JOHN ALLEN

Records from the Bible of John Allen, of Sumner County, Tennessee, printed and published by Matthew Carey, 1809, 122 Market Street, Philadelphia. In the possession of Mrs. William Guild, West End Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, daughter of Benjamin F. Allen mentioned herein. Copied June, 1936 by Miss Matilda Porter.

MARRIAGES

John Allen & Laetitia Saunders
Friday, 23 December 1808

On Thursday evening Jany. 22, 1829,
Eliza H. Allen
daughter of John & Laetitia Allen
To Sam'l. Houston

On Tuesday evening May 20, 1834,
Martha Ann Allen, daughter
of John & Laetitia Allen to
J. A. Blackmore.

On Thursday evening, June 26, 1834,
George W. Allen, son of John & Laetitia
Allen to Louisa F. Douglas.

August 1837 James Sanders Allen
son of John & Laetitia Allen to
Mary Moss.

November the 8, 1840
Eliza H. Houston to
Elmore Douglas.

Joseph Campbell Allen
to Susan O. Trousdale
Oct. 27, 1847.

Benjamin F. Allen and
Louisa Trousdale were married
January 31st 1850.

Martha A. Douglas to Dr. W. D. Haggard
July 5, 1859.

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p. 2

BIRTHS

of John & Laetitia Allen and their family

John Allen was born Feb. 24, 1776
Laetitia, wife of John Allen was born Feb. 27, 1792.

Eliza H. Allen, daughter of John & Laetitia
Allen was born Saturday night Dec. 2, 1809.

George Webster Allen, son of John & Laetitia
Allen was born Sunday night, Dec. 8, 1811.

Martha Ann Allen was born Thursday night
Feby. 2nd, 1814.

Hariet Allen was born Wednesday
morning May the 1st 1816.

James Sanders Allen, son of John &
Laetitia Allen was born Wednesday
morning Sept. 15, 1819.

Joseph Campbell Allen, son of John &
Laetitia Allen was born Friday
morning Jany 9th, 1824.

Benjamin Franklin Allen , son of John &
Laetitia Allen was born Monday night
the 6th of March 1826.

Charles Granderson Allen, son of John &
Laetitia Allen was born Tuesday night, May 6, 1829.

Margaret M. Allen, daughter of John & Laetitia
Allen, was born Tuesday night, May 16, 1830.

Laetitia Sanders Allen, daughter of John &
Laetitia Allen, was born Thursday morning, Nov. 22, 1832.

Martha Allen Douglas, daughter of Elmore and Eliza
Douglas was born Sept. the 11, 1841.

Mary Trousdale, daughter of J. C. & Susan O. Allen born Friday
evening August 4th, 1848.

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p. 3

Births [continued]

Hariet Louisa, daughter of Elmore & Eliza
Douglas, born Sept. 2nd 1843.

William Howard, son of Elmore & Eliza Douglas, born
29th June 1848.

Susan Miller Douglas, daughter of Elmore and Eliza
Douglas, was born Nov. 28th, 1853.

Louisa Douglas Haggard, first born of Wm. D. and Martha A.
Haggard was born May 3, 1860.

DEATHS

Departed this life Nov. 4th 1811, George Allen,
father of John Allen in the 61 year of his age.

Departed this life Nov. 5, 1811 Elizabeth Allen
mother of Jno. Allen in the 65 year of her age.

Departed this life March 2, 1794, James Allen, son
of George & Elizabeth Allen and brother to John Allen
in the 20 year of his age.

Departed this life Oct. 22nd, 1812, Joseph W. Allen,
son of George & Elizabeth Allen & bro. to
John Allen in the 20 year of his age.

Departed this life at Baton Rouge, Louisiana
on Saturday, Sept. 27, 1817, George Campbell Allen,
son of George & Elizabeth Allen and brother of
John Allen in the 34 year of his age.

Eliza H. Douglas, daughter of John & Letitia
Allen & consort of Dr. Elmore Douglas,
departed this life after a long and painful
illness on Sabath Eve March 3, 1861, aged 51 years,
3 months & 1 day.

______________________________

p. 4.

Deaths [continued]

Departed this life on Saturday night the 17th of
Feb. 1827 half past 9 o'clock Peggy McCauley,
daughter of George and Elizabeth Allen and sister
of John Allen in the 38th year of her age.

