Allison Family History

CHAPTER 44

Allison Family History

Allison Family First Generation

Judge James Allison and Mary Bradford

Note: several histories call her Jane. What are the names of James siblings that he immigrates with? Are there other Allison lines found in Washington Co., PA. Need to secure the vitals for this family.

1. James Allison was born in 1743 and died 24 July 1820.8AC He married Mary Bradford, the daughter of James Bradford.1 See Bradford Family Chapter. James and Mary Allison buried Old Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Canonsburgh, Pennsylvania (Caretaker confirmed this). Mary Allison wife of James 1748-1833 (or 1835C). 8AC I believe someone from the Cemetery Office told me that Mary is buried on top of James.

“Judge James Allison was a prominent citizen in Washington Co., Pennsylvania. James was born in Ireland about 1743. He immigrated to Maryland with his brothers and one sister. He married Mary Bradford and they moved to Chartiers Hill in Washington County, Pennsylvania where they raised 8 children. James along with Dr. McMillan and John McDowell established the Washington Academy later renamed Jefferson College. James was an associate Judge in Washington County. He died July 24th 1820, and is buried in the Old Chartiers Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Canonsburg, PA” (Unknown Source) (I thought it was in Boyd Crumrine 1882, but I can’t find it).

Biography of [grandson] Hon. Jonathan Allison reads: “In 1773 James Allison came from Cecil County, Md., and settled upon a farm in Washington County, PA, which he had purchased from Thomas Moffitt, and which is now owned and occupied by his grandson, Hon. Jonathan Allison. He was of Irish parentage, and married Jane Bradford, who was of Scotch ancestry, a sister of David Bradford, of Whiskey Insurrection notoriety. He was a prominent citizen, being an associate judge of the courts of Washington County, and in the years 1786, 1787, 1788, and 1789 a member of the Supreme Executive Council at Philadelphia. He was a ruling elder in Dr. John McMillan’s church for a number of years.”3

Another Biography of [grandson] Jonathan Allison reads: “Jonathan Allison was born in this county [Washington, PA] 3 Feb. 1828, his ancestry being traceable to a family who left Scotland for the North of Ireland during the period of religious persecution in their native land.” 4

Another biography of great grandson A. J. Allison reads: “…Thomas Allison was born in Chartier’s township in 1780, a son of James and Jane (Bradford) Allison, who were among the original settlers in that township. James Allison, the progenitor of this line of Allisons in America, was a native of Ireland who with 2 brothers emigrated to this country and was for a time located in Cecil Co., Maryland. On Oct. 26, 1773, he settled in what is now Chartiers Township, this county, and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, useful pioneers of Washington Co. Through military service James Allison acquired the title of Colonel and was known in the community as Colonel Allison. He was a man of schooling and for some time rendered service as one of the pioneer associate judges of the courts here.”7

“James Allison, grandfather of our subject [Jonathan Allison], was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to Maryland, locating in Cecil County, and thence on October 26, 1778 moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, having purchased from Thomas Moffatt of Cecil County a tract of wild land in Washington County containing 560 acres. This tract Moffatt had acquired by squatter’s right, and the first patent for same was made out to James Allison…[James Allison] set to work to carve out a home for himself and family, and great were the hardships he endured and many the dangers he encountered in his Herculean task of converting a forest wild into a smiling fruitful farm. Indians and wild animals were numerous and oft times aggressive, and many a night did this old pioneer watch with his trusty rifle for the bloodthirsty savage and not less ferocious marauding wolf. In fact, after his first visit to his tract of land the Indians were so hostile that he had to beat a retreat, betaking himself to the “Forks of Yough,” as the confluence of the Youghiogheny and Monongahela rivers was then called, but in 1774, he returned to his new home in strength, some twenty families accompanying him, among whom were the Bradfords, McDowells, Parks, Scotts, etc. As a haven for the families to retreat to in times of danger, they here built themselves a blockhouse or fort, in which they lived one year, and then erected log cabin, so that they might have individual homes, and here they endured the many hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, and which were particularly distressing in the northern part of the county. The old frame house, built by James Allison in 1788 or 1789 is still standing [as of 1882] in a remarkably good state of preservation. James Allison was married to Miss Jane, sister of David Bradford…Eight children were born…Mr. Allison was a very prominent citizen in his day, having been associate judge of the courts…and in 1789 a member of the Supreme Executive Council at Philadelphia, during which incumbency he voted for the abolition of slavery, the question having, in some connection, been brought up in that council, and thus He became one of the first Abolitionists in the county. He was one of the first ruling elders in Dr. John McMillan’s church in North Strabane Twp., one of the first Presbyterian Societies organized in the county. For years he was a trustee of Jefferson College, and strongly advocated the union of the two colleges, Washington and Jefferson.”4

