Benjamin Allen was probably born before 1752, possibly in Ireland. His first wife may have been Sarah Sommers. She died sometime before July 5th , 1803 when Benjamin married Sarah Maddox, daughter of Notley Maddox III in Campbell County, Kentucky.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792 , Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County , Kentucky A court order dated June 2 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant. While in Campbell county Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River . One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill. The Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he was listed as , "gon to Spain". This probably means that me must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List of 1807 Listed Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons. Benjamin and his son , Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin and Hiram and a nephew of Martin, joined the ill fated Gutierrez Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition also called "The Republican Army of the North", succeeded in capturing the four main towns in Texas including the capitol ,San Antonio and declared it a new nation. A few months later a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in the battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed in 1836 with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Apparently at the time of the battle Martin was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for a new nation.
Died in the Battle of Medina. Was a member of the Gutierrez Magee Expedition also known as the Republican Army of the North. The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about 10 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
Benjamin Allen purchased the rights for a Mill Dam and Landing for a Ferry on the west bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition
(The Republican Army of the North)
The Battle of Medina
Texas under Seven (7) NOT 6 Flags
Participation of Martin Allen and family members
(With Special thanks to Robert H. Thonhoff for his research, writings , willingness to share to help others, and to make the truth better known- )
I
The sale of Louisiana by France to the U.S. in 1803 increased interest in Texas from the east. It blossomed as a new frontier. The U. S. Government felt that present day Texas was included in the Louisiana purchase-however, publicly the U. S. recognized Spain as The Mother Country of Mexico (Then New Spain) which included present day Texas.
II
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition Organized
With not too secret cooperation of the U. S., apparently including finance, and by placing a U. S. "agent", William Shaler in Natchitoches,(In present Louisiana) in the U. S. - Spain border "neutral zone" the foundation was laid for organization of the Expedition. It is believed by some that William Shaler, with respect to his participation in the Expedition, was acting under orders/approval of the then U. S. Secretary of State James Monroe.
Don Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara ( 1774-1841) was a present day Mexico resident of New Spain and a proponet of Mexico's freedom from Spain and was a Lt. Col. in their Hidalgo Independence movement. In that capacity he traveled from New Spain by way of Natchitoches, thence to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In Washington he was received by Secretary of State James Monroe. In the other cities he also received sympathy, encouragement and possibly financial promises to aid his quest. On his return trip he sailed to New Orleans with a letter of introduction (probably from President James Madison or Secretary of State James Monroe?) to Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne who introduced him to U. S. Agent William Shaler. It was the Gutierrez plan to take Texas from Spain and use it as a spring board area to take all of present day Mexico away from Spain. He promised to set up a U. S. type constitution and government in Texas but failed to keep his word following the successful conquest.
Augustus W. Magee, a West Point graduate, a Lt. in the U. S. Army then stationed in Louisiana, resigned his commission to join Gutierrez to jointly head the Expedition. Magee to head the military ,Gutierrez the political..
They assembled recruits in Natchitoches to form The Republican Army of the North. Their flag was a solid emerald green-- possibly as a consequence of Magee's Irish roots.
The volunteers were paid about $40.00 a month plus a promise of a league of land in Texas when Texas was conquered. The initial army size is thought to have been around 200 men but grew to around 1000 as volunteers , including those from captured areas, Spanish soldier turnabouts, citizens of the areas traveled through, and Indians joined as the expedition succeeded.
Included in the Natchitoches recruits/volunteers were BENJAMIN ALLEN, his sons Martin Allen and Hiram Allen, and another Allen we know only as a nephew of Martin Allen thought to be the son of Hiram Allen.
III
Texas is "Taken" From Spain
The initial force of The Republican Army of The North crossed the Sabine River marching west from Natchitoches, and in 1812, under their solid green flag, took Nacogdoches, then Trinity, then marched, on the La Bahia road, to Presidio La Bahia (present day Goliad) where, during the winter of 1812-1813, after taking Goliad on November 7, Magee died on February 8 under questionable conditions. Then Spanish troops tried to retake Goliad-resulting in a 4 month siege, longer than any in American Military history.
Spain gave up the siege on February 9th.and on February 19th 900 Republicans marched to San Antonio where they defeated a Spanish group on March 29, 1813 in The Battle of Rosillo. They then took control of San Antonio (Yes, the Alamo, some 23 years before the famous Alamo Battle) on April 1st.
In San Antonio, On April 4th, two POW Spanish Govenor were brutally executed on orders of Gutierrez. This inhuman act served to break the expedition into two factions. Many of those volunteers and officers against such treatment, and who were not given
promised positions in the new government by the then Republic of Texas President Gutierrez, resigned and promptly and returned to the east, " On Furlough". The executions , along with his refusal to adopt a U. S. type constitution and government as promised, plus refusal of promised appointments, led to the dismissal of Gutierrez who was replaced with General Jose Alvarez de Toledo y Dubois, a Cuban military man who had been a somewhat distant participant from the beginning., and whose new position was arranged by U. S. Agent William Shaler.
EVEN SO, NOW control of TEXAS by The Republicans ,was complete!
IV
Spain Retakes Texas
The Battle of Medina
Spanish Royalist General Joaquin de Arredondo, assisted by a young Lt. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA defeated the Republicans under General Toledo in
batalla del encinal de medina on August 18, 1813, in a sandy oak tree area about 20 miles south of San Antonio, in Atascosa County, north of the town of Poteet but closer and northwest of the town of Leming.
The Republicans placed "The Washington Regiment" of volunteers in the front line of the battle. (What could be the reason for this regiment's name?) The Spanish lost only 55 men. The bones of about 800 of The Republicans killed were left to bleach in the sun and sand for 9 years before being buried under an Oak tree, in 1822, in the encinal. (Sandy Oak tree area)
In a letter dated July 17, 1991, Robert H. Thonhoff in a letter to Walter E. Belt, Jr. stated, " Your family (Benjamin and Martin Allen) , I believe, holds the record for the number of participants in The Battle of Medina".
The exact location of the battle field has not been archeologically determined. The original marker location has been viewed as in error by most researchers. Historian Robert H. Thonhoff has most likely localized the probable area near Leming, Texas where he has found artifacts thought to be from the battle.
Mr. Henry Wolff, Jr. Historical writer for the Victoria, Texas Advocate newspaper
is reported to have said, "Texas has lost a battlefield".
A ceremony commemorating the 175th anniversary of the battle was held at the location proposed by Mr., Thonhoff, on August 21, 1988 on the James Engleman farm. A new granite marker was dedicated there and wreaths were placed on the monument by three descendants of Martin Allen.
During the Anniversary ceremony there was a wood sign on a wood pole driven in the ground that read:
AQUI YACEN LOS BRAVOS MEXICANOS
QUE IMITANDO EL EJEMPLO DE LEONIDAS
SACRIFICARON SU FORTUNA Y VIDAS
LUCHANDO SIN CESAR CONTRA TIRANOS
The translation to English:
"Here lie the brave Mexicans that imitate the example of Leonidas, sacrificing their fortune and lives without ceasing against tyrants."
As for Leonidas see: http://www.cigarlabelgazette.com/leonidas.htm
(Thank you for the translation and reference to Leonidas to Mrs. Elizabeth Preston Belt of Washington, DC.)
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff advised that the original wood sign is now placed in The Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton, Texas along with a replica of the GREEN FLAG of The Republican Army of The North.
