Jane Allison, Wife of William Ross

THE ORIGIN OF JANE ALLISON

Jane Allison was the husband of William Ross and the mother of his children. They were married in Botetourt County, Virginia in 1770 and lived there through the Revolutionary War (Wm Ross pension). Soon after the end of the war, William and Jane left Virginia for Greene County, Tennessee (Wm Ross pension). By 1786, they had settled into Greene County and it was there that they chose to grow roots. They watched their children and their grandchildren grow into adulthood. Jane preceded William to the grave, having died in 1827 (Wm Ross letter). A mere seven years later, William followed his “beloved” wife to the great beyond (Wm Ross headstone).

We know a great deal about William Ross as the male tended to define the family, at least through extant records. From his pension application alone, William Ross descendants are aware of his approximate birth date (he was unsure of the actual date as he reported his family bible was lost at sea), birth place in Ireland, approximate year of immigration, places and length of time he lived at each location, and details of his service in the Revolutionary War. From Botetourt County, Virginia records, researchers are easily able to piece together the Ross family kinships, mainly through the males. The point here being, less is known about the female partner in each relationship. For example, William Ross descendants do not even know the name of his mother.

So, since we are confident in at least some of the details of William Ross’ childhood and early history, descendants should have a similar interest in Jane Allison Ross. However, she has unfortunately been considered somewhat of an enigma. The issues certainly begin with her current grave marker, which was placed in 1974, nearly 150 years after her death.

My first recollection of learning about Jane Allison was the possibility that she was either born or died at sea. Her grave marker states “Jane Allison Ross 1737-1831 At Sea.” “At Sea” has become more recently, it is thought, a synonymous term for “At Rest.” But, questions still remain since there is no other example of the term being used as an epitaph on any known graves. And then, there is the date of death. A letter from William Ross to his sister actually reveals his “beloved wife,” as he called her, died in 1827. For a clean sweep, that is to make the marker wholly unreliable, the birth date of Jane is certainly incorrect. William Ross was born in or somewhere near 1844 (he was 88 when he completed his pension application in September 1832). A more realistic birth date for Jane Allison Ross, considering her marriage and children’s births, places her date of birth in the area between 1848 and 1855.

For me, I am most interested in the birth and early life of Jane Allison. The first real information we have for her is the marriage to William Ross on 29 December 1770 in Botetourt County, Virginia (as reported in the Wm Ross pension). Therefore, the question is – Were there Allison males living in Botetourt before and after 1770 that could be related to Jane Allison, and who were they? A search on the internet reveals an overwhelming belief that Jane Allison was the daughter of James Allison. Though more evidence may exist, I have not been able to locate any concrete sources for this assumed relationship. Most likely, the relationship was at one time hypothesized (which after time becomes taken for fact) through the following records:

Botetourt County Court Records

(p. 500) 8 June 1784 – Edward McDonald was appointed Surveyor of the Road, succeeding William Ross from Dr. Neely’s place to James Allison’s.

James Allison Ross was born circa 1800 in Greene County, Tennessee, the last daughter of William Ross and Jane Allison Ross

Virginia in 1784, near the time William Ross left the state. Counties had been carved away from Botetourt (red) – which attained these borders in 1777, including Montgomery (yellow) whose borders on this map were established in 1778. Within five years, Wythe would become the southern portion of Montgomery County.

Researchers can feel relatively confident that the William Ross in record #1 is the husband of Jane Allison. The reason – Edward McDonald was the brother-in-law of William Ross (Edward’s brother and sister married William Ross’ sister and brother). At that time in 1784, William Ross was about 40 and he and Jane Allison had been married for 14 years. This record would have occurred just prior to the relocation of the William Ross family to Greene County, Tennessee. And, William Ross had been the surveyor of this road for the previous eight years:

Botetourt County Court Records

1776 – William Ross was appointed Road Surveyor, succeeding Bryant McDonald (p. 475)

And also:

12 August 1778 - William Ross is appointed surveyor of the road in the room of Bryan McDonald, deceased

*11 November 1778 – John Ross Jr is appointed surveyor of the road from the half way tree to James Allisons – which was probably another road nearby

In 1776, this Bryan McDonald Jr. would have been a close neighbor to William Ross. The road surveyor was responsible for road maintenance in close proximity to the surveyor’s home. Shortly after William Ross took over the surveyor position in 1776, a) Bryan McDonald passed away in 1777, b) William Ross’ younger brother John Ross married Bryan McDonald’s daughter Mary in 1777, and c) William Ross’ younger sister Mary Ross married Bryan McDonald’s son Richard in 1779 (both marriages occurring in Botetourt County).

Bryan McDonald and the related McDonald clan were predominantly members of the Tinker Creek neighborhood near the headwaters of Tinker Creek. Bryan McDonald Sr. moved to Tinker Creek (then Buffalo Creek) between 1746 and 1753. In 1753 he recived a survey of 150 acres where he already lived and then 1755 on a branch of the Roanoke (Tinker Creek). Also located on a tract adjoining McDonald land was John Neely. John Neely must have been the Neely referred to in the 1784 surveyor record. Therefore, it appears William Ross and his father (since his siblings married into McDonald family) had been residents in the Tinker Creek neighborhood at least from 1776 to 1784. Also there, in some form, must have been a James Allison (at least in 1784). The 1784 record either referred to James Allison as a resident or possibly the owner of land. On 10 August 1784, John and Priscilla Armstrong sold 230 acres on Catawba Creek and a branch of the James River to James Allison for 38 pounds. This deed adds further to the assurance that James Allison was tied to the Tinker Creek neighborhood.

The area between the Catawba Creek (upper left) and Roanoke River (across the lower half) included branches of the Roanoke such as Tinker Creek in present day Botetourt County. Highlighted are some of the pertinent names associated with William Ross; McDonald, Neely, Snodgrass, Preston, Breckenridge, McAfee, and Cole. These families lived at the headwaters of Tinker Creek.

The approximate location of the Tinker Creek neighborhood in Botetourt County according to the county lines in 1784 Virginia.

WHO WAS JAMES ALLISON?

Now to dissect the next question, “Who was the James Allison in the 1784 surveyor record?” It would appear that this James Allison was either Jane Allison’s father…or maybe a close relative, possibly a brother. James Allison was not the only Allison in Botetourt County at the time. Let’s take a quick look at another Allison with links to this Tinker Creek neighborhood. A Charles Allison was, through records, found in the same 1782 military district as John Ross (father or brother of William Ross), Edward Ross (brother of William Ross), and Joseph Snodgrass. Since Joseph Snodgrass was definitely a resident of the Tinker Creek neighborhood, Charles Allison was in the vicinity of William Ross in 1782.

