Valentine Allen Family

VALENTINE ALLEN, born 1777 in Unknown Co. probably North Carolina, died in 1850’s ?Rhea Co. Tennessee. He married Frances Collins, daughter of Thomas Collins and Rosanna Dodds, January 09, 1804, Spartanburg Co. South Carolina.

Children of VALENTINE AND FRANCES COLLINS:

 1. PHILIP JEFFERSON ALLEN, b.Feb.27, 1805 Spartanburg, South Carolina d. March 22, 1860, Buda, Hays Co. Texas

2. THOMAS ALEXANDER ALLEN, b. June 03, 1806, Bedford Co. Tn.,d.Unk. young boy Bedford Co. Tn.

3. JOHN DEERING ALLEN, b. February 22, 1808, Bedford Co. Tn.,d.Unk. Jackson Co. Al.

4. VALENTINE ALLEN, JR., b. November 09, 1809, Bedford Co.,d.February 1889, Dayton Rhea Co. Tn.

5. AGNES ALLEN, b. November 11, 1811, Bedford Co.,d.Unk, Co. Unk.

VALENTINE ALLEN had a freight shipping business and left Spartanburg Co. South Carolina in 1806, to escape high taxation by the South Carolina government. The family moved to Bedford Co. Tennessee, according to Census and were large plantation owners. FRANCES COLLINS ALLEN,d. 1811-12 after the birth of daughter Agnes. VALENTINE ALLEN distraught by the death of his wife enlisted in the War of 1812, was in the Battle of New Orleans and shipped goods for the Tennessee Army until 1815,with the rank of 1st. Lt.

Very little information is available on the family after the death of their Mother. The family moved to Rhea Co. in the 1830’s. VALENTINE is shown on the Census in Rhea and Jackson Co. Al. in 1830,40. Much has been written on the accomplishments of the Grandsons: Valentine Collins Allen and William Gibbs Allen, as well as Nicholas Q. Allen, who were prominent citizens of Rhea Co.

PHILIP JEFFERSON ALLEN, first born son of VALENTINE-FRANCES COLLINS ALLEN, GGGrandfather of Gayle Pfeiffer Grantham. PHILIP J. ALLEN, must have had a lonely life since his Mother died when he was only 6 or 7 years old. He was indeed an outstanding first son however. P.J. ALLEN, as he was called in his adult life, moved to Madison Co. Al. and farmed land owned by his family, married JANE WALKER, Dec. 1831 in Madison Co. Al. While living in Alabama, P.J. applied for a Spanish Grant in Texas in 1828. After marrying JANE, P.J. along with a younger brother of JANE WALKER, MARTIN WALKER, moved to Spanish Land grant, “El Mina”, of Ben J. Milam of Tennessee. Later another WALKER brother, WILLIAM W. WALKER would join them.

P.J. Allen, as well as his Brothers in Law fought in the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. P. J. and many of the land grant shipped arms to Ben J. Milam at the Alamo. The WALKERS were rewarded for their services and wounds with smaller land grants in the same area of Texas. P.J. and Jane were unable to move to their acreage after the establishment of the county of Hays, Texas due to Cherokee Indian wars on the property. The Allen family aided the county and Texas Rangers in the wars.

P. J. ALLEN was one of the first Hays Co. Commissioners and was active in community and church activities in the newly formed county. P.J.& JANE were the parents of 9 children. Most of the children married families from the county. The descendents are many and some of the accomplishments include: 2 sons who were Chisholm Trail drivers, 2 sons Confederacy officers in the Civil War, son (George Allen, Gayles Grandfather), record of Hays Co. Sheriff and Texas Ranger, Texas Law enforcement Liquor Board, Hays Co. Commissioners.

This year Gayle, and a cousin from the same lineage, will present a Defender Marker from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to the memory and accomplishments of PHILIP JEFFERSON ALLEN.

Gayle would be happy to exchange any other information that she has on this line.

Contact Gayle Grantham at gayle1937@aol.com