Benjamin Allen, Jr. was born on 30 Jan 1733 [1] and was the son of Mehitable (Cary, 1709-1756) and Benjamin Allen, Sr. (1702-c1737) of Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. [2]
In 1750, Ephraim Cary of Bridgewater was appointed to be his guardian. [3]
It is said that in 1758-59 Benjamin Allen fought with Wolfe in Quebec and Louisbourg [4] possibly with the Fraser Highlanders. [5], however, the references are not conclusive that the Benjamin Allen mentioned is this Benjamin Allen.
He died on 14 April 1823 in and was buried at Baie Verte Cemetery in Westmorland County, New Brunswick (later part of Canada). [6][7].
Benjamin Allen, Jr. first married on 29 March 1755 in Plymouth, Massachusetts to Beza Delano, daughter of Hopestill (Peterson) and Joshua Delano of Duxbury. [8] and they had 2 children ...
- Possibly he never came home, and was declared dead ? OR
- Possibly he and Beva were divorced (which I understand was rare) ? OR
- the genealogical record has confused two Benjamin Allens "of Plymouth".
For example, its possible that Benjamin died before 1768, and the rest of the story belongs to their son. His age at death suggests otherwise.
A source found ... Benjamin Allen of Kingston, laborer, died intestate and on 29 November 1768, his widow Beze was granted the administration of his estate. His inventory was taken on 30 November 1768, and included stuff from her mother Delano. His widow perceived his estate to be insolvent. An account of his estate by his widow was recorded which included necessaries allowed to her and administration fees. There was no estate remaining in her hands, and no further proceedings were had. [12]
Either way, Beza remarried in 1768.
On 01 January 1771 Benjamin Allen, Jr. married in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia (later part of Canada) to Eva Magdalena "Sarah" Somers, the daughter of Christine and Matthias Somers who moved from Pennsylvania to New Brunswick in 1766. [13][14][15]
There is a belief that Benjamin Allen fought a second time, for a very short period in 1777, with the Free French in Nova Scotia. A Benjamin Allen is shown as a Corporal, serving in Isaiah Boudreau's company of Captain Eddy's regiment which laid siege to Fort Cumberland on the Chignecto Isthmus in Cumberland County Nova Scotia. [29] This reference has previously been used to support an application to the DAR for some of his descendants. [30]
However, more recent works has this surname spelled Allain [31] and Stephen White, a noted Acadian researcher, also has him listed as Benjamin Allain, son of Anne (Leger) and Louis Allain. [32][33] Benjamin Allain's participation in Eddy's siege of Fort Cumberland has been used by some of his descendants to gain membership in National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution [34][35] Thus the same entry has been used to join patriot societies by descendants of two very different persons. So which is correct?
It seems strange that Benjamin Allen, who would have been 44 with 2 or 3 children at the time, would have involved himself in the siege. If he did feel compelled to join in, why would he have joined an Acadian contingent recruited in the Memramcook river valley when he could have joined the Cumberland contingent. Benjamin Allain, meanwhile, would have been 19 and unmarried at the time so more likely to join his fellow Acadians in the siege.
Disputed Loyalist Claim/Grant
As noted above Benjamin Allen was in Cumberland during the American Revolution and also stated as being at the capturee of Fort Beasujour (1755) and a resident of Cumberland since 1763 in his 1802 [36] and 1804 Land Petitions [37]. Thus the Loyalist Claims and Land Grants[38] would not have been for this Benjamin Allen, but for another unknown Benjamin.
DNA Analysis
Analysis of Y-DNA test results for a number of Allen descendants has been carried out by John B. Robb. [39] These Allen results cover descendants of a cluster of Maryland Allens, and some unconnected Northern and Southern Allens, and the two main Massachusetts Allen families ...
The Allen/Allan/Allyn/Allin DNA Project at Family Tree DNA [40] includes three kits (227159, 212742, 241868) all in R Subgroup d, where the Paternal Ancestor Name is given as Benjamin Allen (1735-1823) which are the dates for the Benjamin Allen in this profile. For the two kits which include 111 markers, both have the value of 13 for the Y-GATA-A10 marker, which John Robb has concluded is the signature for descendants of Samuel of Braintree [41] All three kits also have CDYa=37 which is a secondary indictor for descent from Samuel of Braintree, though not as conclusive as the Y-GATA-A10 marker. Thus we can reasonably conclude that Benjamin Allen of Baie Verte, New Brunswick was a patrilineal descendant of Samuel Allen, Sr. (c1597-1669).
Benjamin Allen (son of Benjamin Allen and Mehitable Cary) was such a descendant, although not necessarily the only Benjamin Allen who meets this criteria.