The history of Charles Allison is relatively well-established. Charles Allison came to Augusta County by 1748 (and possibly as early as 1742) as a young boy with his father’s family (John Allison) and settled in the western foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains – a area riddled with danger. Charles Allison first appeared in records in 1764 so he may have been born in early 1740s (online histories have guessed his birth to be circa 1737). He married Jane Campbell and then followed his father and Campbell kinfolk in a south and west movement. Over his adult life, he held land on Mill Creek near his father John Allison on the North Branch of James River in 1765, owned land at Buffalo River at the Forks of James River by 1767 until at least 1771, held land on South Fork of Holston River 1773 to 1779, moved to Washington County, North Carolina by 1779, and then finally migrated to Fayette County, Kentucky in about 1784. He died in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Interestingly, he had a sister Jennet Allison, christened in 1748 (or 1749, record courtesy of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church). Jennet is a spelling variation of Janet, Jeanette, Jean, or Jane. Nothing concrete is known of this Jennet Allison after her christening. So here we have a new possibility…Jane Allison daughter of John Allison and brother of Charles Allison, could have been Jane Allison, wife of William Ross. We will return to this shortly…

For now, let’s take a look back at James Allison who we know was connected to William Ross in 1784, 14 years after William Ross married Jane Allison. Charles Allison is not known to have had a brother named James Allison. So the James Allison of the Tinker Creek neighborhood was from a different Allison family. Only two James Allison men can be found in the records of western Virginia in this timeframe. The first James Allison was in Augusta County as early as 1746 and is thought to have been a brother to Robert Allison and John Allison. He was married to Martha and built a water mill, probably near Robert or James Allison. No records have been found to link James Allison to land and it is presumed he rented or lived on his brother’s land. In 1754, Augusta records state he moved to Carolina. However, in 1756 he and John Allison are defendants in a court case with John Buchanan and they reveal “we John and James Allison are late from the Province of Pennsylvania.” This evidence supports his link to the elder John Allison who came to Virginia 1742-1748. A family record online reports he died in the late 1750s in North Carolina but no source for this record has been found.

James Allison number two was the son of Robert Allison (Robert Allison will of 1769). Robert Allison purchased land on North Branch of James River in 1747 beside John Allison. The two men raised families on North Branch between Whistle Creek and Mill Creek in what is now Botetourt County just north of Lexington, Virginia. James Allison, son of Robert, first appeared in Augusta records in 1763 when he was deeded 165 acres from Samuel Paxton executors on Spreading Spring off North Branch of James River. From this record, we can state with relative confidence that he was born no later than 1742 (21 in 1764) and probably not much earlier since he had not appeared in any record prior to 1763. During 1764 he was reported living in the Forks of James River area between the North Branch and Buffalo Creek (probably Spreading Spring). Buffalo Creek was about five miles south of his father’s home at North Branch (processioner’s report). John Paxton (a relative of Samuel Paxton who sold James land in 1763), reported the same in his 1765 processioner’s report at the same location – the area a part of the Forks of James River.

This map shows the Forks of James River area that includes all of North Branch of James River (now Maury River) south to South Branch of James River, including portions of Catawba Creek, a branch of James River north of Tinker Creek, a northern branch of Roanoke River. The original tract locations of John Allison (green - 1748) and Robert Allison (red - 1747) are shown.

As a note, the Forks of James River was land west of the James River where North Branch (it is now called Maury River) enters the South Branch of the James River. The area included Buffalo Creek, Spreading Spring (exact location unknown), Cedar Creek (located at present-day Natural Bridge, Virginia) and Tinker Creek (between Buchanan and Fincastle, Virginia).

In 1767, James Alison’s older brother John Allison appears to be nearby (1767 court record – this John Allison was at Cedar Creek in Forks of James River by 1760). Then in 1768, James purchased an additional 50 acres in the Forks of James River. After father Robert Allison’s death in 1769, James Allison was found in the following records:

· 1 March 1770 – James Allison and John Allison were witnesses for a personal property deed between Samuel Newberry and Halbert Allison in Botetourt County

· 7 June 1770 - James Allison and his wife Elisabeth sold 165 acres on Spreading Spring (North Branch of James River) to Samuel McCorkle (Allison had purchased the land from Samuel Paxton executors on 1763 and Paxton had received it From Moses McClure 12 May 1753 (Botetourt County)

· 15 August 1770 - James Allison was found as a jury member in a (the same year Ross and Jane Allison were married) Botetourt County court case. Jury members in the same case were Halbert Allison and John Allison, both brothers of James Allison.

· 10 September 1770 - James Allison and Halbert Allison were jurors in two Botetourt County court cases.

· 9 October 1770 – John Allison, brother of James Allison, was the security for John Cowardon when he was granted a license to keep an ordinary at his house in Botetourt County

· 11 October 1770 - James Allison returned a verdict as a jury member in a Botetourt County court case (with a John McClure and David Mitchell – who sold land to John Ross Sr.). So, James Allison, if this was the same James Allison as the man mentioned in the 1784 survey record, was connected to Halbert Allison and a John Allison. A unique name like Halbert Allison is less difficult to follow.

· 12 November 1771 - James Allison was a member of the Botetourt grand jury summoned to court. Other jurors were known Tinker Creek residents, including James Robinson, John Robinson, James Smith, and Samuel McAfee.

· 1776 - James Allison was mentioned Botetourt County road orders near Breckenridge and Smith, both Tinker Creek neighborhood residents.

· 1778 - John Ross Jr. was appointed surveyor of a road near James Allison in Botetourt County.

By 1778, James Allison was associated with land on Peak Creek, a branch of the New River in Montgomery County (formed in 1777). A James Ellison received a survey for land on New River in 1774 (record not seen). James Allison was to view the way for a road at Bunker Bottom near Colonel Ingles in Montgomery County with others, assigned 5 January 1779. Halbert Allison, James Allison, and Francis Allison (another brother) took the Oath of Fidelity to the Commonwealth of Virginia on 2 March 1779 (found in manuscripts located in the Montgomery County Courthouse, home of all of the Botetourt County records, according to the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, page 32). Though associated with lands in Montgomery County, Virginia, a 27 September 1782 occurred between William Akers of Campbell County and James Allison of Botetourt County. More than likely, James Allison was preparing to make a move to Montgomery County during the late 1770s and early 1780s as by 1785, he had moved to Montgomery County.

The location of Peak Creek (lower left black marker) in relation to Tinker Creek (the middle black marker)

At this point, I should note that many of the records included in my review reveal several different spelling versions of Allison, such as Alison, Aleson, Alleson, Allason, and Alason. Also included was the spelling Ellison. Researchers believe that a more authentic spelling for Allison, from Scotland and Ireland, was Ellison or Ellyson. James “Ellison” Sr. and Jr. were well-known men in the Botetourt County, Virginia areas. James Ellison Sr. fought with distinction in the Battle of Point Pleasant. This family settled in Greenbrier and Monroe Counties their records have been blended with the records of James Allison of the Botetourt and Montgomery County regions.

Though this review of James Allison, son of Robert, at the level provided was probably unnecessary, it does verify that Jane Allison, wife of William Ross, was not his daughter. Nor was it likely that she was the daughter of the older James Allison since he removed to Carolina before 1754. So, Jane Allison was not the daughter of James Allison. The only possibilities, if she was born 1748 to 1754, was that she was the daughter of either John Allison or Robert Allison, the original immigrants to Augusta County before 1747. After the review of Charles Allison we know that John Allison of North Branch had a daughter Janet Allison. We also are aware that Robert Allison had a daughter Janet Allison, from his 1769 will.

