William Allen was born circa 1627 in Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England to George Allen (1567-1648) and Katherine Starke (1604-1656) and died 1 October 1705 Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts of unspecified causes. He married Priscilla Browne (1628-1697) 21 April 1649 in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts.
Biography
William Allen is the oldest child of the second group of children of George Allen and 2nd wife Katherine Starke,he married Priscilla Browne (1628-1697) of Plymouth, Massachusetts on 21 Apr 1649 in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Priscilla Browne was born about 1628 and died after February 17, 1697/8. She married William Allen in Sandwich on March 21, 1649 and had eight children. On June 8, 1650 William Allen of Sandwich and wife Priscilla sold to John Brown of Duxbury, weaver, land in Duxbury which was one part of three belonging to the children of Peter Brown, brother of John Brown. On April 15, 1668 William Allen sold to Henry Tucker a one-third share of land in Dartmouth which was granted to Peter Brown as a Purchaser of 1626
Early Quaker Persecution
Both William and Priscilla were very active and outspoken supporters of the Quaker movement. Over the years they were often fined for holding meetings and for entertaining visiting Quakers in their home. Aside from the monetary fines, William and Priscilla also had property seized, and on several occasions William had to endure whipping.
From The Society of Friends in Barnstable County, Mass - John Hoag Dillingham
William Allen of Sandwich, Massachusetts, was greatly persecuted for his membership in the early Quaker meetings there. He was fined, "and they left him but one cow", the marshal George Barlow, also took the goodwife's kettle; "Now Priscilla, how wilt thou cook for thy family and friends? Thee has no kettle. She answered, George, that God who hears the ravens when they cry will provide for them. I trust in that God, and I verily believe the time will come when thy necessity will be greater than mine." This drunken marshal and tool of Plymouth's blind policy is said to have lived to fulfill abundantly Priscilla Allen's prophecy.
Marriage & Family
William Allen died without issue on 1 October 1705 at Sandwich, Massachusetts in what had become Barnstable County, Massachusetts. His will, which had been written on 17 February 1697/1698, was subsequently probated in Barnstable County, Massachusetts on 26 October 1705. Although Priscilla is believed to have died in Barnstable County also, the date of her death has not been determined.[
Siblings
References
- William Allen - FindAGrave Memorial #74680094