Middle Name Charles W. ALLUM
 General Notes:
Through the years it was presumed the "W" in Charles Allum's name represented his father William. Because the ancestral line of compiler Sharon Cunningham Ratliff includes Charles Wheeler Allum Frye (1864-1921) -- a grandson of Charles W. Allum (1796-1868) -- she surmised differently. Now that descendants of Mary Allum Lewis have been researched, it is documented that Mary's son, grandson and a great grandson were named Charles Wheeler Lewis.
Charles Allum's middle name has not been found in print. When referring to him, it is accurate to use "Charles W. Allum."
Sharon's comments (written in 1999) are intriguing. Read below.
Sharon Cunningham Ratliff, 1999:
For many years I was under the impression the middle name of my own direct ancestor, Charles W. Allum, was "Wheeler." However, a correspondent has never found records showing a middle name. She assumed Charles' middle name was "William." We may never [learn] his middle name, but the following quotes may shed some light on my theory.
The following is copied verbatim from pages 986 and 987 of Boyd Crumrine's 1883 HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, the chapter titled "West Pike Run Township."
Quote:
One of the earliest settlers (if not the first) within the territory that now forms the township of West Pike Run was Dr. Charles Wheeler, who came into this section of Washington County as early as the fall of 1774 and took up two tracts of land which were contiguous to each other, located on Falls Run, a branch of Pike Run,and which were warranted to him under the title of "Winter's Choice." The entire area was about three hundred and forty-five acres, but it was granted to him as three hundred acres, strict measure. When the establishment of township lines took place, Dr. Wheeler's land was in both East Bethlehem and West Pike Run Townships. The Virginia certificate which he received entitling him to his land was dated February 21, 1780. In the survey the property was described thus:
Situate chiefly on the north side of the main road leading from Redstone Ferry to Washington town in Washington County, called "Winter's Choice," containing three hundred acres of land, surveyed Jan. 25, 1785, in pursuance of a Certificate granted to Charles Wheeler from the Commissioners of Virginia for a settlement right as followeth, to wit:
Surveyor's office, Yohogania County
State of Virginia
Charles Wheeler produced a certificate from the Commissioners appointed to settle titles and grant unpatented lands in the counties of Yohogania, Monongalia, and Ohio, for three hundred acres of land in Yohogania County, to include his improvement made thereon in the year 1775, which was granted at Cox's Fort the 21st day of February, 1780, and duly entered in this office.
(signed) B. Johnston
Surveyor, Yohogania County
January 12, 1785."
In 1796, Dr. Charles Wheeler was one of three persons who purchased a town lot in Brownsville for the use of a Protestant Episcopal Church. In his history of Christ Church of Brownsville, Rev. Samuel Cowell says of him, 'Dr. Charles Wheeler was an Englishman, and a surgeon by profession, who, after serving in Dunmore's war, settled on a farm about four miles west of Brownsville. He was warmly attached to the church, and when disposing of his worldly effects bequeathed to the same one hundred pounds, to be paid at the death of his wife. Mrs. Wheeler lived many years after her husband's death, having reached the advanced age of ninety-four years.
The wife of Dr. Wheeler was Miss Elizabeth Cresap, and she lived a quarter of a century after her husband had passed away. Her remains were interred in the Episcopalian churchyard at Brownsville. Dr. Wheeler was the owner of several slaves, all of whom he remembered in his will. Hannah Young was the latest survivor of these slaves, she living until after 1870. As Dr. and Mrs. Wheeler had no children, he, after naming various minor bequests, gave the bulk of his property to his nephew, Charles Wheeler. The following are some of the clauses in the will, which was executed May 26, 1808, viz.: 'After my debts are discharged, which are very trifling, it is my further wish and pleasure that the little I have which is of my own acquiring shall be disposed of in the following manner: [After naming several sums for other persons, he gave] L50 to black Samuel; L50 to black Benjamin; L50 to black Hannah; L25 to black Lydia; L50 to black Daniel; and L25 to black Rachel. 'The above-named black people were raised under my roof. I therefore hope they will consider the intent of the small bounties bestowed them by an indulgent master and to apply the same discreetly to their interests... As it was not my lot to have issue by my wife, I did not embark in this world's speculation in search of more than what would enable me to live decently comfortable to my family and friends. Therefore it must be considered that the little I possess at this present, the total value thereof cannot now be fully estimated for the time to come by several hundreds. When it arrived at that epoch it is my desire and request that my executors will, from any additional sum arising from the sale of my real and personal property, equally divide the same in addition to every legacy I have bequeathed.
Joseph Crawford and Robert Clarke, of Fayette County, and Thomas Johnson, of Washington County [see below] were named executors of this will, which was proved Sept. 25, 1813. On March 29, 1839, they sold to Jonathan Knight one hundred and seventy-three acres of the tract "Winter's Choice." It now belongs to Oliver K. Taylor, cashier of the Bank of Brownsville.
End quote
Sharon continues, "The following was copied from Abstracts of Washington County, Pennsylvania Will Books 1-5 (1776-1841), recompiled by Bob and Marry Closson by permission of the Citizens Library, Washington, Pennsylvania, copyright January, 1995, page 175 (Abstracts of Will Book 2 [1803-1814]."
Quote:
WHEELER, DR. CHARLES (Page 449)
DATED: 26 May 1808 PROBATED: 6 Dec. 1813
EXEC: Joseph Crawford of Fayette Co., PA.; Robert Clarke of Fayette Co., Pa. and Thomas Falconer
WIT: Ebenezer Major; Eli Oman; Mary Allum
BENE: WIFE: Elizabeth
NEPHEW: Thomas Humphries [not Charles Wheeler]
OTHERS: Mary, John, Charles, William and Ann Allum (dau. of William Allum). All parties named Allum.
Legacy to the trustees of the church ground at Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pa.
ACCT #: W-44-1816
End quote
Sharon summarizes, "It is my opinion that William Allum bestowed his son Charles Allum with the middle name 'Wheeler' because of respect Mr. Allum had for Dr. Wheeler. Perhaps unbeknownst to us there was also a connection by blood."
Comment by DeeAnna:
If William Allum 1st did not bestow the middle name "Wheeler" upon his son Charles, the descendants of Mary (Allum) Lewis--Charles W. Allum's elder sister--did use "Wheeler" in naming. In 1808 when Dr. Charles Wheeler prepared and signed his will, Mary was not only a witness but designated to be his primary beneficiary after the death of his wife Elisabeth. Certainly, Mary would have had great regard for Dr. Wheeler and he for her. As it turns out, Dr. Wheeler's wife Elisabeth lived for a good many years after his death. Puzzling is the statement by Crumrine in THE HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, that the bulk of Wheeler's property went to his nephew, Charles Wheeler, when a Charles Wheeler is not named in the 1808 will. If true, events unknown to us at this time--at least unknown to this researcher--would have occurred.
In the Index of Names in this online file, click on "Wheeler, Dr. Charles" for additional information.
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