The mounting evidence seems to reveal two possible Jane Allison ancestors – 1) Jane Allison was the daughter of John Allison, or 2) Jane Allison was the daughter of Robert Allison. Below is a review of the John Allison and the Robert Allison families. It is important to note that exact birth years of most of the children are unknown (particularly those of Robert Allison), as well as any information regarding their fate. Also included are some of the other earliest Allison residents that appear to be associated with John and Robert Allison.

ALLISON FAMILYS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA - 1740s & 1750s

John Allison

· born between 1700-1710, he was certainly of Scotch-Irish decent as he was a part of the Scotch-Irish community that came to Augusta and settled Borden’s tract from Pennsylvania

· Others living in close proximity to Allison in Augusta County migrated from Chester and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

· Most Scotch and Irish immigrants ended up in Chester or Lancaster Co PA. Families know to have been associated with the Allison family who migrated to Augusta were Gillespie, John Houston, Montgomery, Stuart, Hall. In 1741, they joined many other Scotch families in a Conestoga wagon train and traveled down the Philadelphia Wagon Road, following rivers to the Upper Shenandoah Valley. They settled what is now Staunton and Lexington.

· Another story – James Kerr purchased land in Augusta Co VA in 1738/1739 and had migrated with several other prominent Scotch families – Buchanan, Steele, Pickens, Anderson, Allison, Campbell, Robertson, and Hays to name a few – General Andrew Pickens states he was born in Paxton, Lancaster Co, PA in 1739 and migrated in his infancy to area 8 miles west of Staunton. Kerr built a large stone house on Middle Creek in 1738-1740 and it was an early meeting and courthouse.

· Was from Lancaster Co PA as evident in May 1748 document on which it was stated that he issued an affidavit 14 April 1742 in Lancaster Co PA for a court case between Francis Beaty and William Caldwell, both of Lancaster, the case was originally started in 1737 in Lancaster

· died unknown, alive to 1756 and probably until at least 1770

· Found – John married Janet and had Robert, William, Henry, and John Allison. Patented 250 acres in Lancaster Co PA 25 Feb 1745 and settled in Augusta Co VA prior to 1755

· In 1770, a document mentions John Allison and his ferry. John Allison definitely had a ferry by 1748 and so this was either him or his son John

· Possibly died after 1780 since he was in fee books beginning in 1761 and was noted as “living on Borden land.” Men were given a notation to differentiate them from others of the same name and to avoid any confusion. A John Allison retained this same description from 1761 to 1780

· children by first marriage are presumed as no will exists, those listed have been placed only because they were in Augusta County at the correct time and were not children of Robert Allison …others are possible (and have been included in other lists but I have taken them off since they do not seem to make since to me)

· m(1) unknown, circa 1725-1729 in Chester or Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

1) Isabel Allison – born circa 1732-1740 PA, married William Burt 9 March 1755 Augusta Co VA, to Richmond/Anson Co NC circa 1765, Wm Burt tried after the Rev War for being a loyalist but died before trial in 1782, land plundered and taken away as found guilty, Isabel to Barnwell Co NC 1800 and died there in 1810

2) John Allison – born circa 1732-1739 PA, to Middle River as young man (at least by 1761), died circa 1792 Botetourt Co VA (will there), married Lucy Kerr circa 1753, she was born about 1736, had John Allison(married Lucy Rutledge), Andrew Allison, Sarah Allison (married John Vanlear at Middle River, to Montgomery Co VA), Martha Allison (died 1825 Roanoke, married John Rutledge) and William C Allison (in GA in 1820)

3) Robert Allison – born circa 1736 PA, died circa 1792 Washington Co TN, married Ann ? circa 1760 (think this is wrong, confused with Robert Allison, son of Robert, born circa 1750)

4) Charles Allison – born circa 1737-1743 PA, died 1787 Bourbon Co, KY, married Jane/Jean Campbell circa 1763, think he was born around 1743 since he first appeared in records 1764

m(2) Jane/Jean/Jeany Byers 9 March 1741/42 Chester County, Pennsylvania

5) Marrtha Allison, baptized 10Sep1746

6) Jennett Allison – born circa 1742-49, baptized 1 Mar 1749 Tinkling Spring Church, may have married Robert Campbell

7) William Allison – born circa 1742-49, baptized 9 April 1749 Tinkling Spring Church, died in Fayette Co, KY, married Elizabeth Campbell?, 1779 to KY with the Campbells, either he or wife was in Bourbon Co KY 1787

8) Possibly Nancy Allison, born circa 1748-1750 (22 Feb 1748), married Joseph Trotter, to Bourbon Co KY (husband died there ca 1807), died 1845 in Preble Co Ohio – near Charles and John Allison in KY

9) Mary Elizabeth Allison – born circa 1752, died 1825 Gallatin Co IL, married William Campbell circa 1770, with Charles Allison and John Allison as they moved south and west, William Campbell died ca 1800 KY

Robert Allison

· born circa 1695-1720, he was certainly of Scotch-Irish decent as he was a part of the Scotch-Irish community that came to Augusta and settled Borden’s tract from Pennsylvania

· One ancestor claims Robert Allison and 4 other sons (including John Allison) were children of Thomas Allison

· Others living in close proximity to Allison in Augusta County migrated from Chester and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

· died 1769 Augusta County, Virginia

· married circa 1736-1740 Hannah Catherine McClure, she was alive in 1775

· children from his 1769 will include:

1) Mary Allison – born circa 1740, married circa 1760 John Davison or Davidson, husband died 1802 Rockbridge Co VA, children Robert, Jenny, and John, etc

2) John Allison – born circa 1739, in VA 1790s, possibly died circa 1794 Montgomery Co, VA, or maybe traveled with cousin Charles west and died in Woodford Co KY 1791 (this one married Isabella and had son Halbert), possibly married Isabell (from KY will)

3) Halbert Allison – born circa 1749 VA, died 1813 Wythe Co, VA, married Nancy Agnes

4) James Allison – born circa 1742 VA, married Elizabeth ?, in VA 1790s, possibly died circa 1803

5) Agnes Allison – born circa 1750 VA

6) Janet Allison – born circa 1753 VA, married William Ross 1770, died in Greene County, TN in 1827

7) Francis Allison – born circa 1754-1757 VA, sold land in 1775 with mother, in Montgomery Co, VA 1785, in VA 1790s, possibly died circa 1811

8) Robert Allison – born circa 1750 – sold father’s land in 1771 (which was received in will) with wife Ann, bought part of Borden’s tract in 1771 on North Branch, bought land in Washington Co VA in 1777 on Holsten River where brother John and cousin Charles were by 1779 (found possibly born 25 Sep 1749, married Ann, died 12 Mar1826, had six children, were in TN – was this confused with Robert Allison, presumed son of John?) (also found Robert Allison born 25 May 1744, married Elizabeth?, in Washington Co TN, to Logan Co KY, sold land still held in VA in 1802, died 1 Sep 1822 at age 78)

James Allison

· Married Martha ?

· was in Augusta County by 1747, planning to build a water mill

· (could this have been the father of John and Robert?)

