Benjamin Allen (1743 - 1827)

Born 4 Oct 1743 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Rhoda Allen — married 25 Feb 1773 in Weston, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 27 Mar 1827 at age 83 in Weston, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Private Benjamin Allen served with 4th Regiment, Connecticut Militia during the American Revolution.

Benjamin Allen is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-100589
Rank: Private

Benjamin Allen is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A001382.

Benjamin was born in 1743. He was the son of Joseph Allen and Rachel Bennet. He passed away in 1827.

During the Revolutionary War, Benjamin was a Private in the 14th Company under Capt. Daniel Godfrey, in the 4th Regiment under Col. Samuel Whiting. Benjamin was a member of the Greens Farms coast guard. He and several other members were captured by British raiders and taken to NYC where they were imprisoned in one of the notorious "Sugar House" prisons for six months, until exchanged.

Over the decades a large tree grew between gravesites of Benjamin and Rhoda Allen, with both tombstones being enveloped by the grand woody perennial plant. This is broadly called a Mother-in-Law Tree, coined by a similar tree at an old burying ground at Jamestown Island, Virginia. According to tradition there, a large sycamore separated the resting couple "like the mother-in-law would like to have done." It is sometimes called "mother-in-law's revenge." There is no family tradition or history to conclude this was the grand plan of Rhoda's mother, Sarah Bennett Allen.

Sources

• Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850 [1] shows child Benjamin Allen born to parents Joseph and Rachel in Fairfield, Connecticut on 4 October 1743.
• Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934 [2] shows Benjamin Allen, age 80 years, who died 27 Mar 1827 in Westport, Fairfield, Connecticut. Estimated birth year is 1747.
• Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955 [3] shows wife Rhoda Allen dying at 64 years of age in Connecticut on 10 Oct 1814, which spouse's name of Benjamin. Buried at Lower Greens Farms Cemetery.
• Find A Grave Index [4]