Descendants of Allen McLane in genealogy report format. Last updated March 5, 2002.

Allen McLane was an officer and Revolutionary War Hero of the Revolution of 1776. He married Jane Irwin. There is a story that tells how his mother took down the drapes in the parlor to make his uniform. Also how he dressed [and passed] as a woman, to obtain information for George Washington in Philadelphia.

Born in Philadelphia August 8, 1746, McLane had moved to Delaware by 1769. His military career began when he was commissioned as an officer in the state militia in 1775. After the outbreak of the Revolution, McLane volunteered to raise a company of troops, investing much of his inheritance in accompanying expenses. During the course of the war he was an active participant in many major engagements including Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, and the siege of Yorktown. His bravery and enterprise were rewarded in 1777 when he received his captain’s commission from General Washington. He was one of the first to suspect the loyalty of Benedict Arnold, and is said to have played a significant role in convincing the French to blockade the Chesapeake in 1781. He was a member of the Order of Cincinnati. For many years he was active in the affairs of church and state, serving as Speaker of the state Housing of Representatives, member of the Privy Council, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and U.S. Marshall for Delaware. He was delegate at Delaware’s historic Constitution Ratification Convention in 1787, and a long-time advocate of the Methodist Church.

Following his return from the war it is believed that the McLane family rented a home at the southwest corner of Mt. Vernon and Market Streets. On December 23, 1785, Allen McLane "Merchant" received a deed from Thomas Wilds for a parcel of land including the lot where his house stands. Among the members of the family moving to the home was McLane’s infant son Louis, later a distinguished member of Congress, Minister to England, and United States Secretary of State. McLane maintained homes here on his farm until he moved to Wilmington following his appointment as Port Collector in 1797. He retained ownership of this property until selling it in 1828, one year prior to his death.

Col Allen McLane [son of Allen and Jane Irwin McLane] born 1748; died May 1829; married Rebecca Wells had brothers; Major Daniel, Capt Samuel, Ens Robert and sister Rebecca [married Andrew Wilson]. He is mentioned in the HOUSE OF WALTON as being a member of the "Fighting McLean/McLane Family." Ens Robert died 1777 in Revolution. I have only two children listed; Louis [May 28, 1786-1857] who married Katherine Milligan and Doctor Allen who married Catherine Reed. Dr. Allen had a son, Allen, who was also a Doctor. He married to Jane Kay and resided in Platte Co., Mo., for a short time before he died on the way to California. He is listed as "treating a dying man near Black Rock Canyon" and is known as "nephew of the Honorable Lewis/Louis McLane." I have only one child born two months after he died; Gertrude, Dec 13, 1849 [married to Levi A. Hurst] and his widow married to N. E. Wilkinson.

Doctor Allen McLane married to Catherine Read on June 18, 1812 in Newcastle, Delaware. Catherine was daughter of George Read, Sr., signer of the Declaration of Independence. Allen and Catherine (Read) McLane are the parents of Mary Thompson McLane.

Louis McLane was born in Smyrna, Del., and married in 1812 to Katherine Milligan of Cecil Co., Md., [dau of Robert] with one son Robert Milligan born June 23, 1815 and died April 16, 1898 in Paris, France. Gov of Maryland and buried Greenment Cemetery, Baltimore, Md with his father. Louis McLane was Minister to England.

Sometimes called "Little Bohemia," the estate called "Bohemia" of Sassafras Neck, Cecil County, Maryland, was once the home of Louis McLane, member of the Delaware House of Representatives (1817-1827), Minister to England (1829-1831), (1845-1846), Secretary of the Treasury (1831-1833), Secretary of State (1833-1834). Mr. McLane was sent by President Polk on a mission to England during the Oregon Negotiations. Later he was president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1837 to 1847 and delegate to the Reform Convention at Annapolis (1850-1851).

Louis McLane's son, Robert Milligan McLane, became minister to China, Mexico and France, and later became Governor of Maryland. He is buried in Greenmount Cemetery, Baltimore, Md

Last Updated: March 5, 2002.