Individual Details
Valentine ALLEN
(29 Apr 1730 - 17 Sep 1797)
Valentine Allen and his wife lived on the Dan River near Loan Island Ford. The Allen family cemetery is located on the Motsinger farm near the Dan River and near the original settlement of Valentine and Nancy Allen.
Valentine was 3rd of 9 children
Valentine Allen was the first of the Allen clan to reside in Rockingham County. In 1790, only seven slave holders had more than 20 slaves. Valentine Allen was one of the seven with 28 slaves, which indicates that he was a wealthy Planter on a large scale with a large plantation.
The earliest records found on this Allen family were in Charles City County, Virginia. His father was Captain William Allen, born about 1690. He married Marry Hunt. She was born May 15, 1695 and died March 8, 1763 in Buckingham County, Virginia. William Allen was justice. There is a Daughters of American Revolution Chapter in District 1 of Virginia named in his honor. His will names nine children; the third child
is named Valentine Allen. He was born in 1730 and married Ann (Nancy) Arnold February 26, 1753 (marriage bond was found in Buckingham County, Virginia Court Records.)
The exact date Valentine Allen and his wife moved to Rockingham County is not known, but he was well-established there long before 1790. Valentine Allen served with the North Carolina Troops in the Revolutionary War (See DAR National Number
235067, 426664 & 307338.
He names the 9 children, (will found in Rockingham County Court Records Will Book A-Page204 dated August 18, 1797. For some reason his will was not recorded until 1826. (1 on record sources)
On August 18, 1797, Valentine made his will (Will Book A - page 362; also page 204). It was recorded in 1798, but not probated until August of 1826. The will reads:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Valentine Allen, Sen, of Rockingham County in State of North Carolina, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed by God, do this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say.
Imprimis: I recommend my soul to Almighty god who gave it me and my body to the earth to be decently buried at
the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned, and as to my worldly estate which it has pleased God to
bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, to wit: it is my will and desire that all my lawful debts and my funeral charges to be forthwith levied out of my estate and paid by my executors hereafter mentioned.
Item: I lend to my beloved wife, Nancy Allen, six negroes, to wit: Harry, Jacob, Peter, Buck, ?Roda, Jack, and Sally, five cows and calves, three ewes and lambs, two horses to have her choice of, two feather beds and furniture, one chest, one trunk, two pewter dishes, half a dozen pewter plates, four basins and the knives and forks, two pots, one dutch oven and a looking glass, a fifth part of the hogs, half dozen chairs, one table and a sufficient quantity of corn and fodder, also three hundred acres of land, to include the house and orchards whereon I now live, during her natural life and, at her decease, that the above part of my estate, except the land lent as above said, with the increase thereof, be equally divided among all my children, to wit: Elizabeth Joyce, William Hunt Allen, Nancy Scales, Mary Peay, Valentine Allen, Patty Scales, Biddy Hill, George Allen, and Samuel Allen, to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Elizabeth Joyce, the following negroes, to wit: Sall, Lucy, Mary, Phill, Charlotte, Lilln, Sarah, Jeny, and Ambrose, to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, William Hunt Allen, one negro man by the name of Dick, to him and his heirs forever. I give and devise to my said son, William Hunt Allen, one tract of land, about one hundred acres be the same more or less, bounded as follows: to wit: beginning at John Chadwell's north corner, running north to Barnes line, Now Galloway's, thence East to xxxs's line; then along his line South to Chadwell's line, thence West to the beginning, to him, his heirs, and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Peay, three negroes, to wit: Tilly, Rhoda, and Silla, to her and herheirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, Valentine, one Negro man, by the name of Absalom, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Patty Scales, two negroes, to wit: Delsy and Essie, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Biddy Hill, two negroes, to wit: Sall and Charlotte, to her, her heirs or assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, George Allen, two negroes, to wit: Tom and Milly, to him, his heirs or assigns forever; also I give and devise to my said son, George Allen, all that tract or parcel of land lying on Dan River, beginning at a Mulberry tree on the bank of said river, running thence a direct course to the head of the racepaths to the road, thence along the said road to Barnes line, now Galloway's, it being the Western tract of land I now live
on, containing three hundred acres be the same more or less; also one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath and devise to my son, Samuel Allen, all the remaining part of my land, whereon I now live, after his mother's death, also two negroes, to wit: Isham and Lucy, one feather bed and furniture, and one cow and calf, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Nancy Chadwell, one negro girl by the name of Fansy, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Theny Chadwell, one Negro boy by the name of Matt, a child of Tillar's, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Peay's children that she had by her former husband, John Chadwell, deceased, two negroes, to wit: Nace and Elijah, children of Tillie's to be equally divided between them, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
Item. My further will and desire is after my decease, that the remainder of my estate of whatever kind so ever, not herein before given or mentioned in this my will shall be equally divided between my said children, to wit: Elizabeth Joyce, William Hunt Allen, Nancy Scales, Mary Peay, Valentine Allen, Patty Scales, Biddy Hill, George Allen, and Samuel Allen, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
Lastly, I do appoint and constitute my sons, William Hunt Allen, Valentine Allen, George Allen, Samuel Allen, and my son-in-law, Nathaniel Scales, my executors of this my last will and testament, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year above written.