“Col. James Allison in the fall of 1773 emigrated with his family from Cecil County, Maryland to the “Forks of the Yough” (now McKeesport), where he resided that winter, and in the spring of 1774 came to what is now Washington county and settled on Chartiers Creek. He and his family were of the twenty families who came to this section in that year, among whom were the Scotts, McDowell’s, Parks, Morrison’s, Struthers, Norris and Others. He married the daughter of James Bradford, who came to Strabane township latter and settled there. David Bradford, who was prominent in the Whiskey Insurrection, was a brother of Mrs. Allison, and Mrs. John McDowell was a sister. James Allison purchased one thousand acres of land, containing an improvement, of Thomas Moffitt, also of Maryland. For the first year after these families arrived in the valley they were accustomed to rendezvous in time of danger from the Indians at a fort that was built on the land of William Norris, in the rear of the old Quail place. The land on which he settled was warranted on the 29th of Oct. 1784, and surveyed to him Aug. 13, 1785, as “Mount Pleasant, “ containing three hundred and fifty-seven acres. This tract was adjoining Michael Ralston, James Morrison, and Andrew Swearingen. He was elected one of the justices of the peace of the Court of common Pleas, and also served the county as member of Assembly at the same time with John McDowell, his brother-n-law. He was a member of the society in Philadelphia formed for the abolition of slavery. He was one of the first elders of the Chartiers congregation, under Rev. Dr. John McMillan. He was later one of the associate judges of Washington County, and held the position till his death, which occurred at the age of seventy seven years. He was a man of great moral worth, highly honored and respected by his fellow-citizens. He had eight children….”1

Signed a petition with thirty other male members of Chartiers Presbyterian Church in 1798 along with George Craighead, John McMillan, and John McDowell etc. to procure a charter.3 See Addendum at the end of this Chapter for more on the History of the Chartiers Presbyterian Church.

“...in 1789 a member of the Supreme Executive Council at Philadelphia, during which incumbency he voted for the abolition of slavery, the question having, in some connection, been brought up in that council, and thus He became one of the first Abolitionists in the county…For years he was a trustee of Jefferson College, and strongly advocated the union of the two colleges, Washington and Jefferson.”4

James Allison represented the defendant in the case of Rev. Thomas Ledley Birch against Rev. John McMillan.6 “The Reverand plaintiff sought to recover damages for an alleged slanderous charge said to have been made by the reverend defendant, in open meeting of the Presbytery of Ohio, in the jurisdiction of the court, that the reverend plaintiff was a ‘liar, a drunkard, and a preacher of the devel.’6 The jury found for the plaintiff, Rev. Birch, a sum of 300$ in damages.6 James Allison was assisted in representing Rev. McMillan by Parker Campbell, also of Washington, and James Ross and Alexander Addison, of Pittsburg.6

Coal was first discovered on James Allison’s land about 1800 and was mined for domestic use at twenty-five cents per bushel.3 Upon completion of the Chartiers Valley Railroad around 1874, mining took full force to satisfy the demand of a western and southwest market.3 It was called Allison’s Coal Works and owned by a grandson of the pioneer James Allison, the Hon. Jonathan Allison.3

Will of James Allison5

James Allison Dated 18 July 1820 and probated 24 Aug. 1820

Exec: Jm Allison; Thos Allison; Joseph McElroy

Wit: Thos. M.T. McKennan; John Wishant; Alex. Blair

Beneficiaries:

Wife: Mary

Sons: Andrew, David, Wm, Thos, John, Jas, Geo.

