The Elusive Allen Family
In trying to discover the parents of Hannah Allen (abt 1775-before 1865), wife of Jonathan Vickery (1769-before 1865), I recently teamed up with descendants of Miner A. Allen on Yahoo's Cumberland County group and will summarize below what we've jointly discovered so far about the various Allen families in Nova Scotia around the time of Hannah's birth. Miner Allen married Mary Elitia Delesdernier, so I am including references to the Allen, Miner, and Delesdernier families. Miner Allen, born 1765, is about the right age to be a brother to our Hannah Allen, born about 1775, who married Jonathan Vickery.
At Falmouth, Hants county, where Hannah Allen married Jonathan Vickery, we have William Allen and Henry Allen (often spelled Alline). Henry was a well-known Newlight Evangelist preacher and he died of consumption at age 36. According to The Rhode Island Emigration to Nova Scotia, p. 27, "Henry Alline was born in Newport, R. I., June 14, 1748. His father and mother, William and Rebecca Alline, appear not to have been of the Rhode Island family of similar name, but by their son are said to have been born and brought up in Boston, where he had numerous relatives. The boy Henry was but 12 years old in 1760 when with his father's family he clambered over the sloop's side and landed in the red mud of the Pisquid at Falmouth." William Allen was listed among the 1761 grantees at Falmouth. William is also listed on the 1770 Census. William's (1714-1789) family is described in J. V. Duncanson's book on Falmouth. An excerpt is printed in this online message. I have been unable to locate a will for William Allen in Nova Scotia. Another family tree for William Alline adds an additional son Joseph. According to this tree, William arrived in 1758 and died in Wolfville in 1799 in his 85th year. Hannah and Miner are not listed among his children.
At nearby Newport, a William Allen is also listed among grantees for 1761 along with Moses and Gideon Delesdernier. A Thomas Allen is listed in a 1792 Assessment record for Newport, Hants County. According to his will, proved 1816, viewable online at Family Search, Thomas Allen's (Sr.) wife was Desiree and he had 3 sons Thomas, James, and Christopher and daughters Lydia, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth and Ann. According to this family tree for the Card family, Thomas, son of Christopher and Margaret Allen, was born 1755 and died 1816. He married Desire Card born 1758.
Here is the will of Thomas Allen (Jr.) of Newport proved 1858. Use the arrow keys to scroll through images 374-383. Thomas Jr.'s wife was Permelia. He had sons Richard Woodbury, Silas Temple and George W., a daughter Desiree Ann, and niece Harriett Allen. Harriett was likely the daughter of his brother Christopher Allen since the daughters of James Allen are named in James's will and do not include Harriett. I have not been able to locate a will for Christopher. According to the Card family tree mentioned above, Thomas Jr.'s (1796-) wife was Permelia Card (1795-).
Here is the will of James Allen of Newport proved 1876. Use the arrow keys to scroll through images 2872-2879. James provided for wife Mary, daughters Sarah Ann, Louisa, Lucille, Margaret, Jane, and Mary, and sons James Benjamin and Robert Salter Allen. According to the Card family tree mentioned above, James's (1799-) wife was Mary Salter. Thomas Allen's family is described in J.V. Duncanson's book on Newport, which I have not yet seen.
At Horton's we have a John Allen granted land in 1763. John Allen and John Allen, Jr. are both listed on the 1770 census for the Township of Horton. In 1770, John Allen Sr.'s family consisted of 3 men, 2 boys, 1 woman, and 1 girl. John Allen Jr.'s family consisted of 1 man, 1 woman, and 3 girls. According to notes generously provided to me by Scott Taylor, the family Bible of Joseph Allen gives the ages of John Allen Sr.'s sons as John Allen Jr. (9 June 1740-1812) and Joseph Allen (7 Jan 1744-7 Nov 1813). John Allen Jr.'s wife was likely Ann Godfrey (17 Jul 1746-22 Jan 1834), daughter of David Godfrey and Priscilla Baker. Ann (Godfrey) Allen is also listed in the Family Bible.
