Benjamin Allen

Ancestors

Husband of Joanna (Scott) Allen — married 18 Jul 1784 in Cumberland, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

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Biography

Benjamin Allen, probably the son of Joseph Allen, was most likely born in Providence or Barrington, Rhode Island. Joseph's family is very poorly represented in vital records, so there is much uncertainty around the family structure.

Perhaps the only vital record of Benjamin is an entry for his marriage to Joanna Scott in Cumberland in 1784^[1]:

Benjamin Allen, of Joseph, of Barrington, R.I. and Joanna Scott, of Jeremiah, of Cumberland; m. by John Dexter, Justice, July 18, 1784

Benjamin passed away by 1795, when his widow remarried^[1].

Research Notes

There were many Joseph Allens living in the vicinity at this time, so selecting the father is difficult. But in the latter part of the eighteenth century, there seemed to be only one family in Barington with members named Joseph Allen. The Joseph currently connected is the father who would fit best -- his father was born in 1697 sand so would have been very old to have a son Benjamin who married in 1784. Separately, this Allen family is poorly represented in the vital records, fitting the lack of records for Benjamin. And the father of Joseph born 1697 was Benjamin, so Benjamin may have been named for his great-grandfather.

There are three Benjamin Allens in Rhode Island in the 1790 census. We assume this Benjamin is the one in Cumberland, in a household with one white male over 16, one under 16, and two white women.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Arnold: Vol. 3, Cumberland Marriages, Page 7

See also:

• Arnold, James N. Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850 (Providence, R.I., Narragansett Historical Pub. Co., 1891)

Acknowledgements

• Allen-6425 was created by Stanley Wood, Mar 22, 2012