QUESTION: Does this sign dedicated to then Tejas Citizen Mexicans fighting for their freedom prove that the battle was a REVOLUTION and not an INVASION ?
Many of the republicans were sons of American Revolutionaries and many also later participated in the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson, and the Texas Revolution of 1835- 1836 when Texas gained its freedom from Mexico. (Gutierrez also participated in The War of 1812).
Martin Allen was one Gutierrez-Magee Expedition member who also fought in the successful Texas Revolution of 1835-1836, when Texas gained it's freedom from Mexico. A TRULY RARE "DOUBLE EXPOSURE".
The Lt. Santa Anna of the Battle of Medina, is one and the same person as the General Santa Anna who defeated the Texas Alamo defended and lost to Sam Houston at The Battle of San Jacinto.
Among the Republican soldiers killed were:
Martin Allen's father = Benjamin Allen
Martin Allen's nephew = _________Allen (Another Benjamin ?)
Apparently Martin Allen's brother = Hiram Allen was wounded, but made his way back home to Louisiana, but died shortly, as his wife married in that year.
On the day of The Battle of Medina Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana taking in new volunteers. Otherwise he too probably would have been killed.
V
MARTIN ALLEN ACTIVITIES IN
Time period from Battle of Medina
To
The new Republic of Texas
1835
Following The Battle of Medina Martin Allen returned home to Louisiana where he and his family lived until until 1821 when they returned to Texas--- first to Wharton County but shortly thereafter to his " 8 Mile Point" land in Austin County (8 miles from San Felipe)---to-day marked by a Texas Historical Society Highway Historical 8 miles south of Sealy, Texas on the west side of Texas State Highway 36 at it's intersection with Johnson Road.---- As members of The Stephen F. Austin original 300 settlers (Known as The Old Three Hundred). Then he fought in and assisted the successful Texas fight for freedom from Mexico ( The 2nd. Texas Revolution) in many ways.
What is the source of such detailed information on Martin Allen and his family?
Martin Allen prepared a petition, in his own handwriting, on November 23, 1836, at his" 8 Mile Point" homeland, to the new Republic of Texas asking for follow through on previous promised land grants including those of The Gutierrez/Magee Expedition-- also for his sons who participated in The Siege of Bexar .
The petition sets out much Allen history, including much of that set out in this presentation. A "deciphered" typed effort copy of the petition is shown in full at another position in this Martin Allen HOME (WEB) page. Martin Allen died on his 8 Mile point land one year after writing the petition on December 30, 1837..
The original petition is in The Texas State Archives filed under :
LAND PETITION- MARTIN ALLEN
Call Box 100- 360
VI
WHY 6 Flags Over Texas Rather than 7 Flags?
Some say The First republic of Texas never actually had administrative control of Texas-and that the victors were not recognized by foreign countries- thus they do not recognize "our" GREEN FLAG. Others question the designation of the Expedition as a revolution-however citizens of present day Texas played a significant part in the freedom effort-thus lending support to the word REVOLUTION rather than FILIBUSTER?…. Not an INVASION ? even though there was apparently significant U. S. "hand holding"? TRUE the green flag has not YET been universally accepted as one of the sovereign flags under which early Texas was governed - however, more knowledge of the historical facts may change the level of acceptance.
See Flags Over Texas, by Charles E. Gilbert, Jr. illustrated by James Rice. The "GREEN FLAG" is described and shown on pages 38 and 39 along with a discussion of its level of recognition.
NOTE OF INTEREST. Is there a connection?
In the year 1812-the year the Expedition was put together-there was an earthquake in south central U. S. that "reversed the flow of water in the Mississippi River"….. An area not far from Natchitoches, Louisiana!
"REVERSED THE FLOW" may have occurred twice that year!
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff has stated,. "The outcome of The Battle of Medina affected the destinies of Spain, Mexico, United States, England and France".
VII
REFERENCES
The New Handbook of Texas , Volume 4 pages 601 and 602. This Battle of Medina section of the handbook was written by Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff. Also see Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and GUTIERREZ DE LARA, JOSE BERNARDO MAXIMILINO.
Forgotten Battlefield of The First Texas Revolution, By Ted Schwarz , Edited by Robert H. Thonhoff. Published by Eakin press of Austin, Texas
Sons of Dewitt County, Texas WEB page at:
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain2.htm
Texas Tales Your Teacher Never Told You , by C. F. Eckhardt, published by Wordware publishing, Inc. Regional Division.
Program for Ceremonies Commemorating The 175th Anniversary of The Battle of Medina August 21, 1988, by Robert H. Thonhoff.
Report of The Battle of Medina by Spanish participant Joaquin de Arredondo translated by Mattie Austin Hatcher in The Texas Historical Association Quarterly XI no. 3 January 1908 pages 200 - 236.
Green Flag Over Texas, by Julia Kathryn Garrett, Cordova Press, new York.
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Cob 1. lge 12, 10 February 19th 1806
Ordered that John Kiger, Nathanial Vice, George Harris, Charles Mc Glothen or any 3 of them do view and mark out a road from Benja Allens Mill to David Allens Mill.
Marker Provided By Tom Green, Texas Society Vice President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Hill Country District Representative of the Republic of Texas.
IN HONOR TO PETER SIDES AND BENJAMIN ALLEN
Approximately 1,400 men who fought in the Battle of Medina are all possible qualifying ancestor for membership in the Sons of the Republic of Texas, but only Peter Sides, who also fought in the American Revolution and Benjamin Allen have been accepted as Qualifying ancestors waho are proven to have fought and died north of here on August 18, 1813. Benjamin Allen was born about 1752, probably in Wilkes County, Georgia. His second wife was Sarah Maddox, who was stepmother to Martin And Hiram Allen. Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana recruiting more Volunteers for the Republican Army of the North when his brother Hiram Allen was wounded in the Battle of Medina, escaped and later died at home in Louisiana. Their Father Benjamin Allen and one of his unnamed grandsons died here in the Battle of Medina. We Hope to add many of the other heroes who died here to this pladque as research continues.
Saltsberry, Town of (Campbell County} Established Dec. 22, 1806 on land of Squire Grant with Bartlett Graves, Zachariah Moore, John Winston, Frank Spelman, Nicholas Gherry, William Stephens and Benjamin Allen Trustees. Vol. 3 page 369
Allen, Benjamin (A) Inspection site in Campbell County , Vol. 2 page 457. {B} Trustee Town of Salisberry in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 369. {3} Voting place at house in house in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 413.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin Allen was my husband's 6th great grandfather.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792 , Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County , Kentucky A court order dated June 2 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant. While in Campbell county Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River . One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill. The Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he was listed as , "gon to Spain". This probably means that me must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List of 1807 Listed Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons. Benjamin and his son , Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin and Hiram and a nephew of Martin, joined the ill fated Gutierrez Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition also called "The Republican Army of the North", succeeded in capturing the four main towns in Texas including the capitol ,San Antonio and declared it a new nation. A few months later a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in the battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed in 1836 with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Apparently at the time of the battle Martin was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for a new nation.