Departed this life on Wednesday night March 18, 1829
Charles Grandison Allen, son of John & Letitia Allen
aged ten months & twelve days.

Departed this life on Thursday morning 20 minutes
past 9 o'clock, Nov. 29, 1832, Letitia Allen, wife of John
Allen in the 40 year of her age leaving an infant
daughter of 8 days old.

Departed this life Sunday evening 3 o'clock May 19,
1833, John Allen in the 57 year of his age.

Margaret M. Allen departed this life Friday, April 17, 1863

Departed this life on Friday evening 15 minutes after 3 o'clock
May 31, 1839, Letitia Sanders Allen youngest daughter of John
& Letitia Allen in the seventh year of her age

Died Thursday Morning 9 o'clock, Feb. 25th, 1850,
William Howard son of Elmore and Eliza H. Douglas,
aged 19 months

Departed this life Jany. 23, 1853, John C. Allen in the
29th year of his age, also his son John C. Allen 21st Feby.
following, between 3 & 4 years old.

.Susan M. Douglass, daughter of Elmore and Eliza H.
Douglass died Sunday January the 19th, 1879 at
4 ½ o'clock p. m..

George Webster Allen died Saturday May 25th, 1881
at 6 ½ o'clock a. m.

James Sanders Allen died Sunday June 24, 1894 at 3 o'clock.
B. F. Allen died March 10, 1910.

"The young mistress of the house followed the traditional idea, rare personal charm and dignity were hers, as were the virtues exemplifying the spiritual forces of her day.  Those who are familiar with Carthage, in Smith County, Tennessee, and its environs know that it rivals in beauty the scenery of the most favored upland countries -- the steep bluff, the winding river, the purple hills are a never-ending delight.

"About a mile and a half northwest of town up the Old Battery hill and through a wooded drive, flanked on either side by beautiful hills, one came upon Greenwood.  The spot seemed designed by nature for a home.  The house was a two story red brick with white shutters and keystones over the windows.  A brick walk led to a flag-stone terrace and the hospitable door of the manor.  There were no columns.

"On the garden side of the house the earth sloped gently down to a meadow.  On this slope English daisies, pink, white and lavender, carpeted the ground.  The garden was part of the meadow.  I recall no geometrical designs.  Grass grew in the center and was bordered by a profusion of flowers.  Lilacs, syringa, snowballs, lemon lillies, roses, peonies, iris, etc., also the usual herbs that make fragrant the linen shelves and savoury the cuisine.  It was a garden that delighted bees and butterflies as well as children.  At the rear was a latticed summer house which sheltered the cistern over which trailed a handsome wisteria.  The usual smoke-house and cabins completed the ensemble.

"When a little girl I began accompanying my mother on visits to Greenwood, Miss Virginia ALLEN, a daughter of the house being the adored friend of my mother, a friendship hallowed by the vicissitudes of the Civil War.

"Well I remember the last visit, and a sad one, to Greenwood -- Miss Virginia, my mother and I (by then a grown-up young lady) went out to spend the night.  A tenant was in charge -- all the loved ones were gone.  As we walked up the brick path to the house, not a word was said, the tears were coursing down the beautiful face of Miss Virginia ALLEN, and I, on the threshold of life, wondered if it is ever wise to open the door on so many endearing memories."

ROBERT ALLEN

Records from the family Bible of Robert Allen, of "Greenwood," Smith County, Tennessee. This Bible was printed by Mathew Carey, No. 122 Market Street, Philadelphia, Penn. Nov. 7, 1803. In 1936 it was the property of Mrs. George B. Kirkpatrick, Richland Ave., Nashville, Tenn. Originally copied by Miss Matilda A. Porter, June, 1936.

MARRIAGES

Robert Allen was married to Rebecca Greer the 28 of December 1803
Robert Allen and Alethia Van Horn married March 3, 1825,
in the City of Washington, by the Rev. Mr. Post.

George C. Allen & Martha Overton married Oct. 27, 1842 
at her fathers near Nashville.

Andrew Allison was married to Rebecca G. Allen, daughter of Robert and Rebecca on the 24th May 1832 at Greenwood by Rev. Samuel C. McConnell.

