The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia

THE RICHARD ALLEN FAMILY OF PHILADELPHIA by Aaron Goodwin nphe life and accomplishments of Richard Allen, first bishop of the JL African Methodist Episcopal Church, have been reported by Allen himself,1 by historians and biographers,2 and by this journal/ but no genealogy has been published, other than a little-known 2001 article by descendants of Richard and Sarah (Hass) Allen through their daughter Mary Ann (Allen) Adams and granddaughter Sarah Jane (Adams) Ken¬ nedy, on whose line they focus their attention. i In his memoir Allen says little about his parents and siblings. Aaron Goodwin (aarongoodwin©!mac.com) is coeditor of tile Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, director of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania |GSP|, contributing editor to the New York Genealogical and biographical Record, and tile American Society of Genealogists' Scholar for 2011. Thanks to Margaret Jcrrido, archi¬ vist at Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; Rev. Alfred T. Day and Donna Miller of Historic St. George’s United Methodist Church; Mic Barnette of the Dallas Public Library, who discovered Peter Allen's Texas records; and Kelvin I.. Meyers, who obtained copies in Austin. Richard Allen, The l.ife, Experience, and Gospel labours of the Rl. Rev. Richard Allen: To W hich Is Annexed the Rise and Progress of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the I baled Stales of America. Condoning a Narrative of the Yellow lever in the Year of Our lord i 79,i: With an Address to the People of Colour in the I bided States (Philadelphia: Martin & Bodcn, 1833), 3-6. An electronic edition is transcribed for the University of North Carolina— Chapel Hill digitization project, "Documenting the Ameri¬ can South " (docsouth.unc.edu/neh/allen/allen.html). An 1880 reprint by T. Lord and M. A. Riply is on googlcbooks. Pagination varies between editions. Treatments of Richard Allen include: Charles II. Wesley, Richard Allen, Apostle of Freedom (Washington: The Associated Publishers, Inc., 1933); Dec Andrews, "’The Afri¬ can Methodists of Philadelphia, 1794-1802,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and biography, 108( 1984):471-86; Gary B. Nash, "New Light of Richard Allen: The Early Years of Freedom,” William and Mary Quarterly, Third Series 46(1989):332-40; Dee Andrews, The Methodists and Revolutionary America, 1760- 1b()(): The Shaping of an Evangelical Culture (Princeton. N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2000); Richard S. Newman, Freedom's Prophet: bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the black Founding Fathers (New York: New York University Press, 2008). Aaron Goodwin, "Richard Allen, First Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,” PGM 46(2010):197-2 1 2. 1 Katharine B. Dockens and Vivian A’. B. Studevan, "In the Shadow of Their Ances¬ tors: the Descendants of Richard and Sarah Allen,” A.M.F.. Church Review 117(2001): 14-24. The article includes biographical details about relationships, education, occupa¬ tions, and avocations for most descendants of the Kennedy couple through the living generations. Many of these descendants have frequently returned to their Philadelphia roots and Mother Bethel, often representing the Allen family at various functions. ■ - Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 (2011) 23 26 Pen myl vania ( lenect logical Magazi 11 e Vol. 47 I was born in the year of our Lord 1760, on February 14th, a slave to Benja¬ min Chew, of Philadelphia. My mother and father and four children of us were sold into Delaware state, near Dover; and 1 was a child and lived with him until 1 was upwards of twenty years of age My mother and father lived with him for many years. He was brought into difficulty, not being able to pay for us, and mother having several children after he had bought us, he sold my mother and three children. My mother sought the Lord and found favor with him, and became a very pious woman. There were three children of us remained with our old master. My oldest brother embraced religion and my sister.”’ Family lore says that Richard’s father was African and his mother mulatto.6 Only one sibling of his lias been identified by name: his brother John, who was a trustee of Mother Bethel when it opened in 1794 and who lived at that time with Richard at ISO Spruce Street.7 During the yel¬ low fever epidemic of 1793, five men were called in to assist Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and William Gray, two of whom were identified as Richard’s unnamed brothers.8 GF:NF:AI OGICAL SUMMARY 1. RICHARD ALLEN was born at 2:00 AM, 1 4 February 1760,9 in Philadel¬ phia or Kent County, Delaware,10 and died at 5:40 PM, 26 March 1831, in Philadelphia.11 He married first before 10 August 1792 (deed) FLORA K| | (marriage record). Flora was born about 1755 in Virginia (Pennsyl¬ vania Abolition Society records) and died I 1 March 1801 in Philadelphia (obituaries). He married second 12 or 13 August 1801 in Philadelphia — s Allen, Richard Allen |note 1 1, 3-6. Newman, Freedom s Prophet |note 2], 6. 6 Newman, Freedom's Prophet (note 2], 89. Goodwill, “Richard Allen" [note 31, PGM 46:208, citing Philadelphia Gazelle and Universal Daily Advertiser, volume I 1, #1776 (28 June 1794), 2. 8 A|bsalom] J|ones] and R|ichard] A|lien ] , A Narrative of the Proceedings of the lllack People, during the late Awful Calamity in Philadelphia, in the Year, /79.1 and a Refutation of Some Censures, Thrown upon Them in Some late Publications (Philadelphia: printed for the authors; London: reprinted and sold by Darton and Har¬ vey, No. SS Gracechurch-Street, 1794), 4. 0 Richard Allen certificate of character, 27 August 1783, Pennsylvania Abolition Society |PAS| Manumissions, etc., on microfilm XR49L9 at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania |HSP|. 10 Allen’s birth place has been debated. Allen himself created some of this conflict in his memoir, referring to being born “a slave to Benjamin Chew, of Philadelphia," [note 5 1 and later referring to leaving his "native Delaware” in September 178.3 I note 8], Chew’s famous home, Cliveden, was not built until 1767 (eliminating the third hypothesis of a birth in Germantown); but Chew maintained a home in Philadelphia and three plantations in Kent County, Delaware. 11 Newman, Freedom's Prophet [note 21, 289, citing Paulson's American Daily Advertiser, 3 1 March 18.31. 201 1 The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 27 SARAH (— ) BASS (newspaper notices). Sarah was born about 1764 in Vir¬ ginia12 and died l6july 1849 in Philadelphia (inventory). While Allen’s first wife is known to have been named Flora, two essen¬ tial details have remained in question: when were they married, and what was Flora’s maiden name? The marriage is recorded in the register of St. George’s Methodist Fpiscopal church: 1 795 Octr 19— Joined in the Bands of Matrimony Richd Allin & |damaged) »!????] of this City.1' The entry is squeezed in at the top of a page in a different hand than that of the other entries around it, and no minister is given for this par¬ ticular entry (an exception), so it remains unclear when and by whom it was written. A 10 August 1792 deed, however, clearly shows Richard and Flora were married by that date. Richard’s acknowledgment and Flora’s dower release were given three years later. This Indenture made the tenth day of August in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two Between Richard Allen of the City of Philadelphia trader and Flora his wife of the one part and Joseph Lewis of the said City yoeman of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Richard Allen and his wife Flora . . . have granted, bargained, sold . . . unto the said Joseph Lewis ... A lot or piece of Ground situate on the East side of Deleware Sixth Street and North side of Lombard Street . . . (being part of a larger lot of Ground which Mark Wilcox and Mary his wife granted and conveyed unto the said Richard Allen his heirs and assigns forever). . . . [signed] Rich¬ ard Allen, Flora (her x mark) Allen The twenty eight day of December Anno Domini 1795. Before me Edward Shippen Esquire one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Penn¬ sylvania Came the above named Richard Allen and Flora his wife and acknowledged the above written Indenture to be their act and deed and desired the same may be recorded as such, The said Flora thereunto Volun¬ tarily consenting she being of full age secretly and apart from her said hus¬ band by me examined and the lull contents thereof being first made known to her. Witness my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. 11 The loss of Flora’s surname in St. George’s register is a crucial blow to finding more about her earlier life. Fortunately, her 1801 obituary, reported in several Philadelphia newspapers, provides important clues | emphasis added \ . On Wednesday last | 1 1 March | departed this life, Mrs. Flora Allen, consort of the Revd. Richard Allen, pastor of the African Methodist Church, called Bethel, in this city. She had been for near nine months severely afflicted with an inflammatory disorder, which she bore with truly Christian 12 Newman, Freedom's Prophet |notc 21, 75, without source. *•' Aaron Goodwin, “Marriages Recorded at St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1789-1817,'’ PCM 46(2<)09):25 (fn 29), citing St. George's Methodist Episcopal Church register, volume 1 (Archives of Historic St. George’s United Method¬ ist Church, shelf 1, book I ; also HSP microfilm XCh297). 