Died in the Battle of Medina. Was a member of the Gutierrez Magee Expedition also known as the Republican Army of the North. The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about 10 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
Benjamin Allen purchased the rights for a Mill Dam and Landing for a Ferry on the west bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition
(The Republican Army of the North)
The Battle of Medina
Texas under Seven (7) NOT 6 Flags
Participation of Martin Allen and family members
(With Special thanks to Robert H. Thonhoff for his research, writings , willingness to share to help others, and to make the truth better known- )
I
The sale of Louisiana by France to the U.S. in 1803 increased interest in Texas from the east. It blossomed as a new frontier. The U. S. Government felt that present day Texas was included in the Louisiana purchase-however, publicly the U. S. recognized Spain as The Mother Country of Mexico (Then New Spain) which included present day Texas.
II
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition Organized
With not too secret cooperation of the U. S., apparently including finance, and by placing a U. S. "agent", William Shaler in Natchitoches,(In present Louisiana) in the U. S. - Spain border "neutral zone" the foundation was laid for organization of the Expedition. It is believed by some that William Shaler, with respect to his participation in the Expedition, was acting under orders/approval of the then U. S. Secretary of State James Monroe.
Don Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara ( 1774-1841) was a present day Mexico resident of New Spain and a proponet of Mexico's freedom from Spain and was a Lt. Col. in their Hidalgo Independence movement. In that capacity he traveled from New Spain by way of Natchitoches, thence to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In Washington he was received by Secretary of State James Monroe. In the other cities he also received sympathy, encouragement and possibly financial promises to aid his quest. On his return trip he sailed to New Orleans with a letter of introduction (probably from President James Madison or Secretary of State James Monroe?) to Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne who introduced him to U. S. Agent William Shaler. It was the Gutierrez plan to take Texas from Spain and use it as a spring board area to take all of present day Mexico away from Spain. He promised to set up a U. S. type constitution and government in Texas but failed to keep his word following the successful conquest.
Augustus W. Magee, a West Point graduate, a Lt. in the U. S. Army then stationed in Louisiana, resigned his commission to join Gutierrez to jointly head the Expedition. Magee to head the military ,Gutierrez the political..
They assembled recruits in Natchitoches to form The Republican Army of the North. Their flag was a solid emerald green-- possibly as a consequence of Magee's Irish roots.
The volunteers were paid about $40.00 a month plus a promise of a league of land in Texas when Texas was conquered. The initial army size is thought to have been around 200 men but grew to around 1000 as volunteers , including those from captured areas, Spanish soldier turnabouts, citizens of the areas traveled through, and Indians joined as the expedition succeeded.
Included in the Natchitoches recruits/volunteers were BENJAMIN ALLEN, his sons Martin Allen and Hiram Allen, and another Allen we know only as a nephew of Martin Allen thought to be the son of Hiram Allen.
III
Texas is "Taken" From Spain
The initial force of The Republican Army of The North crossed the Sabine River marching west from Natchitoches, and in 1812, under their solid green flag, took Nacogdoches, then Trinity, then marched, on the La Bahia road, to Presidio La Bahia (present day Goliad) where, during the winter of 1812-1813, after taking Goliad on November 7, Magee died on February 8 under questionable conditions. Then Spanish troops tried to retake Goliad-resulting in a 4 month siege, longer than any in American Military history.
Spain gave up the siege on February 9th.and on February 19th 900 Republicans marched to San Antonio where they defeated a Spanish group on March 29, 1813 in The Battle of Rosillo. They then took control of San Antonio (Yes, the Alamo, some 23 years before the famous Alamo Battle) on April 1st.
In San Antonio, On April 4th, two POW Spanish Govenor were brutally executed on orders of Gutierrez. This inhuman act served to break the expedition into two factions. Many of those volunteers and officers against such treatment, and who were not given
promised positions in the new government by the then Republic of Texas President Gutierrez, resigned and promptly and returned to the east, " On Furlough". The executions , along with his refusal to adopt a U. S. type constitution and government as promised, plus refusal of promised appointments, led to the dismissal of Gutierrez who was replaced with General Jose Alvarez de Toledo y Dubois, a Cuban military man who had been a somewhat distant participant from the beginning., and whose new position was arranged by U. S. Agent William Shaler.
EVEN SO, NOW control of TEXAS by The Republicans ,was complete!
IV
Spain Retakes Texas
The Battle of Medina
Spanish Royalist General Joaquin de Arredondo, assisted by a young Lt. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA defeated the Republicans under General Toledo in
batalla del encinal de medina on August 18, 1813, in a sandy oak tree area about 20 miles south of San Antonio, in Atascosa County, north of the town of Poteet but closer and northwest of the town of Leming.
The Republicans placed "The Washington Regiment" of volunteers in the front line of the battle. (What could be the reason for this regiment's name?) The Spanish lost only 55 men. The bones of about 800 of The Republicans killed were left to bleach in the sun and sand for 9 years before being buried under an Oak tree, in 1822, in the encinal. (Sandy Oak tree area)
In a letter dated July 17, 1991, Robert H. Thonhoff in a letter to Walter E. Belt, Jr. stated, " Your family (Benjamin and Martin Allen) , I believe, holds the record for the number of participants in The Battle of Medina".
The exact location of the battle field has not been archeologically determined. The original marker location has been viewed as in error by most researchers. Historian Robert H. Thonhoff has most likely localized the probable area near Leming, Texas where he has found artifacts thought to be from the battle.
Mr. Henry Wolff, Jr. Historical writer for the Victoria, Texas Advocate newspaper
is reported to have said, "Texas has lost a battlefield".
A ceremony commemorating the 175th anniversary of the battle was held at the location proposed by Mr., Thonhoff, on August 21, 1988 on the James Engleman farm. A new granite marker was dedicated there and wreaths were placed on the monument by three descendants of Martin Allen.
During the Anniversary ceremony there was a wood sign on a wood pole driven in the ground that read:
AQUI YACEN LOS BRAVOS MEXICANOS
QUE IMITANDO EL EJEMPLO DE LEONIDAS
SACRIFICARON SU FORTUNA Y VIDAS
LUCHANDO SIN CESAR CONTRA TIRANOS
The translation to English:
"Here lie the brave Mexicans that imitate the example of Leonidas, sacrificing their fortune and lives without ceasing against tyrants."
As for Leonidas see: http://www.cigarlabelgazette.com/leonidas.htm
(Thank you for the translation and reference to Leonidas to Mrs. Elizabeth Preston Belt of Washington, DC.)
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff advised that the original wood sign is now placed in The Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton, Texas along with a replica of the GREEN FLAG of The Republican Army of The North.
QUESTION: Does this sign dedicated to then Tejas Citizen Mexicans fighting for their freedom prove that the battle was a REVOLUTION and not an INVASION ?
Many of the republicans were sons of American Revolutionaries and many also later participated in the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson, and the Texas Revolution of 1835- 1836 when Texas gained its freedom from Mexico. (Gutierrez also participated in The War of 1812).
Martin Allen was one Gutierrez-Magee Expedition member who also fought in the successful Texas Revolution of 1835-1836, when Texas gained it's freedom from Mexico. A TRULY RARE "DOUBLE EXPOSURE".
The Lt. Santa Anna of the Battle of Medina, is one and the same person as the General Santa Anna who defeated the Texas Alamo defended and lost to Sam Houston at The Battle of San Jacinto.
Among the Republican soldiers killed were:
Martin Allen's father = Benjamin Allen
Martin Allen's nephew = _________Allen (Another Benjamin ?)
Apparently Martin Allen's brother = Hiram Allen was wounded, but made his way back home to Louisiana, but died shortly, as his wife married in that year.
On the day of The Battle of Medina Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana taking in new volunteers. Otherwise he too probably would have been killed.