Sylvanus Miner was also one of the early settlers of Horton Township. A brief genealogy of the Miner family is given on pages 749-750 of Eaton's book on The History of King's County. Eaton's genealogy only lists 4 children for Sylvanus Miner Sr. However, his will lists as additional daughter Ann. And, according to Eaton's genealogy, Sylvanus Miner Jr. had two daughters named Ann. The parents of Miner A. Allen are often given in online trees as John Allen and Ann Miner. Notes provided to me by Scott Taylor indicate that an entry in DeWolf's account books show that Miner Allen and Timothy Allen charged items to the account of John Allen Sr. However, Ann Miner was born in 1838 and John Allen Sr. had sons John and Joseph, born 1740 and 1744 respectively. So Ann Miner must have been his second wife as she is not much older than his sons.
According to DNA matches I'm getting on Ancestry, I'm related to other descendants of John Allen Sr. and Ann Miner. So far, I have matches to a descendant of Miner Allen, and also to descendants of Sylvanus Miner and Ann Avery through their sons Thomas Griffin Miner and Sylvanus Miner. There is also a match to a descendent of Thomas Avery and Ann Shapley through their daughter Mary. However, I can't determine whether Hannah Allen is the daughter of John Allen Sr. and Ann Miner or their granddaughter.
Around 1810, Sylvanus Miner the 3rd made his way on foot to the Fort Lawrence area. There are two Miner graves at Fort Lawrence: Sylvanus Miner d. October 6, 1874 in his 88th year and Elizabeth Miner (Church) d. July 19, 1816 aged 28 years. The Chignecto Isthmus and its First Settlers, p. 245 tells us that "Mr. Miner's father died when he was a boy, and his mother apprenticed her son to a blacksmith. His mother was a Miss Brownell, of Jolicure." Jolicure is close to Fort Lawrence and may explain why Sylvanus went there.
At Fort Lawrence, we have another John Allen. This John Allen, from Scotland, took part in the 1776 Eddy Rebellion and was later arrested for treason but was apparently acquitted. Although Moses Delesdernier was in Fort Lawrence at the same time as this John Allen, I doubt that Miner A. Allen was his son. (See the genealogy included starting on print page 25 of the Memoir of Colonel John Allen. Moses Delesdernier was in Fort Lawrence during the Eddy Rebellion and there was some question as to whether he took part. We know that Delesdernier married Eleanor Bonner in 1761 in Falmouth Nova Scotia and his daughter Martha Maria was born there in 1762. In 1775, the eldest daughter Martha Maria Delesdernier (1762-1803) married John Uniacke in Hillsboro New Brunswick at the age of 13. John Uniacke definitely took part in the Eddy Rebellion but appears to have gotten off easily and later became quite successful. According to an online biography, Moses Delesdernier went to Hillsboro New Brunswick sometimes between 1765 and 1768 when he became Justice of the Peace there. By 1770 his household included 9 members. So, if Mary Elitia Delesdernier is the daughter of Moses Delesdernier and was born in 1766 as several trees have indicated, it's possible she was born in New Brunswick rather than Falmouth. Certainly, she was no longer in Falmouth by the time she reached a marriageable age unless Delesdernier returned to the area when he left Fort Lawrence. According to Oxford: Recollections of a Small Town 1791-1991, Moses Delesdernier of Petitcodiac New Brunswick sold 500 acres of the 2500 he had been granted in River Philip to William Allen of Baie Verte in 1791. By coincidence, another 875 acres of the same grant became the homestead of John Ripley.
At Falmouth, Hants county, where Hannah Allen married Jonathan Vickery, we have William Allen and Henry Allen (often spelled Alline). Henry was a well-known Newlight Evangelist preacher and he died of consumption at age 36. According to The Rhode Island Emigration to Nova Scotia, p. 27, "Henry Alline was born in Newport, R. I., June 14, 1748. His father and mother, William and Rebecca Alline, appear not to have been of the Rhode Island family of similar name, but by their son are said to have been born and brought up in Boston, where he had numerous relatives. The boy Henry was but 12 years old in 1760 when with his father's family he clambered over the sloop's side and landed in the red mud of the Pisquid at Falmouth." William Allen was listed among the 1761 grantees at Falmouth. William is also listed on the 1770 Census. William's (1714-1789) family is described in J. V. Duncanson's book on Falmouth. An excerpt is printed in this online message. I have been unable to locate a will for William Allen in Nova Scotia. Another family tree for William Alline adds an additional son Joseph. According to this tree, William arrived in 1758 and died in Wolfville in 1799 in his 85th year. Hannah and Miner are not listed among his children.
