799 to before ?
• Mississippi - In the 1850 census, "all" the children are listed as born in Mississippi. I suspect that it is "some" of the older children since Malinda, born 1843, always later states in life that she was born in Tennessee. More research needs to be done on the other children from the first marriage.
• Alabama - The 1840 census is in Marion, Alabama.
• Tennessee - The 1850 census is in Shelby, Tennessee. Probably arrived by 1843.
• Mississippi - The 1860 census shows children born in Mississippi, presumably in Monroe County since some of the older children from the first wife remain there.
• Alabama - The 1860/1870/1880 censuses were all in Alabama.
A larger part of James' life was lived in the three adjoining counties[11] of Monroe, MS; Marion, AL; and Fayette, AL; which is meaningful when trying to piece together the lives of his children.

DEATH DATE - So far we have found nothing official about his death and no grave marker. In the Duke Genealogy Bible Notes (see images), it shows he died in 1893. Other undocumented sources have him dead in 1898. Since he was married for the third time on 28 Oct 1889, his death was after this date.

Possible Father - James Allred
FamilySearch shows a very poorly documented father for James H M Allred (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/LCSB-7M2). I discuss this here because even though I can't verify the listing nor disprove it, there are some things that seem to fit:

1) I have the longevity gene and have determined that it is highly likely to have come via James H.M. Allred. The James Allred shown in that link died at 102 years old... a possible candidate for longevity.

2) Alabama Near Tennessee River Connections - James H M Allred was married in Jefferson County, Alababa in 1833. Shortly thereafter, he left there to go to Memphis, Tn for work as a "Sawyer" and where his first daughter was born in 1834. He was still in Memphis in 1850. The 1860 census shows children born in Mississippi, presumably in Monroe County since some of the older children from the first wife remain there. The 1860/1870/1880 censuses were all in Madison, Alabama. The possible father, James Allred, d1847, is shown in Blount, Al. Looking at the map,it is not clear how they connect until I studied the Tennesse River. Memphis, TN is downstream from Madison County, AL. Madison is downstream from Blount County, AL. Part of Blount County became part of Jefferson County, AL. Pieces of the puzzle are starting to form.

On studying the history of Blount County, AL, I came across this document on Blount County History... http://home.hiwaay.net/~bobwonda/books/stuff/blounthistory.htm Here is a quote from this document< "The troops from Tennessee that invaded the Creeks in 1812, marched through Madison County, on their way to Baird's Bluff Deposit, and made a wagon road to that place (which is near the Blount County line;) but Gen. Coffee's mounted detachment continued up through Brown's Valley and Blountsville Valley on its way against Old Town".

So not only is Madison County connected by the Tennessee river... this quote also shows that the War of 1812 reached Blount.

From https://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/brief-history-tennessee-war-1812, I learned that "one regiment of volunteer mounted gunmen under Colonel John Coffee. Coffee’s men rendezvoused at Columbia, Tennessee".

From https://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/regimental-histories-tennessee-units-during-war-1812

"Winston's company (is) from Madison County, Alabama"

Not sure what all this means... but put this out in hopes that together we find more pieces of the puzzle.

Explanation of Entries

First Name - Listed as "James" in the 1850, 1870 & 1880 US censuses.

Middle Names - He is listed as J H M Alred in the 1860 US census and as James H M Allred in the 1880 US census. There seems to be much speculation of the names behind the "H & M".
H - For the "H", some list as "Hellard" , but we can find no credible source. Also for the "H", in a biographical sketch submitted to a "Heritage" book names him as James Henry M. Allred. [Rita Strom, "James Henry M. Allred," in The Heritage of Fayette County, Alabama (Clanton, AL: Heritage Publishing Consultants, 1999), p. 115.]
M - For the "M", we have seen both "Madison" with no source and "Monroe" citing the name of his son.
If you have any evidence on the middle names of James H. M. Allred, please share it with us.

Nickname - In the Duke Genealogy Bible Notes (see images), it shows "Jim". The family of his son James Monroe Allred Jr. refer to him as Jim Jr.

Timeline

1799 - Born in Kentucky (1880 Census). Other censuses say born in Tennessee. This may help us located the census of his father.
12 Sep 1833 - Marriage to Eliza (Louisa) Watts in Jefferson County Alabama.
1834 to 1845 - First round of Children born in Mississippi. (1850 Census)
1850 - Working in Shelby County, TN as a sawyer. (1850 Census)
[12]
1850 to 1852 - First wife Louisa either died or they divorced. (calculated)
March 4, 1852 - Married to second wife, Mary. (gleaned from other trees)
1853 - Son James was born in MS. (1860 Census)
1857 - Son William was born in MS. (1860 Census)
Dec 1859 - Daughter Melissa was born in MS. (1860 Census)
Jun 1860 - Had moved to Fayette, AL. (1860 Census)
July 1860 - First land grant received in Fayette, AL
[13]
Dec 1, 1860 - Second land grant received in Fayette, AL
[14]
1862 - Daughter Louisa was born in AL. (1870 Census)
Sep 1864 - Daughter Sefrona/Eliza was born in AL. (1870/80 Census) I am not sure if this is one or two people.
1870 to 1880 - Daughter Louisa missing or died.
1880 - Maybe there is a second page of the census?
May 26, 1883 - Wife Mary died.
November 3, 1889 - Married third wife Hester.
1893 to 1898 - Informal dates of death. One source says 1893 and another says 1898.

