Sources_and_Analysis_related_to_Benjamin_Shy_Ben_Allen.jpg

Sources and Analysis related to Benjamin 'Shy Ben' Allen

Privacy Level: Open (White)
Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surname/tag: Allen
Profile manager: Arthur Owen private message [send private message]
This page has been accessed 338 times.

Benjamin Allen II (1733-1823) married Sarah Somers in 1771 in Cumberland, Nova Scotia and had a large family with thousands of descendants. However there are few sources for him and many conflicting theories about his parents and his life before his marriage to Sarah. I have set up this page to document known and suspected sources for Benjamin, and to analyze the validity and conclusions of these sources.

I invite anyone with an interest in 'Shy Ben' Allen to contribute sources, their assessment of source reliability and analysis of data. Contrabutions can be made to the page directly (via Edit if you are wikitree member) or added using the Comment facility (anyone). If you do contribute to this page I would appricate that you adhere to the following guidleines:

  1. when refering to 'Shy Ben' please use his nickname, when refering to someone who could be him, please use Benjamin Allen.
  2. if you add directly to the information on this page, please add a brief note of your contribution as a Comment so othere will know that a change has been made.
  3. place your analysis on a new line following the "Analysis" label and preface it with the same markup (#* or ##*) as the existing analysis plus your initials within {} (i.e. {ACO}).
  4. do not delete contributions made by others. If you disagree with their analysis, then add your own analysis.

Contents

Confirmed Sources for 'Shy Ben' Allen

  1. Nova Scotia Census, 1770 for Cumberland Township. Included in the list is an entry for Benjamin Allen, 1 man, 1 total, 1 American, various farm animals [1]
    Analysis
    • {ACO} Although the entry dos not confirm this is 'Shy Ben', other sources (Marriage, Land Petitions) place him in Cumberland Township in 1771 and in CUmberland Co since 1763. In the entry he identifies as American even though there is a column for Scot under Country, so we can conclude that he was not likley a Scotchman.
  2. Marriage Benjamin and Sarah were married 1 Jan 1771 at Cumberland, Nova Scotia[2].
    Analysis
    • {ACO} So this gives the date and place of their marriage. Note that it states that they were married "after being cryed (sic) three public days" which disproves the story that they were married immediately after the party (See Proposal Story).

  3. Land Petitions
    1. Benjamin Allen Petition 1793 with Hezekiah King[3] for land in Baie Verte for their adult sons.
      Analysis
      • {ACO} There is nothing in the petition which confirms that it is 'Shy Ben'. However in the notes made by the Government is the statement '30th Aug 1802 Benj Allen applied for 300 acres on the above [described situation]'. This can only refer to the 1802 petition by 'Shy Ben' noted below, so we can assume that this petition was by 'Shy Ben'.
    2. Benjamin Allen Petition 1802[4]. In this petition he states that he was a non-commissioned officer at the taking of Fort Cumberland (sic Fort Beausejour) (1755); at the conclusion of that War (Seven years War 1756-1763?) was entitled to 300 acres; has resided for 30 years back at the Baie Verte (shortly after his 1771 marriage); and has never received any grant of land.
      Analysis'
      • {ACO} This petition is clearly for 'Shy Ben' Allen and confirms that he was at Fort Beausejour in 1755 and in Baie Verte after ca 1771.

    3. Benjamin Allen Petition 1804[5] where he identifies as Benjamin Allen of Baie Verte. He says he has been a settler here for 40 years (since shortly after the end of the Seven Years War in 1763). Sons George and Mathew also petition for land adjacent to their father's requested land.
      Analysis'
      • {ACO} This petitions is clearly for 'Shy Ben' Allen and confirms that he was in Westmorland Co since ca 1764.

  4. Headstone There is a headstone in the Baie Verte Cemetery off Cherry Burton Rd outside Baie Verte for a Benjamin Allen. The inscription is "In Memory of BENJAMIN ALLEN who departed this life April 14th 1823 aged 88 Years".
    Analysis
    • {ACO} The age on the headstone indicates that it could only be for 'Shy Ben' and would put his birth ca 1735. However, birth dates/age on headstones are not always reliable.

  5. Y-DNA Tests The Allen/Allan/Allyn/Allin DNA Project at Family Tree DNA [6] 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 'Shy Ben'.
    Analysis
    • {ACO} Analysis of Y-DNA test results for a number of Allen descendants has been carried out by John B. Robb. [7] 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: George Allen, Sr. (c1585-c1648) of Sandwich and Samuel Allen, Sr. (c1597-1669) of Braintree. For the two kits of 'Shy Ben' descendants 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 [8] 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 'Shy Ben' Allen of Baie Verte, New Brunswick was a patrilineal descendant of Samuel Allen, Sr. (c1597-1669).

