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THOMAS ALLISON, deceased, once one of the most active and useful citizens of Chartiers Township, Washington
Co., Pa., during the most important time of its existence, its creative period, was born in that township in :1780
and was a son of James and Jane (Bradford) Allison.
The Allison family is of Scotch extraction but before the birth of James Allison, had been driven, by religious
persecution, to the north of Ireland. When James Allison came first to America he located in Cecil County, Md.,
and it was there that he entered into the business negotiations with Thomas Moffatt that resulted in his purchase
of 560 acres of land, located in Washingtoa County, Pa. He took possession Oct. 26, 1773. The first patent for
this land was issued in the name of James Allison, Moffatt having but a squatter's claim, and a part of this land
is now owned by the estate of Jonathan Affison, late of Washington. James AJlison found many hardships to contend
with and the hostile Indians were so threatening that after many a night passed with rifle in hand, he retired
from his property to a more protected position and did not return until the following year. In 1774, accompanied
by 20 families, among these being the Bradfords, the MeDowells, the Parks, Scotts and others, whose names, with
that of Allison, were linked with the subsequent development of the county, Mr. Allison returned and again settled
on his land. A block house was erected, in which all lived together for one year, when one log cabin after another
was built around the block-house which was kept as a place of retreat in ease of attack. James Allison erected
a frame house about 1789, which stood for years afterward. He was one of the foremost men of his day, was associate
judge of the courts of Washington County during 1786-87-88, and in 1789 was a member of the Supreme Exexutive Council,
at Philadelphia, and in that position cast his vote for the abolition of slavery, which was accomplished so many
years later. For years he was a trustee of Jefferson College and was a very strong supporter of the movement that
resulted in its union with Washington College. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church under Dr. John McMillan,
in North Strabane Township, which was one of the first Presbyterian societies organized in the county and of this
he was a ruling elder. He married Jane Bradford, sister of David Bradford, who was prominently identified with
the "Whiskey Insurrection" in Pennsylvania. They had eight children: William, James, John, George, Thomas,
Mary, David and Rachel.
Thomas Allison of the above family escaped many of the hardships which attended his father's early manhood, but
the clearing of the large estate and assisting in developing and civilizing the section in which was his home,
took years of hard work and persevering endurance. He was a typical Allison, honorable and upright, a consistent
member of the Presbyterian Church, one of the trustees in Chartiers Township, and a supporter of law and a liberal
contributor to benevolent enterprises.
In 1817, Thomas Allison married Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter of Richard Johnson, of North Strabane Township, and
they had the following children: Jane, James, William, Richard, Thomas, Jonathan, David, Joseph, Uriah and Mary.
Of the above, James served five years in the Civil War. Thomas Allison died Oct. 21, 1849, aged 69 years. His widow
survived to the age of 86 years, passing away in 1884.
From:
20th Century History Of The City of
Washington and Washington County Pennsylvania
and Representative Citizens
By: Joseph F. McFarland
Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co.
Chicago, Illinois, 1910
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