ALLEN VINCE

b. 1785, Tennessee ( Screven, Ga. <Internet, World Connect Project> )
d. 1849 May, Ft. Bend area. Operating a stock ranch.

Married 1st: unknown name.

Two children (sons).

To Tx by 1822 (living in San Jacinto River area).
Immigrated from Tennessee where he was born. <Humphrey>
Widowed, and sons did not come with him. <NHBTx:6-754> note "sons" I have the name also of Wilham (sounds close to Williams so not sure if the name of a second son. Also do not have source)

1824, Aug. 3: With partner Mosis A.Callahan received a sitio (4,428 ac.) straddling Sims Bayou on the south side of Buffalo Bayou (and adjacent on the west to William Vince's league). <HCDR: Bk. 1, p. 298>
Mosis died by September 1825, niece Mary (Mrs. Ezekiel) Thomas was the only other Callahan relative in Texas which made her his only heir. Her children won the suit for his property in 1843 <HCDR: D-247>, the E/2 of C&V survey. Allen did not purchase. <NHBTx:1-910; 3-895>

1826: Listed in 1826 Census as between 25-40, widower, farmer & stock raiser, with one dependent..

Married 2nd: Contracted 1828. Not legalized. It was the custom in Texas to 'contract to marry' since Catholic priest was not typically present in the colony. The couple took on all appearances as married. The contract stated that as soon as a Catholic priest was obtained, the union would be formalized by the church.

Matilda Wilburn (Welborn, Wellborn)
d 1837 (before 1838 another source) before marriage legalized.

c1: John born 1828. see 1838 <NHBTx:6-754> AKA Jonathan Welborn. <DSH>

1831, April 30: Allen Vince received additional half league in eastern Grimes county and Montgomery county..<NHBTx:6-754> Montgomery county., Allen Vince Survey, Abst. 40. On San Jacinto river and Lake Creek. <GLO-44> Montgomery county., Allen Vince Survey, Abst. 40.

1833, May: The Vince brothers, Allen, William, Robert and Richard lived at the bridge on Vince's Bayou. Allen vince was a widower. He had two sons. Their sister, Miss Susan, kept house for them. <Harris-5>

1836, April: Santa Anna stole his black horse and later used it to flee the battleground at San Jacinto. <NHBTx:6-754> The horse was taken back to the Texian camp and was identified by James Brown as the Vince's horse. <Harris-65> James K. Brown and his mother were staying at Vince's cabin when the Mexican Army came by and confiscated the horse. James, age 13, tried to stop them and was made a prisoner. Mrs. Brown protested, being an English citizen (actually Scottish), and Almonte released the boy. <Harris-66> Note: Allen Vince is 'married' to Matilda Wilburn with newborn son John and his previous marriage son William. Also three minor children from Wilburn's prior marriage. So 5 kids. Was he living in Ft. Bend on (1) Knight & White tract or in Galveston on (2) Clear Lake labor, in Harris County on (3) Callihan & Vince league or the (4) William Vince league or in Montgomery county on the (5) Lake Creek half league, his (6) labor or his wife's (7) half league or (8) labor? An educated guess would put him at #2 since it had a cabin, was not on the expected path of the Mexican Army and there is a recorded incident placing him there in May. 1836, May. While crossing a prairie near Clear Lake Allen Vince shot a figure in heavy fog, thinking it to be a Mexican soldier. It was a slave owned by Mr. Caples who sued him. Filed in Fort Bend county (probably District court) but mistrial Oct. 1843. Transferred to Brazoria county District court, but Allen Vince died in 1849 before the case was heard. <Humphrey-84>

1837 Feb. 28: Estate of Wm. Vince filed for probate. Allen Vince appointed Administrator. Richard Vince to help with appraisal. <HCPR:A-10>
1837, June 28: Allen & Susan deed all of William Vince survey to M. W. Smith.<HCCDR: A-418>

1838: Allen received labor in Harrisburg county.
1838, Feb: Allen applied for guardianship of Matilda Wilburn's three minor children. <Humphrey-84>
1838: April 3: Allen Vince filed inventory of the estate of William Vince. <SWHQ: 46- 228>
1838: Allen successfully petitioned the second Congress of the Republic in 1838 to legitimize his son so he could inherit. (obviously since William had died). <NHBTx:6-754> It appears that John died before his father, Allen who died in May, 1849. <Humphrey-84> Congressional approval of Legitamacy <TTR: 6-23-38>
1838: fall: Sally Vince, a free black, sued Allen, the administrator of William Vince's Estate. Claimed William Vince's deed (of Sept. 7, 1834) gave her freedom when he died. Jury agreed with her Jan. 7, 1839 and gave her freedom. Allen contended that William only owned a 1/3 interest in her and that Allen bought that interest for $500 from the estate when he purchased other personal property. <NHBTx: 6754><SWHQ: 46-227>
Assume this is related to the theory that all of the Vince brothers were in partnership on everything and that since Robert predeceased William (?) then William, Richard & Allen owned each a one third interest. However, Susan, the sister joined in the execution of the deed to Merriweather Smith, so what did she own?

Married 3rd: Jan 1839, in Houston, or 19 Feb. 1839 in Harrison Co (Harrisburg), TX, <HCMR>

Anne Baker (1) Hendrick (2) Melone, (3) Neelon (Melon, Mellon)
b. 1789 Ga. Two children from Hendrick marriage. <Humphrey-83>

No children. <NHBTx: 6-754>

1840: Census of Allen Vince, for himself, Fort Bend Cty: 500 ac. Grant, 2 slaves, 300 cattle, l goat & 14 hogs.<White-48>
1840: Census for Allen Vince in Harris County: 4,798 ac in grant land. <White -70>

1841: Administrator of John Flanders estate. <NHBTx: 6-754>

1844: Administrator in brother Richard Vince's estate. <NHBTx: 6-754>

1849, April 30: Allen Vince as administrator for William Vince filed claim that "sometime in the mouth of April A. D. 1836 he delivered for the use of the government of Texas to M. H. Bennett then acting as commissary of the same the receipt of which is hereby amended one wagon worth with its harness seventy dollars, two yoke of oxen worth one Hundred & Fifty dollars, & Four barrels of corn worth eighty dollars…" <Reel 193, p. 0047, Republic Claims>
1849, May: died in Ft. Bend where he operated a stock ranch. <NHBTx: 6-754>
Widow remarried (to Rev. Obadiah Dodson). Sister Susan inherited personal property. <Humphrey-84>

1849 May, Allen Vince died in the Ft. Bend area. Operating a stock ranch.

1860: out of the estate of Allen Vince Susan Vince (now Pratt) got all of the William Vince real estate. Also got Allen's personal property (cattle and horses), which she took to Lampasas county. <Humphrey-84> <Probate Records: FB county: B-665> Also guardianship of Allen Vince's son, John (b. 1828)


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9.29.04