Jane Allison

Of Lancaster or Chester Co PA

Married Isaac Hall, possibly related to Edward Hall- to America 1741

To Augusta Co VA circa 1741

Francis Allison

· Born before 1726

· Living in the North Branch area 1747 to 1756 and as late as 1761 near McClures and Robert Allison, James Moore, William Hall, James Thompson

· Owned land on North Branch adjoining Robert Allison and very near John Allison in 1750 and 1751

· Was living in the same community as Robert Allison – 1753 & 1756

· Had Andrew Allison baptized 10 Sep 1746 at Tinkling Spring Church in Augusta Co VA (not sure about this record, others say it was John Allison son of Martha, or it was Andrew son of John) – Andrew Allison married Elizabeth Hall, daughter of John Hall 21 Mar 1786, and he died in 1830

· Possibly a brother or father to John and Robert, not father if Andrew was his son…

· Could this person have died in late 1750s and it was his widow that appeared in 1759 North Branch records

· Or was this actually Francis Allison, son of John Allison

· However, have not seen source to show Francis Allison was the son of John Allison or even that John Allison did actually have a son Francis

· The Francis Allison son of Robert was still alive in 1769 when his father left him land on Mill Creek in his will, Francis was a young man not yet of age to receive it…

Samuel Allison

· Born before 1733

· Married Susan

· Living in Augusta County 23 March 1754 near John Allison

· May have gone to Rowan County NC and died about October 1759

· Children – Robert born 1753 Augusta and Samuel born about 1759 Augusta (no source)

Martha Allison

· Born circa 1713

· Martha Allison in Augusta Court in April 1746, alleged Andrew McNabb, married, was the father of her unborn child – McNabb and Samuel Norwood were bound to pay support for the unborn child

· John Allison was the son baptized 10 Sept 1746 (on same day as Andrew Allison, son of Francis was baptized?)

· Martha Allison was in the Tinkling Spring congregation in 1740s

· Married James Logan (his second marriage) circa 1753 (the source for this was an old family file in a library in Stanford KY)

· James Logan, born in c1710 Lurgean Ireland, a Presbyterian elder, and uncle of Benjamin Logan an early KY pioneer

· They went to Kentucky

· had first child with Logan circa 1755 at age 63 (age was from the child’s obituary when an adult)

· Had children named Robert Allison Logan, also had Charles, James, John, etc…

· James Logan died 1788 in Lincoln County, KY

· Martha died 1818 Lincoln County, KY at age 103 (from child’s obituary)

Martha Allison (daughter of Alexander Allison born circa 1680 Ulster, PA)

· Alexander Allison will Chester Co PA 1743 mentions daughter Martha, wife of James Buchanan

· His will also mentions other children who are not connected to the Augusta County Allisons so it seems if Martha was related, it was more distant than as a sister

· Born circa 1700-1705

· Married James Buchanan in Pennsylvania circa 1722

· Son Captain John Buchanan married Martha Buchanan in Augusta Co VA then to Washington Co VA

ALLISON LAND LOCATIONS

The southern half of Borden’s Manor (from whom the Allisons purchased land) in the 1740s. Lands of Allison, Campbell, and McClure are labeled and are located in the vicinity of present-day Lexington, Virginia. Timber Ridge is just to the north. Map part of larger map created by Tinkling Spring and Heritage Presbyterian Church, Fishersville, VA

Location of 1748 John Allison land (yellow), 1747 Robert Allison (green), 1746 Halbert McClure (orange), and 1756 James Campbell (pink – mouth of Whistle Creek). John Allison later purchased lot 68 (in 1768) to the northeast and Robert Allison purchased lot 105 (in 1771) to the northeast.

Virginia before the 1770 Ross-Allison marriage, Augusta County is red. The black marker is the approximate location of the Allison’s land in the 1740s when they arrived in Virginia. This was on the southern portion of Borden’s Manor at the North Fork of the James River. It is currently in Rockbridge County.

Augusta County, Virginia area showing the Allison land on the 1740s and the approximate location of William Ross in 1770s after he married Jane Allison.

Virginia in 1770 when the Ross-Allison marriage occurred- Botetourt (red) was formed in 1770 from Augusta County. The black markers show the southwest movement of the Allisons from North Branch to the Tinker Creek/Catawba Creek area

WAS JANE'S FATHER ROBERT OR JOHN ALLISON?

Many believe John, Robert, and James Allison (and possibly more) were brothers from Pennsylvania and were possibly the sons of a James Allison (others say Thomas). There was also a Francis Allison, Samuel Allison, and Alexander Allison in Augusta County, Virginia in the 1740s and 1750s (and a widow Allison in the late 1750s at North Branch). Most noteworthy was the connection between John Allison and Robert Allison. Both men bought land in Augusta County, Virginia near the same time and same location. John Allison was given a license to operate a ferry between his land and the land of Halbert McClure, the father-in-law of Robert Allison. In 1742, John Allison was a private in a militia company with Robert Allison’s father-in-law Halbert McClure. During Nathaniel McClure’s probate of 1761, his niece Hannah McClure Allison (Robert Allison’s wife) was in the will and proved the will while John Allison represented the widow Mary McClure. During the 1740s through 1760s, most Augusta County residents migrated slowly to the southwest. For the most part, both Allison men and their children followed this movement pattern because of the availability of cheap land.

A Gennett/Ganatt/Janet/Jane Allison married James Campbell, son of Robert Campbell, 6 October 1779 in Washington County, Tennessee (then North Carolina). This information comes from James Campbell himself when he completed his Revolutionary War pension application. His wife Jane died after 1850 in Knox County, Tennessee and her birth, from that record and pension records, is estimated to be circa 1759 (James Campbell was born15 February 1759). The Campbell’s were most closely related to the John Allison family (at least three Campbell’s married John Allison children and they migrated from VA to NC to TN to KY together). However, Janet, daughter of John Allison was born in or before 1748 (baptism record) and would not be a match. Because of this, descendants currently have placed this Jane as the daughter of Robert Allison however, the evidence does not substantiate the claim. First, the children of Robert Allison were not known to have migrated outside of Virginia to the south (for Jane to marry in Tennessee). Second, since there is ample evidence that the older children of John Allison married and migrated with the Campbells. So this Jane Allison Campbell, who married in 1779 Tennessee, should be connected to the John Allison family and must be a granddaughter of John Allison. Charles Allison, the youngest son of John Allison was born about 1737-1743 and would be a potential father of this Jane Allison, born circa 1759, however his wife was a Campbell. A better candidate was Robert Allison, son of John Allison, who married Ann…they were in Washington County, Tennessee.

A Jane Allison was known to have married a Robert Campbell but the dates and sources regarding this marriage are sketchy. However, the birth date for this Jane Allison was somewhere between 1735 and 1745, which appear to match the birth date of Janet Allison, daughter of John Allison. Also, it would make sense that this Janet Allison married a Campbell since the connection between the Allisons and the Campbells were so tight.

