Rev. Thomas Allen

Thomas Allen was the son of Joseph Rust Allen, Sr. and Elizabeth "Betty" (Edwards) (Parsons) Allen, and the husband of Elizabeth (Lee) Allen

First Pastor of the Pittsfield Congregational Church. Thomas Allen served as a chaplin in the Army during the Revolutionary War. He was nicknamed the "Fighting Parson". He fought at the Battle of Bennington.

Late on the night of August 15, Stark was awakened by the arrival of Parson Thomas Allen and a band of Massachusetts militiamen from nearby Berkshire County who insisted on joining his force. In response to the minister's fiery threat that his men would never come out again if they were not allowed to participate, Stark is reported to have said, "Would you go now on this dark and rainy night? Go back to your people and tell them to get some rest if they can, and if the Lord gives us sunshine to-morrow and I do not give you fighting enough, I will never call on you to come again."[31] Stark's forces again swelled the next day with the arrival of some Stockbridge Indians, bringing his force (excluding Warner's men) to nearly 2,000 men.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bennington

A Patriot of the American Revolution for MASSACHUSETTS with the rank of STAFF OFFICER. DAR Ancestor # A001854

Info added per DAR's "Lineage Book of the Charter Members" by Mary S Lockwood and published 1895 stating:

"Thomas Allen, a clergyman, called the "fighting parson". He raised a company and was in battle of Bennington, and afterwards served as soldier in the Continental Army"

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 8 2021, 16:29:38 UTC