V
MARTIN ALLEN ACTIVITIES IN
Time period from Battle of Medina
To
The new Republic of Texas
1835
Following The Battle of Medina Martin Allen returned home to Louisiana where he and his family lived until until 1821 when they returned to Texas--- first to Wharton County but shortly thereafter to his " 8 Mile Point" land in Austin County (8 miles from San Felipe)---to-day marked by a Texas Historical Society Highway Historical 8 miles south of Sealy, Texas on the west side of Texas State Highway 36 at it's intersection with Johnson Road.---- As members of The Stephen F. Austin original 300 settlers (Known as The Old Three Hundred). Then he fought in and assisted the successful Texas fight for freedom from Mexico ( The 2nd. Texas Revolution) in many ways.
What is the source of such detailed information on Martin Allen and his family?
Martin Allen prepared a petition, in his own handwriting, on November 23, 1836, at his" 8 Mile Point" homeland, to the new Republic of Texas asking for follow through on previous promised land grants including those of The Gutierrez/Magee Expedition-- also for his sons who participated in The Siege of Bexar .
The petition sets out much Allen history, including much of that set out in this presentation. A "deciphered" typed effort copy of the petition is shown in full at another position in this Martin Allen HOME (WEB) page. Martin Allen died on his 8 Mile point land one year after writing the petition on December 30, 1837..
The original petition is in The Texas State Archives filed under :
LAND PETITION- MARTIN ALLEN
Call Box 100- 360
VI
WHY 6 Flags Over Texas Rather than 7 Flags?
Some say The First republic of Texas never actually had administrative control of Texas-and that the victors were not recognized by foreign countries- thus they do not recognize "our" GREEN FLAG. Others question the designation of the Expedition as a revolution-however citizens of present day Texas played a significant part in the freedom effort-thus lending support to the word REVOLUTION rather than FILIBUSTER?…. Not an INVASION ? even though there was apparently significant U. S. "hand holding"? TRUE the green flag has not YET been universally accepted as one of the sovereign flags under which early Texas was governed - however, more knowledge of the historical facts may change the level of acceptance.
See Flags Over Texas, by Charles E. Gilbert, Jr. illustrated by James Rice. The "GREEN FLAG" is described and shown on pages 38 and 39 along with a discussion of its level of recognition.
NOTE OF INTEREST. Is there a connection?
In the year 1812-the year the Expedition was put together-there was an earthquake in south central U. S. that "reversed the flow of water in the Mississippi River"….. An area not far from Natchitoches, Louisiana!
"REVERSED THE FLOW" may have occurred twice that year!
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff has stated,. "The outcome of The Battle of Medina affected the destinies of Spain, Mexico, United States, England and France".
VII
REFERENCES
The New Handbook of Texas , Volume 4 pages 601 and 602. This Battle of Medina section of the handbook was written by Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff. Also see Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and GUTIERREZ DE LARA, JOSE BERNARDO MAXIMILINO.
Forgotten Battlefield of The First Texas Revolution, By Ted Schwarz , Edited by Robert H. Thonhoff. Published by Eakin press of Austin, Texas
Sons of Dewitt County, Texas WEB page at:
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain2.htm
Texas Tales Your Teacher Never Told You , by C. F. Eckhardt, published by Wordware publishing, Inc. Regional Division.
Program for Ceremonies Commemorating The 175th Anniversary of The Battle of Medina August 21, 1988, by Robert H. Thonhoff.
Report of The Battle of Medina by Spanish participant Joaquin de Arredondo translated by Mattie Austin Hatcher in The Texas Historical Association Quarterly XI no. 3 January 1908 pages 200 - 236.
Green Flag Over Texas, by Julia Kathryn Garrett, Cordova Press, new York.
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We'd love to hear your comments!
Cob 1. lge 12, 10 February 19th 1806
Ordered that John Kiger, Nathanial Vice, George Harris, Charles Mc Glothen or any 3 of them do view and mark out a road from Benja Allens Mill to David Allens Mill.
Marker Provided By Tom Green, Texas Society Vice President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Hill Country District Representative of the Republic of Texas.
IN HONOR TO PETER SIDES AND BENJAMIN ALLEN
Approximately 1,400 men who fought in the Battle of Medina are all possible qualifying ancestor for membership in the Sons of the Republic of Texas, but only Peter Sides, who also fought in the American Revolution and Benjamin Allen have been accepted as Qualifying ancestors waho are proven to have fought and died north of here on August 18, 1813. Benjamin Allen was born about 1752, probably in Wilkes County, Georgia. His second wife was Sarah Maddox, who was stepmother to Martin And Hiram Allen. Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana recruiting more Volunteers for the Republican Army of the North when his brother Hiram Allen was wounded in the Battle of Medina, escaped and later died at home in Louisiana. Their Father Benjamin Allen and one of his unnamed grandsons died here in the Battle of Medina. We Hope to add many of the other heroes who died here to this pladque as research continues.
Saltsberry, Town of (Campbell County} Established Dec. 22, 1806 on land of Squire Grant with Bartlett Graves, Zachariah Moore, John Winston, Frank Spelman, Nicholas Gherry, William Stephens and Benjamin Allen Trustees. Vol. 3 page 369
Allen, Benjamin (A) Inspection site in Campbell County , Vol. 2 page 457. {B} Trustee Town of Salisberry in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 369. {3} Voting place at house in house in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 413.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin Allen was my husband's 6th great grandfather.
Benjamin Allen was probably born before 1752, possibly in Ireland. His first wife may have been Sarah Sommers. She died sometime before July 5th , 1803 when Benjamin married Sarah Maddox, daughter of Notley Maddox III in Campbell County, Kentucky.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792 , Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County , Kentucky A court order dated June 2 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant. While in Campbell county Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River . One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill. The Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he was listed as , "gon to Spain". This probably means that me must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List of 1807 Listed Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons. Benjamin and his son , Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin and Hiram and a nephew of Martin, joined the ill fated Gutierrez Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition also called "The Republican Army of the North", succeeded in capturing the four main towns in Texas including the capitol ,San Antonio and declared it a new nation. A few months later a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in the battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed in 1836 with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Apparently at the time of the battle Martin was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for a new nation.
Died in the Battle of Medina. Was a member of the Gutierrez Magee Expedition also known as the Republican Army of the North. The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about 10 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
Benjamin Allen purchased the rights for a Mill Dam and Landing for a Ferry on the west bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition
(The Republican Army of the North)
The Battle of Medina
Texas under Seven (7) NOT 6 Flags
Participation of Martin Allen and family members
(With Special thanks to Robert H. Thonhoff for his research, writings , willingness to share to help others, and to make the truth better known- )
I
The sale of Louisiana by France to the U.S. in 1803 increased interest in Texas from the east. It blossomed as a new frontier. The U. S. Government felt that present day Texas was included in the Louisiana purchase-however, publicly the U. S. recognized Spain as The Mother Country of Mexico (Then New Spain) which included present day Texas.
II
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition Organized
With not too secret cooperation of the U. S., apparently including finance, and by placing a U. S. "agent", William Shaler in Natchitoches,(In present Louisiana) in the U. S. - Spain border "neutral zone" the foundation was laid for organization of the Expedition. It is believed by some that William Shaler, with respect to his participation in the Expedition, was acting under orders/approval of the then U. S. Secretary of State James Monroe.