This discussion must now return to Janet Allison, daughter of Robert Allison. Her fate is still unclear and I propose that this Janet Allison is the Jane Allison who married William Ross in Botetourt County during the year 1770. I am sure there are more records out there and one day, we might find more to support these assertions. We might also find evidence to disprove my claims and beliefs. However, I am going to stick with my feelings about Jane Allison considering the information I have (and I feel relatively confident I have seen 95% of the records available on the internet), that:

1) Jane is a sister to the James Allison that lived or held land in close proximity to William Ross in 1784

2) Jane was born about 1748 to 1755 in Botetourt County to Robert Allison

One issue remains, the brother of William Ross supposedly married a Nancy Allison. I have not seen the source for this marriage or link. I have also been unable to locate a source that shows her surname was actually Allison. Several researchers have cautioned that the surname of the wife of Edward Ross is only “believed” to have been Allison. Therefore, until I see evidence that she was indeed an Allison, I will continue to stick with my belief regarding Jane Allison’s parents and family. Remember, Edward Ross could have married a Nancy Allison, the widow of an Allison man who died young, possibly at the hands of a band of roaming Indians. It was common in this western, unknown, dark, and mysterious land during the 1700s. Nancy was also estimated to have been born about 1760, which means that she could have, if she was an Allison, been Jane Allison’s niece. As a note, Edward Ross was in Washington County, Tennessee by 1787 and probably left Virginia around the same time as his brother William Ross in circa 1784.

A TIMELINE OF RELATED ALLISON FAMILY RECORDS

· 1738-1739 – James Kerr said to purchase land in Orange or Augusta County VA area where he migrated with several other prominent Scotch families – Buchanan, Steel, Pickens, Anderson, Allison, Campbell, Robertson, and Hays, to name a few

· 1740 - John Allison, Ephraim McDowell, and John Kerr members of John McDowell’s militia company (Kegley’s VA Frontier, p 140)

· 1742 – John Allison (Aleson) was in the John McDowell militia company with David Dryden, William Hall, Alexander McClure, Halbert McClure, James Moore, Robert Young, etc

· 1743 – Borden to John Kerr 280 acres on North Fork branch of James River (plot 159 on map)

· 25 February 1745 – John Allison patented 250 acres Lancaster County, PA? may have been another John Allison

· 19 March 1746 – Benj Borden to Halbert McClure (sold in lifetime) 203 acres for 6.1.6 current VA money, part of 92,100 are Borden tract on North Branch of James River, corner Samuel McClure and William Hall (Chalkey’s, page 203) (plot 93 on map)

· 14 April 1746 – Martha Allison swore to a child – Andrew McNabb (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1) (this was the wife of James Allison who would leave for Carolina) (Or, was it a Martha Allison who was having an illegitimate child)

· 21 August 1746 – James Allison, assignee of Hugh Broil vs David and Alexander Gibson, states plaintiff not an inhabitant of the country (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· February 1746/47 – James Allison to build a water mill (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· 18 March 1747 – Benjamin Borden executors to James Young 440 acres (part of 92,100), corner to John Allison on the banks of the river at the mouth of Whistle Creek (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 267) (plot 268 on map…he also bought plot 269 in 1742 401.5 acres)

· 1 May 1747 – Robert Ellison received laboring wages from James Neelley, Erwin Patterson, and Ephraim Vause in appraisement of Isaac Bean (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 6)

· 21 May 1747 – Ordered that John Allison have license on his petition to keep a ferry from his landing to Halbert McClure’s (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 21 May 1747 – Benj. Borden executors to Robert Allison (this land sold in his lifetime) 279 acres, 2R 36P, 8.5.0 current money in Virginia, part of 92,100 (Borden tract), on North Branch of James River, corner to Halbert McClure and James Thompson (Chalkey’s, page 269) (plot 94 – states 179 acres on other records)

· 1748 Benjamin Borden to John and Jean Allison 291 acres, SW side North River, corner to Gilbert McClure (plot 179 on map)

· 15 February 1748 – Robert Allison to Joseph Paxton land on the James River, specifically the narrows on North Branch of the James River (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 271) (Chalkey’s, page 95)

· 12 April 1748 – Alexander McClure and Robert Huston reported the following settlers at the North Branch of James River – Robert Allison, William Hall

· May 1748 – John Allison gave affidavit in Lancaster County, PA in a debt on a note from July 1737, case William Caldwell vs Francis Beatey (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1) (John Allison, Francis Beaty and William Caldwell were residents of Lancaster PA in 1738 and by 1752 Beaty was in Augusta Co) (William Caldwell or Calwell had a son John that was baptized at Buck Mountain in 1740, located just over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Augusta Co VA, now Albemarle, so Caldwell left Lancaster and was there by 1740)

· 2 April 1750 John Allison deed for 100 acres adjoining John Kerr, Robert Dickson, and James Henderson (neither man owned land in the Borden Tract) (James Henderson bought a 157 acre tract in the Beverly Tract 1749 – Middle River)

· 29 August 1750 – Robert Allison, James Thompson, and Alexander McMullen provided testament for the will of Gilbert Campbell (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 19)

· 24 November 1750 – John Allison, James Campbell, and Michel Johnson teste for James and Sarah Trimble deed to Alexander Beggs 250 acres on Buffalo Creek of the James River, corner to Silas Hart (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 291) (Buffalo Creek about five miles south of Borden Tract)

· 8 February 1750-1751 – Robert Allison, William Hall, and Nathaniel McClure conducted the appraisement for James Randall (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 20)

· 18 February 1750-1751 – James and Jean Moore to Alexander McClure, 163 acres on North Branch of the James River where Francis Allison now lives. “Teste” for the deed were William Hall, Robert Allison, and James Thompson (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 292) (James Moore originally bought Borden land on Hays Creek about five miles north of the John and Robert Allison, but Moore family held land closer to them)

· 26 February 1751 – Robert Allison and James Thompson provided proved the will of Gilbert Campbell (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 19)

· 23 May 1751 – Robert Allison, Alexander McMullan, James Thompson, and Andrew Hays conducted the appraisement or Gilbert Edmondson, deceased (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 22)

· 28 May 1751 – Arthur and Frances McClure to Robert Allison, 254 acres of Benjamin Borden 92,100 acre tract, on Mill Creek, corner of John McNabb, James Thompson, David Dryden, John Stevenson (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 296) (Arthur McClure bought Borden tract plot 97 in 1749 consisting of 153.5 acres so must have included this land and 100 acres additional) it was one mile north of Robert Allison on North River of James

· 15 June 1751 – James and Jean Moore to Nathan McClure 160 acres on North Branch of James River corner to Francis Allison, “teste” by James Thompson, David Dryden, and Alexander McClure (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 296)

· 26 November 1751 – Borden executors to John Stevenson, 290 of 92,100 on Mill Creek, corner to Robert Allison, James Thompson (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 299) John Stevenson lived near the Taylors and Hustons on Timber Ridge on or near Mill Creek. There are several Mill Creeks, but this one was a branch going north off the James River toward the Allisons, Pattersons, Hendersons, Taylors, and Hustons (this was plot 257 on map – about one mile east of Robert Allison)

· 16 May 1753 – John Stevenson & Jane James to William Ramsey 290 acres on Mill Creek in Borden’s tract, corner to Moses McClure, Worm Run, Alexander McClure, Robert Allison, James Thompson (Chalkey’s Chronicle Vol 3)

· 1753 – Robert Allison was a communicant at Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church, he had 8 children. Also included was John McClure, Alexander McClure, Nathaniel McClure, and Halbert McClure. (Timber Ridge was the large mountain chain dividing present day northern Virginia and West Virginia, Timber Ridge was located between North Branch of James River or Maury River now and South Branch of James River, it is north of Lexington and south of Fairfield)