At nearby Newport, a William Allen is also listed among grantees for 1761 along with Moses and Gideon Delesdernier. A Thomas Allen is listed in a 1792 Assessment record for Newport, Hants County. According to his will, proved 1816, viewable online at Family Search, Thomas Allen's (Sr.) wife was Desiree and he had 3 sons Thomas, James, and Christopher and daughters Lydia, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth and Ann. According to this family tree for the Card family, Thomas, son of Christopher and Margaret Allen, was born 1755 and died 1816. He married Desire Card born 1758.
Here is the will of Thomas Allen (Jr.) of Newport proved 1858. Use the arrow keys to scroll through images 374-383. Thomas Jr.'s wife was Permelia. He had sons Richard Woodbury, Silas Temple and George W., a daughter Desiree Ann, and niece Harriett Allen. Harriett was likely the daughter of his brother Christopher Allen since the daughters of James Allen are named in James's will and do not include Harriett. I have not been able to locate a will for Christopher. According to the Card family tree mentioned above, Thomas Jr.'s (1796-) wife was Permelia Card (1795-).
Here is the will of James Allen of Newport proved 1876. Use the arrow keys to scroll through images 2872-2879. James provided for wife Mary, daughters Sarah Ann, Louisa, Lucille, Margaret, Jane, and Mary, and sons James Benjamin and Robert Salter Allen. According to the Card family tree mentioned above, James's (1799-) wife was Mary Salter. Thomas Allen's family is described in J.V. Duncanson's book on Newport, which I have not yet seen.
At Horton's we have a John Allen granted land in 1763. John Allen and John Allen, Jr. are both listed on the 1770 census for the Township of Horton. In 1770, John Allen Sr.'s family consisted of 3 men, 2 boys, 1 woman, and 1 girl. John Allen Jr.'s family consisted of 1 man, 1 woman, and 3 girls. According to notes generously provided to me by Scott Taylor, the family Bible of Joseph Allen gives the ages of John Allen Sr.'s sons as John Allen Jr. (9 June 1740-1812) and Joseph Allen (7 Jan 1744-7 Nov 1813). John Allen Jr.'s wife was likely Ann Godfrey (17 Jul 1746-22 Jan 1834), daughter of David Godfrey and Priscilla Baker. Ann (Godfrey) Allen is also listed in the Family Bible.
Sylvanus Miner was also one of the early settlers of Horton Township. A brief genealogy of the Miner family is given on pages 749-750 of Eaton's book on The History of King's County. Eaton's genealogy only lists 4 children for Sylvanus Miner Sr. However, his will lists as additional daughter Ann. And, according to Eaton's genealogy, Sylvanus Miner Jr. had two daughters named Ann. The parents of Miner A. Allen are often given in online trees as John Allen and Ann Miner. Notes provided to me by Scott Taylor indicate that an entry in DeWolf's account books show that Miner Allen and Timothy Allen charged items to the account of John Allen Sr. However, Ann Miner was born in 1838 and John Allen Sr. had sons John and Joseph, born 1740 and 1744 respectively. So Ann Miner must have been his second wife as she is not much older than his sons.
According to DNA matches I'm getting on Ancestry, I'm related to other descendants of John Allen Sr. and Ann Miner. So far, I have matches to a descendant of Miner Allen, and also to descendants of Sylvanus Miner and Ann Avery through their sons Thomas Griffin Miner and Sylvanus Miner. There is also a match to a descendent of Thomas Avery and Ann Shapley through their daughter Mary. However, I can't determine whether Hannah Allen is the daughter of John Allen Sr. and Ann Miner or their granddaughter.
