Last Updated 01 Jan 2007
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Dedicated to Virginia Rogers Allen Polin
(Note: My great grandmother did not list the actual names of her family, though factual in nature, it was to be read as a story. She wrote the story from her mother's perspective, as I am sure she heard it from her numerous times growing up. Kate D. Allen Willey published many poems and stories in the local and regional newspapers of Delaware throughout her life. It was not considered "proper" c. 1900 to use the actual family names for there were privacy issues, thus I have added the actual names in parenthesis as this now has become less of a story for the public and more of a historical document in our family.- R. A. Riggin 2000)
"I am going to tell this just
as it was told to me by my Grandmother Lee (her great-grandmother Kitty Margaret
Wright Allen {Neal} 
shown in the portrait by John Street); as we children of her beloved
and only son (Major Wright Allen) sat by the great old fireplace
in the old red brick Manor. First let me tell you that though it has been a
hundred years since my Grandmother went there a bride, everything is the same,
nothing has changed in the interior, and it is still owned by her faithful grandchildren.
There has been much done to improve its exterior, but inside opening with its
massive hand-carved door, swung by great iron hinges and its immense brass lock
is just as it was. You see a old hall with its large beams overhead brown with
age, the great fireplace and long high mantle.The built in bookcase and stairway
were all made by the ingenious hands of the skilled workmen of those days. Even
the Negro quarters and ancient well in whose traditional bucket I have often
quenched my thirst, but as my story only includes one room and one object of
the room, I am going to let your imagination picture the rest. Grandmother,
a dear old lady in a black silk gown, apron, and cap, let all of us nestle close
by her arm chair in front of a roaring fire, and with dreamy far away look in
her faded blue eyes, told us this story of her girlhood love."
"When only a lass, my dear little children, I first realized I was considered quite an attractive girl, but instead of this making me vain, I felt rather shy. In those good old days it was very unlady like to parade your beauty for open admiration. My dear mother taught me to remember "beauty is as beauty does" so I tried to forget my looks and remember only my actions. My father (Joshua Wright) being one of those wealthy and influential men of his day, had great desires and expectations for us. I think he realized all he had anticipated from his children except me. I from whom he expected most did the least, Yet surely I must be true to my heart. From childhood, I had only one little sweetheart and he only I could love. The parents of my sweetheart were poor and at an early age he and his brother sailed across the ocean carrying trade from one country to another. In those days there was very little communication or mail between the countries, so I only heard from my sailor lad at long intervals or when he came home for a few days. In his travels he must of have thought always of me, for on every trip home he brought the most beautiful collection of shells and curios from foreign shores I have ever seen. On each especially interesting one was pasted a tiny slip of paper telling from whence it came and some little anecdote which happened while collecting it. You may guess, I prized these, for did they not contain the dear handwriting and more precious till some message concerning my sailor boy. After the first voyage I planned to help relieve my mind of suspense to make a fire board of my shells, Each being put in with a loving hope for the safe return and a happy reunion of my laddie and I. Long months past before I saw my sailor boy again, and during this time I had been working diligently in my effort to finish the fire board you think so beautiful. If you could only know my dear children, how many loving thoughts for the future were made in each little pattern and could see it as I do, it would look still more exquisite to you than it does now. My sailor boy came home again after a safe and successful voyage, Oh! how happy I was to see him. My parents objected to him, therefore we were forced to have our meetings clandestine and every moment seemed more precious for this. It was now nearing the last month of the year, and my William (Major Allen), your grandfather dears, met me at our beautiful seat under the boundary oak. "Patience my own sweetheart", he said, "in a month I am going to sail away from you again. Oh! my dear, I fear me in this... I will loose you. Your father will coerce you by some means to forget me and marry that wealthy young Powell from Kentucky. I know he has all the desirable qualities that the future husband of such a girl as you should have...wealth aristocratic birth and all of the fine manners that go with Southern blue-blood. Yet, I do not think he can offer you any such great love or constancy as I can give. I have not wealth, 'tis too true, but I have the strong determined conquering spirit of my ancestors the Pilgrims. In this my last voyage I will have earned enough to keep a wife comfortable and when I come back I intend to buy a plantation and settle down to the quiet life of a country squire. Now patience I ask, nay