· 1753 – Names of residents who signed a call for the Reverend John Brown – Francis Allison, Robert Allison, Halbert McClure, Alexander McClure, Nathaniel McClure, John Kerr, John Patton, John Sprowl, James Trimble, James Thompson

· 16 May 1754 – John Allison and George Henderson sureties for William Miller, David Miller held bond as administrator (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 34)

· 23 March 1754 – John Allison and Samuel Allison with John Sproul, William Byers, Matthew Vance, and others keep road cleared from Campbell’s schoolhouse to Renix Road (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 22 August 1754 - Robert and Elizabeth Poage to John Allison 195 acres on Mill Creek of James River joining Samuel Walker and John Poage, corner Samuel Walker, John Poage, Elizabeth Page (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 328) (John Allison had purchased land from Alexander McClure in 1761 on North Branch of James River corner to Robert Poage) (Robert Poage sold a tract of 285 acres to James Gilmore at the head of Mill Creek in 1755, corner to Joseph Walker)(Robert Poage was the brother of John Poage and he also had a son John Poage)

· August 1754 – James Allison went to Carolina from Augusta County, record from case George Lewis vs John Carmichael (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· 10 November 1754 Robert Armstrong left sons John and Robert a tract of land bought of John Allison on Mill Creek, near McClure’s Run, near Colonel Patton land

· 19 May 1755 – John Vance of Bedford Co VA to Robert Allison (Alleson) 83 acres on North Branch of James River, patent to John Vance (this patent is unknown) (Thomas Vance owned 800 acres on North Brnach about 5 to 10 miles upstream from Robert Allison original tract, Robert Allison bought land adjoining Thomas Vance tract in 1771, also known to have land adjoining others in that area in 1761) – could this have been a different Robert Allison?

· 3 October 1755 – John and Jean Allison to Joseph Walker 291 acres on North Branch of James River, corner to Gilbert Campbell, John Moore, teste Andrew Uall, William Byers, delivered by Thomas Stewart to court February 1758 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 340) (Byers was purportedly the last name of Jean, wife of John Allison) (John Allison original purchase of land on North Branch in 1748 bordered Gilbert Campbell and John Moore)

· 1755 – David Dryden and William Hall processioned and residents include – Robert Allison, John Allison, Robert Huston, Alexander McClure, George Stevenson, John Davidson, Nathaniel McClure, William Hall, Thomas Paxton, John Stevenson, John McClure

· 19 February 1756 – Nathan McClure to Alexander McClure 166.5 acres on North Branch of James River for 38 pounds, corner to John McClure and Francis Allison, “teste” David Dryden, delivered by Alexander McClure June 1778 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 19) (Nathaniel McClure purchased land from Borden on Warm Creek – small branch of North Branch – immediately east of Robert Allison on North Branch in 1747)

· March 1756 – John Buchanan vs John and James Allison, we John and James Allison late from the Province of Pennsylvania, return no found. (town Buchanan was near the Tinker Creek area)

· 15 March 1757 – John and Margaret Buchanan to Robert Allison 83 acres on North Branch of James River for 25 pounds, part of 634 acres, part of Borden’s tract, corner to Jacob Anderson (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 342) (this was land adjoining Jacob Anderson Borden tract 106 and Robert Allison tract 105 – Allison Jr. bought tract 105 in 1771, and was apparently a portion of Thomas Vance 800 acres that was tract 260)

The 634 acre John Buchanan tractis in orange and has previously been mislabeled. The land of Anderson, Young, Anderson, and Allison were not original grantees by Borden, they were granted land by Buchanan

· 1759 – Procession appointed for James River below road that crosses North River at the widow Allison’s and westward to James River, includes – Alexander McClure, John Stevenson (this must have been the widow of recently deceased John Allison? Because John Allison owned a ferry that crossed the river at his land)

· 16 May 1759 – John Allison and Robert Young appointed surveyor of highway from widow Long to James Thompson (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 1759 or 1760 – John McCown and Robert Erwin, between the North Mountain and Great Road that crosses the North Branch at Widow Allison’s and from River to River (This might have referred to the ferry John Allison had)

· 20 May 1760 – Robert Allison appointed surveyor of highway in room of Alexander McClure (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 22 May 1760 – Patrick Young appointed surveyor of highway in the room of John Allison (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 19 November 1760 – Samuel McClure to James Gilmore 190 acres in Forks of James on Cedar Creek, corner Robert Poage, Thomas Patton, John Darrick, Samuel Walker, John Allison, delivered by James Gilmore to court November 1766 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 365) (Cedar Creek was at the Forks of the James River and is located between Buchanan and Lexington near the Tinker Creek area)

· 1760 – Sandy Lyle processioner’s returns – Robert Allison

· 1761 – Abraham Brown and William Holdman processioned returns – Francis Allison, Samuel Paxton, John Lowery, Alexander McClure, James Trimble, John Poage

· 5 February 1761 – Hannah Allison teste for Nathaniel McClure will (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 62)

· 7 February 1761 – Borden’s executives to Samuel Davis, on deed revealed John Buchanan sold to Robert Allison 636 acres on the side of Mount Atlas corner to James Greenlee, William Davis, James Anderson and Samuel Davis (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 367) (this is tract 104 from Borden map, William Davis 205, James Anderson 110, Francis Reynolds 109, Robert Allison 105 but in 1771, Thomas Vance 260 from 800 acres) (636 acres must have been bought by Buchanan from another migrant as he held land north of this area in Borden’s tract) )this is on North Branch about 5 to 10 miles upstream) (Greenlee adjoined John Davidson, William, Gray, and Moses Whiteside in 1760) (near John Scott, Francis Reynolds, Hays, Paxton, Davison, Rundal)

· 19 May 1761 – John Allison, Samuel McClure, and Baptist McNabb administrated with Nathaniel McClure widow Mary McClure, for Nathaniel McClure’s will (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 62)

· 20 May 1761 John and Lucie Kerr to John Allison 10 acres on the east side of Shenandoah between land of said Kerr and John Allison, part of 400 acres adjoining Andrew Kerr (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 371)

· 18 August 1761 – Alexander McClure, farmer, to John Allison 370 acres, 130 pounds, on North Branch of James River, corner to William Hall, Robert Poage, Robert Hutson. Delivered to John Allison September 1769 (Alexander was the uncle or brother of Robert Allison’s wife Hannah) (Chalkey’s, page 507)

· 1 February 1762 – Andrew and Rachel Kerr (Carr) to John Allison 77 acres, part of 230 acres patented to Kerr 5 September 1749, on Middle Shenandoah River, corner to John Allison, delivered to court February 1768 by John Allison (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 380) – Kerr researchers believe this is the John Allison that married Lucy Kerr, daughter of John Kerr and Lucy Pickens, John Kerr was Andrew Kerr’s brother

· 9 February 1762 – John Allison 245 acres on Middle River Shenandoah River, adjoining John Kerr, James Hamilton, John Allison (Abstracts of Land Grant Surveys 1761-1791)

