HISTORY OF KENTUCKY, by Lewis Collins, and J.A. & U.P. James, published 

1847.  Reprinted by Henry Clay Press, Lexington, Ky., 1968, pp. 515 

[Bourbon county].



JOHN ALLEN was born in James City, county, Va., in 1749.  When the 

revolutionary war broke out, he joined the American army, and devoted 

all his energies to the service of his country.  He rose to the rank of 

major, and acted for some time as commissary of subsistence.  At a tea 

party in Charleston, South Carolina, which was attended by British and 

American officers, the conduct of the former towards the latter became 

very insulting; and an officer named Davis repeated the insult so 

frequently as to provoke Major Allen to strike him with his sword, which 

instantly broke up the party.  In the course of the war, Major Allen was 

taken prisoner by the same officer (Davis), and what was most remarkable 

in the history of the times, was treated by him with special kindness.

	In 1781, Major Allen married Miss Jane Tandy, of Albemarle county, 

Virginia, and engaged in the practice of law, having studied his 

profession with Colonel George Nicholas, then of Charlottesville.  He 

emigrated to Kentucky in 1786, in company with Judge Sebastian, and 

located in Fayette county.  In 1788, he removed to Bourbon, and settled 

in Paris, then containing but a few log cabins - the ground upon which 

the town is now reared being then a marsh, springs of water bursting 

from the earth in great profusion.  After the organization of the State 

government, Major Allen was elected one of the commissioners to select a 

site for the permanent seat of government.  During the first term of 

Gov. Garrard, under the old constitution, Major Allen was appointed 

judge of the Paris district court, the duties of which he discharged 

with general acceptance.  In 1802, after the adoption of the present 

constitution, and during the second term of Gov. Garrard, he was 

appointed judge of the circuit court, including in his district the 

county of Bourbon.

	Judge Allen died in the year 1816, having devoted a large portion 

of his long life to the service of his country, and leaving behind him a 

name which will be held in grateful remembrance by his posterity.  He 

had born to him twelve children - nine sons and three daughters.  His 

widow still survives, and resides in Paris, being now four score years 

of age, and enjoying a degree of health which rarely falls to the lot of 

one of her years.



Allen Davis Tandy Nicholas Sebastian Garrard

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James_City-VA SC Albemarle-VA Fayette-KY



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