Dixon Allen, son of Robert & Rebecca Allen was married in Nashville 
to Mrs. Louisa W. Gibbs on the 26 day of Sept. 1832.

Joseph W. Allen & Catherine K. Maxwell married in Jonesboro E. Tenn. on Thursday evening the 4th of April 1839, by the Rev. J. W. Cunningham.

Joseph W. Allen and Mrs. Mary Hemphill (Bently) were married in Bledsoe County, Tenn. Thursday August 24th 1854 by Rev. Iran W. Klegg.

Virginia D. Allen and Thomas P. Bridges married at Carthage Tenn., 
by Rev. John Nichols, on Wednesday, February 4, 1880.

______________________________

BIRTHS

Robert Allen was born June 19 Anno Domini 1778.

Rebecca Allen wife of Robert Allen was born 22 of August, 
Anno Domini 1787.

Alethia Van Horn (second wife of Robert Allen) was born in Prince George County Maryland on the 18th of Oct. 1804.

Robert & Rebecca's daughter, Eliza Allen, was born Oct. 11, 
Thursday evening, 9 oclock Anno Domini 1804.

James Greer Allen was born, Wednesday, 2 oclock, March 5, 1806.

Tilman Dixon Allen was born the 2nd Day of March in the year A. D. 1808

Caroline Walton Allen born February the 11th 1810

Rebecca Greer Allen born the 24th day of February A. D. 1812

Joseph Webster Allen was born the 16th day of May A. D. 1814

Robert Allen was born July 13, 1816, son of Robert and Rebecca.

George Campbell Allen was born the 30th day of September 1818, 
son of Robert and Rebecca.

Archibald Van Horn Allen son of Robert Allen and Alethia Van Horn 
was born May 21, 1827 on Monday Morning at Greenwood.

David Burford Allen was born January 3, 1830, at Greenwood.

William Rozin Allen was born 15 march 1833, at Greenwood.

Alethia Beale Allen was born 3d of June 1835 at Greenwood.

John Allen was born at Greenwood on the 22d of April 
in the year A. D. 1837

Eliza Clarisa Allen born at Greenwood the 24 August 1839

Virginia Dixon Allen was born at Greenwood Monday morning 
at 9 oclock July 10 A. D. 1843

Mary Webster LUCAS, Sister of Robert Allen was born Aug. 22, 1797.

______________________________

DEATHS

Departed this life in the 61 year of his age on the 4th day of November 1811, George Allen also Elizabeth Allen, his wife on the next day November 5th, 1811, the 65 year of her age.  Father and Mother of Robert Allen (who records this last tribute to their memory).

Departed this life March 4, 1794 James Allen, brother of Robert Allen.

Departed this life Oct. 22, 1812, Joseph W. Allen (Brother of Robert Allen).

Departed this life Eliza Allen (daughter of R. Allen)  on the 18th day of February 1816.
     "We mourn thy death, lovely Daughter, for thou wert Dear,
       But why so selfish as to wish you here,
      Where we the ills of Troubled life Indure,
      There, thou art safe to know these ills no more."

______________________________

Deaths [continued]

Departed this life Sept. 27, 1817 George C. Allen (Brother of Robert Allen) at Baton Rouge, La.

Died on Friday evening on the 29 March 1822 in the 34 year of her age, Rebecca Allen, wife of Robert Allen, who is left to mourn the loss of an angel companion.

Died on Feb. 17th 1827 Margaret MCAULEY, Sister of Robert Allen.

Died at Greenwood on Thursday January the 3d 1828 Caroline W. Allen, daughter of Robert Allen in the 17th year of her age.
"Youth, Innocence and all that was lovely plead, but in vain."

John Allen, brother of Robert Allen departed this life on the 19th day of May A. D. 1833 from the kick of a horse in the 57 year of his age.

Dixon T. Allen, died at Gallatin on Friday night 12 oclock, 26 Sept 1834, where he had gone to attend Court.

Robert Allen, Jr. died at New Orleans 5 of February 1836

Died on Tuesday night 10 oclock, July 28, 1840, William Rosin Allen aged 7 years and four months at Greenwood.

Died on Saturday night about 2 oclock, Aug. 1, 1840 Eliza Clarissa Allen aged not quite one year.  Thus in less than one week, have the parents been bereft of two lovely children.