Research Notes
A Wiki Space has been created to document and analyze sources related to Benjamin Allen and his potential parents. If you have sources for Benjamin Allen that document his life before his marriage to Sarah Somers, please consider adding then to this Wiki Space.
He was born about 1735 in Norwich, Connecticut.
Benjamin Allen married Sarah Somers.
Sources
↑ Massachusetts Births and Christenings 1639-1915 on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#164,691 & FHL#164,692; for Benjamin Allen, b: 30 Jan 1732 Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
↑ Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records] 1633-1967 on FamilySearch.org; citing State Archives in Boston, MA; Probate records 1748-1750; v11-11B; image#228/642 & Probate records 1749-1752; v12-12C; image#205/596
↑ "Loyalists of New Brunswick"] by Esther Clark Wright in 1955; on Google Books; p186 for Benjamin Allen,
↑New Brunswick Cemeteries citing Provincial Archives of New Brunswick; for Benjamin ALLEN, d: 1823/Apr/14 @88yrs; cemetery: Baie Verte, Westmorland County, New Brunswick
↑Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records 1626-2001 on FamilySearch.org citing town clerk offices in Massachusetts; FHL#416,335; m: 29 Mar 1755 Plymouth, Massachusetts for Benjamin Allen & Beza Delano
↑ Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records 1626-2001 on FamilySearch.org citing town clerk offices in Massachusetts; FHL#416,335; for son, Benjamin Allen, b: 11 Oct 1755 Plymouth, MA
↑New Voices on the Shores: Early Pennsylvania German Settlements in New Brunswick by Rainer L. Hempel & German-Canadian Historical Association of Toronto in 2000; on Google Books p403 for marriage date
↑Canada Marriages 1661-1949 on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#847,576; m: 28 Jan 1833 Westmorland County, New Brunswick for Ephraim Allan & Amelia A. Brownell
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑1851 Census
Westmorland #89, Westmorland County, New Brunswick; citing RG#31; microfilm #C-998; item#1445034; p7; with Catherine Wells in household of son Benjamin Wells
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑ New Brunswick Provincial Deaths 1815-1938 on FamilySearch.org; citing Provincial Archives in Fredericton, NB; FHL#2,134,696; death certificate #86361; with Matthew Allan in entry for wife, Mary Dobson, d: 28 Dec 1930 Moncton, Westmorland County, New Brunswick
↑ Massachusetts Deaths 1841-1915 on FamilySearch.org citing State Archives in Boston, MA; FHL#2,258,907; #459; with Mathew Allen in entry for Martin Allen, d: 10 Jun 1907 Chelsea, Massachusetts
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑1851 Census of Botsford #83; Westmorland County, New Brunswick; citing microfilm #C-996; RG#31; item#18508; for David Allen & wife Sarah with family
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑Family tree on Familysearch.org & similar on ancestry.com
↑Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War v1; citing Office of the Secretary of State - Massachusetts; Wright & Potter Printing Company, State Printers in 1896; digitized: 06 Jun 2014 University of California; p140 for Benjamin Allen
↑U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications 1889-1970 on ancestry.com citing SAR Membership #16837; application: 13 May 1904; for ancestor, Benjamin Allen, b: 1735 Norwich, Connecticut; enlisted: 14 Nov 1776; rank: Corporal; discharged: 30 Nov 1776; d: 1823 Baie Verte, New Brunswick; spouse: Sarah Somers; child: David Allen; lineage ...
.1 Benjamin Allen m: Sarah Somers
..2 David Allen m: Sarah Perlie=Polly
...3 Alexander Casey m: Amelia Allen
....4 David Perlie m: Rebecca Allen Casey
.....5 Horace Edgar Perlie @35yrs, b: 04 Jan 1868 Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts; occ: Naval dentist at Charleston Navy Yard
↑Acadia, Canada, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection) 1757-1946 compiled by Gabriel Drouin & Institut Généalogique Drouin of Montreal, Quebec, Canada; on ancestry.com; for Benjamin Allain, d: 1839
↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed Jun 16, 2022), "Record of Benjamin Allen", Ancestor # A001384.
