Allen & Tanniehill Family History

Eliza Ann Allen (Tanniehill) and Nathaniel "Jambo" Allen, Sr., linked the Allen and Tannihill families together when they married in 1928. The family history begins with the patriarch of both families, Hamp Allen (Nathaniel's father) and James "Jim" Porter Tanniehill (Eliza's father). Hamp Allen was born around 1870 to an ex-slave woman named Harriett Artney-Allen. Hamp was born in Gregg County Texas in a small city called Longview. Because both of his parents were born as slaves, his father's information has not been located as of today. We do know Hamp had two brothers, Jim Allen and John Allen and two sisters, Mary Allen and Ida Allen.

James "Jim" Porter Tanniehill's birth date and family history have not been obtained as of today. The Tanniehill family lived in Lisbon, Louisiana, a small city in Clairborne Parish and they migrated to Longview, Texas in the early 1900s. They made their home in Gregg County alongside the Allen family.

The Tanniehill and Allen families intereacted as neighbors and more importantly, as a church family, as both families worshipped together at the Shiloh Baptist Church and at the Willow Springs Baptist Church in Gregg County, Texas. As the years progressed, Nathaniel and Eliza welcomed nine children into their family. Eventually the family moved to Los Angeles, CA where they made their home and the children of Nathaniel and Eliza began families of their own. To this day, there is a large number of Tanniehills and Allens in Longview, Texas as well as in California.

Our fmily history continues as more Allens and Tanniehills are discovered and as more of our history is uncovered and the stories are told. We are continuing to gather information about our relatives and we are proud of the history we have.