1 Philadelphia County Deeds D-7 ‘ .5:589-9 1 (IISP microfilm XI) Pa Ph 1 47); recorded 18 February 1799. Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 28 Vol. 47 fortitude, and resigned lier happy soul with calmness and composure into the hands of her Blessed Redeemer, in sure and certain hope of a glorious immortality. Her remains were next day deposited in Bethel Church, attended by the Reverend Messieurs M'Contb, Sneetli, (lavender, Green, and several other Clergymen of the Methodist persuasion, and followed by a very numerous and respectable concourse of citizens of every description, who, without discrimination of colour or profession, joined in paying the last sad office of respect to the remains of one whose piety, charity, and other Christian virtues, they revered while living, and deplore the loss of by death. We wish to remark, that Mrs. Allen was formerly a slave in Virginia, anil her freedom procured by Hie Abolition Society of this city. 1 ler prudent conduct and Christian virtues are a clear proof that the coloured race are not destitute of talents, and only want cultivation and the fostering aid of gen¬ erous friendship, to bring them into view. l-> Several women named Flora are in early manumission records of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. None, however, were from Virginia. For those whose freedom needed to be "procured by the Abolition Society,” Standing or Acting Committee records are the key.16 In those minutes, one Flora from Virginia was found: 9 Mo. 27 [ 1785| Committee Met . . . Flora with Coll i Jo n Sims Flora a Negro Woman aht 30 years of age Late the Property of Col l John Sims of Rockcy Mills Virginia who aht two years ago sent I ler as an Atten¬ dant on his 2 Daughters who hath since that time been at school in this City and Resided with their uncle James Mease and being now Ordcrd to Return to Virginia hath Applied for Relieve in Her Case as she Saith She is not Indenter’d to any Person to the Care of which Isaac Parrish & Benj'n Horner is Appointed and to make Report to Next Meeting. i- Less than a month later, Flora was “formerly with” Sims. It) Mo. 17 | I785| Committee Met . . . Florah formerly with Jn'o Sims The Committee to whom was Rcferd the Case now Report, that She being Fncouraged to Leave Widow Mease (the Place of her Residence) and being Furnish’d with a Certificate of her Freedom Signd by Isaac Parish, Thomas Harrison, Jr., Benj'n Horner Hath Hired Herself to John Pains of this City Merch’t'H 1 s Philadelphia (lazette, 18, #3855 (14 March 1801), 2; and Paulson's American Daily Advertiser, 30, #7507 (It March 1801), 3; these two obituaries are the most detailed and are identical. An abbreviated obituary, omitting the day of death and the burial at Mother Bethel, was also printed in Philadelphia Repository, and Weekly Regis¬ ter, 1, #19 (21 March 1801), 7. 16 The PAS Acting Committee was organized in 1787, but the Committee’s volumes of minutes go back to 178 i by including minutes of its predecessor, the Standing Committee. 1 PAS Acting Committee, Minute Book, 178 t- 1788 ( 1 ISP microfilm XI<572:4 ), Stand¬ ing Committee minutes, 27 9th month |SeptemberJ 1785, 55-50. Ifi PAS Acting Committee, Minute Book, 1783-1788 (HSP microfilm XR572:4), Stand¬ ing Committee minutes, 17 10th month [Oetoberj 1785, 57. 201 1 The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 29 In my 2009 transcription of early marriages recorded at St. George’s,19 it was noted that the only remaining portion of Flora’s name in the origi¬ nal register is the first letter (II) of her surname with tiny remaining fragments of the following letters, too little to identify. I hypothesized that the name might be Brown based on an anonymously typed extract of the Standing Committee minutes held at the archives at St. George’s. In that transcription Flora first hired herself out to a “John Brown.” That identification, combined with the prominence of the name in early Mother Bethel history, suggested a possible pre-Allen surname for Flora. Examination of the original committee minutes, however, shows that the man she hired herself out to was John Pains, not John Brown. Five months after Flora’s death Richard’s second marriage was announced in the Saturday, IS August 1801, edition of the Philadelphia Repository, and Weekly Register. Married ... In this City . . . On the 12th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Cooper, the Rev. Richard Allen, Pastor of the Methodist African Church, to Miss Sarah Bass.-0 This brief notice clearly shows the couple could not have married on the often reported marriage date of 18 August. The slight error is under¬ standable. As previously noted in this journal, the date recorded in the original St. George's Methodist Episcopal register for this marriage appears to have originally been a /J, over-written with an Id.- 1 The notice also impacts the question of whether or not Sarah had been previously married. Her name as Miss Sarah Hass would seem to suggest she had not been married. Allen himself, however, twice refers to her as a widow— in his memoir, recorded late in his life, and in the Narrative of /79.) he coauthored with Absalom Jones and published in 1794: ■ ■ Sarah Bass, a coloured widow woman, gave all the assistance she could, in sev¬ eral families, for which she did not receive any thing; and when any thing was offered her, she left it to the option of those she served.-Sarah Bass, a poor black widow, gave all the assistance she could, in several families, for which she did not receive any thing; and when any thing was offered her, she left it to the option of those she served.- '’ Sarah Bass is first listed in Philadelphia directories in 1794, suggesting she may have been a widow and lost her husband to the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in which she volunteered as nurse. Bass Sarah, washerwoman, 13, Shippen St.-"’ 19 Goodwin, “Marriages Recorded at St. George’s” |note 131, PGM 46:25 (fn 29). -° Philadelphia Repository, and Weekly Register, 1 , #40 ( 1 5 August 1 80 1 ), 3 1 9. 1 Goodwin, “Marriages Recorded at St. George's” |note 1 31, PGM 46:30 (fn 96). - -- Allen, Richard Allen |note 1 1, .35. Jones and Allen, Narrative of 179.1 1 note 8], 9. 1 No possible candidates for her husband have been found in city directories or church records. Surviving St. George’s burial records begin in 1817 and surviving Mother Bethel burial records begin in 1865. 30 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 Richard and Sarah had six children, who were named in Richard’s 9 December 1 830 will, with some of his grandchildren: Know all men that I, Richard Allen, of the city of Philadelphia, Minister of the Gospel, . . . my beloved wife Sarah Allen all my real and personal estate during her natural life, should she not marry, but if she does then my will is that she should receive her thirds only, |if sol I have hereby bequeathed to each of my heirs the following legacies: . . . my son John Allen the house and l.ot in Spruce St. No. ISO where I now reside |residually| to my grand daughter Sarah Eddy. . . . my daughter Sarah Eddy the east side of a three story brick tenement and Lot situated on the South side of Pine Street, between Delaware Sixth and Seventh Street, . . . [residually] to her Son Rich¬ ard Eddy should he be living, ... |if not, to her son John P. Boyer Eddy |, . . . my daughter Ann Adams the adjoining part of the above mentioned three story brick tenement being the west side and the Lot . . . |residually) to her son Richard Adams. . . . my son Peter Allen the lot with six frames thereon situated . . . |residually] to John P. B. Eddy. . . . son James Allen the Lot and three houses situated on the south side of Bethel Church . . . [residually] to Richard Eddy. . . . my grand daughter Sarah Eddy the Lot and house situated on the north side of Bethel Church . . . Iresidually] to Richard Eddy. . . . my grand son Richard Nathaniel Adams the one half part of a Lot fronting on Lombard street with the house thereon . . . the first seventy feet of which is hereby bequeathed to R. N. Adams [residually] to Peter Allen . . . my grand son Richard Eddy, the remaining part of the above mentioned |damaged lot?] ...