/s/ Valentine Allen
Signed, Sealed, published and declared
by the said Valentine Allen, the testator,
as his last will and testament in the presence of us,
who were present at the time of sealing thereof,
George Peay, Enoch Axton, Thomas (x) Williams"
Valentine died 1799 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. One source indicates that he was buried in Henrico Co, Virginia; but, it is more probably that he was buried on his plantation in Rockingham County .
Nancy died over thirty years after the death of her husband. At her death, Nancy was over ninety years of age. Her will was made on April 19, 1834, and was probated in November of 1840. She died in Rockingham County, North Carolina, and was buried in Old Allen Cemetery, Mayoden, Mayo Township, Rockingham County, North Carolina.
In all, Valentine and Nancy had nine children and sixty-eight grandchildren. (2 on record sources)
Valentine was 3rd of 9 children
Valentine Allen was the first of the Allen clan to reside in Rockingham County. In 1790, only seven slave holders had more than 20 slaves. Valentine Allen was one of the seven with 28 slaves, which indicates that he was a wealthy Planter on a large scale with a large plantation.
The earliest records found on this Allen family were in Charles City County, Virginia. His father was Captain William Allen, born about 1690. He married Marry Hunt. She was born May 15, 1695 and died March 8, 1763 in Buckingham County, Virginia. William Allen was justice. There is a Daughters of American Revolution Chapter in District 1 of Virginia named in his honor. His will names nine children; the third child
is named Valentine Allen. He was born in 1730 and married Ann (Nancy) Arnold February 26, 1753 (marriage bond was found in Buckingham County, Virginia Court Records.)
The exact date Valentine Allen and his wife moved to Rockingham County is not known, but he was well-established there long before 1790. Valentine Allen served with the North Carolina Troops in the Revolutionary War (See DAR National Number
235067, 426664 & 307338.
He names the 9 children, (will found in Rockingham County Court Records Will Book A-Page204 dated August 18, 1797. For some reason his will was not recorded until 1826. (1 on record sources)
On August 18, 1797, Valentine made his will (Will Book A - page 362; also page 204). It was recorded in 1798, but not probated until August of 1826. The will reads:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Valentine Allen, Sen, of Rockingham County in State of North Carolina, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed by God, do this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say.
Imprimis: I recommend my soul to Almighty god who gave it me and my body to the earth to be decently buried at
the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned, and as to my worldly estate which it has pleased God to
bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, to wit: it is my will and desire that all my lawful debts and my funeral charges to be forthwith levied out of my estate and paid by my executors hereafter mentioned.
Item: I lend to my beloved wife, Nancy Allen, six negroes, to wit: Harry, Jacob, Peter, Buck, ?Roda, Jack, and Sally, five cows and calves, three ewes and lambs, two horses to have her choice of, two feather beds and furniture, one chest, one trunk, two pewter dishes, half a dozen pewter plates, four basins and the knives and forks, two pots, one dutch oven and a looking glass, a fifth part of the hogs, half dozen chairs, one table and a sufficient quantity of corn and fodder, also three hundred acres of land, to include the house and orchards whereon I now live, during her natural life and, at her decease, that the above part of my estate, except the land lent as above said, with the increase thereof, be equally divided among all my children, to wit: Elizabeth Joyce, William Hunt Allen, Nancy Scales, Mary Peay, Valentine Allen, Patty Scales, Biddy Hill, George Allen, and Samuel Allen, to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Elizabeth Joyce, the following negroes, to wit: Sall, Lucy, Mary, Phill, Charlotte, Lilln, Sarah, Jeny, and Ambrose, to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, William Hunt Allen, one negro man by the name of Dick, to him and his heirs forever. I give and devise to my said son, William Hunt Allen, one tract of land, about one hundred acres be the same more or less, bounded as follows: to wit: beginning at John Chadwell's north corner, running north to Barnes line, Now Galloway's, thence East to xxxs's line; then along his line South to Chadwell's line, thence West to the beginning, to him, his heirs, and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Peay, three