Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

England his home, and became the third
richest man in the kingdom, acquiring
very extensive lands and ruling over his
tenantry more as a father than as a feudal
lord.
(I) Samuel Allen, the immigrant an-
cestor of the family in America, is first
officially recorded in the land records of
Windsor, Connecticut, on January 27,
1640, when he was granted a house lot
and four acres of meadow land in that
township. He was industrious and
thrifty, and became a prominent and
highly respected citizen in the little community
of God-fearing people. He took
great interest in public affairs, was a
leader in every effort to establish the settlement
in security and comfort, and
served as a juryman, March 5, 1644. He
was buried in Windsor, April 28, 1648.
His widow, Ann, married (second) William
Hurlburt, and removed to Northam,
Massachusetts. She died November 13,
1687.
(II) John Allen, son of Samuel and
Ann Allen, with the adventurous spirit of
his father strong in his heart, pushed far-
ther into the new country, traversing
what was then a wild and unpopulated
section to settle in Deerfield, Massachu-
setts. He established his home there only
to be killed by the Indians while yet a
young man, September 18, 1675. He married,
December 16, 1669, Mary, born
April 5, 1650, daughter of William and
Hannah Hannum, of Northampton.
(III) John (2) Allen, son of John (1)
and Mary (Hannum) Allen, was born
September 30, 1670. He was left fatherless
at the age of four, grew up amid the rigors
of pioneer life, strong and sturdy and with
the venturesome spirit of his people
strong in him. About 1690 he left Deer-
field, and striking south along the river,
settled in Enfield, Connecticut. After liv-
ing there for six years he took up his resi-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
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dence on the Saltonstall farm on King
street, and there spent the remainder of
his days, increasing in prosperity, and
enjoying the respect and confidence of
his fellow townsmen. He died Novem-
ber 3, 1739, but was long remembered as
one of the solid citizens of his day. The
farm is still in possession of his descend-
ants, who point with pride to many old
landmarks which were the work of his
hands. He married (first) May 3, 1694,
Bridget Booth, born in 1670, died September
5, 1714, daughter of Simeon and Re-
becca Booth, who settled in Enfield in
1680, and were believed to have come
from Wales.
(IV) Azariah Allen, son of John (2)
and Bridget (Booth) Allen, was born
May 2, 1701, in Enfield, and died there
April 3, 1787. He spent his life on the
old homestead, improving the buildings
and enriching its rolling acres. He married,
January 1, 1727, Martha Burt, born
July 8, 1707, died October 12, 1782, in
Longmeadow, Massachusetts, daughter
of David and Martha (Hale) Burt. Mrs.
Allen was a talented musician, and the
genial hospitality of their home made it a
center of social activity for the little vil-
lage.
(V) Moses Allen, son of Azariah and
Martha (Burt) Allen, was born in En-
field, Connecticut, May 14, 1746, and died
there September 26, 1826. He was a
man of more than local prominence, a
man of broad sympathies, keen insight
into human nature, and a genius for ad-
ministration. He had charge of supplying
clothing for the soldiers in the Revolutionary
service. Despite the almost
insurmountable obstacles in the way of
the distribution of any commodity in
those days, he accomplished wonders
along this line. He served in the Third
Regiment of the Connecticut Line, and
suffered a severe wound in action. A