Cemeteries of Westmorland Parish, Westmorland County, New Brunswick compiled by Southeastern Branch NBGS in 2008
"Early settlers of Cumberland Township, Nova Scotia" by Mrs. Louise W. Throop of San Francisco, CA; National Genealogical Society Quarterly c1979; p184: MC3/109; children’s birth order differs among sources
"A history and story of Botsford" by W. M. Burns; p51-54: MC80/5; Benjamin came to NB with brother, Henry Allen
"Allen family of Amherst Head, Nova Scotia" by Willard F. Allen; p26; MC80/1892
"Purdy-Carter genealogical collection"; MC2852; MS1A, microfilm #F20980; for sons, Ephraim George & Jonas Allen; MS2, microfilm#F20986; for Benjamin Allen & his sons
"New Brunswick lineages" by Daniel F. Johnson; p242-246; MC80/1397
"Family tree of the Morrells & the Farquharsons" by John Morrell; v1; p41-62; MC80/1679;
Ralph Pichard Bell Library, Mt.Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick; extensive collection of Chignecto history and genealogy
Ancestry Family Tree citing #27624422; person#225 & person#241; submitted by ancestry.com member
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships.
It is likely that these
autosomal DNA
test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Benjamin:
I do not pretend that this space includes all available sources, but it is a start. I invite anyone with an interest in 'Shy Ben's parents to contribute their knowledge of sources and their analysis to this space. If you are a wikitree member, you can edit the space directly or anyone can add information via Comments on the space. If you edit the space, please follow the guidelines given, especially the one about not deleting the contributions of others
There seems to be a good source here that shows that Beza's husband died in 1768 so he CANNOT be the Benjamin who married in 1771 and therefore these 2 women should have husband profiles that are different.
Can we now finally separate them ?
I think the Bridgewater parents belong to the Benjamin who was born in Bridgewater and married Beza and he died in 1768 Kingston.
And the other Benjamin who married Somers can have parents unknown and he died in 1823.
Re: The Administrations of the Estate Of Benjamin Allen, Kingston granter 29 Nov 1768. I find it very odd that this was done basically at the same time as the marriage intentions for Beza (Delano)(Allen) Drew and Samuel Drew, 26 Nov 1768. The administration does not give a death date for Benjamin, just say that he is deceased. I believe this is Beza having Benjamin declared deceased so she can re-marry, rather than definitive proof that Benjamin died in 1768 or before.
While not conclusive, the Y-DNA data also supports the parents given for this profile although there may be another Benjamin Allen, b. ca 1733/35 who is also a descendant of Samuel Allen of Braintree, MA
More research needs to be done with this Benjamin Allen. The Benjamin Allen that married Beza Delaon was of Kingston or Plymouth. See probate info for Benjamin Allen of Kingston who married Beza Delano in 1768. Beza Allen then remarried. Beza should be disconnected and connected to another Benjamin Allen if this profile is for Benjamin Allen who married Sarah Somers. See also other researchers' comments below. Updated to include a research observation: Benjamin Allen's (this profile) attached father had land valued at 400 pounds which was distributed in 1754 to his heirs, including his eldest son Benjamin who received a double portion. Benjamin Allen who married Beza Delano and died in 1768 had no real estate in his inventory and his inventory totaled 13 pounds.
I agree that existing sources are not conclusive in identifying Benjamin's parents. I still believe that his parents are Benjamin Allen and Mehitable Cary. In the book History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater (https://www.google.ca/books/edition/History_of_the_Early_Settlement_of_Bridg/KIc-AAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover, p.93) it states that this son moved to Kingston; m. a Delano; was a Sergeant with Gen Winslow, 1755, in seizing the neutral French at Nova Scotia; where he died. Except for the implication that he died in Nova Scotia during or shortly after the capture of Fort Beausejour, this could easily describe Benjamin Allen of Baie Verte. I have added a section to his profile on analysis of his Y-DNA based on the results of two of his descendants, from which we can conclude that he was a patrilineal descendant of Samuel Allen of Braintree, MA. Thus I believe the work that needs to be done is to identify any other Benjamin Allens who are descendant of Samuel of Braintree to see whether they are a better fit for this Benjamin or that they can to excluded. Analysis of autosomal DNA of his descendants may help if DNA segments are found that could only come from Mehitable Cary or one of the other wives of potential parents.
Benjamin "Shy Ben" Allen is not the Benjamin Allen born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts (or Scotland, Connecticut) in 1733. He was born in 1735, and according to his grave marker was 88 at death, not 90. Burns (History and Story of Botsford) says he was born in Scotland (the country), and that may be true, but Burns is unreliable--he has Benjamin returning to New England after the French & Indian War, returning to Canada as a Loyalist in 1783; but we know he was married in Nova Scotia/New Brunswick in 1771, and his children were born there. His wife, Sarah Somers (or Eva Magdelena), was the daughter of Matthias Sommer, one of the eight original settlers of what is now Moncton, NB. These arrived on the ship Lovey in 1766.