Don Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara ( 1774-1841) was a present day Mexico resident of New Spain and a proponet of Mexico's freedom from Spain and was a Lt. Col. in their Hidalgo Independence movement. In that capacity he traveled from New Spain by way of Natchitoches, thence to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In Washington he was received by Secretary of State James Monroe. In the other cities he also received sympathy, encouragement and possibly financial promises to aid his quest. On his return trip he sailed to New Orleans with a letter of introduction (probably from President James Madison or Secretary of State James Monroe?) to Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne who introduced him to U. S. Agent William Shaler. It was the Gutierrez plan to take Texas from Spain and use it as a spring board area to take all of present day Mexico away from Spain. He promised to set up a U. S. type constitution and government in Texas but failed to keep his word following the successful conquest.
Augustus W. Magee, a West Point graduate, a Lt. in the U. S. Army then stationed in Louisiana, resigned his commission to join Gutierrez to jointly head the Expedition. Magee to head the military ,Gutierrez the political..
They assembled recruits in Natchitoches to form The Republican Army of the North. Their flag was a solid emerald green-- possibly as a consequence of Magee's Irish roots.
The volunteers were paid about $40.00 a month plus a promise of a league of land in Texas when Texas was conquered. The initial army size is thought to have been around 200 men but grew to around 1000 as volunteers , including those from captured areas, Spanish soldier turnabouts, citizens of the areas traveled through, and Indians joined as the expedition succeeded.
Included in the Natchitoches recruits/volunteers were BENJAMIN ALLEN, his sons Martin Allen and Hiram Allen, and another Allen we know only as a nephew of Martin Allen thought to be the son of Hiram Allen.
III
Texas is "Taken" From Spain
The initial force of The Republican Army of The North crossed the Sabine River marching west from Natchitoches, and in 1812, under their solid green flag, took Nacogdoches, then Trinity, then marched, on the La Bahia road, to Presidio La Bahia (present day Goliad) where, during the winter of 1812-1813, after taking Goliad on November 7, Magee died on February 8 under questionable conditions. Then Spanish troops tried to retake Goliad-resulting in a 4 month siege, longer than any in American Military history.
Spain gave up the siege on February 9th.and on February 19th 900 Republicans marched to San Antonio where they defeated a Spanish group on March 29, 1813 in The Battle of Rosillo. They then took control of San Antonio (Yes, the Alamo, some 23 years before the famous Alamo Battle) on April 1st.
In San Antonio, On April 4th, two POW Spanish Govenor were brutally executed on orders of Gutierrez. This inhuman act served to break the expedition into two factions. Many of those volunteers and officers against such treatment, and who were not given
promised positions in the new government by the then Republic of Texas President Gutierrez, resigned and promptly and returned to the east, " On Furlough". The executions , along with his refusal to adopt a U. S. type constitution and government as promised, plus refusal of promised appointments, led to the dismissal of Gutierrez who was replaced with General Jose Alvarez de Toledo y Dubois, a Cuban military man who had been a somewhat distant participant from the beginning., and whose new position was arranged by U. S. Agent William Shaler.
EVEN SO, NOW control of TEXAS by The Republicans ,was complete!
IV
Spain Retakes Texas
The Battle of Medina
Spanish Royalist General Joaquin de Arredondo, assisted by a young Lt. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA defeated the Republicans under General Toledo in
batalla del encinal de medina on August 18, 1813, in a sandy oak tree area about 20 miles south of San Antonio, in Atascosa County, north of the town of Poteet but closer and northwest of the town of Leming.
The Republicans placed "The Washington Regiment" of volunteers in the front line of the battle. (What could be the reason for this regiment's name?) The Spanish lost only 55 men. The bones of about 800 of The Republicans killed were left to bleach in the sun and sand for 9 years before being buried under an Oak tree, in 1822, in the encinal. (Sandy Oak tree area)
In a letter dated July 17, 1991, Robert H. Thonhoff in a letter to Walter E. Belt, Jr. stated, " Your family (Benjamin and Martin Allen) , I believe, holds the record for the number of participants in The Battle of Medina".
The exact location of the battle field has not been archeologically determined. The original marker location has been viewed as in error by most researchers. Historian Robert H. Thonhoff has most likely localized the probable area near Leming, Texas where he has found artifacts thought to be from the battle.
Mr. Henry Wolff, Jr. Historical writer for the Victoria, Texas Advocate newspaper
is reported to have said, "Texas has lost a battlefield".
A ceremony commemorating the 175th anniversary of the battle was held at the location proposed by Mr., Thonhoff, on August 21, 1988 on the James Engleman farm. A new granite marker was dedicated there and wreaths were placed on the monument by three descendants of Martin Allen.
During the Anniversary ceremony there was a wood sign on a wood pole driven in the ground that read:
AQUI YACEN LOS BRAVOS MEXICANOS
QUE IMITANDO EL EJEMPLO DE LEONIDAS
SACRIFICARON SU FORTUNA Y VIDAS
LUCHANDO SIN CESAR CONTRA TIRANOS
The translation to English:
"Here lie the brave Mexicans that imitate the example of Leonidas, sacrificing their fortune and lives without ceasing against tyrants."
As for Leonidas see: http://www.cigarlabelgazette.com/leonidas.htm
(Thank you for the translation and reference to Leonidas to Mrs. Elizabeth Preston Belt of Washington, DC.)
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff advised that the original wood sign is now placed in The Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton, Texas along with a replica of the GREEN FLAG of The Republican Army of The North.
QUESTION: Does this sign dedicated to then Tejas Citizen Mexicans fighting for their freedom prove that the battle was a REVOLUTION and not an INVASION ?
Many of the republicans were sons of American Revolutionaries and many also later participated in the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson, and the Texas Revolution of 1835- 1836 when Texas gained its freedom from Mexico. (Gutierrez also participated in The War of 1812).
Martin Allen was one Gutierrez-Magee Expedition member who also fought in the successful Texas Revolution of 1835-1836, when Texas gained it's freedom from Mexico. A TRULY RARE "DOUBLE EXPOSURE".
The Lt. Santa Anna of the Battle of Medina, is one and the same person as the General Santa Anna who defeated the Texas Alamo defended and lost to Sam Houston at The Battle of San Jacinto.
Among the Republican soldiers killed were:
Martin Allen's father = Benjamin Allen
Martin Allen's nephew = _________Allen (Another Benjamin ?)
Apparently Martin Allen's brother = Hiram Allen was wounded, but made his way back home to Louisiana, but died shortly, as his wife married in that year.
On the day of The Battle of Medina Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana taking in new volunteers. Otherwise he too probably would have been killed.
V
MARTIN ALLEN ACTIVITIES IN
Time period from Battle of Medina
To
The new Republic of Texas
1835
Following The Battle of Medina Martin Allen returned home to Louisiana where he and his family lived until until 1821 when they returned to Texas--- first to Wharton County but shortly thereafter to his " 8 Mile Point" land in Austin County (8 miles from San Felipe)---to-day marked by a Texas Historical Society Highway Historical 8 miles south of Sealy, Texas on the west side of Texas State Highway 36 at it's intersection with Johnson Road.---- As members of The Stephen F. Austin original 300 settlers (Known as The Old Three Hundred). Then he fought in and assisted the successful Texas fight for freedom from Mexico ( The 2nd. Texas Revolution) in many ways.
What is the source of such detailed information on Martin Allen and his family?
