Drury & William Allen
Sons of Robert Allen

Drury Allen, born 06 April, 1714 in St. Peters, New Kent Co., Virginia; died about 1803 in Person Co., NC. He was the son of Robert Allen and Elizabeth Walker.

Drury married about 1734 and the wife is thought to be Elizabeth Tinsley.

Abstract of the will of Drury Allen shows the wife as Elizabeth. The Tinsley names descends down in this family which indicates a Tinsley connection and most certain the wife Elizabeth was a Tinsley and daughter of Thomas Tinsley.

Drury lived in Lunenburg Co. VA., where his children were born. It appears that Drury moved to North Carolina by 1759 when a land deed states; Drury Allen and wife Elizabeth of the Province of North Carolina sells property in Lunenburg Co. to Terrel Glenn of VA.

Deed Book C, page 470 reveals the following; Drury Allen, late of Lunenburg Co. from William Gowers of Granville Co. NC., for eighty pounds a tract of 910 acres which Drury and his brother William Allen of Hanover Co., VA. have agreed to divide between them. This was June, 1758

In April, 1777 Drury and Elizabeth deed this same 455 acres where upon they live and adjoining William Allen to John Young. Same year Drury purchases land and settles in Caswell Co., and later falls into newly formed Person Co.

There was at this same time in Caswell Co. NC., another Drury Allen who was a nephew to Drury Allen. You can keep the two Drury Allen apart by land deeds and the will of Drury Allen

Children of Drury Allen and Elizabeth Tinsley are:

1. Sarah Allen, born about 1737 Lunenburg Co. VA., died 12 August, 1760 in Granville Co., NC. She married Charles Harris.

2. Elizabeth Allen, born about 1740 Lunenburg Co. VA., married Joseph Wade.

3. David Y. Allen, born 06 June, 1746 Lunenburg Co. VA.


David Y. Allen
Son of Drury and Elizabeth Allen

David Allen, born 06 June, 1746 in Lunenburg Co. VA., died 16 September, 1828 in Person Co., NC. He was the son of Drury Allen and Elizabeth Tinsley.

He married Catherine Lanier about 1770. Catherine Lanier, born 03 July, 1742 NC. and died 12 September, 1832 in Caswell Co. She was the daughter of Thomas Lanier and Elizabeth Hicks.

Children of David Allen and Catherine Lanier are:

1. Elizabeth Allen, born 01 February, 1773, Granville Co., NC.; died 06 March, 1850 in Caswell Co. NC. Elizabeth married 25 March, 1790 Caswell Co. to John Lawson 111.

2. Thomas Tinsley Allen, born 02 April, 1776 Granville Co.
3. Drury Allen, born 18 November, 1778 Caswell Co, NC.
4. William Lanier Allen, born 29 April, 1788 Caswell Co

5. Martha "Patsy" Allen, no information


William Allen
Son of Robert Allen

William Allen son of Robert Allen was born ---------in New Kent Co. VA.

William lived in Hanover Co. Virginia where his children were born and raised. William remained in Virginia several years after his brother Drury moved to North Carolina before he made the move South. William and Drury divided a 910 acre tract of land that was located on Grassy Creek in Granville Co. NC. William lived on this property until his death in 1786.

William married first in Virginia to Mary Ann Owens, daughter of Thomas of VA. After the death of Mary Ann he married Frances Grant. Thomas Grant died in 1734 in Hanover Co. and left the widow with several children, one being Frances. I am not sure if Frances's mother, Isabell Richardson Grant moved to Granville Co. NC., with William and his wife Frances, or she was settled in Granville when Willian and his family arrived. This could be a double reason for William to move to Granville Co. His brother Drury and his Mother-in-law was already in Granville Co. The Grant family history book states that Isabelle Richardson Grant died in Granville Co. NC., in 1773 at the age of 91 years.

