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Ancestors of James F. Allen

Generation No. 1

       1. James F. Allen, born 1829 in England; died November 21, 1867 in England. He was the son of 2. Allen. He married (1) Elizabeth Ann Stellfox January 19, 1865 in Austin, Travis Co.,Tx. She was the daughter of John Stelfox and Harriet Holden Stanley.

Notes for James F. Allen:
                             1997

James F. Allen was born in England and it is unknown when he came to the U.S.

The family stories tell that he molded the Twin Sister Cannons that set on the steps of the State Capitol in Austin. In checking on the history of the Twin Sisters Cannons it was found that they were molded in Cincinnati, Ohio and was transported down the Mississippi River on a barge to New Orleans. They were then transported by ship to Brazoria, Tx. and then to Galveston Island in 1836. Houston then took command of the Cannons at Harrisburg and they where used in the battle of San Jacinto. This is documented in the Handbook of Texas - The Texas State Historical Association, Volume 2, 1952, page 812. Since James F. Allen would have only been 7 years old when the cannons were molded it would have been impossable for him to have anything to do with the molding of these cannons.

The family story also states that James was a gunsmith and that he did the metal work on the Iron Front Saloon, 605 Congress Ave., Austin, TX. So far we have not been able to confirm these facts. The Iron Front Salon open for business in 1866.

The family story also states that James F. was first cousin to Queen Victoria, but this fact has not been confirmed.

James F Allen was known to be in Austin, TX. in 1865 where he married Elizabeth Ann Stellfox. They had two children, George Amos Allen born in 1866 and William James Allen born in January of 1867. Later in 1867 James F. took his wife and children and returned to England, where he died on November 21, 1867, at the age of 38. He is believed to be buried at the Old Plumstead Church. In doing research we have discovered that there is two possible locations of the church, one near London and one in Norfolk Co. At this time it is unsure of the exact location of the church. James F. is believed to have died of consumption (T.B.).

We have found that James F. Allen may have had some relatives named James Allen Thompson, born October 11, 1862, and George W. Thompson, born in 1864. They were sons of Ben H. Thompson and Lavina Thompson. Lavina Thompson was the daughter of James Manor, Elizabeth Stellfox's third husband.

This is all that we have been able to find out about James F. Allen as of this time, March, 1997.
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Notes for Elizabeth Ann Stellfox:
                             March, 1997

Elizabeth was born in Manchester, England, in 1840. Her family came to the us in 1848 when she was 8 years old. They landed in New Orleans, where she lost a little sister who is buried there. They then moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where her Mother died and is buried. He Father remarried and with friends came to Texas in covered wagons. They finally settled in Austin, Texas, where her father opened a general merchandise and jewerly store.

In !865, she married James F. Allen, and they had two sons. In 1867, she returned to England with her husband and sons. In November of that year James F. Allen died of consumption and was buried in the Old Plumstead Church. Elizabeth returned to Texas with her two sons prior to 1870 and lived with her Father in Austin, TX.(1870 Austin census).

In 1872, she married J. B. Davis in Austin, Tx. and they one son, Henry Davis. It is unknown exactly when, but J.B. Davis died and in April of 1875, Elizabeth married James Manor of Gilliand Creek, Tx. Elizabeth and James Manor had two girls, Lucille born in 1876 and Elizabeth in 1879. James Manor died in 1881.

In 1882, Elizabeth married Marion Abrams and they lived on the Manor estate in Manor Tx. They had one son that died when he was only one year old. Abrams died in 1941 and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Tx.

The family story tells that Elizabeth died of a heatattack while teaching one of her Grandchildren how to do an Indian War Dance in 1941 at the age of 101 years of age.
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       Children of James Allen and Elizabeth Stellfox are:

George Amos Allen, born 1866 in Austin, Travis Co.,Tx; died in CO.

Notes for George Amos Allen:
Not much is known about George. It is believed that he moved to Colorado where he was a rancher until his death. No one is sure of where in Colorado.

ii.

William James Allen, born January 24, 1867 in Austin, Travis Co.,Tx; died April 28, 1942 in Santa Anna, Coleman Co., Tx; married Margaret Erin Williams December 04, 1893 in Manor, Travis Co, Tx.

Notes for William James Allen:
                            October 1997

       Brown ranch Cemetary was chosen on a Sunday with his wife "I think I'd like to be buried there someday", Said Will J. Allen.

       A tragic event around 1910 was the catalyst for the move the Allen family made from Manor to Coleman County. Will and Maggie were coming home from a party one night when all of a sudden out from the dark jumps a black man. He grabbed the reins near the horses heads and Will pulled his gun out from under the seat. The black man saw the glint off the steel in the moonlight and said , "Is that you, Mr. Allen, I didn't recognize you." The Allen were then allowed to pass and went on home. The folowing morning they heard that the next wagon to come along that road just a few minutes behind them was robbed and the people murdered. It was about this time that the town of Manor went into a decline that remains to this day.

              Story given to Linda Allen by J.L. VanDyke in October, 1997

       The reason the Allens moved to Coleman was that William and Margret's kids were getting old enough to go to school. They would have to ride horses to school and there were some ex-slaves and descendants of slaves in the area causing trouble, so they feared for their children's safety. This prompted them to move from the area.

iii.

Elizabeth Allen, born February 1868 in Austin, Travis Co.,Tx; died May 26, 1870.

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