Martin Allen prepared a petition, in his own handwriting, on November 23, 1836, at his" 8 Mile Point" homeland, to the new Republic of Texas asking for follow through on previous promised land grants including those of The Gutierrez/Magee Expedition-- also for his sons who participated in The Siege of Bexar .
The petition sets out much Allen history, including much of that set out in this presentation. A "deciphered" typed effort copy of the petition is shown in full at another position in this Martin Allen HOME (WEB) page. Martin Allen died on his 8 Mile point land one year after writing the petition on December 30, 1837..
The original petition is in The Texas State Archives filed under :
LAND PETITION- MARTIN ALLEN
Call Box 100- 360
VI
WHY 6 Flags Over Texas Rather than 7 Flags?
Some say The First republic of Texas never actually had administrative control of Texas-and that the victors were not recognized by foreign countries- thus they do not recognize "our" GREEN FLAG. Others question the designation of the Expedition as a revolution-however citizens of present day Texas played a significant part in the freedom effort-thus lending support to the word REVOLUTION rather than FILIBUSTER?…. Not an INVASION ? even though there was apparently significant U. S. "hand holding"? TRUE the green flag has not YET been universally accepted as one of the sovereign flags under which early Texas was governed - however, more knowledge of the historical facts may change the level of acceptance.
See Flags Over Texas, by Charles E. Gilbert, Jr. illustrated by James Rice. The "GREEN FLAG" is described and shown on pages 38 and 39 along with a discussion of its level of recognition.
NOTE OF INTEREST. Is there a connection?
In the year 1812-the year the Expedition was put together-there was an earthquake in south central U. S. that "reversed the flow of water in the Mississippi River"….. An area not far from Natchitoches, Louisiana!
"REVERSED THE FLOW" may have occurred twice that year!
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff has stated,. "The outcome of The Battle of Medina affected the destinies of Spain, Mexico, United States, England and France".
VII
REFERENCES
The New Handbook of Texas , Volume 4 pages 601 and 602. This Battle of Medina section of the handbook was written by Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff. Also see Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and GUTIERREZ DE LARA, JOSE BERNARDO MAXIMILINO.
Forgotten Battlefield of The First Texas Revolution, By Ted Schwarz , Edited by Robert H. Thonhoff. Published by Eakin press of Austin, Texas
Sons of Dewitt County, Texas WEB page at:
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain2.htm
Texas Tales Your Teacher Never Told You , by C. F. Eckhardt, published by Wordware publishing, Inc. Regional Division.
Program for Ceremonies Commemorating The 175th Anniversary of The Battle of Medina August 21, 1988, by Robert H. Thonhoff.
Report of The Battle of Medina by Spanish participant Joaquin de Arredondo translated by Mattie Austin Hatcher in The Texas Historical Association Quarterly XI no. 3 January 1908 pages 200 - 236.
Green Flag Over Texas, by Julia Kathryn Garrett, Cordova Press, new York.
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We'd love to hear your comments!
Cob 1. lge 12, 10 February 19th 1806
Ordered that John Kiger, Nathanial Vice, George Harris, Charles Mc Glothen or any 3 of them do view and mark out a road from Benja Allens Mill to David Allens Mill.
Marker Provided By Tom Green, Texas Society Vice President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Hill Country District Representative of the Republic of Texas.
IN HONOR TO PETER SIDES AND BENJAMIN ALLEN
Approximately 1,400 men who fought in the Battle of Medina are all possible qualifying ancestor for membership in the Sons of the Republic of Texas, but only Peter Sides, who also fought in the American Revolution and Benjamin Allen have been accepted as Qualifying ancestors waho are proven to have fought and died north of here on August 18, 1813. Benjamin Allen was born about 1752, probably in Wilkes County, Georgia. His second wife was Sarah Maddox, who was stepmother to Martin And Hiram Allen. Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana recruiting more Volunteers for the Republican Army of the North when his brother Hiram Allen was wounded in the Battle of Medina, escaped and later died at home in Louisiana. Their Father Benjamin Allen and one of his unnamed grandsons died here in the Battle of Medina. We Hope to add many of the other heroes who died here to this pladque as research continues.
Saltsberry, Town of (Campbell County} Established Dec. 22, 1806 on land of Squire Grant with Bartlett Graves, Zachariah Moore, John Winston, Frank Spelman, Nicholas Gherry, William Stephens and Benjamin Allen Trustees. Vol. 3 page 369
Allen, Benjamin (A) Inspection site in Campbell County , Vol. 2 page 457. {B} Trustee Town of Salisberry in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 369. {3} Voting place at house in house in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 413.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin Allen was my husband's 6th great grandfather.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792 , Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County , Kentucky A court order dated June 2 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant. While in Campbell county Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River . One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill. The Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he was listed as , "gon to Spain". This probably means that me must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List of 1807 Listed Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons. Benjamin and his son , Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin and Hiram and a nephew of Martin, joined the ill fated Gutierrez Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition also called "The Republican Army of the North", succeeded in capturing the four main towns in Texas including the capitol ,San Antonio and declared it a new nation. A few months later a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in the battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed in 1836 with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Apparently at the time of the battle Martin was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for a new nation.
Died in the Battle of Medina. Was a member of the Gutierrez Magee Expedition also known as the Republican Army of the North. The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about 10 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
Benjamin Allen purchased the rights for a Mill Dam and Landing for a Ferry on the west bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition
(The Republican Army of the North)
The Battle of Medina
Texas under Seven (7) NOT 6 Flags
Participation of Martin Allen and family members
(With Special thanks to Robert H. Thonhoff for his research, writings , willingness to share to help others, and to make the truth better known- )
I
The sale of Louisiana by France to the U.S. in 1803 increased interest in Texas from the east. It blossomed as a new frontier. The U. S. Government felt that present day Texas was included in the Louisiana purchase-however, publicly the U. S. recognized Spain as The Mother Country of Mexico (Then New Spain) which included present day Texas.
II
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition Organized
With not too secret cooperation of the U. S., apparently including finance, and by placing a U. S. "agent", William Shaler in Natchitoches,(In present Louisiana) in the U. S. - Spain border "neutral zone" the foundation was laid for organization of the Expedition. It is believed by some that William Shaler, with respect to his participation in the Expedition, was acting under orders/approval of the then U. S. Secretary of State James Monroe.
Don Jose Bernardo Maximiliano Gutierrez de Lara ( 1774-1841) was a present day Mexico resident of New Spain and a proponet of Mexico's freedom from Spain and was a Lt. Col. in their Hidalgo Independence movement. In that capacity he traveled from New Spain by way of Natchitoches, thence to Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In Washington he was received by Secretary of State James Monroe. In the other cities he also received sympathy, encouragement and possibly financial promises to aid his quest. On his return trip he sailed to New Orleans with a letter of introduction (probably from President James Madison or Secretary of State James Monroe?) to Louisiana Governor William C. C. Claiborne who introduced him to U. S. Agent William Shaler. It was the Gutierrez plan to take Texas from Spain and use it as a spring board area to take all of present day Mexico away from Spain. He promised to set up a U. S. type constitution and government in Texas but failed to keep his word following the successful conquest.
Augustus W. Magee, a West Point graduate, a Lt. in the U. S. Army then stationed in Louisiana, resigned his commission to join Gutierrez to jointly head the Expedition. Magee to head the military ,Gutierrez the political..
They assembled recruits in Natchitoches to form The Republican Army of the North. Their flag was a solid emerald green-- possibly as a consequence of Magee's Irish roots.