|residually] to John P. B. Eddy. . . . my eldest son Richard Allen should receive five hundred dollars payable in ten years by instalments of $50 per year to his hand paid by John Allen from the house and Lot in Spruce street after the death or marriage of my wife to commence, . . . [resid¬ ually] to Sarah Jane Adams. . . . the lot situated in Hook[?], Delaware County, should be sold ... to assist in paying my debts. . . . my wife should receive all the income of my property either personal or real during her widowhood or natural life if remaining unmarried . . . after the death of my wife all my household and kitchen furniture shall be equally divided between John Allen, Sarah Eddy and Ann Adams, my three of my children. . . . the trustees of Bethel Church, should not be disturbed for ten years after my death by reason of the Bond and Judgment 1 hold upon the same providing they pay the annual interest regularly, the monies when paid to be applied by my executors in the following manner, a two story house to be built upon the lot I bequeathed to and for Richard Nathaniel Adams fronting Lombard street, also one house on the back part of the Lot for Richard Eddy (a two story brick) and one of the same on the Lot bequeathed to my grand daugh¬ ter Sarah Eddy and her heirs. . . . Rev. Joshua P. B. Eddy my son in law my gold headed cane and glass lantern. To the Reverend Joseph Cox my silver head cane and Burkitts Commentary on The New Testament. To Joseph M. Corr six volumes of Scott Commentary on the Bible, and six volumes of Josephus work. The salaries which I received from the trustees of Bethel Church for my services commencing IK07 was revoked in 1821 and all my “s Janies Hardie, The Philadelphia Directory and Register (Philadelphia: printed by JacobJohnson & Co., 1794), 9. Although he is John P. Iloyer Eddy here, the will of his father, Joshua Provine Bond Eddy, refers to him as Joshua P. B. Lddy, /r., at least suggesting that the />’ was for Bond. 201 I The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 31 services since I have given gratis to the Corporation of Bethel Church. . . . my beloved wife Sarah Allen should he executrix and Joseph M. Corr & Joshua P. li. Eddy my son in law should he the executors of this last will and Testament. Philadelphia December 9th, 1830. \signed) Richard Allen- It was nearly twenty years later before Sarah Allen died. On 24 July 1849 Richard Allen stated that she died without a will and that “lie is the son of the deed & takes out Letters of Administration) with the consent of the Children.” “An Inventory of Goods belonging to Sarah Allen of Philada. Deed on the 16th of July 1849" totaled $313.1 1, mostly furniture and household items.28 Children of Richard1 and Sarah (— ) (Bass) Allen, all born in Philadelphia:29 2 i. RICHARD L.2 AI.LEN, born about 1803 or 1805 in Philadelphia; married by say 1830 REBECCA—. ii. JAMES C.2 AI.EEN, born probably between 1800 and 1810 in Philadelphia; died between 9 December 1830 (father's will) and 27 March 1836 (not named as a living heir of Peter, see below). 3 iii. JOHN G.2 ALLEN, born probably between 1800 and 1810 in Philadelphia; died between 9 February 1849 and 17 February 1849; married first SARAH married second by say 18 t2 JULIA ANN 4 iv. MARY ANN2 ALLEN, born say 1807, about 1808, about 1810, about 1815, or about 1816 in Philadelphia; died 16 July 1879 in Philadelphia; married 24 or 25 April 1827 in Philadelphia NATHANIEI. ADAMS. 5 v. PETER L.2 ALLEN, born say 1809 or 1810; died 27 March 18.36 at the Battle of Goliad in Texas; married about 18.3 t or 18.35 in or near Huntsville, Mad¬ ison County, Alabama, an enslaved woman named MARY. 6 vi. SARAH2 ALLEN, youngest daughter (marriage announcement), born about 1810 or 1814 in Philadelphia; died after 1872; married first before 9 December 18.30 JOSHUA PROVINE BOND EDDY; divorced; married second by say 185 1 JAMES WILKINS. 27 Richard Allen will, Philadelphia Wills, 1831, #59, Philadelphia City Hall, Register of Wills. The will was previously published in W. C. Bolivar, “Bishop Allen's 149th Natal Anniversary at Bethel Church, Philadelphia,” AMU Church Review 25(1909): 410-13: and in Charles Wesley’s 1935 Richard Allen, Apostle of Freedom |note 2), Appendix II, 271-74; these transcripts were compared with the original for minor legibility prob¬ lems. Both Bolivar and Wesley made occasional transcription errors, including names. 28 Sarah Allen original letters of administration, 24 July 1849, and inventory, 9 August 1849, administration file #281, Register of Wills, Philadelphia City Ilall. The total value given is greater than the sum of the individual values by some eighty-six dollars, sug¬ gesting that some portions of the original inventory are either missing or were not included in the copy provided by the Register of Wills. 29 Unfortunately, Richard Allen’s households in the federal census enumerations of 1800-1820 help little in placing his children in order (Richard Allen household, 1800 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, Cedar Ward, Philadelphia County, page 295 INARA M32, roll 431: 10 “all other free persons”; Richard Allen household, 1810 U.S. Census, Philadel¬ phia, Cedar Ward, Philadelphia County, page 602 INARA M252, roll 55 ]: 14 “all other free persons’; Rich'd Allen household, 1820 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, Cedar Ward, Philadelphia County, page 279 (216 stamped 1 INARA M33, roll 108]: children included 2 males <14; 8 males 14-25; 1 female <14; 8 females 14-25). Pcnnsylvan ia Genealogical Magazine .32 Vol. 47 2. RICHARD L.2 ALLEN (Richard') was born about 1802 (if 14 when scrib¬ ing, attending seminary, witnessing), 1803 (age at death), or 1805 ( 1850 census) in Philadelphia and died there 16 November 1857, age 54. He married by say 18.30 (child born about 18.31) REBECCA who was born about 1805 in Pennsylvania (1850 census). At the General Conference of the AMP, Church held in April 1816 in Philadelphia, the same conference at which his father was named bishop, Richard Allen, Jr., was elected the conference’s secretary. Additional detail about this event was related sixty-five years later in AMP minister Rev. David Smith’s memoir. The Secretaryship, seemed to lie the most difficult position in these Confer¬ ences, and why? Simply because there were so few men of color who could write sufficiently well as to keep correct minutes. We were often compelled to select persons as Secretaries of the Conference, irrespective of their relig¬ ious or moral condition. Richard Allen, jr., was our first Secretary, lie was not a religious man, but he was an excellent scribe, and he filled the posi¬ tion of Secretary for several Conference years. 1 1 is office was so important that he would leave Philadelphia with the Rev. bishop Allen and come to lialtimore to act as Secretary of the Maryland Conference. 0 ■ In August 1816 Boston's Christian Disciple informed readers that Rich¬ ard Allen, Jr., had recently begun studies at the first seminary for black youth in America with the explicit purpose of taking the Afro-Christian doctrine to Africa." On 4 November 1816 Richard Allen and Richard Allen, Jr., witnessed the will of Joshua Sturgess in Philadelphia." Richard was first listed in the Philadelphia city directory' in 1825 at his father’s address: "Allen Richard, jun. scrivener, 1 50 Spruce.”" Twenty-five years later, Richard was listed at the same address, but with a notably dif¬ ferent occupation: “Allen, Richard, dentist, 150 Spruce.”" His household in Pine Ward in 1850 included himself, an apparent wife and daughter, and four apparently unrelated individuals." Rev. David Smith and Daniel Alexander Payne, Biography of Iter. David Smith, of the AM.ii Church. Being a Complete History. Embracing Over Sixty Years' labor in the Advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom on Earth. Including "The History of the Ori¬ gin and Development of Wiiberforce University'’ (Xenia, Ohio: Xenia (ia/ette Office, I MS I ), 42-4 3; online at “Documenting the American South” [note I] (docsouth.unc. cdu/neh/dsmith/dsmith.html ). 1 Newman, Freedom 's Prophet |note 2 1, 207-K. 3 2 E. Edward Wright, Abstracts of Philadelphia County. Pennsylvania. Wills, INI 5/«/9 (Heritage books, 2007), 88-89. 33 Philadelphia Directory and Stranger's Guide, I 82 5 (Thomas Wilson and William I). Vanbaum, publishers), 4 I. 3 i Byivater’s Philadelphia Business Directory and City Guide for the Year HiSO (Maurice bywater, publisher), 6. Rieh’d Allen household, 1850 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, Pine Ward, page .305 Istampcd], #413/503 (NARA M432, roll 81.3): Rich’d Allen, black, 45, Pennsylvania; Rebecca Allen, black, 45; Mary Allen, black, 19, Pennsylvania; Sarah Carpenter, black, 20, Pennsylvania, cannot read or write; Emma Carpenter, black, 2.3, Pennsylvania, cannot read or write; Sarah bannon, black, 22, North Carolina, cannot read or write; Rebecca " 201 1 The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 33 Richard Allen died of pneumonia 16 November 1857, aged 54, and was buried in Olive Cemetery.56 Child of Richard" and Rebecca (— ) Allen: 1. MARY5 AI.I.KN, born about 1831 in Pennsylvania (1850 census). 3- JOHN G.“ ALLEN (Richard') was born probably between 1800 and 1810 in Philadelphia and died between 9 February 1849 (will) and 17 February Ik1849 (probate). John married first probably in the 1830s SARAH married second by say 1842 (child born about 1843) JUI.IA ANN — , who was born about 1815 in Philadelphia ( 1850 census, age at death) and died there 22 February 1858, age 43. 