Secondary Sources attributed to the Allen Family

  1. The Chignecto Isthmus by Howard Trueman, 1902[9] Trueman says that Benjamin Allan (sic) was a Scotchman who came to Cumberland from the United States at the time of the Revolutionary War; that there is evidence that he was with Wolfe at the taking of Quebec (1759); was likely a disbanded soldier who came to Canada following the American Revolution. He aslo says that he maried Miss Somers of Petitcodiac and finally settled at Cape Tormentime.
    Analysis
    • {ACO} Given the DNA analysis that 'Shy Ben's ancestors were in New England since ca 1630 and likely England before that, he would not be called a Scotchman. His petitions for land shows that he was at Cumberland in 1755 and resided in Cumberland since 1763 so he was not a Loyalist. If Trueman had evidence of 'Shy Ben' being with Wolfe at Quebec (1759) he did not share it in the writeup, but is likely connected to the belief that he was with the 78th Fraser Highlanders (see below). Overall the information provided by Trueman must be considered unreliable.

  2. The History and Story of Botsford by W.M. Burns, 1933[10] Burns has much the same informaiton about 'Shy Ben' as Trueman, namely that he was a Scotchman from New England who fought with Wolfe at Louisburg (1758) and Quebec (1759); returned to New England until the close of the American Revolution when he came to Saint John as a Loyalist with his brother Henry; that be removed to Fort Cumberland and married Miss Somers.
    Analysis
    • {ACO} Much like the information provided by Trueman, most of this informaiton is un-true or un-proven. 'Shy Ben' was not a Scotchman, nor a Loyalist in Saint John so likely did not have a brother Henry. His involvment with Wolfe at Louis and Quebec is possible, but not proven.

  3. Proposal Story A Family story of unknown origin or date with this version provided by Bruce Trenholm, 1999. "It seems 'Shy Ben' had been away from home for a few days and when he returned one night he found all the houses in darkness, and no one home. Ben made his way down the hill to the Fort (Cumberland?), and found a town dance at the Community Hall. As he stood outside with his hands in his pockets, the boys tried to coax him inside, but was just too "SHY" to do so. Eventually, after having a couple of refreshments, Ben made his way inside and sat on a bench. After a bit he jumped up and yelled, “stop the music!”. In the silence that followed his outburst, he said, “I’m in dire need of having a wife, is there anyone here who will have me?” A big blond girl, a Sarah SOMERS, strode to the middle of the room and said, “I’ll be glad to have you, Ben”. So the dance continued, and a good time was had by all, and apparently Ben then took Sarah home with him that very night, with or without the benefit of clergy, is not known."
    Analysis
    • {ACO} While the general facts of the story may be true, the marriage record (above) shows that the wedding was only held after public notification for three days. Thus both 'Shy Ben' and Sarah had the opportunity to reconsider their impulsive decisions.

Other Sources Attributed to Benjamin Allen Indepentant of who his Parents were

  1. Military Service
    1. Capture of Fort Beausejour From the 1802 petition we know that 'Shy Ben' participated in this military operation, however The Diary of John Thomas also contains a reference to a man named Allen from Connecticut who was wounded and had his leg amputated.[11]
      Analysis
      • {ACO} The reference to "Allen of Connecticut" could mean that 'Shy Ben' was from Connecticut or that a second Allen participated in the capture and he was from Connecticut. There are no stoires that suggest that 'Shy Ben' had one of his legs amputated, so I would lean to a second Allen being present.

    2. Capture of Louisburg and Quebec with 78th Fraser Highlanders The Dec 1763 Rations List for the 78th Fraser Highlanders which was raised in Scotland in 1757 contains an entry for Benjamin Allen, Pte while the book The Fraser Highlanders by J Ralph Harper includes a Benjamin Allen, Cpl. disbanded in Canada. This same book states that Kanavan (an Irish tailor) was the only non-Scotchman serving in the regiment[12] Benjamin Allen is included in the list of Capt John Fraser Company who were victualled in Quebec in 1763[13]
      Analysis
      • {ACO} As with muster rolls, the two lists mention above provides no further information other than the name and thus the inclusion of the name does not mean that it refers to 'Shy Ben'. Even if 'Shy Ben' was in the 78th Fraser Highlanders, It does not necessarily mean that he was from Scotland as the Highlanders were posted to Connecticut prior to their participation in the capture of Louisburg (1758). After Louisburg, they moved to New York, then Boston and finally Albany. In the spring they joined Wolfe and went to Quebec (1759). Following the end of the Seven Year War (1763), the 78th Fraser Highlanded were disbanded in Quebec and thoses wishing to remain in Quebec were offered 300 acres of land. 170 soldiers took up this offer with about half receiving their land in upstate New York and the remainder in Quebec, The remainder were transported to Scotland where they were disbanded. it is possible that 'Shy Ben' returned to Cumberland, NS and that his service at Louisburg and Quebec is the basis for his request to 300 acres in his 1802 petition.