The volunteers were paid about $40.00 a month plus a promise of a league of land in Texas when Texas was conquered. The initial army size is thought to have been around 200 men but grew to around 1000 as volunteers , including those from captured areas, Spanish soldier turnabouts, citizens of the areas traveled through, and Indians joined as the expedition succeeded.
Included in the Natchitoches recruits/volunteers were BENJAMIN ALLEN, his sons Martin Allen and Hiram Allen, and another Allen we know only as a nephew of Martin Allen thought to be the son of Hiram Allen.
III
Texas is "Taken" From Spain
The initial force of The Republican Army of The North crossed the Sabine River marching west from Natchitoches, and in 1812, under their solid green flag, took Nacogdoches, then Trinity, then marched, on the La Bahia road, to Presidio La Bahia (present day Goliad) where, during the winter of 1812-1813, after taking Goliad on November 7, Magee died on February 8 under questionable conditions. Then Spanish troops tried to retake Goliad-resulting in a 4 month siege, longer than any in American Military history.
Spain gave up the siege on February 9th.and on February 19th 900 Republicans marched to San Antonio where they defeated a Spanish group on March 29, 1813 in The Battle of Rosillo. They then took control of San Antonio (Yes, the Alamo, some 23 years before the famous Alamo Battle) on April 1st.
In San Antonio, On April 4th, two POW Spanish Govenor were brutally executed on orders of Gutierrez. This inhuman act served to break the expedition into two factions. Many of those volunteers and officers against such treatment, and who were not given
promised positions in the new government by the then Republic of Texas President Gutierrez, resigned and promptly and returned to the east, " On Furlough". The executions , along with his refusal to adopt a U. S. type constitution and government as promised, plus refusal of promised appointments, led to the dismissal of Gutierrez who was replaced with General Jose Alvarez de Toledo y Dubois, a Cuban military man who had been a somewhat distant participant from the beginning., and whose new position was arranged by U. S. Agent William Shaler.
EVEN SO, NOW control of TEXAS by The Republicans ,was complete!
IV
Spain Retakes Texas
The Battle of Medina
Spanish Royalist General Joaquin de Arredondo, assisted by a young Lt. ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA defeated the Republicans under General Toledo in
batalla del encinal de medina on August 18, 1813, in a sandy oak tree area about 20 miles south of San Antonio, in Atascosa County, north of the town of Poteet but closer and northwest of the town of Leming.
The Republicans placed "The Washington Regiment" of volunteers in the front line of the battle. (What could be the reason for this regiment's name?) The Spanish lost only 55 men. The bones of about 800 of The Republicans killed were left to bleach in the sun and sand for 9 years before being buried under an Oak tree, in 1822, in the encinal. (Sandy Oak tree area)
In a letter dated July 17, 1991, Robert H. Thonhoff in a letter to Walter E. Belt, Jr. stated, " Your family (Benjamin and Martin Allen) , I believe, holds the record for the number of participants in The Battle of Medina".
The exact location of the battle field has not been archeologically determined. The original marker location has been viewed as in error by most researchers. Historian Robert H. Thonhoff has most likely localized the probable area near Leming, Texas where he has found artifacts thought to be from the battle.
Mr. Henry Wolff, Jr. Historical writer for the Victoria, Texas Advocate newspaper
is reported to have said, "Texas has lost a battlefield".
A ceremony commemorating the 175th anniversary of the battle was held at the location proposed by Mr., Thonhoff, on August 21, 1988 on the James Engleman farm. A new granite marker was dedicated there and wreaths were placed on the monument by three descendants of Martin Allen.
During the Anniversary ceremony there was a wood sign on a wood pole driven in the ground that read:
AQUI YACEN LOS BRAVOS MEXICANOS
QUE IMITANDO EL EJEMPLO DE LEONIDAS
SACRIFICARON SU FORTUNA Y VIDAS
LUCHANDO SIN CESAR CONTRA TIRANOS
The translation to English:
"Here lie the brave Mexicans that imitate the example of Leonidas, sacrificing their fortune and lives without ceasing against tyrants."
As for Leonidas see: http://www.cigarlabelgazette.com/leonidas.htm
(Thank you for the translation and reference to Leonidas to Mrs. Elizabeth Preston Belt of Washington, DC.)
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff advised that the original wood sign is now placed in The Longhorn Museum in Pleasanton, Texas along with a replica of the GREEN FLAG of The Republican Army of The North.
QUESTION: Does this sign dedicated to then Tejas Citizen Mexicans fighting for their freedom prove that the battle was a REVOLUTION and not an INVASION ?
Many of the republicans were sons of American Revolutionaries and many also later participated in the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson, and the Texas Revolution of 1835- 1836 when Texas gained its freedom from Mexico. (Gutierrez also participated in The War of 1812).
Martin Allen was one Gutierrez-Magee Expedition member who also fought in the successful Texas Revolution of 1835-1836, when Texas gained it's freedom from Mexico. A TRULY RARE "DOUBLE EXPOSURE".
The Lt. Santa Anna of the Battle of Medina, is one and the same person as the General Santa Anna who defeated the Texas Alamo defended and lost to Sam Houston at The Battle of San Jacinto.
Among the Republican soldiers killed were:
Martin Allen's father = Benjamin Allen
Martin Allen's nephew = _________Allen (Another Benjamin ?)
Apparently Martin Allen's brother = Hiram Allen was wounded, but made his way back home to Louisiana, but died shortly, as his wife married in that year.
On the day of The Battle of Medina Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana taking in new volunteers. Otherwise he too probably would have been killed.
V
MARTIN ALLEN ACTIVITIES IN
Time period from Battle of Medina
To
The new Republic of Texas
1835
Following The Battle of Medina Martin Allen returned home to Louisiana where he and his family lived until until 1821 when they returned to Texas--- first to Wharton County but shortly thereafter to his " 8 Mile Point" land in Austin County (8 miles from San Felipe)---to-day marked by a Texas Historical Society Highway Historical 8 miles south of Sealy, Texas on the west side of Texas State Highway 36 at it's intersection with Johnson Road.---- As members of The Stephen F. Austin original 300 settlers (Known as The Old Three Hundred). Then he fought in and assisted the successful Texas fight for freedom from Mexico ( The 2nd. Texas Revolution) in many ways.
What is the source of such detailed information on Martin Allen and his family?
Martin Allen prepared a petition, in his own handwriting, on November 23, 1836, at his" 8 Mile Point" homeland, to the new Republic of Texas asking for follow through on previous promised land grants including those of The Gutierrez/Magee Expedition-- also for his sons who participated in The Siege of Bexar .
The petition sets out much Allen history, including much of that set out in this presentation. A "deciphered" typed effort copy of the petition is shown in full at another position in this Martin Allen HOME (WEB) page. Martin Allen died on his 8 Mile point land one year after writing the petition on December 30, 1837..
The original petition is in The Texas State Archives filed under :
LAND PETITION- MARTIN ALLEN
Call Box 100- 360
VI
WHY 6 Flags Over Texas Rather than 7 Flags?
Some say The First republic of Texas never actually had administrative control of Texas-and that the victors were not recognized by foreign countries- thus they do not recognize "our" GREEN FLAG. Others question the designation of the Expedition as a revolution-however citizens of present day Texas played a significant part in the freedom effort-thus lending support to the word REVOLUTION rather than FILIBUSTER?…. Not an INVASION ? even though there was apparently significant U. S. "hand holding"? TRUE the green flag has not YET been universally accepted as one of the sovereign flags under which early Texas was governed - however, more knowledge of the historical facts may change the level of acceptance.