37 Dockens and Studevan's reference to John is brief: John Allen advanced his opportunities by becoming fluent in French and Spanish. Records report John lived in Haiti for several years helping pro¬ mote the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He later returned to Phila¬ delphia and established a print shop in the vicinity of South Broad Street. -5K Details about the broader Haitian emigration from Philadelphia are found in Gary 15. Nash’s 1988 Forging Freedom, where he notes John’s inclusion among the emigrants.59 John and his family returned to Phila¬ delphia between 1843 and 1845 ( 1850 census). Fhe 9 February 1849 will of John G. Allen of Philadelphia left his estate to his wife, Julia Allen (executrix), for her benefit and that of his “three children, namely Sarah, Richard and John G Allen." When his youngest, John, reached twenty-one, the four were to equally divide his property at 150 Spruce Street. He added a memorandum the same day: 9 February 1849. After I was married to my first Wife Sarah she could not raise any children, and somebody advised me to break the entail. 1 got Isaac Norris Esqr to do it. For that and other offices, as well as getting the house insured, brought me considerably in debt to him. I then proposed to take up Carpenter, black, 2, Pennsylvania. Any relationship between the Allens, the Carpenters, and Bannon is currently unknown. •5<> Richard Allen death return, 16 November 1857, in Charles R. Barker, “Alphabetical Index to Registration of Deaths, Philadelphia, 1803- 1860," 169 (typescript, Free Library of Philadelphia) (Fill, #978,982). Barker’s typescript is derived from the index created as part of WPA project #1 1791, The original WPA indexes are in the collections of the CiSP, housed at I ISP. The attending physician was Dr. F. T. Jacqriett |F. S. Jacquettf Barker added the notation, “Not being entered in the proper place, the certificate was found in the last week endingjuly 1.” There is no return of death in Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915, at familysearch.org. 3' Julia Ann Allen coroner s return, 1858, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 180.31915 (Fill, #1,976,714); image online at familyseareh.org: colored, resided at 610 Mid¬ dle Alley, natural causes, aged 43, married |s/c; widowed |, native of Philadelphia; resided there. The abstract indicates she was buried in Olive Cemetery [the returns were filed by cemetery). 58 Dockens and Studevan, “Descendants of Richard and Sarah Allen" [note 4], A.M.F.. Church Review 1 17:15. 59 Gary B. Nash, Forging Freedom: The Formation of Philadelphia's Black Commu¬ nity (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1988), 244. 34 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 some money on the property which he informed me could not lie easily accomplished without security. He proposed in lieu thereof that I should make over my property to him, which 1 did. The property in the deed to Mr Norris was nominally named at two thousand dollars. 1 owed him a principal of five hundred dollars at six per cent which at this time amounts to about nine Hundred dollars. 10 John’s will clearly names three children: Sarah, Richard and John G. Allen. The widow’s household as enumerated in Pine Ward in 1 850, nota¬ bly, includes an additional, older child |emphasis added]: Juliana Allen, 35, Pennsylvania, black, $3,800 real estate; George Richard Allen, 9, St. Domingo, black, attended school within the year, Sarah Allen, 7, St. Domingo, black, attended school within the year; Richard Allen, 5, Penn¬ sylvania, black; John Allen, I, Pennsylvania, black.'1 It is unclear what George Richard Allen’s relationship is to the family, but there would cer¬ tainly seem to be one. ( dtildren of John (i. J and Julia Ann (— ) Allen: i. SARAH' AI.I.EN, horn about 1843 in Santo Domingo ( 1850 census). ii. RICHARD' AI.I.EN, horn about 1845 in Pennsylvania ( 1850 census). iii. JOHN G.' AI.I.EN, born about 1849 in Pennsylvania ( 1850 census). 4. MARY ANN' AI.I.EN CRichard ') was born say 1807 (estimating marriage at 20), about 1808 (age at death), about 1810 ( 1850 census), about 1815 (I860 census), or about 1816 (1870 census) in Philadelphia and died there 16 July 1879, age 71, 12 thirty years to the day after her mother. She married 24 or 25 April 1827 NATHANIEL ADAMS, who was born about 1795 (1850 census) and died 18 July 1850 (death notice), l heir marriage was noted in Philadelphia and New York Gity newspapers. On the 24th ult. |April 18271 by the Rev. Morris Brown, Mr. Nathaniel Adams, of Washington city, to the amiable Miss Ann Allen, daughter of the Right Rev. Richard Allen, Bishop of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia.'ÿ In Philadelphia on the 25th till. |April 1 827 ) Mr. Nathaniel Adams, of Wash¬ ington, D.C. to Miss Anne Allen, youngest daughter of the Rl. Rev. Richard Allen, Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. * ' 1,1 John G. Allen will and administration, Philadelphia Wills 27:330-32 (Fill. #21,742, item 1 ); proved 17 February 1849 by Robert B. Ayres and Richard Allen. il Juliana lindexed on Ancestry.com as Jaliana] Allen household, 1850 II.S. Census, Philadelphia, Pine Ward, Philadelphia County, page 304 [stamped] verso, #411/497 (NARAM432, roll 81.3). ■iJ Mary A. Adams death return, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915 ( Fill. #2,031,217) (image online at familyseareh.org): Mary A. Adams, colored, seventy-one years, widow, died July 10th of apoplexy, II. A. Benner, M l)., of 841 So. 3rd St„ attend¬ ing physician; occupation lately; born in Philadelphia; resided 3rd Ward, 705 S. Fourth St., buried 2 1 July 1879 at Lebanon Cemetery by II. S. Dutestc, undertaker. 43 National Gazette and l iterary Register, 8, #954 (3 May 1827), 3. " Freedom 's Journal, 1, #8 (4 May 1827), page 3 1 , column 4; digitized version online at Accessible Archives (accessible.com). 201 1 The Richard Alien Family of Philadelphia .35 Nathaniel and Mary Ann resided in Washington, D.C., by about 1828 when son Richard was born there (1850 census). In 1830 the household also included a girl under ten. |S Dockens and Studevan identify her as daughter Sarah Jane Adams, who married George Kennedy.46 George Kennedy and Sarah Jane (Adams) Kennedy have not been found in the 1850 federal census, but censuses for I860,*7 1870,48 and 188049 show the long-term interactions between the Adams family, Sarah Jane, George Kennedy, and their daughter Katherine Kennedy, who remained with her maternal grandmother when her parents moved from Philadelphia to Decorah, Iowa. Taken together, these censuses corroborate the identifica¬ tion of Sarah Jane (Adams) Kennedy. 4<i Nath. Adams household, 1830 U.S. Census, Washington Ward 1, District of Colum¬ bia, page 12.3, line 3 (NAUA M 19, roll 14): free colored persons: I male <10; 1 male 2435; 1 female <10; 1 female 10-23. 46 Dockens and Studevan, "Descendants of Richard and Sarah Allen” |notc 4|, A. A Church Review 1 17:15. 47 Mary E. Adams household, 1860 U.S. Census, Philadelphia 5th Ward, Philadelphia County, page 2-t5 |-403 stamped |, #1 149/1676 (NARA M653, roll I 155): Mary E. Adams, 45, District of Columbia, mulatto, seamstress; Nathaniel Adams, 22, District of Colum¬ bia, mulatto, steward; Allen 1!. Adams, 21, District of Columbia, mulatto, tobacconist; John 15. Adams, 19, District of Columbia, mulatto, tobacconist; Josephine Adams, 16, District of Columbia, mulatto, seamstress; Sarah Kennedy, 25, District of Columbia, mulatto, seamstress; Catharine Kennedy, 9, Pennsylvania, mulatto; Cieorge Kennedy, 714, Pennsylvania, mulatto; Anna Kennedy, 3, Pennsylvania, mulatto; James Kennedy, 1, Pennsylvania, mulatto; Anna Adams, 8, Pennsylvania, mulatto. 18 Mary Adams household, 1870 U.S. Census, Philadelphia 4th Ward, Philadelphia County, page 284 |stamped|verso, #423/6.38 (NARA M593, roll 1390): Mary Adams, 54, Pennsylvania, mulatto, $10,000 real estate, $1,000 personal estate; Allen Adams, 37, Pennsylvania, mulatto, barber, $1,000 personal estate; Mary Adams, 11, Pennsylvania, mulatto, attended school within the year; Thomas Tracy, 80, Delaware, mulatto, janitor, cannot read or write; Cath'ne Kennedy, 18, New York, mulatto, dress maker; Annie Could, 16, New York, mulatto, hair dresser, attended school within the year; Byron Thompson, t, Pennsylvania, black; Marlccnia Thompson, 2, Pennsylvania, black; John Mattson, 1 1, Pennsylvania, mulatto, attended school within the year. Cieorge Kennedy household, 1870 U.S. Census, Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, page 1.38 |stamped], #339/332 (NARA M59.3, roll 426): Cieorge Kennedy, 39, Barbados, both parents of foreign birth, white |for all members of this household in the color column II was erased and overwritten by W; Dockens and Studevan refer specifically to Cieorge and Sarah Jane’s marriage as an interracial one, citing that as the reason for their frequent and far moves], barber, $ 1 ,000 real estate, $600 personal estate; Sarah J„ 37, District of Columbia, keeping house; Cieorge, 16, Maine, father of foreign birth, attending school, attended school within the year; Lina, 7, Minnesota, father of foreign birth, attended school within the year; Mary, 4, Iowa, father of foreign birth; Charles, 2, Iowa, father of foreign birth. 