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ELISHA ALLEN HOUSE
#347 S. Upper St.,
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Built in 1805
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
Here is an old house with ash floors that probably was the first one built on this block.
Elisha Allen in October, 1804, bought 66 feet "on a new street opened through Outlot M" from David Dodge. It began at the corner of "Abel M. Sarjant's lot of 50 feet," extended back 136 feet "towards Dodge's rope walk" and marked with a stake on the south side, as that property had not yet been sold. It is referred to in the 1805 tax list as being on "Dodge Street,"
The 1806 Directory cites Elisha Allen, "Tailor, High St."--there was no Upper St. shown in the 1806 Directory, which accounts also for John Stilfield's house, already built and occupied, being listed as "High St." (1818 Dir.: Elisha Allen, Tailor, Upper St.)
In January, 1808, Elisha Allen and Sarah, his wife, conveyed "the lot whereon said Allen now lives," (described as in original deed) to Samuel Ayres, the jeweler, to be held in trust.
Allen recorded a deed to the property, dated April 25, 1833, to Alfred Warner--"being the same mortgaged to said Warner January 14, 1834,"--but the house was not sold until late in 1842, when Francis McLear bought it at public sale. That is, he bought "the life estate of Chas. F. Allen and Jane Allen in and to a house and lot at present occupied by them and devised to said Jane by Elisha Allen." (Suit Alfred Warner vs. Chas. F. Allen, Jane Allen, Margaret Elizabeth Allen, Chas. Patrick Allen, Sarah Jane Allen, Mary Allen and James Allen, children of Jane Allen). The 1838 Directory lists "Chas. F. Allen, tailor, r.s. S. Upper St., bet. High and Maxwell."
Elisha Allen died in 1836 and willed $1.00 each to his daughter, Lydia Vaughan, and sons Barnabas W. Allen, Joseph W. Allen and Elisha S. Allen. The "house and lot in which I now reside" went to his daughter-in-law, Jane Allen "and her children, my grandchildren, under the condition that she shall occupy it or rent it for the maintenance of herself and the education of my grandchildren, but should my son, Charles Allen, be in the dispensation of Providence removed and my daughter-in-law becomes afterwards married to another man, then the house and lot is to go to my grandchildren, the children of the above named Chas. Allen." The will was witnessed by Prof. John Roche, Col. Josiah Dunham and A.B. Morton.
Elisha Allen's pioneer home was bought by Francis McLear in 1842. The deed included the life estate of Chas. F. Allen and Jane, his wife, who were occupying the house (March, 1843). Suit against the Allens had been brought by Alfred Warner, who was living in the house in 1834 and 1835 (stated in deeds and mortgages on Col. Dunham's "garden" lot adjoining--now No. 343). It was sold twenty years later by commissioner to John B. Wilgus. J.B. Johnson and Thos. Bradley bought it but "pursuant to a contract" had it conveyed to John R. Hennessey. It was described as being on Upper St. "adjoining the lot of Mrs. Dunham and Kitty Hawkins." (Feb, 1862).
The house again was sold, as result of suit brought by John B. Wilgus & Co., in August, 1862, to John B. Wilgus. A deed to Dunham's Academy in 1863 said that this house, "now owned by John B. Wilgus & Co." was occupied by Dr. J.C. Richardson."
Paul T. Maccoun bought this house from Wilgus Jan. 3, 1866, and resided here. He sold it to Wm. B. Cassell in 1883.
Transcribed by P. Brinegar March 2000