In Tepper's "Passengers to America" pp 77 79 appears a list of passengers bound for New England from Weymouth the 20th of March 1635/36. Among these families we find the following:
Joseph Hull of Somerset, a Minister, age 40, wife, Agnes 25; and children: Joan 15; Joseph 13; Tristram 11; Elizabeth 7; Temperance 9; Grissell 5; and Dorothy 3. Rev. Hull also has the following servants with him: Judith French 20; John Woot 20; ant Robert Dabyn 28. (Can this be the ancestor of the Dobbins/Dobikins/Dobyns of the Shenandoah Valley?)
George Allen, age 24, his wife Katherine 30; and his "sonnes": George 16; William 8; and Mathew 6. In this family group is also a servant, Edward Poole, 28.
Obviously George Allen'a age is incorrect, if his son George is 16. He was probably a much older man and Katherine was a second wife. Under the section on George Allen will be found that he was believed to be the father of Ralph Allen and of Rose Allen, wife of Joseph Holloway, both of whom are not on the ship's list.
Between 1676 1680 Joseph Allen, grandson of this George Allen is to marry as his second wife, Sarah Hull, grandaughter of the above Joseph Hull and these are the parents of Benjamin and Reuben Allen, the first of our Allens to settle in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1730's.
Material for the Hull line is taken from the Hull Line compiled by Winifred Lovering Holman, 1941 ("Rubincam Family"). No research has been done by our compilers on the Hull line.
RICHARD HULL, probably born about 1515, died at Crewkerne, Somerset, England 1558/59. Name of his first wife, possible mother of two of his children, is not known. He marries 2nd about 1550 Alice, who survived him and was buried at Crewkerne 20 Oct. 1587. Both Richard and Alice left wills.
THOMAS HULL, the Younger son of Richart Hull and Alice, born about 1552, died December 1636 at Crewkerne. He married 11 January 1572/73 Johane Peson, laughter of Richard Peson ant Margery his wife, as recorded in the Crewkerne Parish Register.
JOSEPH HULL, son of Thomas Hull the Younger and Johane Peson, was baptized in Crewkerne, Somerset England 24 April 1596, died in the Isle of Shoals, or in York, Maine, 19 November 1665, intestate. No record has been found of his first marriage, which took place about 1619. As Joseph was living in Batcombe, Somerset, in 1634, just before he migratet to New Englant, he apparently marries his second wife Agnes there.
Joseph Hull was ordained Deacon by the Bishop at Exeter, Devon on the 23rd day of May 1619. He received his education at St. Mary's Hall, Oxford, admitted a Bachelor of Arts 14 Nov. 1614. He was a Puritan, and his theology was doubtless Calvinistic. But he was definitely not a Separatist, Independent or Brownist, as
were the great majority of the clergy who emigrated to New England at this time. It is noted that Joseph Hull boldly states his profession as "minister" on the ship's list.
Children of Rev. Joseph Hull, the first seven born in England: <1> Joanna b c 1619 20 m 1639 at Sandwich, John Bursley; <2> Joseph b c 1622, *<3> Tristram Hull b c 1624; <4> Temperance, bapt. 20 Mar. 1625/26, Northleigh, Devon, m John Bickford; <5> Elizabeth Hull b c 1628. m John Heard; <6> Griselda Hull b c 1630; <7> Dorothy Hull b c 1632 m 1st Oliver Kent, m 2nd Capt. Benjamin Mathews; <8> Hopewell Hull b c 1637 at Weymouth or Hingham, Mass; <9> Benjamin Hull bapt. 22 Mar. 1639/40; <10> Naomi Hull bapt. 23 Mar. 1639/40; <11> Ruth Hull bapt. 9 May 1641, Barnstable; <12> Dodavah Hull b c 1643; <13> Samuel Hull b c 1645; <14> Phineas Hull b c 1647; and <15> Reuben Hull bapt. Jan. 1648/499, Launceston, Cornwall. He was a Mariner. (Is this where Reuben Allen I of the Shenandoah Valley got his name, for his mother's Uncle who was only two years older than Sarah Hull who married Joseph Allen?).