49 Cieorge Kennedy household, 1880 l .S. Census, West Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa, ED 343, page 27C (NARA T9, roll 370): Cieorge Kennedy, black |for all members of this household in the race column If' was erased and overwritten by /{], 48, Louisi¬ ana, father born in “Parris” or "Penns,” mother in Louisiana, married, barber; Sarah, black, 47, Washington, DC., father Virginia, mother Pennsylvania, wife, married, keep¬ ing house; Carolina, black, 13, Minnesota, daughter, single, music teacher; Lillie, black, 14, Iowa, daughter, attends school. 36 Pennsyh'ania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 The 1840 census found the Adams household in Washington signifi¬ cantly expanded to sixteen inhabitants, suggesting that not all were chil¬ dren of Nathaniel and Maty Ann,50 whose family had probably only eight members. By I8S0 Nathaniel, Mary Ann, and their family had returned to Philadelphia, living in New Market Ward; seven of their eight children were still at home.*51 Nathaniel Adams, “late of the City of Washington District of Columbia but now of the City of Philadelphia," made his will 17 July 1850, leaving everything, including a lot and messuage in Washington, to his wife, Mary Ann, whom lie named as executrix; no children were named.S2 His death return from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic burial ground states: Nathaniel Adams (Colord) Aged about 60 years, deceased of Dropsy this day. Henry M. Xollickoffer. 7 month [July] 18, 18507s In 1860 Mary was residing in Philadelphia with her younger children and several grandchildren, and in 1870 she was living with the family of her son Allen and various grandchildren.s i Children of Nathaniel and Mary Ann2 (Allen) Adams, all born in Washington, D.C.: i. RICHARD NATHANIEL* ADAMS, born about 1828 (1850 census); named in grandfather’s will; unmarried in 1850. ADAMS, horn by 9 December 1830 (named in grandfather's ii. SARAH will ); married GEORGE KENNEDY. iii. VIRGINIA* ADAMS, born about 1833 ( 1850 census). iv. MARCELINA* ADAMS, born about 1835 ( 1850 census). v. NATHANIEL* ADAMS, born about 1837 (1850 census) or about 1838 (1860 JANE* census). vi. AI.LEN B.* ADAMS, born about 1839 ( 1850, 1860 censuses). vii. JOHN B.* ADAMS, born about 1841 ( 1860 census) or about 1842 ( 1850 cen¬ sus). viii. JOSEPHINE* ADAMS, born about 1844 ( 1850, 1860 censuses). 50 Nathaniel Adams household, 1840 U.S. Census, Washington, District of Columbia, page 98, line 15 (NARA M704, roll 98): free colored persons: 3 males <10; 3 males 1023; 1 male 24-35; 1 male 36-54; 5 females <10; 2 females 10-23; 1 female 24-35. 51 Nathaniel Adams household, 1850 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, New Market Ward, Philadelphia County, page 152 |414 stamped verso], #860/1088 (NARA M432, roll 817): Nathaniel Adams, 55, Cuba, shop keeper; Mary A., 40, Pennsylvania, $5,000 real estate; Richard, 22, barber; Virginia, 17; Marcelina, 15; Nathaniel Jr., 13; Allen, 1 1; John, 8; Josephine, 6; all children born in Washington, D.C.; Marcelina and her younger sib¬ lings attended school within the year. The as-of date for the census was 1 June, so even though Nathaniel was deceased by 22 August when the enumerator visited their home, he is listed. Nathaniel Adams will and administration, probated 25 July 1850, Philadelphia Wills 25:1 18-19 (PUL #21,741, item 4). Witnesses were Robert B. Ayres and Christo¬ pher Kearney. Nathaniel signed with an x mark. Mary Ann signed her name. S3 Nathaniel Adams return of death, 1850, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 18031915 (FHL #1,939,734); image online at familysearch.org. Abstract names cemetery |returns were filed by cemetery ). See notes 47 and 48. 201 I The Richard Alien Family of Philadelphia 37 5. PETER L.2 AI.I.EN (Richard1) was born say 1809 or 1810 (estimating marriage at 23) and died 27 March 1836 at the Battle of Goliad in Texas. He married about 1834 or 1833 in or near Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, an enslaved woman named MARY. They had no children. Mary was emancipated in 1863 and died after 27 December 1887 (statement of facts, below) probably in Huntsville. What is known of Peter Allen and his brief life after leaving Philadel¬ phia about 18.3-t is derived from land and court documents at the Texas General Land Office and Texas State Archives and published in Texas Reports and the Southwestern Reporter. Those posthumous records, stretching from 1834 to 1891, tell Peter’s story— and reveal much about his surviving widow and siblings. In 1834 Peter’s three surviving siblings assigned powers of attorney to claim land in Texas due his heirs because of his death under Fannin. 10 May 1834 . . . We Richard Allen, Mary Ann Adams, late Allen, and Sarah Wilkins, late Allen, heirs of Peter Allen alias Peter L. Allen, deed., late of Texas, Do make, constitute, and appoint Raymond & Freeman and G. R. Freeman of Texas, under the firm of Raymond, Freeman Co., our true and lawful attorneys for us, and in our names to prosecute our claims as heirs of Peter Allen deesd., who was killed in Fannins defeat, to all lands in the State of Texas, to which we are entitled as such and to locate such claims and in receiving all money or personal estate belong[ing| to said estate in who¬ soever hands the same may be. . . . \signed\ Richd. L. Allen; Maty Ann Adams; Sarah Wilkins'55 The power of attorney was witnessed by John Binns, a commissioner of the state of Texas, “appointed by the Governor thereof to reside and officiate in the State of Pennsylvania, exercising all the powers and dis¬ charging all the duties of a Commissioner of Deed for the State of ” That same day, Binns recorded in his office in Philadelphia the Texas depositions of two witnesses “for the purpose of proving heirship to the Estate of Peter Allen deseas’d late of the State of Texas.” It) May 183 i . . . My name is William Yeates. I reside at No 164 So. Sixth St. in the City of Philadelphia. My business is that of a Tin Smith and 1 am forty years of age. I was intimately acquainted with the late William [s/c, Rich¬ ard p(> Allen of Phila. He was a coloured man and was Bishop of the first African Methodist Episcopal Church of this City, and his family. I was well acquainted with Peter Allen who was a son of the Bishops and went to Texas where 1 have always understood he was killed in Battle, with the Mexicans. I have always been well acquainted with all the Children of the Bishop. Those who are now living to wit Richard Allen, Sarah Wilkins late Sarah Allen, Mary Ann Adams late Mary Ann Allen who are at this time pres¬ ent in the office of the Commissioner. The children of the Bishop Allen who 55 Richard 1.. Allen, Mary Ann Adams, and Sarah Wilkins power of attorney, 10 May 1854, Texas General Land Office. s(. • t he handwriting is that of John Binns. This and other errors are likely a result of his misunderstanding, rather than a lack of knowledge of the deponents. 38 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 arc dead were Peter Allen, John G. Allen, and Janies C. Allen. The widow is dead. . . . My name is Sarah Clarke. I reside in Larsh [Larch] Street in the City of Philad’a and I am 36 years of age. 1 was well acquainted with the late Bishop Allen and his family. I was brought up within three doors of the house they lived in and knew all the family. I remember that Peter Allen left Philad'a some thirty [s/c, twenty) years ago to go to the South. The family of Bishop Allen, included Peter Allen, Richard Allen, and their two Sisters, Sarah and Mary Ann. I am the sister of William Yeates who has been examined here today. The widow of Bishop Allen is dead. . . ,S7 By 1866, when they reassigned their powers of attorney, Mary Ann Adams and Sarah Wilkins were Peter’s only surviving siblings. 2.3 June 1866. . . . Mary Ann Adams and Sarah Wilkins of County of Philadel¬ phia . . . nominated constituted and appointed and do hereby nominate con¬ stitute and appoint W Ii Hollowell of County of Desoto State of Miss to be our full true and lawful Agent and attorney for us and in our name to demand and receive of the Gov of State of Texas or any persons all the rights titles and interests in Land & otherwise to which we may be entitled as heirs to Peter Allen a member of Cap Wyatts Co who went from Huntsville Ala to the early Texas revolution and fell at the Alamo, . . . Hereby engaging for ourselves and as next friends of any minor heirs who may be similarly interested as ourselves to give unto the said W Ii Hol¬ lowell the one half of all such rights titles and interests in all such lands as the said Agents may [have?] the patents for to “the heirs of Peter Allen” and the one half of all such property Lands or otherwise they may succeed in perfecting our Claims to the expenses of all such proceedings to be paid by the agents & attorneys herein mcntiond. . . . [s/g/;er/[ Sarah Wilkins: Mary A AdamsSH Peter Allen’s widow, Mary Allen, assigned her power of attorney a few days later. Unlike Peter’s siblings, Mary was illiterate and made her mark with an x. 28 July 1866 ... 