    3. Seige of Fort Cumberland 1776 Incuded in the list of Free French who joined Eddy's Rebellion for the seige of Fort Cumberland is the name Benjamin Allen. It is stated that he participated for 15 days.[citation needed]
      Analysis
      • {ACO} While this list has been used by 'Shy Ben' descendants to obtain membership in patriotic societies (eg. the Daughter of the American Revolution), Acadian researchers believe that this entry refers to Benjamin Allain, a son of Louis Allain and Anne Leger. They have also used this same list to join patriotic societies. It seems strange that 'Shy Ben', 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, unmarried and living in Memramcook at the time so more likely to join his fellow Acadians in the siege. While I don't believe that 'Shy Ben' joined Eddy's rebellion on the military side, civil lawsuits following the rebellion brought against 'Shy Ben' and others for damages caused in support of the American cause show where his sympthies were[14].

  2. Land Petitions/Grants A number of other petitions/grants were made in New Brunswick by Benjamin Allen, however, none of them appear to be related to Benjamin Allen, of Baie Verte.
    1. Benjamin Allen Petition 1786 plus 92 others[15]
      Analysis
      • {ACO}The petition was made by Amos Botsford and 92 other petitioners for land in Memramcook. The list of petitioners is divided into two sections and under the title 'Also a Separate Warrent for the Following French Families' is included Benj Allen, Michael Allen, Baptist Allen, Peter Allen and Joseph Allen who are likely the children of Acadian Louis Allain (1722-bef.1780). The Benj Allen included in this petition is likely Acadian, so is not for 'Shy Ben'.
    2. Benjamin Allain Petition 1794 plus 6 others[16]
      Analysis
      • {ACO}The petition was made by Benjamin Allain, his three brothers (Jean-Baptiste, Louis and Pierre (see Benjamin Allain (abt.1757-1839)) ) as well as three other Acadians. This petition is for the Acadian Benajmin Allain, so is not for 'Shy Ben'.
    3. Benjamin Allen Petition 1809 plus Matthew Allen, Ephraim Allen and one other[17]
      Analysis
      • {ACO}The petition appears to be for three of the sons of 'Shy Ben', but not for him directly.

Potential Parents of 'Shy Ben'

  1. Benjamin Allen (1702-1737) and Mehitable Cary ( 1709-1756)
    • had son Benjamin Allen b. 30 Jan 1733 Bridgewater, MA[18]
    • Uncle Matthew Allen appointed to be his guardian[19]
    • married Beza (Delano) Drew (1737-bef.1774) 29 Mar 1755 Plymouth, MA[20] or 1 May 1755 Kingston[21] and they had 2 children:
      1. Benjamin Allen, III, b: 01 Oct 1755 [22]
      2. Oliver Allen, b: 1757; [23] d: 1757 [24]
    • Beza Allen granted administration of estate of husband Benjamin Allen, Kingston, MA, laborer, 29 Nov 1768[25]
    • Other references
      1. History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family register by Mitchell Hahum, 1840 in which it is said of Benjamin
        • Benjamin went to Kingston and m. a Delano, and was a Sergeant with Gen. Winslow, 1755, in seizing the neutral French at Nova Scotia, where he died; he enlisted from Plymouth, where he was a tanner.
    • no other information available about Benjamin Jr
    • Online Family Trees for this Benjamin
    • Facts supporting this Benjamin Allen Jr being 'Shy Ben'
      1. was said to be at the capture of Fort Beausejour, 1755
      2. patrilineal descendant of Samuel Allen of Braintree, MA as indicated by DNA analysis. As well at lease one descendant {ACO} of 'Shy Ben' has 11 DNA matches on ancestry where the only apparant connection to these matchesis is via their descent from Ephraim Allen, brother of this Benjamin.
    • Facts that go contrary to this Benjamin Allen Jr being 'Shy Ben'
      1. birth date is off by two years
      2. History of Bridgewater .. implies he died during the capture of Fort Beausejour
      3. wife granted administration of estate in 1768
      • Analysis of above issues
        • {ACO} 'Shy Ben' birth date from his headstone could easily be off by several years. There is no death record in New England for this Benjamin so his death reference in History of Bridgewater .. could also be intrepreted has having died in Nova Scotia at a later date, say 1823, and in 1768 Beza (Delano) Allen remarried to Samuel Drew so may have wanted Benjamin declared dead via administration of his estate so she could remarry.
  2. John Allyn and Joanna Miner
    • had son Benjamin Allyn b. 29 Sept 1732 Groton, Connecticut[26][27]
    • Facts supporting this Benjamin Allen Jr being 'Shy Ben'
      1. born in 1735
    • Facts that go contrary to this Benjamin Allyn being 'Shy Ben'
      1. available family trees do not show a patrilineal descendant of Samuel Allen of Braintree, MA
      • Analysis of above issues
        • {ACO} Y-DNA test for a patrilineal descendant of this John Allyn or his male ancestors have not been identified. Thus we don't know what Y-DNA signature they would have and it is possible (unlikely, but possible) that it would be the same as Samuel Allen of Braintree.
  3. Benjamin Allen (1703-) and Deborah Savil (1706-)

