John Beattie Allison1

b. 6 June 1841, d. 21 January 1879
FatherWilliam Beattie Allison2,3 b. Mar 1800, d. 7 May 1849
MotherMary Clark4 b. 1 Oct 1800, d. 26 Nov 1863
Birth6 Jun 1841 John Beattie Allison was born on 6 Jun 1841 in Washington County, Virginia, as calculated from the age recorded on his headstone.5,6 
Fath-Death7 May 1849 John's father, William Beattie Allison, died when John was 7 years old. 
Devisee25 May 1849  William's will, recorded in Washington County court in May 1849, stipulated that on the death of his wife (John's mother) William's land was to be divided between John and his siblings William, Samuel and Abram.3 
Ward22 Oct 1849  The following year, on October 22, 1849, John was named the ward of his uncle, John S. Clark [his mother's brother].2 
Cens-18509 Aug 1850  However, he was recorded living with his mother and siblings when the 1850 Washington County, Virginia census was enumerated.7 
Ward25 Dec 1854  John Clark died in October 1854 and on Christmas Day 1854 John became the ward of his 24 year old brother William.8 
Military John fought in the Civil War, serving with the Glade Spring (Washington County) Rifles (Co. F, 37th Virginia Infantry CSA).9,10 
Legatee28 Dec 1863 John's mother died in late 1863 leaving John and his siblings equal shares of her personal property, household furniture and monies. She also left John two beds and stipulated that John and his brother Abram were to jointly receive her two servants, Barbary and Campbell.4 
Legatee1864  After John's mother's death the family lands were divided as directed by the terms of his father's will and John acquired the family homeplace which he remodeled and expanded (see photo link below).9,11 
MarriageAug 1865 He married Sarah Ellen Wright, daughter of James Edward Wright and Sarah Mariah Thompson, in Aug 1865 in Lynchburg, Virginia.12,13 
between 1869 and 1870 In 1869 John built a storehouse on the west side of depot square in Glade Spring. And in 1870 he purchased 89 acres of the Armstrong Beattie tract from Elizabeth Snead and subdivided it into lots in the southeast part of town.9 
Land-Gift13 May 1876  He gifted a lot to the trustees of the Methodist Church in 1876 upon which the first Methodist Church in Glade Spring was erected.14,15  
Public Serv1875  John also served on the community's first town council in 1875.16 
Adoption  John and Sarah adopted a daughter, Mary Ida sometime between 1866 and 1879.17 
Death21 Jan 1879 John died at home in Washington County, Virginia, on 21 Jan 1879 at age 37.5,18,10 
Burial He was buried in the Allison-Keys square at Old Baptist Cemetery in Washington County.5 
Will-Recd27 Jan 1879 John wrote his will a few weeks before he died in January 1879. He left his adopted daughter Mary Ida Allison the house and lot at Glade Spring adjoining the street next to the Methodist Church. He specifically stated that his personal property except the household and kitchen furniture was to be sold during the month of September 1879. The proceeds were to be equally divided between his wife Sarah and each of their 4 children. John's real estate was to be divided in a similar manner. John also appointed his brother Samuel Allison guardian of his children, including his adopted daughter Mary Ida.17 

Related Links and Images:

John and Sarah's home - inherited from John's father
John photographed as a member of Glade Spring's first town council (1875)16
John's will
John's stone after and before cleaning
Other interments in Old Baptist Cemetery

Family

Sarah Ellen Wright b. 31 Dec 1841, d. 14 Aug 1905
Children
ChartsDescendants of Robert Clark and Martha Harvie
Last Edited20 Jun 2013

Citations

  1. [S2203] Leonard Allison Morrison, The History of the Alison or Allison Family, p. 162.
  2. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 43. John Clark named guardian of Samuel D., John C., and Abram Allison, orphans of William B. Allison, deceased. Bond: $3,000. Sureties: Thomas Preston and William G. Clark.
  3. [S680] William B. Allison will (1849), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 11: 170. William's will was dated 22 March 1848 and recorded 28 May 1849. The executor was John Clark; witnesses were John Clark, Sr, David Edmondson and James O. Ryburn; bond was $2,000.
  4. [S686] Mary Allison will (1863), Washington Co., VA Will Book 16: 126. Mary's will was dated 25 Nov. 1863 and proved in court 28 Dec. 1863. It named sons Robert, Samuel, John, William and Abram, daughter Martha, and daugher-in-law Catharine. Son Robert was named executor.
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 166. The stone as abstracted reads: John B. Allison, d. 21 Jan 1879, age 37y, 7m, 15 d (Masonic emblem).
  6. [S2169] Donald Helton, compiler, "Washington County Virginia Abstracted Death Records 1912-1939" (manuscript shared by author), p. 87, Nellie Allison Hutton entry (provides father's place of birth).
  7. [S367] Mary Allison household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 91b (stamped), dwelling 356, family 356, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 48 of 289. Mary Allison, 48, owns real estate valued at $3,000, born Scotland; William 20, farmer; cont on p. 92: Martha Allison 16; Samuel 12; John 9; Abram 6; all children b. VA.
  8. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 51. William W. Allison named guardian of John B. and Abraham Allison, orphans of William B. Allison, deceased. Bond: $5,000. Sureties: John Clark, Sr., John C. Greenway and James O. Ryburn.
  9. [S35] Nanci C. King, Places In Time Vol. II, p. 138.
  10. [S1310] "Roll of F. Co., 37th Virginia Infantry", Washington County News - 3rd Annual Historical edition, Feb. 20, 1969, page 11A. The original roll was compiled by Capt. George Graham and was reproduced for the historical edition.
  11. [S37] "Robert Clark Allison", manuscript, written 10 Sept. 1966 from the recollections of his son, Fred Allison.
  12. [S622] Martha Keys, "RamblingRoots p2419," e-mail to Diana Powell, 19 Aug. 2007. Martha cites Lynchburg city records which she located on reel #59, p. 111 at the Library of Virginia Archives. That source states that John B. Allison married Sarah E. Wright on August 30th 1865 by Geo R. Barr.
  13. [S1880] "Wright Family Bible record", The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us). This record says the marriage date was August 31, 1865.
  14. [S1309] Byars- Cobb Memorial United Methodist Church History, The deed was executed May 13, 1876 to the church trustees: E.R. Baylor, H.V. Thompson, William Byars, John B. Allison, B.D. Ligon, William W. Allison and Mansfield Asbury.
  15. [S35] Nanci C. King, Places In Time Vol. II, p. 153. In 1914 the Byars Cobb Memorial United Methodist Church was built in the west end of town and the original church on John B. Allison's land was disassembled.
  16. [S1309] Byars- Cobb Memorial United Methodist Church History.
  17. [S708] John B. Allison will (1879), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 20: 95. The will was dated 4 Jan. 1879 and recorded 27 Jan. 1879. Robert C. Allison and Samuel D. Allison were named executors with Selden Longley and Robert F. Smith witnesses. The executors posted $8,000 bond with William W. Allison and John B. Clark their securities.
  18. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry 17 states: Jno B. Allison d, 21 Jan 1879 at 37y, occupation farmer, consort of Sarah E. Allison, ref folio 9, p 2, line 1.