1 Mary Allen of the City of Huntesvill County of Madison and State of Alabama Have made Constituted and Appointed Walton and De Normandee of the City of Austin in the State of Texas my True and Lawful Attorneys ... to Ask Demand and Receive from the General Land offices in the state of Texas all patents and Evidence of Title of any and all Land which may have been Located in the Name of the Heirs of Peter Allen Deceased who was a Soldger in the Texas Revolution in the year 1 83S and 18.36 and which Lands was Located in the San Patricio, Dummit [Dimmit] & Live Oak Counties in the state of Texas and to |do] and perform all and Ever)' thing Ncssary and proper to be dun in and about the Recovery of Said Patents and the management and Controle of the Same. . . ,v) William Yeates, Sarah ( Jarke depositions, It) May 18S4, Texas General Land Office. Mary Ann Adams and Sarah Wilkins power of attorney, 23 June 1866, Texas Gen¬ eral Land Office. Mary Allen power of attorney, 28 July 1866, Texas General Land Office. 201 1 The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 39 A few days later James H. Scruggs, a judge of the probate court of Madi¬ son County, Alabama, reported the depositions of James V. A. Hinds and William Wilson, citizens of Madison County. 31 July 1866 . . . They were in the year 1834 and ever since well acquainted with Peter Allen and Mary Allen his wife and they know that Peter Allen was a musician in Captain P. S. Wyatt’s Company in the war of Independence of Texas, and that said Peter Allen was killed in said war in the year 1836 at the massacre of Fannin’s Command, and that the said Mary Allen his wife has been a resident of Huntsville Alabama since 1834 up to this time, and that she is at this time a resident of said City, and that she is the legal and lawful Widow of the said Peter Allen (Deceased). And that she is still living, and that the said Peter Allen and Mary Allen his wife never had any children, nor have they any heirs, and that the said Mary Allen was the widow of Peter Allen and is the only legal Heir of said Peter Allen.60 An overview of these events is in the agreed statement of facts filed twenty years later in the case of J. P. Smith et al. vs. W. M. Walton et al. , tried in district court in Travis County, Texas.61 27 December 1887. It is agreed in the above case, that Peter Allen was a free man of color, and that he resided in the State of Pennsylvania— that he removed from that State to the State of Alabama, and in the year 1835, enlisted in the Company of Wyatt, and with the said Company, joined the Volunteer Army of the Republic of Texas, and fell under the command of Fannin at Goliad— 62 That at his death, he left surviving him, a father |.s7c, brother), Richard Allen, and brother John G. Allen, & sisters, Sarah Wilkins and Mary Ann Adams, widows— that Peter Allen left no child surviving him. That the plaintiffs, J. P. Smith, E. J. Beall, and I). C. Freeman, have all the title that the father |sic, brother), brothers & sisters of said Peter Allen had to the land located by virtue of a certificate issued by the Adjutant General of Texas on the 25th day of November 1852 for two thirds of a league and a labor of land, being No. 136 and issued in the name of the Heirs of Peter Allen, Dcsd., the land being the same described in Pat. No. 365, Vol. 17, issued Deer 3 1st, 1866. {signed] W. M. Walton for himself & as Atty. for N. S. Walton & S. A. Hinds; J. P. Smith for himself & E.J. Beall; I). C. Freeman by T. J. Brown, Atty. On the part of the plffs, it is admitted: 1. That Mary Allen was the wife of Peter Allen as far as she could become such by going through the form of marriage by being united to him by vir¬ tue of regular licence & the ceremony being performed by a Minister, she at the time ( 1834 or 1835) being a slave and he a free negro, which ceremony 60 James V. A. Hinds and William Wilson deposition, 31 July 1866, Texas General Land Office. 61 J. P. Smith et al. vs. W. M. Walton et at., case #8226, 28 March 1887-2-i January 1888, Travis County District Court, filed in Supreme Court at Austin 18 April 1888 and filed in Commission of Appeals in Tyler 23 October 1891, affirmed 15 December 1891 (Texas State Archives). There are errors in fact, indicated in the transcription herein; minor punctuation changes made for clarity. 62 For details about the battle at Cioliad, see Texas State Historical Association, “Cioliad Massacre," (tshaonline.org/handbook/online/artieles/CiCi/qeg2.html). Pet 1 1isy'li'a11ia Genea/og ical /V lagazii i e 40 Vol. 47 was followed and consummated, as far as the law would or did permit, by cohabitation; 2. That the above relations existed and continued between the said Mary & Peter until the death of Peter; 3. That there was issued to the Heirs of said Peter a Headl ight for 1,476 acres dated May 21st, 1851, a bounty for 1,920 acres, and a Donation for 640 acres as one of the men massacred at Goliad, all of which the Vendors of pill's got the benefit; the said Mary receiving no part thereof; that the afore¬ said land certificates were issued to the heirs of Peter on the idea that he was a single & not a married man; 3.|.s7c| Subsequent to the issuance of the Certificate aforesaid, the said Mary applied to the proper Department of Government for the issuance of a Certificate for 2/3 of a league & labor, alleging and proving the facts herein admitted in regard to the ceremony of marriage cS: cohabitation &c., and those facts constituted the basis on which said Certificate was issued & is the Certificate by virtue of which the land in controversy was located <S; pat¬ ented; i. That the said Mary, through W. M. Walton, caused said Certificate to be located. Survey made, and Patent obtained under a contract for one half, he paying all expenses, which contract was made & carried out in good faith; 5. That the said Mary, being after the death of Peter a feme sole, in con¬ sideration of the services above mentioned by said Walton, in good faith conveyed to him & S. A. Hinds one half of said 2/3 L|eague| & IJabor] & subsequently sold to them the remaining half of said land; 6. That there are now in defendants, to the extent of the interests claimed, all the rights & title in & to said land that were vested in the said Mary Allen; 7. fhe said Mary is still alive and was emancipated in 1865 with other slaves & was a slave from 1834 until emancipated; . . . It is further agreed that the Vendors of Plffs. were born free negroes & are now and have ever been such and that they (said vendors) were born in Pa. & have resided there to this day & now reside there. Fhe court added its findings: 21 December 1887. The Court finds the following facts: 1 . The agreed statement of facts used (made part hereof); 2. Additional facts: 1) power of Atty. from father \sic\, brother &c. of Peter Allen (under above plffs. claim) to Raymond & Freeman of date May 10, 1854; 2) declaration or protest by Freeman of Raymond & Freeman made to Comr. & filed in Land office, disclaiming interest in the 2/3 Cert. the basis of the Grant in controversy; 3) Copy of the patent to the land. Upon these facts, the Court as matter of law holds that the plaintiffs do not show title to the land. Judgment will be rendered for the defts. [signed] A. S. Walker, Judge &c. • Shortly thereafter, the plaintiffs logged their “assignment of errors.” Two of those perceived errors clarified the fundamental basis for their legal argument: 12 January 1888. Fourth: The agreed statement of facts shows that Mary Allen under whom the defendants claim was a slave when the pretended ()i) Smith vs. Walton |note 61 1, findings &c. by court, 2 1 December 1887, 10. 201 1 The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 41 marriage between her and Peter Allen took place, and continued so to be until she was emancipated in 1865, in the State of Alabama, with other slaves, and she could not be the wife of Peter Allen, under the law, and had no rights in the premises. Fifth: The Grant of the Certificate to the heirs of Peter Allen referred to those who could inherit under the law, at the date of his death, and the per¬ sons under whom the plaintiffs claim were the only persons who could inherit at that time, which shows title in the plaintiffs, by their conveyances from the said heirs. In the end, the Court found enough problems with the plaintiffs’ other arguments that it managed never to address the issue of whether Mary was considered Peter’s legal wife. Its original decision for the defendants was finally confirmed IS December 1891 Z’*’ fifty-five years after Peter’s death. 6. SARAH2 ALLEN (Richard') was born about 1810 (1870 second census) or 1814 (1870 first census) in Philadelphia and died after 1872 (last appeared in city directories) or “a few years" before 26 September 1882 (her funeral referenced in first husband’s obituary). She married first before 9 December 1830 (father’s will) JOSHUA PROVINE BOND EDDY, one of her father’s mentees, who was born about 1797 (court case) or about 1798 in Virginia (obituary) or Maryland (return of death) and died 25 September 1882 in Philadelphia, age 8466 or 85 (court case); they divorced (court records, below). She married second by say 1851 (child born about 1 852) JAMES WILKINS,67 who was born possibly about 1786 and died possibly 28 April 1858,68 though there is little detail in the return of death to confirm this identification. Sarah has not been found in the 1850 or I860 censuses, but is in both 1870 census enumerations: first in Ward 4 with two apparent daughters, her age 54, all three were hairdressers;69 second in Ward 5, age 60, with 61 Smith vs. Walton |note 61 ], assignment of errors, 12 January 1888, 10. 