· 17 August 1762 – George Poage and James Hamilton viewed way from Davidsons ford to stone meeting house and most convenient way of from Davidson to Edward Rutledge to John Allison’s ford to John Kerr’s to meeting house (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 10 June 1763 – Samuel Paxton executors to James Allison 165 acres on North Branch of James River called the Spreading Springs, teste Nathan Evans, May Evans, Mary Paxton, delivered to court by Samuel McCorkle 5 June 1770

· 17 November 1763 – John Allison, John Stewart, Nathan Gilliland, William Kerr with James Finley in his bond as administrator of Robert Finley (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 82)

· 1764 – John Paxton and Abraham Brown processioned between North River and the Buffalo and found the following settlers – James Allison, James Campbell, John Moore, Samuel McClure, John Paxton, James Trimble

· 1764 –Andrew Hall and James Buchanan processioned for the precinct between North River and Beverly line and found the flowing settlers – Robert Allison, John Allison, James Buchanan, Andrew Hays, James McKee, William Patton, James Thompson

· November 1764 – Hugh Hays to Charles Allison, deed, bond issued 31 December 1763, witness Alexander Greer (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· 15 February 1765 – Andrew Hall and James Buchanan processioner’s report – Robert Allison, John Allison, James Anderson

· 9 August 1765 – John and Janet Allison to Charles Allison 195 acres on Mill Creek of James River, corner to James Gilmore and John Poage, delivered to court by Charles Allison 31 January 1771 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 432)

· 1765 – John Paxton and Abraham report procession – James Allison, Joseph Walker, Robert Moore, Samuel McClure, William Paxton, James Campbell, William Hall, James Trimble, etc (think this was in the Forks of James River area as others here were located in Forks in 1765 from Fee records)

· 1766 – John Allison (1354 pounds dry winter-rotted hemp) a leading hemp grower in Augusta County behind Thomas Paxton (5426), John Paxton (4442), Nathaniel Evans (2659), Moses McClure (2392), and James Campbell (1528)

· 1767 – James Simpson and John Mitchell processioned between the Buffalo and James River and found the following settlers – Charles Allison, David Dreyden, Arthur McClure, John Poage (think this was in the Forks of James River area as others here were located in Forks in 1768)

· 17 May 1767 – Robert Allison to Andrew McCampbell, horses, house furnishings, and clothes for 80 pounds, “teste” by William McKerney and William McCampbell (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 451)

· 25 May 1767 – John Allison and Charles Allison, John Davis gave security in case (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· 14 August 1767 – John Taylor to Thomas Ratliff 75 acres on James River, Teste James Allison, John Allison, James Trimble, and John McNutt, delivered to court by John Trimble 12 September 1755? (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 454)

· 23 November 1767 – John Allison and Charles Allison defendants in case against Mary McClure, plaintiff, plaintiff has died (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· 1767 – John Allison a leading hemp grower in Augusta County – 1700 pounds dry winter-rotted hemp

· 22 February 1768 – James Allison 50 acres at Fork of James River, adjoining James Trimble (Abstracts of Land Surveys 1761-1791)

· 1 March1768 – Borden executors to John Allison 190 acres part of 92,100 Borden Tract, corner to Andrew Hays near his mill, corner to Samuel McDowell (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 464)

· 15 March 1768 – Robert Allison, David Doak, John McKee, Jacob Anderson, and Robert Rodgers received hemp certificates

· 18 May 1768 – John & Lucy Kerr and William & Martha Kerr to James Laird 124 acres on Middle River of Shenandoah, 100 is part of Beverly Manor and patented to John Kerr 30 July 1742, the other to William Kerr 2 June 1760, corner John Allison, teste Edward Rutledge, Alexander Walker, William Mathers, delivered to court by James Laird February 1770 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 467)

· 23 March 1769 – John Moore, Joseph Walker, and Andrew Hall view most convenient way from James Thompson to John Allison’s ferry on the North River to John Paxtons (Augusta Road Orders 1745-1768)

· 17 April 1769 – John Allison, James Cowan, Charles Campbell, John Shields Jr. teste for Thomas and Jenat Vance deed to John Campbell for 148 acres on North Branch of James River, corner to Vance plantation, delivered to court by Thomas Vance 26 July 1774 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 484) (this is on North Branch about 5 to 10 miles upstream from original Allison land, tract 104 in Borden’s tract, next to Robert Allison land of 1771)

· 22 June 1769 – Robert Allison received a hemp certificate with Peachy Ridgeway Gilmore, David Doak, John McKee, Jacob Anderson (order book 13, p157)

· 24 July 1769 – Robert Allison will – son James Allison, daughter Mary Davison, son John Allison, daughter Agnes Allison, son Robert Allison, son Francis Allison (received 250 acres on Mill Creek), son Halbert Allison, daughter Janet Allison, wife Hannah Allison, teste Alexander McClure, Arthur McClure, Joseph Walker, Joseph Walker Jr. (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 109)

· 15 August 1769 – Robert Allison will proven (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 109)

· 23 September 1769 – Robert Allison estate appraised by William Hall and Joseph Walker (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 117)

· 28 September 1769 – John Allison purchased 400 acres on Forks of James River, adjoining James Gilmer (Abstracts of Land Surveys 1761-1791)

· Circa 1770 – James Laird to John Hinds 124 acres on Middle River of Shenandoah River, part of 400 acres belonging formerly to John Kerr, corner to John Allison (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 494)

· 1770 – John and Janet Allison to William Ramsey 204 acres on North Branch of James River, corner to Andrew Hall, John Thompson, Widow Allison (Hannah), delivered by John Allison 1773 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 496)

· 13 March 1770 – Alexander Bruce estate settled by John Montgomery, estate received from James Allison for improvements and right of entry of land sold Allison (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 113)

· 28 March 1770 – John Patterson will proven, widow Jane granted administration with Thomas Patterson and John Allison (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 114)

· 6 October 1770 – John Allison 64 acres Middle River Shenandoah River (Abstracts of Land Grant Surveys 1761-1791)

· 8 October 1770 – John Allison was a witness to a deed between William Foster and John Newlands for land on Cripple Creek, a branch of New River to the southwest. (brother Halbert Allison and other family members had moved to the New River area)

· 20 August 1771 - Robert and Ann Allison to William Sprowl for 104 pounds, part of Borden’s tract conveyed to Robert Allison by Borden’s executors in two deeds – A: containing 108 acres of which 25 acres have already been conveyed to Robert and Jacob Anderson, and B: containing 240 acres corner to Jacob Anderson on the north fork of the James River, delivered to court August 1774 by William Sprowl (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 511) This was likely near the North Branch where Robert bought land from Borden executors in 1771

· 1 March 1771 – Borden’s executors to Robert Allison, 200 acres of the Borden tract (92,100) for 30 pounds on North River (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 509)

· 13 August 1771 – John and Jenet Allison to Charles Allison 110 acres Fork of the James River (Botetourt County)

· 15 November 1771 – To Ye Vestry, whereas Joel Millikan came to my house in a very low condition, destitute of any help for himself either in body or goods. Therefore provided a bed for him and attended him for nine days and he died. I therefore provided a coffin and sheet and a gallon and a half of liquor and had him buried in decent manner according to his station, which I hope you will take into consideration as I am not of great ability to be at so much expense and trouble, which is from your humble servant, Widow Allison

