Here, on these hallowed grounds of historic Glenwood Cemetery, lies the resting place of Mary Allen. Born in 1805, Mary was enslaved in Huntsville, Alabama. By around 1825, she had become known in the community for her exceptional cooking skills. Mrs. Allen married twice in her life, her first husband being Peter Allen, a free man of color from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who journeyed to Alabama under unknown circumstances. Peter Allen came from a prominent family—his father, Bishop Richard Allen, was the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

In late October 1835, Alabama newspapers, including the Huntsville Southern Advocate, published calls for Alabamians to support the fight for Texas independence. This call to arms led to the formation of a volunteer company organized by Capt. Peyton S. Wyatt in Huntsville, which included Peter Allen, a skilled flutist who joined as a musician.

As the company departed for Texas on Sunday, November 8, 1835, Peter Allen was among the volunteers. Tragically, he was captured along with other soldiers at Goliad, Texas. At the infamous Goliad Massacre on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836, Peter was reportedly ordered to play one last song, "Home, Sweet Home," on his fife. He was told he would be freed if he did so. His courageous final words to the Mexican commander were, "No, I'll not play, but I'll just go along with the rest of the boys." He was executed alongside his fellow soldiers by the Mexican Army under General Santa Anna and buried in a mass grave at Goliad.

After his death, Peter's siblings in Philadelphia (Allen, Sarah Wilkins, and Mary Adams) claimed his heirs' rights, securing 4,036 acres of land in Texas due to Peter’s service. When Mrs. Allen proved her marriage to Peter and filed her own claim, the Philadelphia heirs contested, leading to a long legal battle that reached the Texas Supreme Court. Ultimately, the court upheld Mrs. Allen’s rightful claim, dismissing the objections from the Philadelphia heirs.

Mrs. Allen later married John Cook, who preceded her in death. She spent the remainder of her life in Huntsville, Alabama, where she passed away around 1885 at the age of 80. Her life’s journey, from enslavement to defending her rights as Peter Allen’s widow, is a testament to her resilience and strength.

Peter Allen is buried in Goliad, Texas. No gravestone could be found in Glenwood Cemetery for Mary Allen Cook.

Script for Glenwood Cemetery re-enactor.

Stephen E. Taylor, “Allen, Peter,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed November 06, 2024, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/allen-peter.

Peter Allen, FindaGrave, Fannin Burial Monument, Goliad, TX, Memorial ID: 8015873

The name of Peter Allen appears on Land Office Muster Rolls as well as the Barnard and AGO revisions of the Telegraph and Texas Register roll of Fannin's Command as a: Musician in Wyatt's Company, who was massacred at Goliad March 27,1836. This is confirmed by certificate of James S. Gillett, Adjutant General, Nov. 8, 1850. [Public Debt Papers, States Library] "Killed by order of General Santa Anna at Goliad March 27,1839."

Raymond Bryant, “Remembering Peter Allen, a Texas Patriot and Son of the AME Church,” The Christian Recorder, Jul 14, 2024, <https://www.thechristianrecorder.com/articles/remembering-peter-allen-a-texas-patriot-and-son-of-the-ame-church/>.