The name of the Allen family is derived from the given name Alan, which is thought to mean "little rock" or "headstone." The name was popular among the Breton followers of William the Conqueror due to
St. Alan, a 5th-century bishop from Quimper, Brittany; during the Middle Ages, parents often named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.First found in the lands of Shropshire, where Walter FitzAlan of Brittany held a family seat after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
St. Alan, a 5th-century bishop from Quimper, Brittany; during the Middle Ages, parents often named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.First found in the lands of Shropshire, where Walter FitzAlan of Brittany held a family seat after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Gladys Marie Allen Donegan & Leamon Donegan had the following children: Judy, 'Peggy' & Darlene
Glady's father, Ray Allen (Elizabeth Bryson Allen), was the son of John Ervin Allen (Florence Travis Allen).
This list will be different than the other pages because of unknown facts. It will be divided into two sections.
Gladys Marie Allen Donegan
Mother of Judy, 'Peggy' & Darlene September 11, 1926 - January 12, 2002 She married Leamon Donegan on February 12, 1947 in Huntsville, Alabama by the Justice of the Peace. His mother, Gracie, was with them.
They had three daughters together: Judy Carolyn Donegan January 10, 1948 Bedford County, TN - Peggy Marie Donegan Snipes July 13, 1949 Bedford County, TN - Linda Darlene Donegan Totty July 11, 1958 Bedford County, TN - She was a member of the First Baptist Church for many years and then later became a member of Plainview Baptist Church.
She worked at the Colonial Shirt Factory sewing for years. She died on January 12, 2002 and is buried in the Riverside Gardens Cemetery, Woodbury, TN. |
She attended the Woodbury Elementary School.
Junior High School in Bedford County.
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Raymond Lee Allen
Father of Gladys Marie Allen Donegan Grandfather of Peggy Donegan Snipes March 14, 1908 Cavendars Branch, Cannon County, TN - He was the son of John Ervin Allen and Florence Travis Allen. On the 1920 United States Federal Census he is listed living on Woodbury Pike with his family.
He married Miss Elizabeth Bryson on October 17, 1927, by W. T. "Cling" Mingle, the Justice of the Peace in Cannon County, Tennessee, in front of the First Baptist Church. It was witnessed by Jack Davenport and Verda Mae Dobbs was the Maid of Honor.
He was a member of the Woodbury Baptist Church, Main Street, Woodbury, TN.
During the 1940’s they moved to Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee to find work at the pencil factories.The 1940 United States Federal Census shows Ray (31), his wife, Elizabeth (28) and their children: Gladys (11), Dorothy M. (9), Virginia (7) and Ray Donald (4), living in on U. S. Highway 70 and doing farming on rented property. Ray states that his highest level of education completed was 8th grade. This is a copy of Ray's Delayed Birth Certificate.
He used the birth records in the family bible and a affidavit from his father to obtain it. Ray died on April 4, 1988, in Readyville, Cannon County, Tennessee and is buried at Riverside Gardens Cemetery in Woodbury, TN beside his wife, Elizabeth & daughter, Virginia.
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This also shows Bill Smith just over a year old, living with his mother and brother a couple of doors down. Ray said Bill was his shadow and their friendship lasted a life time.
The 1930 United States Federal Census shows Ray (22), his wife, Elizabeth (19), and their daughter, Gladys (7 months), living in District 1 of Cannon County, TN; in the Dobbs Hollow next to Elizabeth's parents.
Ray and Lizzie's grandfathers fought in the Civil War at the same time on separate sides; Daniel Travis on Ray's side in the Confederacy and John Dobbs on Lizzie's side in the Union. They also both fought in places that included Middle Tennessee.
Ray and Lizzie had the following children:
Gladys Marie Allen born: September 11, 1928 - Dobbs Hollow, Braxton, Cannon Co married: Leamon E. Donegan on February 12, 1947 children: Judy Carolyn, Peggy Marie & Linda Darlene died: January 12, 2002 - at home, Readyville, Cannon Co, TN buried: Riverside Cemetery Dorothy Mae Allen born: September 3, 1930 - Lock Creek Road, Readyville, TN married: James Sutton on October 18, 1952 children: James Keith (5/5/1959-) & Kenneth Lee (1/ 2/1962 - ) died:May 7, 1997 - at home, Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co, TN buried: Riverside Cemetery Virginia Sue Allen born: October 31, 1932 - Lock Creek Road, Readyville, TN unwed and no children died: March 21, 1981 - Lock Creek Road, Readyville, TN buried: Riverside Cemetery Ray Donald Allen born: November 24, 1935 - Woodbury, Cannon County, TN married: Doris Dean Odom Meadows on October 12, 1957 children: Steven Ray (6/28/1958 -) & Donna Kay (10/25/1959 -) married: Betty Sue Bogle on October 16, 1975 children: Heather Sharlene (12/18/1979 - ) died: July 4, 1998 - Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee buried: Riverside Cemetery |
1.