Frances Grant Allen lived on the plantation in Granville as provided by the Will of her husband until her death

Will of William Allen

The Will was dated 4 May, 1781 and proved in Court August, 1786.
I, William Allin, of Granville County and the state of North Carolina. Lend to my beloved wife Frances during her natural life the land and plantation whereon I now live together with all my other estate either real or personal with this provision, that in case my wife should marry after my death it is my will and desire that she shall no longer enjoy or possess teh following negroes; Viz, Pompey, Sam and Rusend, the former two of them to go the use of the children of my former wife and the latter to my three sons as shall be herein after directed.

It is also my will and desire that in case my wife should marry after my death a man who be extravagance or any other bad conduct should waste or destroy the estate it shall then be in the power of my executors to divide my negroes among my children in the manner I shall hereafter direct, as also any other part of my estate that may be abused as above mentioned.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughters Ursly Johnson, Susannah Burton, Elizabeth Morgan, Mary Allin and Sarah Walker, the children of my former wife, to be divided amonst them the valuation of my negroes Sam and Pompey as shall be herein directed, together with an equal part of all other movable estate with the children of my latter wife.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Howard the negro Winne and her increase to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto the children of my daughter Ann Howard the valuation of my negro Sarah and her increase, the said valuation to be divided amonst them equally also an equal proporation of all my movable estate with the rest of my living children in the manner my executors may direct.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Isabell Owen my negro Sarah and her increase for her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Frances Allin my negro Hannah and her increase for her and her heirs.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mildred Allin my negro Moses to her and her heirs forver with this provision that if negro Aggy should have any more increase after this date she may have choice of either of the same by placing the above mentioned Moses in the stead of the same.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son William Allin, all my land lying on the north side of Grassy Creek to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Allin all my land lying on spewmarrow Creek above a line run by Thomas Grant for a dividing line betwixt my son Thomas and Grant to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Grant Allen my land whereon I now live lying on Spewmarrow Creek and betwixt Grassy Creek and the above said dividing line to him and his heirs forever.

Tis my desire that Pompey and Rusena shall be sold to the highest bidder amonst the children of my present wife, both to be sold together, the one half of the said price to be divided amonst the children of my former wife, the other to my three sons, Viz; William, Thomas and Grant to be equally divided amonst.

Tis my will also that if negro Aggy should have any more increase after this date the said increase shall be sold to the highest bidder amonst the children of my present wife and the said amount to be equally divided amonst the same. Tis also my desire that my negro man Sam for the benefit of my former children to sold to the higest bidder of the whole of my children and as the manner of the sale of the balance of my movable estate, tis my desire that it may be sold to the higest bidder and five thirteenths of the said amount to be equally divided amonst the children of my former wife and the balance after adjusting all debts and lawful demands against my estate to be equally divided amonst the children of my present wife. Tis my will also that if either of my children should die without issue the the proportation to them allowed shall fall to the survivors of the children of my present wife by an equal distribution.

And I do now constitue and appoint my beloved wife Frances and my three sons, William, Thomas and Grant executors to this my last will and testament as witness my hand and seal this the fourth day of May one thousand seven hundred and eighty one A.D. William Allin

Signed and sealed in the presence of Henry Groves and Joshua Coffee. Granville County, NC., August Court 1786. This will was duly proved by the oath of Henry Groves and ordered to be recorded. Then Grant Allin qualified to the said will.

From the will of William Allin, he made it clear which children were from the first and second marriage.

1. Ursly Allin married Gideon Johnson
2. Susanna Allin married Mr. Burton
3. Elizabeth Allin married John Morgan
4. Mary Allin, married William Allen
5. Sarah Allin married Mr. Walker
6. Hannah Allin married a Groves Howard
7. Isabell Allin married 26 February, 1765 in Granville Co. to Thomas Owen Sr.
8. Frances Allin
9. Mildred Allin married Thomas Berry
10 William Allin married Mary Owen
11 Thomas Allin, born 14 May, 1757 Hanover Co. VA. died in KY.
12 Grant Allin

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