Around 1810, Sylvanus Miner the 3rd made his way on foot to the Fort Lawrence area. There are two Miner graves at Fort Lawrence: Sylvanus Miner d. October 6, 1874 in his 88th year and Elizabeth Miner (Church) d. July 19, 1816 aged 28 years. The Chignecto Isthmus and its First Settlers, p. 245 tells us that "Mr. Miner's father died when he was a boy, and his mother apprenticed her son to a blacksmith. His mother was a Miss Brownell, of Jolicure." Jolicure is close to Fort Lawrence and may explain why Sylvanus went there.
At Fort Lawrence, we have another John Allen. This John Allen, from Scotland, took part in the 1776 Eddy Rebellion and was later arrested for treason but was apparently acquitted. Although Moses Delesdernier was in Fort Lawrence at the same time as this John Allen, I doubt that Miner A. Allen was his son. (See the genealogy included starting on print page 25 of the Memoir of Colonel John Allen. Moses Delesdernier was in Fort Lawrence during the Eddy Rebellion and there was some question as to whether he took part. We know that Delesdernier married Eleanor Bonner in 1761 in Falmouth Nova Scotia and his daughter Martha Maria was born there in 1762. In 1775, the eldest daughter Martha Maria Delesdernier (1762-1803) married John Uniacke in Hillsboro New Brunswick at the age of 13. John Uniacke definitely took part in the Eddy Rebellion but appears to have gotten off easily and later became quite successful. According to an online biography, Moses Delesdernier went to Hillsboro New Brunswick sometimes between 1765 and 1768 when he became Justice of the Peace there. By 1770 his household included 9 members. So, if Mary Elitia Delesdernier is the daughter of Moses Delesdernier and was born in 1766 as several trees have indicated, it's possible she was born in New Brunswick rather than Falmouth. Certainly, she was no longer in Falmouth by the time she reached a marriageable age unless Delesdernier returned to the area when he left Fort Lawrence. According to Oxford: Recollections of a Small Town 1791-1991, Moses Delesdernier of Petitcodiac New Brunswick sold 500 acres of the 2500 he had been granted in River Philip to William Allen of Baie Verte in 1791. By coincidence, another 875 acres of the same grant became the homestead of John Ripley.
Sources:
Rhode Island Settlers on the French Lands in Nova Scotia 1760 and 1761. Viewable online.
J. V. Duncanson (1965), Falmouth – a New England township in Nova Scotia, 1760–1965 (Windsor, Ont.).
J. V. Duncanson (1985). Newport, Nova Scotia, a Rhode Island township . Belleville, Ont.: Mika Pub.
Census Returns, Assessments, and Poll Tax Records 1767-1838. Searchable database online at Nova Scotia Archives.
George H. Allan (1867). A Memoir of Colonel John Allen. Albany: Joel Munsell. Viewable online.
Ray Greene Huling (1889). The Rhode Island Emigration to Nova Scotia. Providence Rhode Island: Reprinted from the Narragansett Historical Register. Viewable online.
Sources I would like to see:
C.St. Stayner, The Allen Family of Falmouth, Nova Scotia
J. Stanley Allen, Sun Bright and Well Beloved
Rhode Island Settlers on the French Lands in Nova Scotia 1760 and 1761. Viewable online.
J. V. Duncanson (1965), Falmouth – a New England township in Nova Scotia, 1760–1965 (Windsor, Ont.).
J. V. Duncanson (1985). Newport, Nova Scotia, a Rhode Island township . Belleville, Ont.: Mika Pub.
Census Returns, Assessments, and Poll Tax Records 1767-1838. Searchable database online at Nova Scotia Archives.
George H. Allan (1867). A Memoir of Colonel John Allen. Albany: Joel Munsell. Viewable online.
Ray Greene Huling (1889). The Rhode Island Emigration to Nova Scotia. Providence Rhode Island: Reprinted from the Narragansett Historical Register. Viewable online.
Sources I would like to see:
C.St. Stayner, The Allen Family of Falmouth, Nova Scotia
J. Stanley Allen, Sun Bright and Well Beloved