negroes, to wit: Tilly, Rhoda, and Silla, to her and herheirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, Valentine, one Negro man, by the name of Absalom, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Patty Scales, two negroes, to wit: Delsy and Essie, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Biddy Hill, two negroes, to wit: Sall and Charlotte, to her, her heirs or assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, George Allen, two negroes, to wit: Tom and Milly, to him, his heirs or assigns forever; also I give and devise to my said son, George Allen, all that tract or parcel of land lying on Dan River, beginning at a Mulberry tree on the bank of said river, running thence a direct course to the head of the racepaths to the road, thence along the said road to Barnes line, now Galloway's, it being the Western tract of land I now live
on, containing three hundred acres be the same more or less; also one feather bed and furniture and one cow and calf, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath and devise to my son, Samuel Allen, all the remaining part of my land, whereon I now live, after his mother's death, also two negroes, to wit: Isham and Lucy, one feather bed and furniture, and one cow and calf, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Nancy Chadwell, one negro girl by the name of Fansy, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Theny Chadwell, one Negro boy by the name of Matt, a child of Tillar's, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Peay's children that she had by her former husband, John Chadwell, deceased, two negroes, to wit: Nace and Elijah, children of Tillie's to be equally divided between them, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
Item. My further will and desire is after my decease, that the remainder of my estate of whatever kind so ever, not herein before given or mentioned in this my will shall be equally divided between my said children, to wit: Elizabeth Joyce, William Hunt Allen, Nancy Scales, Mary Peay, Valentine Allen, Patty Scales, Biddy Hill, George Allen, and Samuel Allen, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
Lastly, I do appoint and constitute my sons, William Hunt Allen, Valentine Allen, George Allen, Samuel Allen, and my son-in-law, Nathaniel Scales, my executors of this my last will and testament, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year above written.
/s/ Valentine Allen
Signed, Sealed, published and declared
by the said Valentine Allen, the testator,
as his last will and testament in the presence of us,
who were present at the time of sealing thereof,
George Peay, Enoch Axton, Thomas (x) Williams"
Valentine died 1799 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. One source indicates that he was buried in Henrico Co, Virginia; but, it is more probably that he was buried on his plantation in Rockingham County .
Nancy died over thirty years after the death of her husband. At her death, Nancy was over ninety years of age. Her will was made on April 19, 1834, and was probated in November of 1840. She died in Rockingham County, North Carolina, and was buried in Old Allen Cemetery, Mayoden, Mayo Township, Rockingham County, North Carolina.
In all, Valentine and Nancy had nine children and sixty-eight grandchildren. (2 on record sources)
Events
| Birth | 29 Apr 1730 | Goochland County, VA |  | ||
| Marriage | 26 Feb 1753 | Cumberland County, VA - Nancy Ann ARNOLD | | ||
| Death | 17 Sep 1797 | Rockingham County, NC | |||
| Burial | Allen Cemetery, Along The Dan, Rockingham County, VA | |
Families
| Spouse | Nancy Ann ARNOLD (1733 - 1826) |
| Child | Elizabeth ALLEN (1754 - 1804) |
| Child | William Hunt ALLEN (1756 - 1820) |
| Child | Nancy Ann ALLEN (1759 - 1840) |
| Child | Mary ALLEN (1762 - 1821) |
| Child | Valentine Sublett ALLEN (1764 - 1840) |
| Child | Martha "Patsey" ALLEN (1768 - 1818) |
| Child | George ALLEN (1778 - 1854) |
| Child | Samuel Alexander ALLEN (1778 - 1855) |
| Child | Obedience "Biddy" ALLEN (1779 - ) |
| Father | Capt. William ALLEN III (1692 - 1752) |
| Mother | Mary HUNT (1695 - 1763) |
| Sibling | Ann A. ALLEN (1721 - ) |
| Sibling | William Hunt ALLEN (1724 - ) |
| Sibling | John ALLEN (1726 - 1954) |
| Sibling | Mary ALLEN (1727 - 1732) |
| Sibling | Susanna ALLEN (1732 - ) |
| Sibling | George Hunt ALLEN (1734 - 1778) |
| Sibling | Mary ALLEN (1738 - ) |
| Sibling | Phillip ALLEN (1740 - 1763) |
Endnotes
1. Allan Joyce, Northern & Southern East Coast Families: Jamestown & Plymouth.
2. Allan Joyce, Northern & Southern East Coast Families: Jamestown & Plymouth.
3. Allan Joyce, Northern & Southern East Coast Families: Jamestown & Plymouth.