John Ervin Allen Father of Raymond Lee Allen G Grandfather of Peggy Donegan Snipes October 27, 1882 - He was the son of Sarah Jane Merriman and William Allen. His World War I Draft Registration Card shows him living in Woodbury, Cannon County, TN. Here he states that his date of birth was April 6, 1882. His is farming on his own farm and that he is of short height, medium build with brown hair and brown eyes. He married Florence Travis on December 25, 1902 in Cannon County, Tennessee. Florence was born in October of 1884 in Cannon County. |
The 1891 Tennessee Voters List shows him living in District 8 of Cannon County on page 101.
John is listed on the 1910 United States Federal Census with his wife, Florence, and two of their sons, Lebron and Raymon. He rents his farm on Tenn Pike Road in Cannon County, Tennessee. He is 28 years old. He lives next door to the Smith and Reed families.
On the 1920 United States Federal Census he is listed as doing general farming and renting his home. Florence and their children are listed on this census living on Woodbury Pike. |
The 1940 United States Federal Census shows John & Florence living with their daughter, Mildred, and son-in-law, Enlo Alexander - also grandchildren, Richmond and Betty Ann Alexander. Farmers in District 6 of Cannon County, TN on Rush Creek Road.
John and Florence had the following children:
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Children of Bill & Jane Allen:
John Ervin Allen: See above.
William Frances Allen: No information found.
William Frances Allen: No information found.
Katie Allen Logan Welchance:
As of now, I have found no other information on Sarah Jane marrying anyone else after William’s suspected death before June 1880. SO, if not William, then who is the father of John Ervin Allen and Katie Allen? On the death certificate of John Ervin Allen, Ray Allen (Papa), John’s son, is listed as the informant. The ‘father’ section was first filled in with ‘unknown’ and then marked out and Bill Allen added. 'Big sigh', soooo, since I have so little information now, the Section 1 (On the Left) will be for the William Allen line and the Section 2 (On the Right) will be for Sarah Jane 'Gennie' Merriman Allen.
SECTION 1 -
2. William Allen - Father of John Ervin Allen 2G Grandfather of Peggy Donegan Snipes abt. 1855 - William Allen was the son of ... unknown at this time. There is a James L. Allen and Elizabeth Brim Allen in DeKalb County at this time with a son that is the right age. Here's what was found on them.. The 1870 United States Federal Census shows William living with John and Nancy Taylor on their farm in Liberty, DeKalb County, Tennessee and working as a farm laborer at age 15. The book of Cannon County marriages shows Sarah Jane marrying William Allen on January 10, 1879 by the Justice of the Peace.
I have no information on William Allen after this. He is not listed on the 1880 United States Census, but Sarah Jane is. She is living with her father and family, along with her child, Francis and is marked as either widowed or divorced.
The only information that I can find on William Allen is a listing in the Cannon County Grave Sites. There are no dates and it says that he is in an unmarked grave in the Sissom Cemetery. The entry also states to check the Carson Fork History for information, but I cannot find any information on the Carson Fork History, no any information on a William Allen born about 1855. SO, where did William go? The next census she has William Francis, John & Katie all listed as William Allen's children. When did he come back? All of these dates are between census dates so they are no help.
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SECTION 2 -
2. Sarah Jane Merriman Allen - Mother of John Ervin Allen 2G Grandmother of Peggy Donegan Snipes 1859 Cannon County, TN - November 17, 1909 Her parents were Irvin Merriman and Nancy Spurlock Merriman. They are buried in the Cummings Cemetery in Woodbury. Irvin’s parents were born in North Carolina and he was born in Tennessee. He was a farmer. His death certificate states that his father was Joe Baley and his mother, a Merriman (although his mother was married to Wm Merriman at the time of his birth). He was enlisted in the Company D, Tennessee 18th Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. Nancy and her mother were born in Tennessee, and her father in Virginia. Nancy kept house. Sarah Jane’s siblings were: Ervin Jeff, James M., William, Joseph, Alexexander and John W. The 1870 United States Federal Census shows Sarah (12) living with her father and their family. Her father, Ervin, is listed as a farmer. The book of Cannon County marriages shows Sarah Jane marrying William Allen on January 10, 1879 by the Justice of the Peace. He was born about 1855.
The 1880 United States Federal Census shows Sarah Jane again living with her father and family. She is listed as a widow/divorced and had a 10 month old son, William Francis. William Francis would have been born in September of 1879.
The book of Cannon County Marriages shows Sarah Jane marrying Denton McGregor on April 13, 1888 by the Justice of the Peace.
The 1900 United States Federal Census shows Sarah Jane living with her husband, Dint McGregor (day laborer) and 6 children: Auther, Eley, Mary, Emma, Patsy and Ike. Sarah Jane’s other three children (Frances, John and Katie) are still living with her parents, Irvin and Nancy Merriman. Note: Frances was listed as Sarah’s son on the 1880 census and listed as a granddaughter on the 1890 census. ??? They are living about 4 houses apart. Two of her brothers, John W. and Jim M. are also shown as living between Sarah Jane and her parents. They were both also farmers.
There is a Mary Allen, 35; working as a servant down the street.
The 1910 United States Federal Census shows that Dint is now a widower.
Children of Sarah & Denton:
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3.
James Allen - Father of William Allen
3G Grandfather of Peggy Donegan Snipes
James Allen - Father of William Allen
3G Grandfather of Peggy Donegan Snipes
This was found in the History of Cannon County at the Adams Library; mentioning William Allen