The Allens

T h e

A l l e n L i n e a g e

...

My

Great Grand Father

George Allen

married

My

Great Grand Mother

Louvenia Donalson

They had 6 children

My Grand Mother

...

My

Great Great

Grand Parents

Joseph Allen and Effie Mills

Born 1842 Born 1844

South Carolina St. Thomas

American Virgin Island

They had 7 children

Polley, Alison, George, Anderson, Charles, Maggie, Jane

...

My

Great Great Great

Grand Parents

Abraham Allen and Eliza Allen

Born 1819 Born 1811

Both born in South Carolina

They had 10 children

William, Stephen, Edward, Joseph, Jane, Sallie, Ira,

Spencer, Peter, Tobias

Following the first camp meeting in 1834 it was decided that a church will be built in this area.

On March 17, 1847, Joseph Hale and his wife, Thirsa Hale, deeded to "The Trustees of Bethel Methodist Church" two acres of land on which to erect a "Meeting House".

The Trustees then were:

Silas D. Allen (son-in-law of the Hales), Council B. Allen,

Joseph L. Bryan, John L. Mooring, Thompson F. Cocker,

Martial Smith and Lewis Robertson.

County land records and Census Reports indicate that the Allens, Mooring, Smith, Bryan and Robertson were early settlers of this neighborhood. It is known that the Bryans (Bryant) and the Allens have family members buried in the Church Cemetery.

"With the first church building the graveyard as it was called then, was also established. A portion of it was set aside for the black people of the neighborhood. Census reports show there were slaves and a burial place was designated for them at the new "meeting house' graveyard."

The majority of the early settlers in this area of Leon County were from North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia. They came from areas with long established churches and to have a place of worship was one of their most important goals.

Source

Historical Record of Bethel United Methodist Church