6S Smith vs. Walton |note 61 1, affirmed 1 5 December 1891 (docket cover), It). 66 Joshua If 15. laid)' return of death, 1882, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915 (Fill. #2,057,286); image online at familysearch.org: colored, male, 84 yrs, widower, cause of death: debility, minister of the gospel, born Maryland, 62.5 Lombard; buried 29 September in Olive Cemetery. (>His name has been reported incorrectly to be William Wilkins. 68 James Wilkins return of death, 1858, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 180.31915 (Pill. #1,976,716); image online at familysearch.org. "Died this day James Wilkins, aged seventy-two years of [illegible] April 28/58, Samuel K. Ashton, M.D." The abstract indicates he was buried about I May in Olin |s/e, Olive| Cemetery (the returns were filed by cemetery |. because there is no occupation or address, it is not certain that this is the correct James Wilkins, Inn it is chronologically compatible with the city directo¬ ries, below. 69 Sarah Wilkins household, 1870 U.S. Census, Philadelphia till Ward, Philadelphia County, 1st enumeration, 22 June, page 268A, #21 1/315 (NARA M59.3, roll 1.390): Sarah Wilkins, 54, black, hairdresser, real estate $6,000, personal property $700; Sarah, I ), mulatto, hairdresser; Mary, 18, mulatto, hairdresser; all born in Pennsylvania. 42 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vo!. 47 one daughter.70 On 10 May 1854 Sarah Wilkins and her two surviving siblings assigned powers of attorney in the matter of their brother Peter's estate. The 1858 Philadelphia directory lists “Wilkins James, barber, 610 Pine.”71 In 1850 the entry changed to “Wilkins Sarah, b h, 610 Pine.”72 In 1860, the relationship is clarified: "Wilkins Sarah, (col’d) wid. James, 610 Pine.”7-'' The 1867 directory repeated the listing "Wilkins Sarah (col d), wid James, h 610 Pine.”71 On 9 November 1867 an advertisement appeared in the Christian Recorder. The ladies of Bethel church, and others, intend holding a fair for Missionary Tickets to be had of the following Commitpurposes during the holidays tee, and at the A. M. E. Book Concern: Mrs. Sarah Wilkins, President, 601 [s/cl Pine Street; . . .75 Sarah last appeared in the 1872 city directory: “Wilkins Sarah, hair¬ dresser, 610 Pine.”76 The obituary in the Sun in 1882 for Sarah’s first husband, Joshua P. B. Eddy, reveals something about their relationship, although Sarah is not named \em/>hasis added], Ragged Though Well to Do Philadelphia’s Miser who Owned Two Score Houses and Lived in a Hovel. Philadelphia, Sept. 26.—' The Rev. Joshua Provine Bond Eddy is dead, lie leaves a fortune of upward of $ I ()(),()()(). Eddy was a colored man, and lived at 5 1 1 South street, a shanty that leans as if it would topple over, and con¬ tains hardly a whole window pane. People who visited it to-day found there a broken table and two or three rickety chairs for furniture and heap of rags for a bed. Everything was filthy. Although worth a fortune, Eddy denied himself every comfort. He dressed in rags and made bis meals of garbage. Ilis history is remarkable. He was born in 1798, in Virginia, of slave parents. At 20 he ran away to Pennsylvania and in Cannonsville learned the barber’s trade. Then he travelled about as a preacher. With the sanction of the then famous Bishop Allen of the African Church he became an elder in New York and was placed over eight churches in the circuit from Elizabeth to Mount Holly, N.J. During this lime he became enamored of and married Bishop 0 Sarah Wilkins household, 1870 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, 14th Division, 5th Ward, Pine Street, Philadelphia County, 2nd enumeration, 15 November, page 107 |stamped] verso, #610 (NARA M593, roll 14 19): 610 Pine Street, Sarah Wilkins, 60, colored; Sarah, 15, colored; this enumeration, to recount the residents, did not identify separate fami¬ lies or include personal information other than name, age, race, and gender. 71 A. McElroy, Mclilroy's Philadelphia City Directory for IffiS (Philadelphia: Edward C. and John Biddle; printed by Henry B. Ashmead, 1858), 732. 72 A. McElroy, Mclilroy’s Philadelphia City Directory for /.S'59 (Philadelphia: Edward C. and John Biddle; printed by Henry B. Ashmead, 1859), 765. 73 A. McElroy, Mclilroy's Philadelphia City Directory for I MOO (Philadelphia: Edward C. and John Biddle; primed by Henry B. Ashmead, I860), 1068. 7a A. McElroy, Mclilroy's Philadelphia City Directory for IS(>7 (Philadelphia: Edward C. and John Biddle; printed by Henry B. Ashmead, 1867), 1.3.31. 7'1 Christian Recorder, 9 November 1867, volume 7, #45, new series, whole number #357, 179, column 4; image online at Accessible Archives (aeeessible.com). 76 James Gopsill, Gopsill's Philadelphia Directory /872 ( Philadelphia: 1872), 1.385. 201 1 The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 43 Allen's daughter. His discovery that his wife was untrue to him is said to have wrecked his life. It was then that his passion for hoarding asserted itself. He worked hard at the barber’s ehair, and put his money into houses and lands until at the time of his death he had become the owner of thirtyseven houses in different parts of Philadelphia, and nine in Camden, of two farms in New Jersey, property in Frankford, and more in Chester. There is believed to be other property of his scattered here and there, livery man, woman, and child for squares around his shanty knew him, but he had not a friend among them. Every day he had hobbled about the streets in his rags, until about three weeks ago he was missed. Some one more curious than the rest ventured into the shanty and reported that the old man was very ill and lying upon his pile of rags. Eddy had a brother living on Vine street, and he was notified. Ihit his life could not be saved. He had been known to weep only once. That was when, a few years ago, the wife of ids youth died. He looked into the coffin, and tears rolled down his cheeks, lie had not lived with her for forty years. A more concise obituary appeared in the New York Times. A Miser's Funeral Philadelphia, Sept. 29— Bethel Church, on Sixth-street, above Lombard, was uncomfortably crowded this morning at the funeral services held over the remains of Joshua P. b. Eddy, the late colored minister and miser. The serv¬ ice lasted more than two hours, after which the body was taken to Olive Cemetery for interment. A grand-niece |sic; granddaughter, see court case below] of the deceased has just filed a caveat against the probate of his will. His estate is valued at $ 1 50,000.78 Although a miser, Joshua had written his will in 1879, delineating many family relationships, with a 22 November 1881 codicil. 10 February 1879. I, Joshua P. b. Hddey, of the City of Philadelphia, minister of the Gospel a suitable monument to be erected over my grave . . . unto my niece, Sarah, daughter of Josiah Hddey (real estate), . . . Isaiah C. Wears (real estate), ... the society called “The United brothers and Sisters of the Reverend Joshua P. b. Eddey," of the City of Philadelphia (real estate), . . . my sister Rebecca bradfield ($500), . . . my grand-nephew Joshua P. b. Eddey, son of my niece Elizabeth, daughter of my sister Annie Bruce ($400),... each of the other children of my said niece Elizabeth ($200), . . . each of the children of my nephew Samuel Bruce, son of my sister Annie Bruce ($200), ...each of the children of Isaiah C. Wears ($300), .. . my granddaughter Sarah E. Lewis, daughter of Sarah Tingle, deceased (income and interest on $3,000 during the term of her natural life), and upon her death, then to pay the principal unto her son, Jacob Lewis, my grandson Frank Eddey, son of Richard Eddey, deceased (income and interest on $1,000 during the term of his natural life), and upon his death then to pay the principal to such child or children of the said Frank Eddey as may then be living, and the issue of such as may then be deceased, . . . Clara E. Eddey, daughter of my son Joshua P. b. Eddey, Jr., ($100). . . |last two residually] to the society called “The United brothers and Sisters of the Reverend Joshua P. D. Eddey,” . . . Joshua Provine bond Eddy obituary, The Sun, 27 September 1882; image online at fultonhistoiy.com. 78 Joshua P. B. Eddy obituary. New York Times, 30 September 1882. 44 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 All the rest and resi22 November 1881. Codicil. 