Sources

CENSUS & GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION DATA

Alabama 1830

1840 Marion county, Alabama
   Situated towards the N. W. part of the state and contains 1144 sq. m. Drained by branches of Tombigbee river, which flows to Mobile (Gulf of Mexico); and by Bear Creek, which flows into Tennessee river, which flows to the Mississippi river (Gulf of Mexico). In 1830, Marion's northern boundary was the Tennessee river.
   In 1840, the Tombigbee river was navigable from the Gulf of Mexico to Cotton Gin Port in Monroe County Mississippi, which is just across the AL/MS state border from Marion County. The Tennessee river was navigable and upstream to Paduca, KY; Memphis, TN; Vicksburg, MS; Baton Rouge, LA; New Orleans, LA; and the Gulf of Mexico. Both these waterways were primary routes of commerce and travel in 1840.
   In 1840, it contained 12,266 cattle, 4315 sheep, 13,009 swine; and produced 17,467 bushels of wheat, 2,120 of rye, 113,490 of Indian corn, 4,325 of oats, 4,153 of potatoes, 1,100 pounds of tobacco, 118,064 of cotton. It had eight stores, eight grist-mills, four saw mills, two tanneries, three distilleries. Pop: whites, 5094; slaves, 753; total, 5,847. Capital, Pikeville. ^[1]

1840 CENSUS - James Alread (Allred) Marion Co, AL, Page 59[15]
• Males, 5-10, 1 (per 1850 census, son Isaac is 3)
• Males, 20-30, 1 (Unknown Allred son or brother to James?)
• Males, 40-50, 1 (per 1850 census, James Allred is 41)
• Females, <5, 1 (per 1850 census, Martha Allred is 1)
• Females, 5-10, 1 (per 1850 census, Mary Allred is 6)
• Females, 15-20, 1 (Unknown Allred daughter, daughter-in-law or sister to James?)
Females, 40-50, 1 (per 1850 census, Louisa Allred is 36)
Total 7 persons
Next to the census entry for James Allred is a census entry of presumed brother Isaac Allred.

1850 CENSUS - James Allred, 10th Civil District, Shelby Co, TN, 27 Nov 1850[16]
• James Allred, age 51, born circa 1799 before November in TN. Occupation Sawyer.
• Louisa Allred, age 45, born circa 1805 in TN.
• Mary Allred, age 16, born circa 1834 in MS.
• Isaac Allred, age 13, born circa 1837 in MS.
• Martha Allred, age 11, born circa 1839 in MS.
• Elizabeth Allred, age 9, born circa 1841 in MS.
• Melinda Allred, age 6, born circa 1844 in MS.
• Emily Allred, age 4, born circa 1846 in MS.

1860 CENSUS - James Allred, East District, Fayette Co, AL, 23 Jun 1860[17]
• James Allred, age 56, born circa 1804 in TN. Occupation Mechanic.
• Mary Allred, age 40, born circa 1820 in TN.
• James Allred, age 7, born circa 1853 in MS.
• William Allred, age 3, born circa 1857 in MS.
• M Allred, age 6/12, female, born Dec 1859 in MS.

1870 CENSUS - James Allred, Township 15, Fayette Co, AL, 13 Jul 1870[18]
• James Allred, age 58, born circa 1804 in TN. Occupation Farmer.
• Mary Allred, age 48, born circa 1822 in TN.
• James Allred, age 15, born circa 1855 in MS.
• William Allred, age 12, born circa 1858 in MS.
• Mallissa Allred, age 11, born circa 1859 in MS.
• Louisa Allred, age 8, born circa 1862 in AL.
• Sefrana Allred, age 5, born circa 1865 in AL.

1880 CENSUS - James Allred, Township 15, Fayette Co, AL, 10 Jun 1880[19]
• James H. M. Allred, age 75, born circa 1805 in KY. Occupation Farmer.
• Mary N. Allred, age 60, born circa 1820 in TN.
• Malisa Allred, age 19, born circa 1861 in MS.
• Eliza Allred, age 16, born circa 1864 in AL.

1. ↑ McCulloch’s Universal Gazetteer: Vol. 2, John Ramsay McCulloch, Published by Harper & Brothers, New York, 1855 – Transcribed by Veneta McKinney