Joseph Allison story from PDF file
JOSEPH ALLISON STORY
Smith County History
Sponsored by
Smith County Homecoming Heritage Committee
F289, pg. 471
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER
Joseph E(A)llison (signed his name with the E, but records of his children use the
spelling A) was born in North Carolina in 1750. He was son of John Allison who died in
Orange County, North Caroline in 1796. Siblings of Joseph were Charles, John, James,
Hamilton, Nancy (Bury), Peggy (Robinson), Jenny (Ray), Betsy (Drummer), Grizzy.
Joseph Ellison was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. His brother, John, also fought
in the war, serving in the same company as Joseph. Their father, John, lost a wagon and
"as much corn as they could carry" to the Tories.
Sometime in the early 1800's Joseph and John migrated to Tennessee, settling on Cane
creek in now Putnam County. John died there, but Joseph moved on to Smith County
where he purchased 159 acres of land from Thomas Smith and John Harvey located on
the Caney Fork River at the mouth of Hickman Creek. The oldest grave in the cemetery
at the Gordonsville Nazarene Church is that of Martha Allison 18101854,
daughterinlaw
of Joseph, so his land possible extended that far from the river.
Joseph Ellison married first in 1774, Jane Donalson and had the following children: John
married Sarah Jane Stewart; William married Margaret Stewart; Thomas and James, both
married a Scoby; Joseph married Martha Woods; Hannah married James Gray; Margaret
married Robert Lindsey; Catherine married John McCaleb; Janet married Corder Stone;
Lavinia married John McDade.
After the death of Jane, Joseph married Elizabeth "Besty" Madden and had three
children: Robert Donaldson, Daniel Morgan and Martha. These children were born just
prior to or shortly after their parents moved to Tennessee and are the only ones to have
lived in Smith County for any length of time.
Robert Donaldson Allison was born in North Carolina on September 25, 1810, and died
on December 15, 1900, in McKinney, Texas. When the Mexican War broke out, he
raised a company of volunteers and participated in several battles with the Mexicans. At
the outbreak of the Civil War, he again unsheathed his sword for the Confederacy,
recruiting three companies from the Alexandria, DeKalb County area, to form Allison's
Squadron. Robert Donaldson married first Martha Ann (Tucker?) who died in 1854,
buried at Gordonsville. On June 24, 1858, R. D. Allison and Louisa Dowell (widow of
Robert Dowell and daughter of James Goodner) were married in DeKalb County. The
children of R. D. and wife, Martha, were Mary, Martha, John H., Robert D., Winfield
Scott, Joe B. So far as is known, he and Louisa had no children.
At the close of the Civil War, Colonel Allison moved to McKinney, Texas, where he
lived the remainder of his days, being the oldest Odd Fellow in Texas at his death.
Daniel Morgan Allison, second child of Joseph and Besty E(A)llison, was born between
18101815.
He was married ca. 1831 to Ellen Nichols. Their children were: Robert, died
before 1858; Elizabeth married Edwin Gwaltney, buried near Brush Creek; Thomas P.,
living in Missouri in 1858; Joseph Moody. Daniel M. died in White County, Tennessee,
in 1841. Ellen married second Levi Phillips and moved to Arkansas.
Martha Allison was born June 4, 1815, in Tennessee. Martha was a minor when her
father, Joseph, died, and her guardian, Jesse Smith, reported to the court in March 1832,
that his ward had married John R. James. The children of John R. and Martha Allison
James were: Mary J.; Martha H.; Lucy G.; Joseph H. G. (all of these children died young
and are buried in the family cemetery); Martha G. married W. A. Baird; Sarah E.; John
F.; Bartlett Allison married Elizabeth Ann Dowell; Robert A. married Ellen Patterson;
William N.; Eliza L. married Dawson Gwaltney; Callie C.; Joseph Henry Clay. Martha
died May 3, 1871 and John R. on February 18, 1892. Both are buried in the James family
cemetery just east of Gordonsville between the two lanes of Interstate 40.
Joseph Ellison made his last will and testament in August 1826, leaving the tract of land,
the household furniture, two horses, five cows, all the sheep and "as many hogs as she
may think necessary" to his wife, Elizabeth. She was also to receive two slaves, Jack and
Dice. At the death of Elizabeth the land was to be divided equally between Robert
Donaldson and Daniel Morgan Ellison. Robert D. purchased Daniel's onehalf
interest,
and, in 1850, with his mother's consent, sold both shares to Thomas Gwaltney.
The will of Joseph Ellison was probated in Smith County in November 1826. Elizabeth
"Besty" Madden Ellison did not die until 1858.
(The research of Clara H. Miller and Lucile Prior, descendants of Joseph Ellison is
gratefully acknowledged by the author of this story).
Story by Sue W. Maggart
Allison, Ellison, John Robert Sr.
b. Between 1720 & 1729, possibly from Ireland –Settled in Lancaster Co., PA.
d. January 1796, Hillsboro, Orange, NC or
d. December 1795, Lancaster, Chester, PA
s/o William Allison Sr. & Grissell “Grizzel” Wraymd 1749/50, Orange Co., NC, Martha “Granny Mattie” Hamilton – 
b. ca. 1733, Antrim, Ireland – d. ca.1838, Orange Co., NC
b. About 1720, maybe Antrim, Northern Ireland – d. ca. 1825 According 
to Samuel McCaleb he states Martha was of Irish descent and died at the advanced age of 105
or 106. He states he remembers Granny Mattie perfectly well. *See Story of The Descendants of John
Allison Sr.