1, Joshua P. 1$. Eddey, due of my estate of every kind, I give and bequeath unto Josiah Eddey, my y only brother, and Isaiah G Wears, my cousin, share and share alike. . . . Further details about Sarah and Joshua, the events surrounding the end of their marriage, and the effects those events were presumed to have on Eddy were repeated in an 1885 Pennsylvania Supreme Court case, hear¬ ing an appeal of an 1884 judgment against two of Sarah and Joshua’s grandchildren who had sued Eddy’s estate for a greater inheritance than their grandfather's will prescribed. March 31st. 1885. Appeal from the Orphan's Court of Philadelphia county: Of July Term 1884, No. 150. This was an appeal by Clara E. Eddey and Frank L. Eddey from a decree of said court, refusing their petition, sur appeal from the Register of Wills, for an issue to determine the validity of the will and codicil of Joshua P. B. Eddey deceased. The petition of Clara E. and Frank L Eddey to the Orphans' Court set forth that the petitioners are grandchildren and heirs-at-law of the decedent; that at the time the alleged will and codicil purport to have been executed the decedent was of unsound mind; that the said alleged will and codicil were procured by the undue influence, fraud and duress of the parties named therein as legatees and executors. The petition, as amended, requested the court to certify to the court of Common Pleas for trial the fol¬ lowing issues of fact; viz: Whether at the time of the making of the alleged will, dated the tenth day of February, A.l). 1879, . . . [and] at the time of the making of the alleged codicil, dated twenty-second day of November, A.l). 1881, the said Joshua P. B. Eddey was of sound, disposing mind, memory and understanding. . . .K0 The proceedings included a brief overview of Eddy’s life with direct reference to Sarah, again not named |emphasis added \ The testimony, taken before an examiner, showed that the decedent, a col¬ ored man, died September 25th, 1882, at the age of 85 years. He was born in slavery in Virginia or Maryland, in 1797, but was free while still an infant. He afterwards removed to Pennsylvania, and since 18.35 lived in Philadelphia. Though without education he could read, write and could keep some accounts. In various business he accumulated a large estate, amounting in value, at the time of his death, to over $ 100,000. Late in life became a preacher in the Colored Methodist Clutreh. Testimony on the part of the contestants was to the effect that about forty years prior to his death he underwent an entire change of mind, manners and habits; from being a frank, genial man, he became despondent and lived the life of a hermit and miser, secluding himself in two rooms in a little frame shanty, where for thirty years he lived by himself amid dirt and 79 I he will was filed in the court ease | note 80); executors Isaiah C. Wears and John A. Burton H0 Eddey’s Appeal" in Albert A. Outerbridge, Pennsylvania Sidle Reports, Vol. CIS, Containing Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Comi of Pennsylvania, Vol . Kill, Contain¬ ing Cases Argued a! January Term, /.S’.S’5 (New York and Albany: Banks is Brothers, Law Publishers, 1887), 406-22. ■ .. 201 I The Richard Allen Family of Philadelphia 45 vermin, doing his own house work, and hoarding and hiding his wealth in holes about the plaee. It was alleged that this change was caused, primarily, by suddenly discovering his wife in Hie act of adultery with his own brother, Josiah Eddey (one of the residual legatees under the codicil) for which cause he obtained a divorce. Numerous testimonies were summarized that described Eddy alter¬ nately as eccentric, forgetful, and feeble-minded— or strong-willed, shrewd, and highly business-minded. The testimony of an unnamed neighbor referred back to the family conflict. . . . told me of the trouble with his wife, bragged of being (lie first colored man to gain a divorce in the courts of Pennsylvania. . . . In the end, the court rejected the appeal, a decision that provided more biographical detail. We have here the ease of an old colored man with sufficient mind and busi¬ ness sagacity to acquire a large fortune, much of it the result of his own labor, frugality and thrift; to take care of it even in old age; during all the time he is charged with being an imbecile he occasionally officiated and preached in his church; he presided at and attended the meetings of various societies; he administered the communion at his church, and solemnized several marriages; attended actively to business, and was shown by wit¬ nesses on both sides to have a good knowledge of his property and its value. These are the kind of facts which a court should look at in determining tes¬ tator's capacity, and in the face of them the testimony of a crowd of ignorant witnesses, not experts, as to a testator’s unsoundness, goes for nothing. . . . ... He gives the bulk of his estate to his nephew and to his brother. The former had been brought up by him from a child, and there is little doubt he took commendable pride in his integrity and success. His brother appears to have done the testator a grievous domestic wrong, which at one time trou¬ bled and clouded his life. But this was forty years ago, and amicable relations were restored long before his death. If he forgave his brother it was not inconsistent with his religious profession. Children of Joshua Provine Bond and Sarah J (Allen) Eddy: i. RICHARD AI.LF.N' EDDY, born about 1823 or later (age at death; likely over¬ stated) in Philadelphia; died there 3 November 187.3, age 5».81 Child of Richard Allen' Eddy (father’s will); 1. FRANK1 EDDY. ii. JOSHUA P. B.' EDDY,8- born about 1830 (age at death) in Philadelphia; died there 3 February 1877, age 47.8' 81 Richard Eddy return of death, 1873, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 180519 1 5 (Fill. #2,022,002); image online at familysearch.org. < ioroner’s certificate: colored, male, 50 years, married, died November 3d 1873 of injuries from a fall; J. C. I.. Bro| wn?|, coroner. Undertaker's certificate: barber, born in Philadelphia, resided 5th ward, 419 So 6th St, buried 5 November in Lebanon Cemetery; G. M. Burton, undertaker. 8- lie is John P. Foyer Eddy in grandfather’s will, but Joshua P. B. Eddy, Jr., in the will of his father, Joshua Provine Bond Eddy. 8-' J. P. B. Eddy return of death, 1877, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915 (fill. #2,027,861); image online at familysearch.org. Physician's certificate: colored, 46 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 47 Child of Joshua Provine Bond' Iiddy (father’s will): 1 . CLARA E. ' EDDY. iii. JOIIANNA/SARAII' EDDY, horn about April 1823 (return of death) or about 1828 ( 1830 census) in Philadelphia; died there 13 January 1874, age 49 years 9 months;8* married by say 1846 (first child born about 1847) SOLOMON TINGLE (named Sarah Tingle in father’s will; 1850 census). Solo¬ mon was born about 1825 in Pennsylvania (1850 census) and died appar¬ ently between the I860 census and 15 January 1874, when Sarah died a widow; they resided in Philadelphia in 185085 and I860.86 Sarah, her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were there in 1 870. 8-1 Children of Solomon and Sarah ' ( Eddy) Tingle: 1. IRVIN ‘TINGLE, born about 1847(1850, 1860 censuses). 2. SARAH E.1 TINGLE, born about 1848 ( 1860 census) or 1849 ( 1850 cen¬ sus); Sarah Tingle of Philadelphia married 12 July 1865 at Mother Bethel, Philadelphia, JACOB LEWIS of Lewistown, Delaware.88 Children of James and Sarah2 (Allen) (Eddy) Wilkins: i. MARY' WILKINS, born about 1852 in Pennsylvania (1870 census). ii. SARAH' WILKINS, born about 1855 in Pennsylvania ( 1870 census). male, 47 years, married, rheumatism. Undertaker's certificate: real estate agent, born in Philadelphia; resided 5th ward, 619 Lombard St, buried 6 February in Olive Cemetery. 81 Sarah A. Tingle return of death, 15 January 1874, Philadelphia City Death Certifi¬ cates, 1803-1915 (Fill. #2,022,094); image online at familysearch.org. Physician’s cer¬ tificate: colored, female, 49 years 9 months, widow, chronic nephritis. Undertaker’s certificate: housekeeper, horn in Philadelphia, resided 5th ward, 419 So. 6th St, buried 19 January in Olive Cemetery. n”' Soloman Tingle household, 1850 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, New Market Ward, Philadelphia County, page 165 |421 stamped), #956/1216 (NARA M432, roll 817): Soloman Tingle, 25, Delaware, seaman, $2,000 real estate; Sarah, 22, Pennsylvania; Irvin, 3, Pennsylvania; Sarah, 1, Pennsylvania; all black. 86 Solomon Tingle household. 1860 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, Southern Division, 5th Ward, Philadelphia County, page 245 [403 stamped], #1153/1681 (NARA M653, roll I 155): Solomon Tingle, 30, mariner, $2,500 real estate, $150 personal estate; Sarah, 28; Sarah, 12; Irwin, 1 3; all mulatto; all born in Pennsylvania. 8 Sarah Tingle household, 1870 U.S. Census, Philadelphia, 14th District, 4th Ward, Philadelphia County, 1st enumeration, page 68, #110/657 (NARA M593, roll 1390): Sarah Tingle, 40, Pennsylvania, hair dresser; Jacob Lewis, 35, Delaware, hotel keeper, $1,000 real estate, $1,000 personal estate; Sarah Lewis, 20, Pennsylvania, hair dresser; Jacob Lewis, 2, Pennsylvania; Joshua Tingle, 25, Pennsylvania, seaman; John Tingle, 12, Pennsylvania; all black. 88 Lewis-Tingle marriage, 12 July 1865, Bethel AME register (BX 8445 ,P5 M6 reel 1 I at 1 ISP), by Rev. William Moore.