#397 Matthew R. Allison ( Archibald Allison◊ )
Matthew was born 15 Sep 1750 in Co. Monaghan, Ireland. He died 9 Feb 1828 in Lamar Twp., Clinton Co., Pennsylvania. He was buried in Lick Run Cemetery, Jacksonville, Pennsylvania.
During his marriage to Sarah McHaffey, Matthew enlisted in the Cumberland Militia as a Private in the Seventh Class in Lt. James Irwin's Company of the Eighth Class. The Patriot Index of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution lists him as having performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania during the Revolution.
After the war, Matthew lived it what was then called Lower Bald Eagle Twp. (later Lamar). It was named after Bald Eagle Mountain which, in turn, took its name from Bald Eagle, chief of the Muncy Indians. Matthew was hired to run the bounds of the newly formed Centre County which incorporated parts of Mifflin, Northumberland, Lycoming and Huntington Counties. He was elected as one of the first three County Commissioners and also served as Justice of the Peace for Bald Eagle Twp. The Centre County Courthouse still has the following records:
from the Journal of Orders1801"To Matthew Allison for stationary and services as Commissioner" $3.60
"To Matthew Allison for services in the Capt. Gemmer election" $1.50
"To William Allison for carrying a Commissioner to Bald Eagle" $1.50
"To Matthew Allison as Agent for Bald Eagle" $1.50
1802
"To William Allison, clerk for Bald Eagle" $1.50
1806
"To Matthew Allison, Judge of General Elections" $5.20
"To John Hepp for killing a full grown wolf, as certified by Matthew Allison"" $8.00
1807-08
"To Matthew Allison for carrying election returns from Lycoming and Center Counties to Bellefonte" $3.50
Matthew was a man of substance for those days, owning considerable property in the area. In 1796 he leased 700 acres of land in the Nittany Valley, purchasing the land six years later for $775.00. This tract was described as being situated along the highway between the Big Spring (Bellefonte) and the Great Island (Lock Haven). Matthew built a stone house just about one mile south of the villages of Salona and Cedar Springs on the Jacksonville-Bellefonte highway. Matthew's house is still standing today with frame additions added over the years.
After his second marriage, to Catherine Lamb, he settled in Middleton Twp. near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Matthew was a devout Presbyterian, serving as an Elder in the Lick Run Presbyterian Church at Jacksonville, Pennsylvania. He also served as a trustee of the Bellefonte Academy and a director of one of the local banks.
Some excerpts from Matthew's will, which is on file in the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte:
That my farm of fifty acres where I now live at Cedar Springs be sold, debts to be paid, and moneys be paid to my beloved wife, Sarah and to the five small children for their maintenance and education...To be sold: two choice horses, three choice cows, farm machinery, saddles, bridles, etc. Also, a flock of sheep. All poultry to remain the property of my beloved wife, Sarah.The Pine Hall property where my son Samuel lives, to remain intact until a mortgage of $200.00 has been lifted. At that time, the property is to be sold; amounts to be prorated as four shares with one each going to my sons, Archibald and John, and two shares to my son, Samuel. On account of his good behavior and helpfulness, I hereby appoint my sone Samuel as executor of my estate. [Later we find a court order addressed to Samuel, accusing him of dereliction of duty in his failure to pay the $500.00 left to his sister Eleanor Allison Moore.]
To my son-in-law, Joseph Johnson, the farm on which he now resides as a legacy to my daughter, Margaret...To the children of my first marriage, sums ranging from $50.00 to $500.00 with the exception of the eldest son, William, who has already received his just inheritance. $500.00 each to Catherine, Samuel, Archibald, John and Eleanor. This was in addition to the Pine Hill Property.
∞ Matthew married first #398 Sarah Mahaffey.
Marriage notes
They married Bef 1778.
Sarah died Bef 1787.
Children of this relationship:
#404 M i William Allison (7 Mar 1777–2 Sep 1861) #406 F ii Mary Polly Allison #409 F iii Sarah Allison #411 F iv Margaret Allison ∞ Matthew married second #399 Catherine Lamb.
Marriage notes
They married 1787.
Catherine was born 9 Nov 1759. She died 19 Jan 1817 in Cedar Springs, Pennsylvania. She was buried in Lick Run Cemetery, Jacksonville, Pennsylvania.
She is the daughter of Samuel & Margaret (Jordan) Lamb.
Her family came to American in 1752 from Monaghan County, Ireland, where they lived near Lamb's Lake. They settled in Middleton Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Edna Lamb McRae of Detroit, Michigan, writing to Nellie Pierson of Alma, Michigan in 1933 states:
Catherine Lamb had five brothers and four sisters. All of the boys served in the army during the American Revolution: Capt. William Lamb, Sergeant James Lamb, Lieut. Samuel Lamb, Capt. John Lamb, and Pvt. David Lamb. The latter was born in 1754 and died in 1837 at the age of 83. He enlisted in the Cumberland Volunteers in 1775 in Capt. Hendrick's Company, Col. William Thomson's Regiment, and marched through the Maine wilderness in the winter of that same year. He was in the battle on Dec. 21st, in which his captain was killed. David Lamb married Isobel Dunlop, but left no heirs. They are buried in the Lick Run Cememtary at Jacksonville in Centre County, not far from the graves of Matthew and Catherine Lamb Allison.Of the fours sisters, Elizabeth married William Quory; Mary married Samuel Reed; Margaret married William Scott, and Catherine, Matthew Allison. The Lamb family were almost "Patron Saints" in Cumberland County. Several years ago at Silver Springs Church, a few miles from Mechanicsburg, the D.A.R. dedicated a memorial gate to the Revolutionary Sires, and Capt. John Lamb was the first name to appear on the Post. This church has been in continual use since 1734, and I attended there as a little girl. With the exception of Catherine and David, the Lambs are all buried in the adjacent cemetary.
The Washington Bi-Centennial Pageant which was held on Oct. 22nd, 1932 at Carlisle gave high honors to the Lamb family, the five brothers being shown in Revolutionary uniforms, and the four Lamb sisters on floats with spinning wheels. I have a picture of the Lamb home which was built in 1761. It is still standing, and I was shown through the house by the present occupant.
Children of this relationship:
#413 F i Catharine L. Allison (6 Jan 1788–2 Oct 1855) #415 F ii Jane Allison #417 M iii Samuel Allison #419 M iv Archibald Allison (Abt 1795–) #421 M v David Allison #422 F vi Eleanor Allison #424 M vii John Allison #426 M viii James Allison (–Infant) ∞ Matthew married third #400 Sarah Bane.
Marriage notes
They married 1817.
Sarah was born 7 Jan 1795 in Coatesville, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. She died 18 Oct 1873 in Venango Co., Pennsylvania. She was buried in Brandon Cemetery, Brandon, Venango Co., Pennsylvania.
Sarah was alleged to be a Quaker and a descendant of Mordecai Bane who settled in Goshen, Pennsylvania in 1704.
Children of this relationship:
#427 M i Matthew Jackson Allison #429 F ii Mary Ann Allison #431 M iii Robert Coates Allison #433 M iv Thomas Allison #434 M v Frederick Essex Allison (1827–)
Catherine Lamb Allison, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #84759291.
Matthew R Allison, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #23045104.
Sarah Bane Allison, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #72275226.
Verna Allison Pierson & Marlowe G. Smith, The Allisons of Center County, Pennsylvania, History of the Family and Descendants of Archibald Allison and Mary Kennedy of Kirmaiden, Scotland and Monaghan, Ireland, (unpublished). Ref. as [Pierson/Smith]
Line Generation: 2
Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Great-Grand-Uncle