Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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tion in all quarters. Of social nature and<br />
genial spirit, his companionship was<br />
much sought after. Possessed <strong>of</strong> all the<br />
domestic virtues, his greatest happiness<br />
was found in his own household, but his<br />
death was felt as a loss throughout the<br />
community. ' He was married, January<br />
30, 1877, to Alice Belle Main, <strong>of</strong> Brooklyn,<br />
<strong>Connecticut</strong>, a daughter <strong>of</strong> Elias H.<br />
and Sarah S. (Dorrance) Main, <strong>of</strong> that<br />
town. They were the parents <strong>of</strong> three<br />
children : Robert Joseph, Leonora, and<br />
Dorothy Belle.<br />
Robert Joseph Allyn, only son <strong>of</strong> Robert<br />
and Alice Belle (Main) Allyn, was<br />
born October 21, 1877, m Hartford, and<br />
succeeded to the management <strong>of</strong> the<br />
large estate which came down from his<br />
grandfather. His education was largely<br />
supplied by private schools, and before<br />
attaining his majority he became asso-<br />
ciated with his father in the conduct <strong>of</strong><br />
the Allyn House. This popular hostelry,<br />
many years known as the leading hotel<br />
<strong>of</strong> Hartford, has continued under his<br />
management to the present time, and has<br />
fully maintained its standards and reputa-<br />
tion. He takes an interest in Hart-<br />
ford and its institutions ; is a director<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Phoenix Insurance Company<br />
and <strong>of</strong> Spring Grove Cemetery ; a<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Connecticut</strong> Society,<br />
Sons <strong>of</strong> the American Revolution ; Hartford<br />
Club, Hartford Golf Club, Country<br />
Club <strong>of</strong> Farmington, Automobile Club <strong>of</strong><br />
Hartford, Gun Club, and Automobile<br />
Club <strong>of</strong> America. He married Louise,<br />
daughter <strong>of</strong> Francis Gordon and Mary<br />
Royal (McCurry) Graham, born in<br />
Louisville, Kentucky, granddaughter <strong>of</strong><br />
the late Judge Duncan Graham, <strong>of</strong> Car-<br />
lisle, Pennsylvania, <strong>of</strong> Scottish antece-<br />
dents, a kinsman <strong>of</strong> the present Duke <strong>of</strong><br />
Montrose, who for some twenty-five years<br />
has been Lord Clerk Registrar <strong>of</strong> Scotland<br />
and present chief <strong>of</strong> Clan Graham.<br />
Conn—5— 10<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
145<br />
They have one daughter, Mary Belle<br />
Allyn, born June 3, 1914.<br />
The Mather family, from which Mr.<br />
Allyn is descended, is one <strong>of</strong> the oldest<br />
and most interesting in <strong>Connecticut</strong>,<br />
descended from a very ancient English<br />
family. The name Mather is derived<br />
from the Anglo-Saxon word Math, which<br />
means "honor, reverence." The family<br />
is <strong>of</strong> ancient English descent, and is found<br />
also in Scotland, where at least two fami-<br />
lies <strong>of</strong> this name bore arms. The coat-<br />
<strong>of</strong>-arms used by the early Mathers <strong>of</strong><br />
Boston is : Ermine on a fesse wavy<br />
azure, three lions rampant or. Crest : a<br />
lion sedant or. This coat-<strong>of</strong>-arms was<br />
recorded as belonging to William Mather<br />
in 1602. Motto: Sunt fortia pectora<br />
nobis. Also : Virtus vera nobilitas est.<br />
John Mather was <strong>of</strong> Lowton, Winwick<br />
parish, Lancashire, England. His son,<br />
Thomas Mather, was <strong>of</strong> the same place,<br />
and had wife Margaret. Their son, Rev.<br />
Richard Mather, was born 1596, in Lowton,<br />
Winwick parish, Lancashire, Eng-<br />
land. His parents, though poor, determined<br />
to give their son a good education<br />
and sent him to Winwick School, about<br />
four miles from their home. In the win-<br />
ter he boarded at Winwick, but in the<br />
summer he traveled the distance on foot<br />
every day, and attended this school until<br />
he was fifteen years old. In 161 1 he<br />
became a teacher in a school at Toxteth<br />
Park, near Liverpool. He lived with the<br />
family <strong>of</strong> Mr. Edward Aspinwall in<br />
1614, and while there was converted and<br />
decided to become a minister. He con-<br />
tinued his studies under the teaching <strong>of</strong><br />
Mr. Aspinwall, who was a learned scholar,<br />
and then went to Brazenose College, Oxford.<br />
Before he had been long at Oxford<br />
he received a call to preach at Toxteth,<br />
where he had been teaching school. On<br />
November 30, 1618, he preached his first<br />
sermon and was ordained a minister <strong>of</strong>