From "The History of the Alison or Allison Family" by Morrison. The subject of this sketch was the immediate founder of the family of Allisons, which for a number of generations have lived within Haverstraw, Rockland county, New York. Mr. Allison was born in Hempstead, Long Island, N. Y., and was one of the company that purchased the north part of the Kakiat patent of land in Orange county, the portion which is now in Rockland county, in the year 1719, on which they founded the settlement of New Hempstead, now Ramapo. He became owner of the greater part of DeHart's patent, which included the present townships of Haverstraw and Grassy Point in Orange county, now in Rockland county. In the strength of his manhood and in the hey-day of life, he, with his family, removed to New Hempstead and later to Haverstraw, and founded his home, which remained such till his death. His house stood on the bank of the sparkling Hudson river "on the west side of what is called Allison street and about eight rods north of Main street" in Haverstraw. (History of Rockland county.) From the knowledge we have of his business enterprises, he appears to have been a man of push and executive ability. In the history of Rockland county he is called of the English settlers, i. e., of English descent. He died in 1754, between June 6, when his will was made, and Oct. 21, when it was proven in court. He was probably buried in the old cemetery on the "Neck" near the Minisceongo creek, or in the old Allison burying-ground, some sixty rods east of the former home of Benjamin Allison.

“John Allison’s family followed the Presbyterian scots from Hempstead, L.I. In 1719 he purchased land that included much of Haverstraw and Stony Point.”

“The southern part of the old DeHart purchase was owned by John Allison, the ancestor of the Allison family,who was one of the Colonists who came from Hempstead, Long Island in 1719, and purchased a part of the Kakiat patent, over the mountain, and established the village of New Hempstead. It had formerly been known by the old Indian name of Kakiate.
Thus John Allison was the owner of Haverstraw before the Revolution, with the exception of a sectionof the southern part owned by John DeNoyelles. When John Allison died he left the tract to his son, Joseph. The house in which they lived stood on the bank of the river just a little north of the present Main Street. It was a small two story building with a large kitchen attached, for the Allisons were quite large slave holders. The gate to the farm was what is now the corner of Broad Street and Broadway.”