Departed this life at Greenwood on Monday evening Aug. 19, A.M. 1844 Robert Allen aged 66 years and 2 months.

James G. Allen
Departed this life in Lafouch, La. April 21, 1855.

David Burford Allen died at Brownsville, Texas, Sept. 7, 1855.

Alethia Allen wife of Robert Allen died Oct. 24, 1862, at Greenwood, aged 58 years and 10 days.

Alethia Beal Allen, daughter of Robert and Alethia Allen, died at Dr. Lapsleys in Nashville July 6, 1854, aged 19 years 1 mo. and 3 days.

Virginia Dixon Allen Bridges daughter of Robert and Alethia Van Horn Allen and wife of Thomas P. Bridges, died at her brother Vans near Gallatin Saturday 7 oclock A.M. Aug. 13, 1887.

George Campbell died near Saundersville, Sumner County, Tenn. Friday Aug. 23, 1889.

Archibald Van Horn Allen died Thursday 2 oclock Sept. 5, 1889.

Hester Maxwell died March 18, 1844.

Louisa Gibbs, Brown, Allen, Campbell died at Jackson, Tennessee, July 25, 1892.

Rebecca G. Allison, daughter of Robert & Rebecca Allen, died at the home of her daughter, Rebecca Porter, Nashville, Tenn., March 2, 1895.

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Children of George and Elizabeth Allen

James - Born March 31, 1774; Died March 4, 1794.
John - Born Feb. 24, 1776; Died May 19, 1833.
Robert - Born June 19, 1778; Died Aug. 19, 1844
William - Born Aug. 3, 1780; Died Oct. 6, 1856
George Campbell, Born Feb. 16, 1783; Died Sept. 27, 1817
Elizabeth, Born July 25, 1785; Died April 1, 1867
Margaret, Born April 22, 1788; Died Feb. 17, 1827
Joseph Webster, Born March 10, 1792; Died Oct. 22, 1812
Mary Webster Born Aug. 22, 1797; Died Jan. 14, 1889
(She married George A. LUCAS, Nov. 4, 1817, LUCAS died June 22, 1832.)

______________________________

"Robert Allen was an officer and acted a conspicuous part in the war of 1812 under Gen. Andrew Jackson, served his District in Congress of the United States for several Sessions with great credit.  He was also a member of the Convention that formed the present (1834) Constitution of Tennessee and filled other offices in his County and State with credit.

"Few men were more popular among his constituents or more useful to the community in which he lived, respected and beloved and none ever sustained a character more exemplary, so few died more generally lamented."
          -from the Obituary of Robert Allen at time of his death, and
           copied in the family Bible by his son, Joseph W. Allen.

______________________________

Ancestry of Rebecca Greer, wife of Robert Allen.

Special Inscription in Bible (written June 30, 1889, by Joseph Webster Allen, son of Robert Allen, Sr. and Rebecca Greer).  Samuel Greer born in Limerick, Ireland, Married Rebecca McCracken (Grandparents of Jos. W. Allen and Rebecca Allen Allison)

Samuel & Rebecca Greer, Samuel was born in Ireland 1750, Died in Jonesboro, Tennessee, 1833 (aged 83 years).  Rebecca Greer died near Jonesboro March 25, 1828, aged 68.  They had 3 sons and 5 daughters, all born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  They came to Jonesboro in 1790.  Their children were named John, Samuel, Thomas, Catherine, Mary, Hester, Margaret and Rebecca.  Mary was the oldest and was the last one to die.  She married John Chester and died April 5, 1860.

Catherine married John Kennedy, died March 26, 1840.
Hester married a Mr. Kelsey first, then Samuel Maxwell.
Margaret married Isaac B. McClellan.
Rebecca married Robert Allen.  She was born Aug. 22, 1787, married Dec. 25, 1803 in Jonesboro, died near Carthage, Smith County, Tenn., March 29, 1822.
Samuel married ____________.
John & Thomas neither married.
John lived to be nearly 80.
Mary was born March 1795, married in Jonesboro July 14, 1816,
Died in Somerville, W. Tennessee, June 30, 1889.