beg you to be my own dear wife, not when I return but immediately before I sail again for then I shall know that even though I am gone, no one can take you from me. Say little girl, will you do this for me?" "Would I?, Oh I could not say no with those dear eyes pleading and the arms I loved holding me so tight. "Can you doubt it laddie?" I asked him, for surely you know I would give up all for you." Slowly he raised my face to his and while he held me close to him, gave and received the kiss which made me his through time and eternity. "Patience my dear, little wife to be, mine forever" he said. I do not know how I managed so well for under pretext of visiting a girl friend, I arrayed myself and met my laddie. In the old Chapel together we stood and plighted our troth. For awhile all was sunshine, my parents suspected nothing and until the parting came there was no happier bride than I, but at last the day of separation came and with great agony I clung to him feeling as if by some imperceptible force this was our last moments together in this world."Laddie, Laddie" I cried, "I cannot let you leave me, I feel as if I shall never see you dear face again." "Patience, my own dear wife," he answered, I will surely come to you, alive or dead, I am yours now and forever, even in eternity." And with our last kiss he left me standing where he had wooed and won me, under the great oak. I do not know how I kept my family in ignorance, I only know that while my heart ached for my husband, I was forced to attention from other men. My father several times tried to compel me to accept my most persistent suitor Mr. Powell of Kentucky. Yes, I pertinaciously held them off and kept my secret locked in my heart. One, two, three and four months past and at intervals of several weeks I heard from my dear laddie, but after that the letter ceased to come. How I watched and waited no one knows. Three months passed and I still heard nothing from him, One evening almost on the verge of collapse, I slipped away to spend a few moments at the spot where I felt I was alone with my husband. The old boundary oak. I sat down and leaning against the broad trunk gave myself up to thoughts of him. How well I could picture every look and gesture. Such a dear face and voice, I felt as if he were near me, and about to speak to me "Hush!"...did I hear footsteps? did I hear someone whisper..."Patience?" I glanced quickly up and there stood before me what seemed to be the living presence of my husband, "Laddie! Laddie!" I cried as I ran towards him, but he drifted slowly away as with one look of love he whispered "In eternity".... I do not know how they came to find me but when I became conscious my mother was bending over me with restoratives while my father, sister and brothers stood by with frightened looks on their face. i gazed dumbly at them for a moment then my mind slowly began to work. I reached out my arms with the agonizing cry of "Laddie, Laddie"again and again. I remembered and Oh! the remembrance, I knew now that he had come back to me, come to tell he was dead, but was still mine. For a time I was expected to die, and indeed I made no effort to live, but with the birth of my dear little son, I felt that I had something to hold me here. I could almost hear my dear husbands voice telling me to care for and watch over our little son, the baby who would never know the love of a father, but I think my love was great enough for both father and mother. Now comes the sweetest and saddest memories of the fire board. The ship returned and brought word of the death and burial at sea of my dear husband and one or two of his crew. One of his men came to me with a message and a large box, was only a few words for the fever had come so suddenly and killed so quickly. In one brief moment of consciousness he had feebly written "Goodbye my dear, my own wife now and in eternity" In the box I found the most exquisite shells and curios, each one labeled as he had done them before but now so much dearer to me. With my little son in my arms I finished the board and it was then as now almost my only treasure belonging to my beloved husband. And now my dear little grandchildren I hope you will love the fire board for my sake and your dear father's sake, as we have always done.
(Note: Other oral history from the family said seaman Major Allen was from Virginia, was the "Captain" of his vessel and the cargo was gold. Pirates raiding his ship, plundered the gold and threw the captain and some of his mates overboard... this has not been proven to date. Oral history can become embelished, but this written above story rings of truth as (the "Lass" in the above story) Kitty Margaret Wright's father, Joshua Wright, left a prayer book still in existence that confirms the marriage and death of Major Allen and the birth of their only son Major Wright Allen. The fireboard, covered in patterns of shells exists, has been in the family for generations and is now in my possesion. This original story handwritten on mulitple small sheets of paper is also in my possession.- R.A.Riggin 2000)
4. Joshua WRIGHT (see Wright family) b. 13 Oct 1757 prayer book gives birth on 13 Oct 1756 d. 3 May 1814 Seaford Delaware m. 22 Feb 1781 Sarah TURPIN b.13 Jan 1756 d. 8 July 1830 Seaford, Del., dau of William TURPIN.and Constance CANNON. Wm. Turpin had m. 1st Elizabeth ?CANNON(q.v.) had 1 son William Turpin Jr.