Sources

  1. ↑ Nova Scotia Archives, Commissioner of Public Records Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 vol. 443 no. 10, 1770 Cumberland
  2. ↑ W Herbert Wood, "Early Records of Cumberland, Nova Scotia" The American Genealogist 24:50-53 images from Internet Archives
  3. ↑ Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918 (RS108), 1793 Westmorland
  4. ↑ Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918 (RS108), Benjamin Allan 1802 Westmorland
  5. ↑ Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918 (RS108), Benjamin Allan 1804 Westmorland
  6. ↑ Allen/Allan/Allyn/Allin DNA Project
  7. ↑ ALLEN DNA Patrilineage 2 Project
  8. ↑ ALLEN DNA Patrilineage 2 Project - George1 & Samuel1 and their yDNA (viewed 24 Aug 2023)
  9. ↑ The Chignecto Isthmus and its First Settlers, Howard Trueman, Canadiana.ca online, p.259
  10. ↑ The HIstory and Story of Botsford, W.M. Burns, 1933
  11. ↑ The Diary of John Thomas, FamilySearch.org online, p.8, 12 July 1755
  12. ↑ The 78th Fraser Highlanders, Master Index
  13. ↑ S Fraser Seventy-Eight Regiment, Blog, Jeffrey Campbell, 24 Nov 2022
  14. ↑ Jim Phillips and Ernest A. Clarke, The Course of Law Cannot be Stopped: The Aftermath of the Cumberland Rebellion in the Civil Courts of Nova Scotia, (1998) 21:2 Dal LJ 440
  15. ↑ Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918 (RS108), 1786 Westmorland
  16. ↑ Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918 (RS108), 1794 Kent
  17. ↑ Index to Land Petitions: Original Series, 1783-1918 (RS108), 1809 Westmorland
  18. ↑ Massachusetts Births and Christenings 1639-1915 on FamilySearch.org citing FHL#164,691 & FHL#164,692; for Benjamin Allen, b: 30 Jan 1732-3 Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
  19. ↑ 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
  20. ↑ 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
  21. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH7V-M5D marriage), Entry for Benjamin Allen and Beza Delano, 1 May 1755.
  22. ↑ 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
  23. ↑ Records from the Burial Ground at Kingston, Massachusetts; transcribed from Mayflower Descendant, 7 [1905]; published on USGenWeb Kingston, MA; citing p21 for son, Oliver Allen
  24. ↑ Early Vital Records of Massachusetts; Kingston - Deaths; p314; for death of Oliver Allen (son of Beza & Benjamin Allen
  25. ↑ Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records 1633-1967 on FamilySearch.org citing State Archives in Boston, MA' Probate records 1763-1771 v19-20; image#420/641;
  26. ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F74V-DS3 : 7 January 2020), Benjamin Allyn, 1732
  27. ↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7B-VQ8G : Fri Nov 10 03:22:53 UTC 2023), Entry for Benjamin Allyn and John, 29 Sep 1732




Images: 1
Marriage Record for Benjamin Allen and Sarah Summers
Marriage Record for Benjamin Allen and Sarah Summers
Collaboration
  • Login to edit this profile and add images.
  • Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
  • Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)


Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.