In the time of George Augustine LUCAS, 40 Magazine Street, in New Orleans, would have been located not far from its intersection with Canal Street, and near Gravier, just inside the English-speaking Faubourg Ste. Marie. In the 1820s and 1830s, New Orleans would have contained hundreds of acres of empty lots, endowing much of the city with a bucolic - if "bucolic" can be the adjective which applies to a malarial wetland - appearance.

The Faubourg Ste. Marie was subdivided from land which had belonged to the personal estate of Jean Baptiste le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville and which, after Bienville, had been acquired by the Society of Jesus. The area of the Faubourg Ste. Marie is today the Lower Garden District. In the 1820s, much of the Garden District was being subdivided from the Livaudais plantation.

The cartographic image below is a detail taken from Norman's Plan of New Orleans and Environs (New Orleans: 1845). As of 1845, when B. M. Norman published the map, the layout and names of the streets nearest the east bank of the Mississippi River were virtually unchanged from what they had been in 1830. But, thanks to the whims of the River and to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, many differences will be found between these streets as they are today and as they were then.

The location of 40 Magazine Street in 1830 is marked (+). 40 Magazine Street was located at the intersection of Magazine and Gravier, immediately above Gravier, on the left-hand side. In 1833, after the death of George Augustine LUCAS, Banks's Arcade was constructed along the entire block, on the left-hand side of Magazine, from Gravier to Natchez. A portion of the arcade is still (2002) standing. At this location, a historic plaque reads as follows:

Concerning Banks's Arcade, The Handbook of Texas Online reports:

Cozy Corner

According to the Joe Cole Cemetery Survey of 1958, these graves are on Mr. Edgar Anders property, that at one time was the Dr. J. P. BROWN Plantation near the Cozy Corner neighborhood. Mr. Cole spoke with Laura Dobbins of Cozy Corner who said she was born on Dr. BROWN's place in 1878 and that her mother was a witness to the events that took place on April 30, 1881. Mr. BROWN killed his wife and child and then killed himself. They were buried in one grave underneath a large live oak tree. Ms. Dobbins said there was a stone at the grave and that all Mr. Cole would want to know would be found on the stone. Mr. Cole tracked down Mr. Anders who took him to the site on top of a high hill in a clump of live oak trees. There was a marble stone that was broken into 3 pieces, one piece had a pretty verse on it and the other two were blank. Mr. Anders said that about 14 years previous (c.1944) some people from Dallas had come to visit the grave and shortly thereafter he found the stone broken and the piece with the names and dates missing. Mr. Anders did not know what was inscribed on the missing piece but a black man from the area who did not want his name mentioned said that it told of the murder and suicide and he thought that a relation of Mr. Brown's had carried it away. [Joe Cole #071W]

Norman Krischke did further research on this site in December 1990 and found a news article about the incident in the La Grange Journal of May 5, 1881 (available in archives). It states that Sam BROWN killed himself and his wife. He cut his wife's (Eliza W. McClellan BROWN) throat with a razor and then his own with the same weapon. Mrs. BROWN tried to get away from him by running to her neighbors house but Mr. BROWN pursued her and caught her some 100 yards from the house where he cut her throat killing her instantly, then cut his own throat and bled to death in about two hours. While he was pursuing Mrs. BROWN, his daughter, about 8 years old (Lily Emma), caught his coat and begged him to desist. Mr. BROWN thrust the razor around and cut her hand slightly and told her that he would kill her if she did not leave him alone. The little girl witnessed the startling tragedy and her retelling of the events is heart-rending. A Negro woman on the premises ran to the neighbors to get help. An inquest was held and the two bodies were buried at Dr. J. P. BROWN's on May 1, 1881. It is generally supposed that the cause of the horrible deed was the temporary insanity of Mr. BROWN, as he was not considered a bad man at heart. The deceased leave behind three little children all sick with the measles.

Further research by Krischke tells us that Samuel B. BROWN married Eliza W. McClellan on January 9, 1868. Sam was the son of Dr. John P. BROWN and Eliza was the daughter of S. A. & Sarah Rebecca Lucas MCCLELLAN (who are both buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Flatonia, her name listed as Sarah A. MCCLELLAN).