TRISTRAM HULL, son of the Rev. Joseph Hull and his first wife was b c 1624 in England, died 1666 Barnstable, Mass., leaving a will. He married about 1644 Blanche, last name unknown. Blanche m 2nd William Hodges of Yarmouth, Mass. Tristram was a Capt., Yarmouth 1643, was a leading citizen in Barnstable in 1648, though in trouble at times because of Quaker leanings.
Children of Tristram and Blanche Hull were: <1> Mary Hull b Sept 1645; <2> Sarah b 18 Oct. 1647, died young; *<3> Sarah Hull b the end of March 1658, m before 1680 Joseph Allen, son of R alph Allen and grandson of George Allen, the immigrant; <4> Joseph Hull b June 1652; <5> John Hull b end of March 1654; and <6> Hannah Hull b February 1656.
Material for this lineage has been taken from the "Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey" Vol. 16, 1941, in an article compiled by Charles Carroll Gardner. Although Mr. Gardner did not know about the Virginia branch of the Allens, deed found in Shenandoah C ounty proves the definite connection.
GEORGE ALLEN the emigrant ancestor of the Quaker Allens who settled in the Shenandoah Valley in the 1730's was b c 157 , probably in either Somersetshire or Dorsetshire, England. The list dated March 20, 1635/36 at Weymouth, England shows 106 passengers for America, most of them from Dorsetshire and Somersetshire. In a letter to Ethel Baker dated 23 June 1975, Mr. Theodore Monroe Sastrom III of Connecticut and New York City, says George Allen came from Saltford, Somersetshire and that he had copies of old maps of George Allen's farm land, the village and surrounding areas. Attempts to contact Mr. Sastrom have been unsuccessful
However, we have just recently received from a correspondent copies of pages from the book "A Sandwich - Dartmouth - Kingston Allen Line", by Bertha W. Clark of Boston, which was obtained from the Sturgis Library in Barnstable. On Page 1 is the following:
"Mrs. A.H. Wright in her Allen manuscript with the New England Historic Genealogical Society, offers rather strong evidence in support of the theory that George Allen was son of John Allen of Saltford, Somersetshire, which is on the River Avon and about ten miles south-east of Bristol. Mrs. Wright quotes in full a Sommerset deed (Sommerset Record Society, vol. 51 (1936) Roll xxiii, p 241) by which on 3 May 1627 Rice Davis of Tichnam, Esq., for 32 lbs. 10 s. sold to George Allen of Salford alias Saltford yeoman his third part of a message with the buildings in Saltford 'now in the tenure of John Allen, father of George Allen,' and adds that 'these premises shall remain George Allen's, discharged of all encumbrances except the rents of the chief lord of the fee and a lease made to John Allen, George Allen, and George his son at the yearly rent of 6s 4d.' Much depends upon the interpretation of the phrase 'George his son'. If the meaning is that the lease was given to the grandfather John, the son George, and the latter's son George, then the George of Saltford was not identical with the George who came to America in 1635; for in 1627 our George's son George was only eight years old and could not have been leasing land. If, however, the word 'his' has the effect of an apostrophe (as we think it sometimes does in old time documents) and the meaning is 'John the grandfather, George the son, and George's son' then the reference might be to some other and older son of George, for some reason not named in the lease."
As to George's land in America, Ms. C lark had this to say on p 3: "George Allen's land in Sandwich consisted of two parcels; one of sixty two acres of upland at Spring Hill (Plymouth Col. Rec. 2:76) the other of six and a half acres of marshland, granted him in the land division of 15 Apr. 1640 (Plymouth Col. Rec. 1 :149)".
As stated before, George Allen was older than the 24 shown on the ship's list, and probably Katherine was a second wife, considering the eight year span between the eldest son and the two younger ones. Whether they are the George Allen, clothworker and Katherine Starkes who married in London in 1624 has not been proved.
George Allen was at Saugus, now Lynn, Mass. in 1636 and in 1637 he presumably moved to Sandwich. He was proposed for Freeman of New Plymouth Colony March 5, 1638/39 and admitted Freeman in September 1639.
