William (Orgain) Allen

William Allen ( William Griffin Orgain) (July 29, 1828–May 19, 1875) was a wealthy Virginian planter and entrepreneur who briefly served in the Confederate States Army as a Major.

Early and family life The younger of two sons born in Petersburg, Virginia to businessman Richard Griffin Orgain and his wife, the former Martha Armistead Edloe, Allen would also have 2 sisters At age two or three, his slightly elder brother having died as an infant, he inherited the Claremont Estate on the James River from his never-married and very wealthy grand-uncle, William Allen. To satisfy the terms of that inheritance (valued at more than $360,000), his surname was officially changed by the Virginia legislature to "Allen" in 1832. His father served as his guardian until his death in 1837, after which time his mother served as his guardian and increased his holdings. although a decade earlier despite his being underage, he owned 147 enslaved. By 1860, his landholdings were valued at $250,000 and his personal estate at $1 million, although he owned fewer slaves in Surry County.

From 1854 until a dissolution by mutual consent in 1857 (when Allen became the sole owner), Allen (supplying capital) partnered with John A. Selden and Augustus Hopkins to build a railroad and sawmill, from which they shipped timber from a wharf near Claremont. In 1858, Allen contracted with William A. Allen of Baltimore to deliver wood to Maryland. Allen also invested in a Richmond mercantile firm and operated schooners that carried freight on the James River.

Postwar

Allen received a pardon after the conflict. From 1862 until 1874, Allen lived in Richmond and at Curles Neck on the other side of the James River before returning to Claremont. Allen suffered significant financial distress despite mortgaging as much property as he could, because pursuant to the terms of the will by which he had acquired Claremont, his eldest son would inherit the manor. The Virginia Historical Society holds many of his account books maintained by John A. Selden, and Allen's funeral is described in the James Nathaniel Dunlop papers at the same institution.