According to papers in the BARKLEY-BROWN-MCCLELLAN-SLOAN file in the Freytag Collection in the Fayette Heritage Archives, the children's names were: Lily Emma (the oldest and who witnessed the incident), Harry, and Sara (or Sadie). Lilly Emma & Sara/Sadie went to live with their McClellan grandparents in Flatonia where Sara/Sadie died in January 1882 (no marked grave found). Harry went to live with his grandfather, Dr. J. P. BROWN. Dr. BROWN died in 1884 and Harry was sent to another BROWN relative near Fort Worth. Harry and Emma were not allowed to see each other after the deaths, but when Harry was 17 (c. 1892) he ran away to see his sister. Lily Emma BROWN married George R. SMITH and possibly died 4-20-1962 in Luling. Harry BROWN died several years prior to 1962.

Chapter 3 (pages 61 - 65)

Since 1824, Houston had been a frequent house guest of Robert Allen of Gallatin, Tennessee. Allen and his brother John had been officers with Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and had met young Sam while on campaign against the Creeks in 1814, and at the Hermitage on many occasions since. Their friendship continued over the years, and from 1819 to 1827 Robert served as congressman, two of his terms alongside the future governor. (Crawford p. 162)

John Allen, an imperious planter and horsebreeder of high repute in Tennessee, lived in "a stately mansion" on the bluffs of the Cumberland River, some twenty miles northeast of Nashville, and Houston, at times in the company of Jackson or members of the Junto, was wont to visit him and attend the almost weekly races. On one of those visits in 1824 he first met Eliza, who at almost fifteen was the eldest of John's progeny. A slender blonde, Eliza was already an excellent horsewoman, and her vivacious charm and equestrian skill made a deep impression on Houston.

In the summer of 1825, Robert Allen wrote Houston a curious missive, apologizing for being as yet unable to repay a hundred dollars the congressman has loaned him. "Can't you come up to Gallatin and spend a week?" he inquired, nonchalantly noting that "there are some, no doubt, that would like to see you killed." Such men were, however, not to be taken seriously, for they were cowards: "Nobody doubts Sam Houston's bravery, many his discretion." This was fully a year before Houston’s scrape with John Erwin reached the serious stage, and Allen’s use of the word "discretion," in the context of the times, hints strongly at his bachelor friend’s womanizing. No matter the threats, Houston returned to Allen’s home often. Over the years his attraction to Eliza grew, and the allure of an alliance of the powerful Allen clan was surely not absent from his calculations. His eye was trained on Eliza with the full approbation of her parents. The match, no matter the difference in age, would be a good one for both parties. The Allens were of the genteel "Old Tennessee" elite, a family well-connected in politics, social circles and the planter economy, and Andrew Jackson’s most promising protege was obviously destined for greatness. It appeared to be an auspicious pairing. So, quite naturally, a "low-intensity" courtship of Eliza continued, and as governor, the suitor was in Tennessee full-time, permitting him the luxury of watching his nearby bride-to-be blossom.

Houston made two fateful decisions. He would marry and he would seek re-election - in that order. In November, Houston wrote gleefully to his cousin that "I am not married but it may be the case in a few weeks." This was an odd bit of news indeed, for no engagement had yet been announced. It might have appeared "indecent haste" on his part, since in polite society engagements were commonly a year or more long. It soon seemed that his marriage plans had gone awry.

