John Allen

Not the same as John Alling, of Guilford

Disputed Origins & Disambiguation

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Allen-34276

John Allen is sometimes confused with his (presumed) cousin John Alling -- a spelling adopted after emigration to America -- who came to Connecticut and was an early settler there at Guilford. John Allen was a son of James Allen and Margaret (Coppin) Allen of Kempston, Bedfordshire; that he and John Alling are two distinct persons is clear from the former's role as executor of his father's will in 1657, a will which bequeathed him significant property and a dwelling-place in Kempston, at a time when the latter was settled in Guilford, married, and creating a family there.[1]

Biography

In his 1656 will, proved in the following year, James Allen gave significant preference to his son John:

"To my son John Allen that messuage, house and out house, with the close adjoining, lying in Kempston Woodend and one close called 'nyne Leyes.' And the remainder [i.e., any part of James's estate whose distribution is not specified earlier in the will] to my son John whom I make executor &c."

This makes it clear that John was not only in Kempston at the time, but likely to remain there, in contrast to his siblings Roger and Joan -- both noted in the document as "now living in New England". A 1653 marriage record in neighboring Wilshamstead ([2]) may perhaps indicate that John had taken a spouse; in any case, it appears that his father was confident that John would remain in his native shire.

No clear record of offspring has however been found, and James -- who names other grandchildren in his will -- does not indicate any children in John's case. Nor do we have a record of John's passing, so it can only be said with certainty that he survived his father, and lived -- very likely, in Kempston -- beyond 1657.

Sources

1. "A history and genealogical record of the Alling-Allens of New Haven, Conn., the descendants of Roger Alling, First, and John Alling, Sen., from 1639 to the Present Time", compiled by George P. Allen, North Woodbury, Conn.; New Haven, Conn., Press of the Price, Lee & Adkins Co., 1899, [1], p. 12
2. Birth: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMG1-RP1 : 11 February 2018, John Allen, 22 Nov 1629); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 845,461.
3. Death (date after which death occurred; based on role as executor of father James's will, proved in 1657): "A history and genealogical record of the Alling-Allens of New Haven, Conn., the descendants of Roger Alling, First, and John Alling, Sen., from 1639 to the Present Time", compiled by George P. Allen, North Woodbury, Conn.; New Haven, Conn., Press of the Price, Lee & Adkins Co., 1899, [3], p. 12; see also text of will in profile of James Allen