Sara Jane Bates
Sara Jane Bates ( Often referred to simply as "Jane") was born in the Florida territory nearly 178 years ago on September 25th, 1843 which happened to be 18 months prior to the region being admitted as the 27th U.S. state on March 3rd, 1845.
Interesting events that occurred around the World during Sarah Jane's birth year of 1843 included..
• In January of 1843 Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" is published in "The Pioneer", a Boston literary magazine.
• On March 15th, 1843 Victoria, British Columbia, is founded by the Hudson's Bay Company as a trading post and fort.
• On May 22nd, 1843 the first major wagon train headed for the American Northwest sets out with 1,000 pioneers from Elm Grove, Missouri on the Oregon Trail.
• On July 12th, 1843 Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement in the United States, receives a revelation recommending polygamy.
• On August 15th, 1843 Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the World which is still intact to this day, opens in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• On August 26th, 1843 American inventor Charles Thurber receives a patent for the first practical typewriter, invented to aid the "nervous and the blind."
• On November 17th, 1843 the city of Shanghai, China opens for trade with foreigners for the first time, welcoming a party of traders from the United Kingdom.
• On November 28th, 1843 Hawaii is recognized as an independent Nation by the United Kingdom and France. The holiday is celebrated annually as "La Ku'oko'a", ( Independence Day ).
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At the age of sixteen, Sarah Jane married Britton Allen, a grizzled Veteran of the Third Seminole War @ Hamilton County, Florida on Thursday March 29th, 1860. Her Husband had previously served under Captain William Haddock Cones Company of Mounted Volunteers. The couple would have four verifiable children during the course of their marriage, Ellen "Mary Ella", Mason, Jackson, and James Allen.
Allen Patriarch, Britton supports his family as a lifelong farmer.
** On March 14th 1862 this evening's honorees Husband, Britton Allen enlisted with the Confederate State Armies 5th Regiment, Florida Infantry. Mr. Allen was ordered to Virginia with over 1,000 men and served in General Pryor's, E.A. Perry's, and Finegan's Brigade Army of Northern Virginia. The Regiment fought with the Army from the Second Battle of Manassas to Cold Harbor, then was active in the Petersburg trenches South of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. Six men were killed and 22 wounded at Chancellorsville and thirty-five percent of the unit either killed or wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. On May 12th, 1864, under the command of General Robert E. Lee, Britton was captured by Union Army forces led by Lieutenant General Ulysses S Grant during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. With nearly 32,000 casualties on both sides, Spotsylvania was one of the costliest battles of the American Civil War. Mr. Allen was amongst 5,758 Confederates to be captured or declared missing.
Upon the Civil wars conclusion, Sarah Jane and her family fist settle in Hamilton County and soon thereafter the adjoining rural Lafayette County, in North Central Florida which was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French General who rendered assistance to the Continental Army during the American Revolution. In modern times, it is considered a "prohibition" or partially dry County, allowing only retail sales of beer.
Sorrowfully, Sarah Jane's Husband, Britton would lose his life in the aforementioned Lafayette County on Wednesday March 3rd, 1886. He was forty eight.
This is where things become significantly more convoluted as to where this evening's honoree's path in life would lead. Hints and clues are uncovered which reveal a veiled, murky glimpse of her late 19th and early 20th centuries existence but we are left with far more questions than definitive answers.
At some point Sarah Jane found her way Southward where she set roots in the small town of Plant City, Florida which is located just to the East of Tampa. It is with great sadness that we learn through multiple documents that she had been considered "Insane" for the last 15 years of her life beginning in 1904. Mrs. Allen's living arrangements alternated between insane asylums while towards the end, she resided with her Daughter, Mary Ella "Tillis". We will share handwritten Third Seminole War and American Civil War pension application requests filed by her Daughter on behalf of Sarah Jane and in commemoration of her Father, Britton Allen's military service.
Sarah Jane would lose her personal battle of poor health and ultimately the gift of life on Wednesday April 2nd, 1919.
Sarah Jane Allen... Beloved Wife, Mother, Florida pioneer.