S-N-L: Thos. B. Craighead; Rev. Joseph McElroy

Other: Servant girl Hannah

Note pg 377: Diagram of Chartiers Creek Wash. Co. PA That was divided among

Heirs- adj. widow McCall, heirs of Jas. Morrison, John Hoge, esq., and Widow Scott.

Codicil: 20 July 1820-

wit: Thos. M.T. McKennen, Jas. Dunlap, and Rev. John Graham—no beneficiary charges/changes.5

Chartiers Cemetery Index: *

James Alison 1743-24 July 1820 reference 1, 3 There is a James Allison listed in the roll of Capt. Thomas Brisland’s Company of Militia for the year 1788 in Canonsburg. Chartiers cem. Index: there is an Andrew W. Allison who dies 1854 age 59 or 57 with wife Elizabeth who lives to be 81, 1878 with children Rachel 28, James B. 22, David W. 54, George 7, Mary M. 11, Margaret 2, There’s a Thomas Sr. dies 1849 age 70 with wife Mary at 88yrs 1884 with child Uriah 3 years old. Thomas Jr. 23, James 78, David 83y, Wm ?age, Jane 38y. Then there is listed a Mary Allison who dies 1861 and a James Allison dies 1899 78y. *

CH: 2. James Allison.1

3. William Allison.1

4. John Allison1, the ex-register of the Treasury of the U.S.A.

5. George Allison, became a merchant1 in Pittsburgh.

6. Thomas Allison1 (17804-1849) 3 settled on the homestead farm.1

7. Andrew Allison, settled on the homestead farm.1

8. Rachel Allison1 became the wife of Thomas B. Craighead.2

9. Mary Allison1 m. to Rev. McIlroy of NYC.2

Allison Family Second Generation

Children of Judge James Allison and Mary Bradford

2. James Allison.1 James the eldest son, studied law with John Shannon, of Washington, and removed to Beaver County, where he became prominent as a lawyer.3

3. William Allison.1 He and brother John Allison emigrated in 1834 to McDonough County, Illinois where they lived and died.1

4. John Allison1 the ex-register of the Treasury of the United States, is his son.3 He and brother William emigrated in 1834 to McDonough County, IL where they lived and died.1

5. George Allison.1 George became a merchant in Noblestown, Pittsburgh, and died there.1

6. Thomas Allison1 (17804-1849) settled on the homestead farm.1,3 Thomas married Mary Johnson3 ( -18844) and they had 10 children.3 Jonathan Allison, son of Thomas, resides on the homestead, and the heirs of Thomas Allison now own the part that belonged to Andrew.3 Belong to First Presbyterian Church. Politically: Whig.4

“Thomas Allison, son of [James Allison] this honored pioneer, was born in 1780, in Chartiers Twp., Washington Co., PA where he grew to manhood on his father’s farm, helping to clear it of timber and brush. In 1817 he married Mary, daughter of Richard Johnson of North Strabane Twp., and ten children came to brighten their pioneer home… [Thomas] died 21 Oct. 1849 at the age of 69; the mother, who was a ‘mother in Israel’ a thorough home woman, beloved by all for her many noble traits, passed from earth in 1884, …age 86. Mr. Allison was …prominent member of the Presbyterian Church…”4

“James Allison’s son…Thomas Allison, married Mary Johnson by whom he had ten children. He was a good farmer, a man of exemplary life, and died 21 Oct. 1849, aged 68 yrs. His wife is still living, an active woman of 84 yrs. Hon. Jonathan Allison, the sixth in the order of the birth of Thomas and Mary Allison’s children, was born in Chartiers Twp., Washington Co., 3 Feb. 1828. When Seventeen years of age he entered Jefferson College, where he remained for 2 years, when owing to the death of a brother he returned home and engaged in farming which has been the principal business of his life. Since the completion of the Chartier’s Valley Railroad he has been engaged in developing the bituminous coal with which his farm is underlaid. This vein of coal was first discovered by his grandfather James Allison, about 85 years ago and ‘the first bituminous coal discovered in Washington Co. It was hauled for many miles for black-smithing and other purposes, and, as an instance of its then estimated value, it may be stated here that soon after the discovery James Allison sold 4 acres of it to Judge Baird, of Washington PA, for 1700$.3