Individual Details
MARY PETERSON
(5 Feb 1774 - 2 Jul 1832)
The information on Mary's family is yet to be proved conclusively. The daughter of Andrew Peterson and Mehitabel Benson named Mary, may be the same Mary Peterson that married Peter Allen.
The exact birthdate of Mary is given in the DAR records - the earliest applications before adequate proof was required. Subsequent applications have used as reference the earlier applications. The Bible record believed to be, at least in part, from the knowledge of Jemima Peterson, sister to Mary, has this exact same date. The location of the family seems to be correct for Mary to meet and marry Peter Allen. Although "Mary Peterson" could certainly represent multiple ladies of the same name, the odds greatly increase that she is the same person because of this exact birth date and the location of both families in the Dutchess County NY area. The Bible had not been available, but hidden away in a closet until about 1995 - this would seem to preclude the Bible having been used for the DAR data - the applicants might very well have come by the dates by another means.
There seem to be no family names carried forward by Mary Peterson except possibly for the name Benton. There is also the possibility that Benton seen as a middle name among the Peter Allens was a manufacture of earlier researchers to explain the middle initial "B".
Another connection is that I believe I found Moses Allen and family living next to Roswell Turner who married one of Moses's daughters and was counted in Bennington Co, Vermont in the 1790 census. The Andrew Peterson family also moved to Vermont. The Akin family - an Akin daughter married Nathaniel Allen - apparently also left Dutchess Co NY for Vermont.
Additional verification is required to prove these ancestors of Mary Peterson.
Events
| Birth | 5 Feb 1774 | Albany, Albany County, New York |  | ||
| Marriage | 25 Sep 1796 | PETER BUELL ALLEN | |||
| Death | 2 Jul 1832 | Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana | |
Families
| Spouse | PETER BUELL ALLEN (1775 - 1833) |
| Child | Henry Cromwell Allen (1797 - 1837) |
| Child | Ira Allen (1799 - 1866) |
| Child | Catherine Allen (1801 - 1821) |
| Child | Harriett Allen (1803 - 1855) |
| Child | Myron Holley Allen (1805 - 1872) |
| Child | Amanda Allen (1807 - 1866) |
| Child | Chloe Ward Allen (1809 - 1869) |
| Child | PETER BUELL/BENTON ALLEN (1811 - 1901) |
| Child | Adaline Allen (1814 - 1857) |
| Father | ANDREW Peterson (1750 - 1792) |
| Mother | MEHITABEL Benton (1756 - 1814) |
| Sibling | Matilda Peterson (1776 - ) |
| Sibling | Hezekiah Peterson (1778 - ) |
| Sibling | Clarrisa Peterson (1782 - 1853) |
| Sibling | Fanny Peterson (1785 - ) |
| Sibling | John Peterson (1787 - ) |
| Sibling | Jemima Peterson (1789 - 1865) |
| Sibling | Betsy Peterson (1791 - 1861) |
Endnotes
1. Grace Graham Hays, papers on family of Moses Allen - prepared for DAR Lineage for her daughter and granddaughter. Never submitted..
2. Family data; page from Peterson-Silver Family bible, c. 1848, in possession of Jeanne Geake in 2003. Belonged to Jane Silver (1823-1885) granddaughter of Andrew Peterson. Her mother Jemima Peterson Silver lived until 1865 and likely provided data..
3. Grace Graham Hays, papers on family of Moses Allen - prepared for DAR Lineage for her daughter and granddaughter. Never submitted..
4. George K. Ward, Compiled under Direction of Assoc. of Descendants of Andrew Ward; Andrew Warde and His Descendants 1597-1910 (New York: A.T.De La Mare Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd., 1910), p.141.