Early in December, in a letter to Tennessee congressman John Marable, he hinted of serious problems in his affair of the heart. "I have as usual 'small blow ups' " he wrote; "What the devil is the matter with the gals I can't say, but there has been hell to pay." He did not elaborate, but his relationship with Eliza was obviously less that tranquil. It had indeed been 'a small blow up' for just a few weeks later, in Gallatin, the governor and Eliza exchanged rings and formally announced their engagement, causing much benign excitement in the state - enhancing Houston’s chances for re-election. Their wedding, scheduled a mere month later, would be the social affair of the season, but it also set gossips' tongues moving like windmills. Surely something was amiss.

~~~~~

Eliza, now eighteen, was, in the words of a relative, "not pretty, but dignified, graceful and queenly in her appearance." She had apparently been courted by other hopefuls, but had rejected their intentions, for perhaps not "of the heart." One of the most recurrent themes in the literature dealing with Houston and Eliza is that he had a rival for her affections.

In any event, the impending nuptials hugely pleased Andrew Jackson and his wife, whose wedding present was Rachel’s own prized sterling flatware, a testimony of the bond between Houston and the Jacksons.

The ceremony took place in the mansion of Eliza’s father on January 22, 1829. It was a candlelight service presided over by the Reverend William Hume, and scores of distinguished guests were present; " a cavalcade worthy of a monarch," according to one report.

The newlyweds spent their marriage night in John Allen’s capacious home - in separate rooms - and departed the next day, forced by a severe storm to overnight at the home of Robert Martins, on the Nashville Road. There, it had been claimed, Eliza unexpectedly and explosively told Mrs. Martin "that she hates her husband." Yet others soon described the Houstons as "an affectionate couple." Then they settled into rooms at the Nashville Inn, probably on January 26.

It would seem that relations between the newlyweds deteriorated immediately, and probably for a variety of reasons. One reason, logic suggest, was the Nashville Inn itself. It was routinely clogged with Houston’s drinking buddies and fellow political hacks and, given his strong proclivities for spirits and the fact that he was furtively campaigning. The Inn may have provided a rude awakening for the sheltered young plantation girl. Eliza packed her bags and abandoned the inn and her husband on April 9, less than three months after exchanging marriage vows, and fled back to her stunned family.

Surprisingly accurate gossip about the governor’s marital problems was rife even before Eliza bolted. Andrew Jackson, for one, was pessimistic. The president immediately grasped what a separation or divorce would mean for Houston’s carefully nurtured political career. The crisis, then, did not come from out of the blue, for Jackson learned of it a full week before Eliza’s flight, and from a third party. More intriguing, the president felt he knew enough about it to assess the blame as Houston’s. What followed was a rambling and chaotic letter from Houston to his father-in-law; a letter brimming with hints, yet empty conclusions. This letter represents Houston’s only record of his separation from Eliza. Among other words, he claimed "she was cold to me and I thought she did not love me."

The most famous - and least clear - letter that Sam Houston ever wrote followed Eliza home and landed on the Allen's like a second bombshell. He implied that Eliza’s flight was inappropriate, thought not necessarily without reason. The letter indicates that Houston had been jealous. He admitted he that he had questioned his wife’s virtue, but that then he had abruptly changed his mind, and had told her that he believed her faithful. "Eliza stands acquitted by me." The distraught husband asked that John Allen intervene. He was permitted to see Eliza briefly in her father’s parlor where he begged for her forgiveness. On bended knee, "with tears streaming down his face" he pleaded for her to return to Nashville with him." However, she refused.

Anguished, Sam Houston rode back to Nashville and shut himself up in his rooms at the inn, giving himself over to self-pity and "liberal doses of John Barleycorn."

News of the separation spread like gunsmoke in a battle, for the Allen family lost little time in making public "that their chaste daughter had been wronged."

Tennesseeans of the age were not forgiving of such embarrassment on part of their chief executive. This was a scandal, one in which a great Tennessee family had suffered public humiliation. Houston was burned in effigy at Gallatin, and mobs in Nashville became "so threatening that local militia units were called out." Houston was "deeply mortified, but refused to explain this matter." After a few besotted days Houston decided that his only course of action was to resign the governorship.

Houston’s bridges - matrimonial and political - were burned, and one week later on April 23, in disguise and flanked by two friends, he left the Nashville Inn and walked nervously through the morning crowds. Later, he boarded a small southbound steamer, the Red Rover and departed to the frontier.

What the curious are left with, corroborated by Houston’s chaotic letter to John Allen, is the matter of his jealousy, which appears indisputable. His penchant for alcohol influenced his behavior considerably. She claimed "he is a demented man."

Eliza waited seven years to obtain a divorce on grounds of abandonment, while Houston waited eight. Ironically, both were remarried in 1840, she to Elmore Douglass.

She died in 1862 (sic), a year earlier than her first husband, and was buried in an unmarked grave along with her secret, the greatest mystery in the life of Sam Houston.

ELIZA ALLEN HOUSTON
DOUGLAS
DAUGHTER OF
JOHN AND LAETITIA ALLEN
DEC. 2 1809
MAR. 3 1861

1. According to the sexton records of Gallatin County, Tennessee, "Mrs. E. Douglass," born in Sumner County, was interred on 4 March 1861, having died of "cansor of the stomach."