George Allen died in 1648 at New Plymouth, Mass., leaving an undated will, naming wife Katherine, sons Matthew, William, Henry, and Samuel and mentions five least children, unnamed. Wife Katherine was named executrix and the will designated Ralph Allen and Richard Bourne as overseers. After George's death his widow Katherine married John Collins and she died after 1656 (Plymouth, Mass. Will Bk 1, p 84; probated at New Plymouth 7 June 1648, total inventory 44 pounds, 16 shillings from "George Allen, Ralph Allen" Thompson pp 37 38).
From Bowden's "History of the Society of Friends" published in 1850, in describing the start of Quakerism in Sandwich in 1657, we learn that Ralph Allen and six of his brothers and sisters were among the first convinced and that the father of the family, who had been an Anabaptist and had also entertained a conscientious scruple against judicial swearing, had died before Friends visited that vicinity.
Probable issue of George Allen and his wives: *<1> Ralph Allen b c 160- in England m Susanna, d c Mar 1697/98; <2> Rose Allen b c 1610, m 1630-35 Joseph Holloway and m 2nd 1648 William Newland; <3> George Allen b 1619-20 m 1st Hannah and 2nd Sarah; <4> Francis Allen b c 1620 m 1662 Mary Barlow; <5> William Allen b c 1627, m 1648 Priscilla Brown; <6> Mathew Allen b c 1629, m 1657 Sarah Kerby;<7> Henry Allen b c 1630- m 1st Sarah, 2nd Rebecca Rose, d 1690 in Stratford, Conn.; <8> Samuel Allen b c 163-; and <9> Gideon Allen b c 163-, m Sarah Pruden, d 1693 in Milford Conn.
The above list is that given by Mr. Gardner. Trying to reconcile it with the passenger list and the will, we can assume that Ralph and Rose did not come with the family, but came to America either earlier or later, that they were both grown and married by the time their father died. George Jr. was also grown and is not mentioned in the will. Matthew, William, Henry and Samuel are named in the will but unnamed are the five least children. Two of them are undoubtedly Francis and Gideon, born in America. Perhaps Matthew, Henry and Samuel are also included in the five least children, as being under age when the will was written and were still at home.
There is a persistent tradition among the descendants of Joseph Allen of Shenandoah Co. Va., that there is a kinship with Ethan Allen of Vermont, who distinguished himself in the American Revolution. Dr. John W. Wayland in his "A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia" stated that among the early settlers was Joseph Allen from Vermont and in another reference stated Joseph Allen was believed to be a brother of Ethan Allen of Vermont. Brother of Ethan Allen he was not. Samuel Allen, the ancestor of Ethan Allen moved to Connecticut in 1635, settling in Windsor, where he died in 1648. There is a possibility, unproved, that George Allen the emigrant ancestor of the Shenandoah Valley Allens, was close kin to this Samuel Allen, possibly even a brother. The fact that two of George Allen's sons, Henry and Gideon, moved to Connecticut might indicate that they joined relatives there.
RALPH ALLEN, shown as the eldest son of George Allen in the New Jersey records, was born about 160- in England and died about March 1697/98 at Sandwich, Mass. His will probated 1 July 1698, Barnstable, Mass. (Bk 2, p 75) names sons John, Joseph, Increase, Ebenezer, and Zachariah; dau. Patience. Son Ebenezer was named Executor, with brother William and Edward Petty to be overseers. ("George Allen, Ralph Allen" pp 39-40)
Early Quaker records show a Susanna Allen along with Ralph Allen as being present at a marriage of Hannaniah Gaunt of Sandwich in 1668 and it is believed that this Susanna is the wife of Ralph Allen. No wife appears in Ralph Allen's will so she probably predeceased him. Some researchers contend that Ralph Allen m 1st Esther Swift and 2nd Susanna. The will of Jane Swift of Sandwich, written in 1662 names grandchildren Experience and Jedediah Allen. ("George Allen, Ralph Allen" p 41) However, too many records indicate two men, one called Ralph Sr., the other Ralph, Jr., both living in Sandwich at the same time and evidently about the same age.