· 18 August 1772 – John and Lucie Allison to William Allison, his son, 92 acres (part of 245 acre tract patented to John Allison 12 May 1770 – from the records, this was actually patented 1762 and adjoined at the time his own land), delivered to court by John Allison 25 February 1773 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 523)

· 9 July 1772 – William Allison 31 acres on Middle River Shenandoah River, adjoining James Kerr (Abstracts of Land Grant Surveys 1761-1791)

· 2 march 1773 – Walter and Margaret Crockett and William Sayers to John Allison, Charles Allison, Robert Campbell, Alexander Campbell, William Campbell 450 acres on headwaters of South Fork of Holston River (Fincastle County records)

· 15 June 1775 – Francis Allison and Hannah Allison his mother to Alexander McClure Sr., delivered to court by Halbert McClure, son of Alexander McClure 10 October 1793 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 542)

· 1777 – Robert Allison 340 acres on the south fork of Holston River in Washington County, VA

· 1777 – Bryan McDonald Jr. left his son William McDonald part of his land next to James Allison, another son got land on North Fork of Roanoke River (One of his sons lived on North Fork of Roanoke River at McDonald’s mill) (it may be that James Allison was a son-in-law of Bryan McDonald – from ancestor reminiscent – so James Allison at Tinker Creek in 1784 must have been born around 1740s since Bryan McDonalds daughter’s would have been born in 1740s or 1750s)

· 19 March 1778 – William Allison is vice constable with John Clemmons as constable (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 1)

· 1778 – Washington Co TN tax – John Allison, Charles Allison, William Allison, Robert Allison

· 18 August 1779 - John Allison, Charles Allison, William, Robert, and Alexander Campbell to Vought, Smith, Wiseman, Campbell, Kincannon 5 tracts of land on South fork of Holston River (Deed Records of Montgomery County, VA)

· 20 July 1780 – 600 acres in Botetourt County surveyed for Bryan McDonald Jr., on waters of Roanoke River (Tinker Creek) and James River (Catawba Creek), corner of Cloyd, Allison (James Allison), and Armstrong, includes 161 acres as part of 218 acre grant to Bryan McDonald Sr. (d1757) 10 March 1756 – this on a branch of the Roanoke River, 58 acres part of 150 acres granted to John Armstrong (McDonald Jr.’s brother-in-law) 6 September 1765 (sold to McDonald)

· 1781 – Tithables on Alexander Robertson’s list – John Allison and son Andrew Allison, James Kerr and son John Kerr

· 1782 – Robert Allison, Francis Allison, John Allison, Francis Allison, Charles Allison, Robert Allison all received land in 1782 Washington County, North Carolina with William Campbell, David Campbell, Alexander Campbell, and Robert Campbell (this was a part of NC land that was given up to Tennessee) (Robert and James Allison were reportedly the first settlers on Little Limestone in Washington Co TN)

· 10 August 1784 – John and Priscilla Armstrong to James Allison 230 acres on Catawba Creek and a branch of the James River (probably Tinker Creek) (Botetourt County deeds)

· 18 August 1784 – John Allison and Thomas Caul teste for William Hinds deed for 295 acres to Joseph Moore (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 571)

· 20 August 1785 – Thomas Murray (Green County, NC) to John Allison Jr., teste D. Stevenson, Edward Rutledge, James Agnew, and Thomas Carel (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 575)

· 18 May 1785 – John Allison Jr. returned no inhabitant

· 20 June 1785 – John Allison patent land on Beaver Creek of Holstein River Washington Co VA for 385 acres

· February 1787 – Robert Allison, William Davis, John McMahon, and James Stuart met at William Davis home on Buffalo Creek in Washington Co TN and organized the county court

· 1787 – John Allison received land in Washington Co NC with John Trotter, William Campbell (TN)

· November 1787 – John Allison Jr. vs John Dickson

· 1787 – Washington Co TN tax – John Allison Sr, John Allison Jr., Robert Allison (400 acres), Robert Allison esquire, Robert Allison (290 acres), Francis Allison (one Robert died 1812 Washington Co TN – mentions father Robert Allison Sr, wife Jane, land from Henry Shields, land from William Guinn, land from James Dinwoodie, daughter Nancy (minor), daughter Rachel (minor), daughter Polly Anna, daughter Hanna Eliza, land from Edward Million, land from Jonathon Bancroft)

· 1788 – John Allison received land in Washington Co NC (TN)

· Circa 1789 – John Allison (of Middle River) had a debt due to Thomas Stuart (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 189)

· 16 September 1789 – William Kerr vs John Dixon – John Allison appears for William Kerr, Allison was William Kerr’s nephew, William Kerr was John Kerr’s son, William Kerr was married to Martha – Elizabeth Kerr, daughter of John Kerr, married a McClure, William Allison was the son of John Allison Sr, John Allison married Lucy Kerr, daughter of John Kerr, John Allison is set to migrate to KY 12 October 1792

· 20 April 1790 – John Allison and Rebecca Rutledge on Edward Rutledge estate account for paid legatees (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 188)

· 10 July 1790 – Andrew Allison, D. Stevenson, John McClure teste for Timothy Caul will

· 9 April 1791 – John Allison, William Allison, and Robert Heslet appraised the estate of Timothy Caul, deceased (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 194)

· 7 April 1793 – William Allison received 50 acres from William Pemberton (treasury warrant) at head of Barkers Creek, branch of middle fork of Holstein River, on Robert Allison’s line, at foot of Walker’s Mountain (Washington Co VA deeds 1781-1797)

· 19 August 1793 – John Allison delivered deed to court – Daniel Joseph to John Bance 15 June 1784 (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 569)

· 31 May 1794 - case reveals that John Allison was the grandson of John Kerr, deceased (so this was John Allison Jr)

· 7 April 1795 – Francis Allison had previouslty assigned treraury warrant 1981 dated 20 Dec 1781 to John Shutters – he used it here for 46 acres at headwaters of Beaver Creek, north branch of Holsteinn River, corner to Samuel Davis (Washingotn Co VA deeds 1781-1797)

· 1796 – Robert Allison living in Wasignton Co TN on north side of Middle Fork of Holsteing River near James Dysart, John Orr, Samuel Steel, William Edmondson, Samuel Edmondson (Washington Co VA deeds 1781-1797)

· 18 May 1797 – John Allison 15 acres supplement 385 acres bought on Beaver Creek of Holstein River in 1785 (Washington Co VA 1781-1797)

· 18 May 1797 – Matthew Allison (John Allison son) 50 acres corner to John Allison on Beaver Creek (Washington Co VA deeds 1781-1797)

· 14 June 1800 – John Mills will – mentions brother-in-law Andrew Allison and also John Allison (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 218) (this must be John Allison Jr)

· 24 September 1801 – John Hall will – mentions his daughter Nancy Allison, son-in-law Andrew Allison, grandson John Hall Allison (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 222)

· 18 November 1804 – James Young will – mentions daughter Jean Allison, teste by James Allison, William Young, John Dickey (Chronicles of Scotch Irish Settlement Vol 3, page 227) (a marriage record stated Jean Young married William Allison 1789 in Augusta Co, VA, William born circa 1765)