See Flags Over Texas, by Charles E. Gilbert, Jr. illustrated by James Rice. The "GREEN FLAG" is described and shown on pages 38 and 39 along with a discussion of its level of recognition.
NOTE OF INTEREST. Is there a connection?
In the year 1812-the year the Expedition was put together-there was an earthquake in south central U. S. that "reversed the flow of water in the Mississippi River"….. An area not far from Natchitoches, Louisiana!
"REVERSED THE FLOW" may have occurred twice that year!
Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff has stated,. "The outcome of The Battle of Medina affected the destinies of Spain, Mexico, United States, England and France".
VII
REFERENCES
The New Handbook of Texas , Volume 4 pages 601 and 602. This Battle of Medina section of the handbook was written by Mr. Robert H. Thonhoff. Also see Gutierrez-Magee Expedition and GUTIERREZ DE LARA, JOSE BERNARDO MAXIMILINO.
Forgotten Battlefield of The First Texas Revolution, By Ted Schwarz , Edited by Robert H. Thonhoff. Published by Eakin press of Austin, Texas
Sons of Dewitt County, Texas WEB page at:
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/Spain2.htm
Texas Tales Your Teacher Never Told You , by C. F. Eckhardt, published by Wordware publishing, Inc. Regional Division.
Program for Ceremonies Commemorating The 175th Anniversary of The Battle of Medina August 21, 1988, by Robert H. Thonhoff.
Report of The Battle of Medina by Spanish participant Joaquin de Arredondo translated by Mattie Austin Hatcher in The Texas Historical Association Quarterly XI no. 3 January 1908 pages 200 - 236.
Green Flag Over Texas, by Julia Kathryn Garrett, Cordova Press, new York.
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Cob 1. lge 12, 10 February 19th 1806
Ordered that John Kiger, Nathanial Vice, George Harris, Charles Mc Glothen or any 3 of them do view and mark out a road from Benja Allens Mill to David Allens Mill.
Marker Provided By Tom Green, Texas Society Vice President of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Hill Country District Representative of the Republic of Texas.
IN HONOR TO PETER SIDES AND BENJAMIN ALLEN
Approximately 1,400 men who fought in the Battle of Medina are all possible qualifying ancestor for membership in the Sons of the Republic of Texas, but only Peter Sides, who also fought in the American Revolution and Benjamin Allen have been accepted as Qualifying ancestors waho are proven to have fought and died north of here on August 18, 1813. Benjamin Allen was born about 1752, probably in Wilkes County, Georgia. His second wife was Sarah Maddox, who was stepmother to Martin And Hiram Allen. Martin Allen was in Natchitoches, Louisiana recruiting more Volunteers for the Republican Army of the North when his brother Hiram Allen was wounded in the Battle of Medina, escaped and later died at home in Louisiana. Their Father Benjamin Allen and one of his unnamed grandsons died here in the Battle of Medina. We Hope to add many of the other heroes who died here to this pladque as research continues.
Saltsberry, Town of (Campbell County} Established Dec. 22, 1806 on land of Squire Grant with Bartlett Graves, Zachariah Moore, John Winston, Frank Spelman, Nicholas Gherry, William Stephens and Benjamin Allen Trustees. Vol. 3 page 369
Allen, Benjamin (A) Inspection site in Campbell County , Vol. 2 page 457. {B} Trustee Town of Salisberry in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 369. {3} Voting place at house in house in Campbell County Vol. 3 page 413.
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin and Martin Allen moved their families south to Louisiana. In 1812 Benjamin, Martin, perhaps Hiram and a nephew of Martin joined the ill fated Gutierrez-Magee Expedition who invaded the Spanish Territory of Tejas. This expedition succeeded in capturing Texas and declared it a new nation. A few months later, a large Spanish Army marched back to San Antonio and defeated the 1400 man force at the Medina River. Most of the expedition were killed either in battle or as prisoners as no quarter was given. A few managed to escape back to Louisiana as Hiram Allen did. A petition that Martin Allen filed with the Republic of Texas stated that Benjamin and a nephew of Martin was killed. Martin escaped injury by a twist of fate. Apparently at the time of the battle he was back in Louisiana recruiting more volunteers for the new nation.
Died in The Battle of Medina River near San Antonio on August 18, 1813 as a member of The Gutierrez-Magee Expedition (Also known as The Republican Army of the North). The bodies of the "Republicans" were left unburied for about l0 years when they were all buried in a common grave at the base of a large oak tree.
See book, "Forgotten Battlefield of the First Texas Revolution" The Battle of Medina , August 18, 1813, By Ted Schwarz, Robert H Thonhoff, Editor and Annotator, published by Eakin Press of Austin TX,
He was a road surveyor and had a grain mill on Licking Creek.
CAMPBELL COUNTY, KENTUCKY TAX LIST , ITEMS REGARDING BENJAMIN ALLEN: (Records in State Historical Society Frankfort, Ky) 6 JULY 1795 - LIVED AT WILMINGTON, OWNED ONE LOT 29 JULY 1796 - ONE MALE ABOVE 21 -ONE MALE ABOVE 16 1797 - 2 MALES ABOVE 21 - 1 MALE ABOVE 16 - I TOWN LOT 1798 - 2 TITHABLES ABOVE 21 - 1 ABOVE 16 - 2 TOWN LOTS 1799 - RECORDS WATER-SOAKED, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ 1800 - 2ND CENSUS OF KY - BY G. GLEN CLIFT
Tax Records located at Alexandria, Campbell County, Kentucky:
List of Delinquents 1806 - Benjamin Allen 1807 - Benjamin Allen - 2 levies - insolvent
Campbell County, Kentucky Court Record Deed Book B, Page 267, 9 June 1800 recorded July Court 1800: Benjamin Allen purchased rights for a " MILL DAM AND LANDING FOR A FERRY on the West bank of Licking, from Nathaniel Vice.
The marriage bond for Benjamin Allen and his second wife, Sarah Maddox, had bondsmen, Benja Allen (Groom) and Squire Grant. No marriage record has been found.
Researcher Mrs Robert R. Hartman, Jr. in 1961 suggested that records applicable to Benjamin Allen may appear in Mason County, Kentucky.
Benjamin, along with sons Martin and Hiram, appear on The Old Attakapas Louisiana Census of 1810. (Present day St Mary's and surrounding Parishes).
By the time Kentucky became a state in 1792, Benjamin Allen was well entrenched in Campbell County, Kentucky A court order dated 2 June 1795, listed Benjamin Allen as one of 5 men picked by the court to blaze the best route for a road from Wilmington to a main road that ran from Plum Creek to Newport. Wilmington no longer exists. It was located on what is now the Kenton County side of Licking River. It was the site of the first county court meetings and was a small settlement on land owned by John Grant.
While in Campbell County, Benjamin and David Allen, probably a son, both operated mills on the Licking River. One of the road surveys that Benjamin was involved with in 1806 ran from Benjamin's mill to David Allen's mill.
Campbell County Tax list starting in 1795 list Benjamin Allen until 1808, when he is listed as "gon to Spain". This probably means that he must have moved west of the Mississippi, which was at that time Spanish Territory. The Tax List in 1807 list Benjamin as "insolvent" so it is probable that the move was made for financial reasons.
Benjamin Allen was my husband's 6th great grandfather.
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