On March 2, 1654, before he joined the Quakers, Ralph Allen and his brother-in-law William Newland were among the largest contributors to a fund to provide powder and bullets to fight the Indians. According to the Proprietor's Records, Ralph Allen held 32 acres of land, including 20 acres of upland where his house stood, adjoining land of his nephew Joseph Holloway. In 1663 and 1664 he purchased Land in Dartmouth and in 1675 and 1618 conveyed all but 1/12 of a share to his children Joseph, Patience, Increase, Zachariah and Ebenezer and grandchildren Joseph and John Allen, nearly all of whom settled in Dartmouth. In these deeds his occupation is stated as wheelwright or planter. In 1671 and again in 1680 he was chosen Surveyor of Highways.
In Ms. Clark's book referred to before, on p 4 she has this to say about Ralph Allen, son of George: "Before we can discuss George's family, it will be necessary to say something about the two Ralphs; one the son, the other probably the brother of George; for the two men and the families of George and his brother have been almost hopelessly confused. We cannot accept the statement often made the son Ralph was born about 1600; for that makes him eighty years old when appointed surveyor of highways, ninety eight years old at death, and thirty eight years old at marriage. We think his birth year was nearer 1615. W e think, too, that it was the brother, not the son, Ralph who joined the Roxbury church when George did and the Sandwich church together with him; who was able to bear arms in 1643 and who witnessed George's will and was the overseer of it. It is certain that it was the brother, not the son, who about 1645 married Esther Swift of Sandwich and whose children were born at Sandwich between 1646 and 1657. We think the younger Ralph was the one at Weymouth and that he did not have Sandwich as his home until after his father's death, when the town records began to distinguish between the two Ralphs by annexing Sr. and Jr. to their names."
Probable issue of Ralph Allen: <1> Philip Allen b c 163-, of Sandwich 1661, who is mentioned only once and may have died early (Ms. Clark shows "Philip Allen 'son of Ralph' died in Portsmouth, R.L in 1669 and gives as ref. Leonard MS, Dartmouth); <2> Benjamin Allen b c 163-, at Sandwich 1660, died Portsmouth, R.L Feb. 27, 1669; <3> John Allen b c 1639-40, mentioned at Sandwich 1661 and 1673, perhaps married Rebecca, and died there 1706; *<4> Joseph, b c 1642, m 1st Sarah Holloway and 2nd Sarah Hull; <5> Ebenezer Allen b Feb. 10, 1649/50, married Abigail, d April or May 1725; <6> Increase Allen b 165-, married Rachel, died Mar. 7, 1723/24; <7> Zachariah Allen b 165-, of Sandwich 1678 and Dartmouth 1704; <8> Mary Allen b c 165-, bur April 18, 1675 Sandwich; <9> Patience Allen b 165-, married 1680 Richard Evans of Newport. She died Dec. 4, 1711.
JOSEPH ALLEN, son of Ralph Allen was born c 1642, probably at Sandwich (Note Ms. Clark thinks Ralph Allen was still at Weymouth at that time). He died in 1704 either at Dartmouth, Mass., or Shrewsbury, New Jersey. He married his cousin Sarah Holloway, daughter of Joseph and Rose (Allen) Holloway. He married 2nd between 1676 and 1680 Sarah Hull, daughter of Tristram and Blanche Hull. Joseph Allen was a Quaker, belonging to the Rhode Island Monthly Meeting, whose records supply the birth dates of his six eldest children. He seems to have lived at Dartmouth the greater part of his married life, though he bought lands in Monmouth County, N.J. in 1697 and at the time of his death was building a house there. In deeds his occupation is variously stated as Wheelwright, Husbandman and Yeoman. He left two wills, one dated 1696, at Dartmouth (Bristol Co. Mass. Will Bk 3, pp 111-112) which distributed his Massachusetts property among his thirteen children. The other will, executed in New England June 26, 1704 calls the testator "of Shrosbery" and sets aside all former wills, leaving his wife and son Ralph a lot in Shrosbery and a house that was being built thereon; to Benjamin his other Monmouth County lands, with legacies of money to his children: Daniel, Reuben, Sarah and Hannah. (Trenton N.J. unrecorded wills, Vol. 0, pas 113 and 273) Both wills were probated before Gov. Cranston of Rhode Island on October 11, 1704. The inventory of his Dartmouth estate totals over 335 pounds and stated the date of his death as Sept. 1704. The New Jersey inventory lists personal property only, appraised at some 186 pounds.
