James Allen, Chickasaw Indian Agent, son of William Allen

William Allen
Surry Co. Virginia

Special thanks to Betty Haley of TX., for supplying much of the information on this page. She submitted most of the material on James Allen and his two wives, with documentation.

William Allen was born in Virginia. Some records states he resided "Claremont," Surry Co. VA. He would have been born about 1720-1725. Nothing more is known about William Allen

The only thing known is that William Allen had at least one son, James Allen who was born about 1760 in VA. and died 1835 in Toccopola, Chickasaw Indian Territory, Pontotoc Co, MS. He was known as "Jim" Allen. There is a reference to a William Allen a Cherokee trader named William Allen described in 1797 as being too old to be of service. Who is this William Allen? Is he the father of James and in old age came to live with or be near his son?

From various printed records it is known that James Allen was educated at William and Mary College in Williamburg, VA.

Jim probably came to MS via NC from VA., and at one time was an attorney in Nashville, Davidson Co, TN. He gambled and drank heavily; and having failed in the law business in Nashville, followed the Natchez Trace into the IT, where he eventually went to work as a subagent for Malcolm McGee, who ran the Choctaw agency.

Jim may have married and had sons, William and Joseph before he left for Indian Territory.

There are two recorded Power Of Attorneys in Davidson Co. TN., in Volume 1, 1784-1794 in County Clerk Records

Record #137 Allen, James applied for POA
Record #139 Allen, James applied for POA
Record #141 Allen, Marget applied for POA

Register of Deeds, Volume A, 1784-1787, Davidson Co, TN.
Allen, James Book I
Allen, Margot Book I

The record above indicates that James and Margot Allen bought or sold land. Since James and Maget Allen both applied for a POA about the same time from the record number listed, could indicate she was his wife and if they exchanged POA's about the time he went into the Indian Territory and never bothered to return.

James married Susan Colbert Before 1794 in Chickasaw Indian Territory, MS., daughter of James Colbert and (Unnamed). She was born in Pontotoc Co., Chickasaw Indian Territory, MS., and died before 1835 in Pontotoc Co., Chickasaw Indian Territory, MS. He married (2) Betsy Love about 1797 in MS., daughter of Thomas Love and Sally Colbert. She died 05 September, 1837 in Toccopola, Indian Territory, Pontotoc Co., MS.

Who Was Who Among the Southern Indians - A genealogical Notebook, 1698-1907 by Don Martini, pages 16 and 17

Allen, James - white resident among the Chickasaws, is said to have been a native of North Carolina, an attorney, and once a resident of Nashville, but there is no evidance to support any of those statements. More often than not he has been confused with John L. Allen, who lived among the tribe at the same time and was a longtime subagent. James was in the Chickasaw country by 1793 (1). (Deposition of James Allen, April 16, 1819, Deed Book 1 page 115, Monroe Co, MS)

One man named Allen married Susan Colbert, daughter of trader James Colbert, and had a daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Allen, who married Simon Burney (2)(Warren, "Chickasaw Chiefs", 569). James did marry in 1797 or 1798, taking as his wife Elizabeth "Betsy" Love, daughter of trader Thomas Love (3)(Howard, Mississippi Reports, Vol 2). In 1803 he was living eight miles north of the Chickasaw agency, which at the time was located at present Houlka, Mississippi. A visitor stopped there in 1807 and noted that though Allen had been brought up among the Indians, he was nevertheless a gentleman. Allen's wife, the writer noted, had "a fair skin, a fine figure, and good manners" (4)(NTPS, 10). Another visitor stopped there in 1812. Allen was not at home, and "His wife though nearly all white will not talk English. She says she cannot talk it right and the people will laugh at her" (5)(Phelps, "Diary of a Chaplain,", 264-281). Allen was admitted to the Monroe Church near Pontotoc on June 14, 1828, was listed on the 1830 Monroe County, Mississippi, census (age over 60), and was suspended from the Monroe church on April 4, 1834 (6) (Winston, Father Stuart, 32, 40-41). He died about 1835.

James and Betsy Allens children are listed on the deed made by Betsy on 14 November, 1829. They were in order of appearance. Sally, George, Alexander, Mississippi, Louisiana, Susan, Tennessee, Polly, Elizabeth and Samuel Allen. The deed was witnessed by subagent John L. Allen, Gabriel W. Long, and Martin Colbert; Deed Book 2 page 196, Pontotoc Co, MS; Deed Book 3 page 17, Monroe Co, MS.

James was a member of the Monroe Presbyterian Church/Mission operated by the Rev T C Stuart/Stewart on land donated by Chief William Colbert and was located in Pontotoc Co, MS. Many of the Colberts and both John L Allen and James Allen were members of this church.

James either owned or co-owned a tavern in Pontotoc, MS. Both James and subagent John L Allen both operated the tavern. It has not been established the relationship between these two men, but they are thought to be related in some way, and perhaps cousins.

Children of James Allen and Susan Colbert are:

1. Margaret or Peggy Allen, born in Chickasaw Indian Territory, MS., she married Simon Burney in Chickasaw Indian Territory, Ms. He died 1842. They had two children:

2. Mississippi Allen, born 1812 in Chickasaw Indian Territory, MS/AL; died 1865. She married (1) Charles Colbert in MS Or AL; the the son of Levi Colbert and Minetehoya. He was born in Chickasaw Indian Territory, and died Between 1841-1842 in Chickasaw IT. OK. She married (2) Jackson Juzan.

    Rebecca Colbert

Children of James Allen and Betsy Love are:

3. Sally Allen, born February 10, 1808 in Chickasaw Indian Territory, Ms/Al; died December 02, 1854.

4. George G Allen, married Charity Colbert, daughter of Levi Colbert and Minetehoya. She was born 1805 in Chickasaw IT. MS. George resided in Shelby Co., TN in 1830's. As of August 12, 1838 he owned land located northeast of Horn Lake, DeSoto CO, MS. He moved west in 1841 as self-emigrating Chickasaw.

Children of George Allen and Charity Colbert are:

    Martin Allen
    Elsie Allen, married Zecharia Colbert
    Emily Allen, married Robert L Boyd

5. Alexander M Allen, died 1847. Notes for Alexander M Allen "heirs of A M Allen" listed on 1847 Chickasaw census as being half-white and included 1 male under 18, two females under 26 and one female over 16.

6. Louisiana Allen, died 1844 in DeSoto Co, MS.
7. Susan Allen, married (1) John Guest they were residing in Miller Col AR., 1837 and 1840. John died after 1840 in Probably Miller CO, AR. She married (2) David Wall after 1840.

8. Tennessee Allen, she married Richard Overton
9. Polly Allen, married Henry Bacon
10 Elizabeth Allen, married (1) Wilson Love and (2) William Brown.
11 Samuel Allen, married Mary Bailey 04 June, 1831 in Shelby CO, TN.
12 Mourning Allen, born August 22, 1833 in MS; died in OK IT. She married (1) Maxwell T Frazier and (2) Charles E Gooding. Mourning moved west with her brother George in 1841.

melbaallen36@aol.com"

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