Emigration: 21 September 1746, Ship Rundell – James Maxfield assigns Martha
Hamilton (a servant from Ireland in the ship Rundell) to William Allison of Lancaster Co., yeoman for four
years from September 21, 1746.
Consideration #14:15/customary dues.
John Allison settled in NC before 1755. *See Story of Robert Donaldson Allison
Settled in what is now the 8th district, of Putnam Co., TN. 
*See Will of John Robert Sr. *
See Story of Robert Donaldson Allison
Children of John Robert Allison Sr. & Martha “Granny Mattie” Hamilton were:
Lt. Joseph; Mary; James; John Robert Jr.; Charles; Jennet “Jane”; Martha;
Hamilton; Grizell; Agnes; & Elizabeth “Besty” Allison.
… Lieutenant Joseph Allison – Rev’l War soldierpatriot 
service: NC
b. October 1750, Lancaster Co., PA, Colonial America or Orange Co., NC
d. 1 August 1826, nr. Gordonsville, Smith Co, TN
md 1st ca. 1775, Orange Co., NC, Elizabeth Jane Donelson/Donaldson
b. ca. 1754, Ireland – d. 11 November 1807, Orange Co., NC –
Elizabeth Jane, buried Eno Cemetery, near Hillsboro, NC 
md 2nd 19 August 1809, Orange Co., NC, Elizabeth “Besty” Madden/Maddin (17751845).
Lieutenant Joseph Allison assisted in establishing American Independence having entered service in
Orange Co., NC in 1778: Served in Captain John Whiteside’s Company during the battle of Guilford Court
house.
*See Will of Joseph Allison
Children of Joseph & Elizabeth Jane Donelson/Donaldson
… John Allison – b. ca. 1775 – d. ca. 1858 md 
13 July 1801, Orange Co., NC, Sarah Jane Stewart
*See Will of John Allison He
married as John Ellison.
…Jane “Jincy” Allison – b. 4 May 1802, Orange Co., NC
The family bible lists her birth as 4th, her tombstone as 6th of May 1802.
d. 14 September 1866, Hamilton Co., IL
md 5 March 1822, Orange Co., NC
Both Buried: Ten Mile Cemetery, Hamilton Co., IL
… Margaret "Peggy" Allison – b. 18 February 1804 – 
md 9 September 1825, Orange Co., NC, David Clark –
b. ca. 1801, Orange Co., NC – s/o William & Rachel (Carson) Clark
Church Citation 24 April 1830, neglected having children baptized [S79]
A committee was appointed "to converse with David Clark, member, who
has neglected having his children baptized.
… Stewart Allison – b. 6 April 1806, Orange Co., NC – 
d. before 25 September 1853, Orange Co., NC
Not named in his father's will, but is named as eldest son of "dau. Sary
Ellison" in will of Robert Stewart.
…William Donaldson Allison – b. 7 June 1809, Orange Co., NC – 
d. Before 26 November 1819 –
Named after his mother, Elizabeth Jane Donelson/Donaldson.
On 26 November, 1819, his father was appointed Administrator of the
estate of Donaldson Allison, deceased. A copy filed in Bk B129,
Franklin
Co., GA. where Robert Stewart died April 1816.
… Elizabeth P. Allison – b. 29 September 1811, Orange Co., NC 
md 2 July 1857, Orange County, NC, John D. Gray – b. ca, 1814/16… 
Nancy Anne Allison – b. 17 April 1814 – d. 15 May 1858 
md James H. Clark
… Joseph P. Allison – b. 19 December 1815, Orange Co., NC
Codicil to his father's will dtd 28 January 1854, provides an equitable
share to "my son Joseph Allison if he be alive or has any lawful issue."
… Martha W. Allison – b. ca. 1819 – md ca. 1844, Francis Bell
… Catherine Allison – b. ca. 1786, Orange Co., NC – 
d. 21 September 1838, TN md
7 March 1810, Orange Co., NC
John McCaleb – b. ca. 1778, Westmoreland Co., PA – d. August 1854 
s/o John & Catherine Ann (Nichols) McCaleb
*See this family line: Denny family section – Bertha Maude Allison.
… William Allison – b. ca. 1780 – md 13 June 1807, Orange Co., NC
Margaret Stewart – b. ca. 1785, Orange Co., NC – 
d. 28 July 1845, White Co., TN – d/o Robert & Ann Stewart
William married under the name of Ellison.
… Joseph Stewart “Hog Joe” Allison – b. 22 January 1812 – 
d. 19 November 1873, Putnam Co., TN –
md 1st 4 October 1834, Eliza Lyon Rhea – 
b. 16 July 1817, TN – d. 9 November 1866 –
d/o William Pryor & Mary Ann (Whitson) Rhea
md 2nd Angeline Beasley –She later married James Livingston Isbell. 
*See Joseph Stewart “Hog Joe” Allison for complete family listing.
… Robert Steward Allison b. 
14 October 1837, TN –d. 15 February 1914
md 1st 27 April 1862, Mary E. L. “Polly” Lowe – b. 27 January1840, NC 
d. 22 September 1877, Putnam Co., TN – d/o Quinton Lowe &
Elizabeth Williams md
2nd 29 May 1881, Putnam Co., TN, 
Kessiah Catherine Martelia Ann McCaleb – b. 22 October 1845,