In 1718 Joseph Allen's son Josiah died at Dartmouth, intestate. By three deeds in 1719 and 1721, Josiah's eight brothers and four sisters, with their spouses, conveyed their interests in the property of Josiah at Dartmouth, and show the residences of the grantors at that time. (Bristol Co.,Mass. Deed Bk 13. pp 383-84).
Issue of Joseph Allen and his first wife, Sarah Holloway: <1> Abigail Allen b April 1, 1663, married after 1695 Edward Cottel (Of Edgartown, Mass. in 1720); <2>Rose Allen b Oct. 1, 1665, m Nathaniel Howland (0 f Dartmouth 1720); <3> Joseph Allen b Mar. 4, 1667 m 1st Rachel, 2nd 1721 Jennett Ray. He died Jan. 3, 1734/35 (Of Dartmouth 1720); <4> John Allen b July 15, 1669 (of Dartmouth 1719) <5> Philip
b July 3, 1671, died young; <6> William Allen b Aug. 10, 1673, m Elizabeth, died Dartmouth 1760; and <7> Josiah Allen b c 1675, died 1718 at Dartmouth.
Issue of Joseph Allen and his second wife, Sarah Hull: *<8> Benjamin Allen b c 1680, probably of Freehold 1706 (0f Cecil Co., Md. 1719); <9> Trustrum Allen b c 168-, living 1724; *<10> Ralph Allen b 168-, or 169-, m 1716 Amy Anthony, dau of Abraham and A]ice (Wodel) Anthony. (Of Portsmouth, R.L 1722); <11> Sarah Allen b 169-, m 1711 Jeremiah Davel (Of Portsmouth 1719); <12> Hannah Allen b c 169-, m Richard Rundels (Of Shrewsbury 1719); *<13> Daniel Allen b c 169-, (Of Cecil Co. Md.1719); *<13>-Reuben Allen I b c 169-, wife Mary signs deed with him. (0f Cecil Co., Md. 1721).
Four of Joseph Allen's sons are of special interest to us: Benjamin and Reuben of Cecil Co., Md., who were the first to settle in the Shenandoah Valley; Daniel of Cecil Co., Md., who just possibly also came to the Valley; and Ralph Allen of Portsmouth, R.L, who as surviving brother, inherited Benjamin Allen's Shenandoah Valley land, wherein lies the proof of the connection between the Dartmouth and Shenandoah Allens. More of this later.
We have a few records on the three Allen brothers who lived for awhile in Cecil Co., Md. A search in the Hall of Records, Annapolis revealed that on Nov. 29, 1714 Benjamin Allen bought 900 acres of land from Ephraim Herman (Deed Bk 2, pp 295-96). The land was located on the South side of Knawanger Creek running into the Susquahana River. Five years later Benjamin Allen sold one-half, 450 acres of the land, to Reuben Allen (Deed Bk 3, pp 274-75). This deed is dated Jan. 13, 1719/20, and on the same day Daniel Allen purchased from Ephraim Herman 370 acres (Deed Bk 3, p 279). No deeds were found disposing of the Allen brothers' lands, but the Rent Rolls show that Reuben Allen sold his 450 acres to Herman Hinkey by June 1726; Benjamin Allen sold 160 acres to John Hinkey on May 4, 1726 and his additional 290 acres to William Goftall by September 10. 1729. No further record appears in rent rolls on the 370 acres owned by Daniel Allen.
There is a gap of five years after the disposal of the Cecil County, Md. land before Benjamin Allen shows up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Possibly he and his brother Reuben resided for awhile in Pennsylvania during this period.