I have this from another source re Benjamin Allen, son of Benjamin Allen and Mehitable Cary of Massachusetts/Connecticut--I can't vouch for it, but the sources are listed:
Name: Benjamin Allen , Jr
Sex: M
Birth: 30 JAN 1733 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts 1
Death: 2 AUG 1760 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts 2
Father: Benjamin Allen b: 6 AUG 1702 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co.,
Massachusets
Mother: Mehitable Cary b: 3 DEC 1709 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co.,
Massachsuetts
Sources:
Title: Vital Records of Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts originally
published in the "Mayflower Descendant"
Author: George Ernest Bowman
Publication: reproduced on CD by Search & ReSearch Publishing Corporation,
Wheat Ridge, CO 1997
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Other
Page: Vol. 15, pg. 197
Title: Vital Records of Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts to the End
of the Year 1850, Vol. II
Publication: reproduced on CD by Search & ReSearch Publishing Corporation,
Wheat Ridge, CO 1997
Repository:
Call Number:
Media: Book
Page: pg. 428
Somers-82 was only married once to Benjamin Allen. The question is who was this Benjamin Allen. Was he from the CT/MA Allens or from Scotland? DNA matches, while not totally conclusive, are pointing to the CT/MA option with Benjamin Allen and Mehitable Cary being the most likely as there are records that they had a son Benjamin. If this merge is not to be done, then serious work is needed on Allen-3851 to remove either parents/BOD/1st marriage/some children or 2nd marriage/many children/DOD.
Somers-82 was only married once to Benjamin Allen. The question is who was this Benjamin Allen. Was he from the CT/MA Allens or from Scotland? DNA matches, while not totally conclusive, are pointing to the CT/MA option with Benjamin Allen and Mehitable Cary being the most likely as there are records that they had a son Benjamin. If this merge is not to be done, then serious work is needed on Allen-3851 to remove either parents/BOD/1st marriage/some children or 2nd marriage/many children/DOD.
Allen-3851 and Allen-16121 appear to represent the same person because: Please take another look at these two profiles. Was Somers-82 married to two different Benjamin Allen's? Thank you, Lynden R.
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I do not pretend that this space includes all available sources, but it is a start. I invite anyone with an interest in 'Shy Ben's parents to contribute their knowledge of sources and their analysis to this space. If you are a wikitree member, you can edit the space directly or anyone can add information via Comments on the space. If you edit the space, please follow the guidelines given, especially the one about not deleting the contributions of others
Can we now finally separate them ?
I think the Bridgewater parents belong to the Benjamin who was born in Bridgewater and married Beza and he died in 1768 Kingston.
And the other Benjamin who married Somers can have parents unknown and he died in 1823.
Are you agreeable to this ?
edited by N Gauthier
I do not believe that this profile should be split, however I do not object to additional discussion being added indicating that Beza Delano and Eva (Sarah) Somers may have married different Benjamin Allens. Remember that in his petition for land, Benjamin state that he came to Nova Scotia as a non-commissioned officer for the capturing of Fort Cumberland (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/182701711?p=53921080&returnLabel=Benjamin%20Allen%20(LT8P-SFK)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FLT8P-SFK) and the History of Bridgewater say that Benjamin Allen who married Beza Delano went to Nova Scotia as a Sgt in 1755 to fight the French (https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/182838242?p=53921080&returnLabel=Benjamin%20Allen%20(LT8P-SFK)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FLT8P-SFK). This last source does state that he died there, but I believe this was based on Beza havin him decalred dead so she could re-marry.
While not conclusive, the Y-DNA data also supports the parents given for this profile although there may be another Benjamin Allen, b. ca 1733/35 who is also a descendant of Samuel Allen of Braintree, MA
edited by Arthur Owen
edited by Karen St. Jean
I have this from another source re Benjamin Allen, son of Benjamin Allen and Mehitable Cary of Massachusetts/Connecticut--I can't vouch for it, but the sources are listed:
Name: Benjamin Allen , Jr Sex: M Birth: 30 JAN 1733 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts 1 Death: 2 AUG 1760 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts 2
Father: Benjamin Allen b: 6 AUG 1702 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusets Mother: Mehitable Cary b: 3 DEC 1709 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachsuetts
Sources: Title: Vital Records of Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts originally published in the "Mayflower Descendant" Author: George Ernest Bowman Publication: reproduced on CD by Search & ReSearch Publishing Corporation, Wheat Ridge, CO 1997 Repository: Call Number: Media: Other Page: Vol. 15, pg. 197 Title: Vital Records of Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1850, Vol. II Publication: reproduced on CD by Search & ReSearch Publishing Corporation, Wheat Ridge, CO 1997 Repository: Call Number: Media: Book Page: pg. 428
edited by Bruce Allen
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9B96-DR3?i=85&wc=921D-168%3A208834501%2C1078350101&cc=1918549