Joshua and Sarah WRIGHT had issue:
5. John Wright b. 9 Dec 1781
5. Elizabeth Wright b. 7 Sept 1783
5. Sarah Wright b. 25 Nov. 1785 d. 8 July 1840 aet 54 yrs. 7 mo 13 days m.23 May 1803 Joseph Venables
5. Nelly Wright b. 17 Aug 1791 d. 28 Oct 1844
5. Turpin Wright, Capt. b. 3 Dec 1793, of Oyster Point Md?Del. and Seaford Del. d. 23 Jan 1869. Active in the Military and a prominent merchant of Seaford.
5. Jacob Wright b. 24 Oct. 1796 d. 2 June 1858, 62 yrs of age, m.20 Aug. 1820 (1st) Eliza Skelly d. 20 June 1821 w/ infant son, m.(2nd) 25 Jan 1825 ("the snow was 2 feet deep") Elizabeth Jacobs, dau of Curtis and Mary Jacobs.
6. Joseph V. B. Wright b. 7 June 1834
6. Mary Catherine Wright b. 9 Aug. 1836
5. Charles Wright b. 16 Apr 1799 d. 2 Dec 1870 Built "Lawrence" a stately manor still standing and occupied , just north of the town of Seaford. "Lawrence" is listed by the Historical Preservation Society and is currently under private ownership. (shown right)
5. Kitty Margaret Wright b. 3 Dec 1788 m.(1st)10 Nov 1810 or 27 Nov 1811 Major Allen b.c. 1780 d. winter of 1811/12 at sea (story above)
m.(2nd)16 Sept. 1814 Charles Beach (no known issue)
m. (3rd) 25 May 1820 William B.Neal, Esq.
6.(3rd )Martha B. Neal b.28 Feb 1821 @10 p.m., m.Weds. 27 Sept. 1837 William Edward Harriss, son of Benton Harriss
6.(3rd) Turpin Wright Neal b. 7 Jan 1826 @10 a.m.- d. 9 Sept. 1829 @11:00 p.m. aged 3 yrs., 8 mo. and 2 days
6.(3rd) Wm Neal Jr.?
6.(1st) Major Wright Allen (shown at left) b. 20 Aug 1812 d. 10 Jun 1895 m. 2-20-1837 Seaford DE Eliza Ann Swiggett born March 29 1818 d. 9 Feb 1873 aet 57yrs. 0 mon 8 days. Major Wright Allen held many offices for the Sussex County government, and Delaware railroad. M. W. Allen d. 6-10-1895 Seaford Del. bd. St. Luke's P.E. Churchyard ;Dorchester R.R.(1858), Notary Public (1855) Sussex Register Clerk (1866), Sussex Co. Justice of Peace (1878, 1885), Merchant (1850)(Scharf, History of Del.), ran for DE House of Representatives 1862 as Democrat against "Lincoln's party of abolitionists".
7. Frank Allen (shown at right)b. 7- -1848 Seaford DE at "Lawrence" m. 6-20-1872 St. Lukes P.E.Church Seaford
DE d. -1918 Seaford Del. bd. St. Luke's P.E. Churchyard. m. Margaret Olivia Ann Donoho b. 7-21-1854 Seaford Del. d. -1922 Seaford Del. bd. St. Luke's P.E. Churchyard
8. Frank Hall Allen d. young buried St. Lukes Cemetery Seaford Del.
8. Frank Donoho Allen d. young 18 years old, buried St. Lukes Cemetery Seaford Del.
8. Major Wright Allen d. young buried St. Lukes Cemetery Seaford Del.
8. Eliza Ann Allen m.29 Dec 1903 Thomas Stack
9. Allen Thomas Stack b. 10 Apr 1908
9. Edmund James Stack b. 27 Nov 1910
9. Eliza Alice Stack b. 13 Dec 1912
9. Kitty Margaret Stack b. 3 July 1914
8. Nellie Allen m. Jacob Payne
9. Nellie Payne
9. Frances Payne
9. Horace Payne
8. Bessie Stone Allen m. J. Ray Cannon
9. Ray Allen Cannon
9. Frank Daniel Cannon
8. Kitty Margaret Allen m. Charles F. Rogers
9. Virginia Allen Rogers
8. Kate Donoho Allen b. d. m. Frederick Layton Willey
9. Frank Joseph Willey m. Kathryn Hurlock
9. Frederick Loxley Willey m. Millie_____
9. Mary Catherine Willey b. d. m/ Herman Francis Riggin
10. Donald Allen Riggin b. 3 Sept, 1929 d. 10 Nov 1970
11. Ralph Allen Riggin b. private
Bibliography and Source
Books
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