Son of Albert and Emily (Ellsworth) ALLEN.
Aged 79 years, 4 months, 20 days.~MAJOR ALLEN, 79, DIES AT HOME HERE
Veteran of Civil War an Well-known Band Musician Led Life of Adventure As Boy
Major Alden J. ALLEN, a veteran of the Civil War, and well-known for his connections with band and drum corps in Hartford, died Saturday morning at his home, 11 Buckingham Street, following a long illness. He was 79 years old.
Born in East Windsor, December 28, 1850, the son of Rev. Albert M. ALLEN and Emily S. (Ellsworth) ALLEN, Major ALLEN in boyhood was adventurous. At the age of 14 he ran away to enlist as a drummer in the Civil War. He later was agent for the United States Christian Commission at Harper's Ferry and a camp in Maryland.
Ships on Schooner
In March 1865, the following his discharge from the Army, he first took to sea as a boy of 15. He sailed with a fishing schooner out of New London in preference to following in the footsteps of his father. The smack was returning from off Newfoundland when the first words to greet the sailors were that Lincoln had been assassinated a week before.
On leaving Martha's Vineyard, the smack shortly afterward was wrecked in a storm off the Newfoundland coast. Major ALLEN swam to shore. Eight other men on the vessel were lost at sea. The survivors were picked up by a passing boat and taken to New Bedford, at that time a whaling center for New England.
When he was 16 years old, Major ALLEN shipped aboard his first whaler for a six months' trip to the South American coast and the West Indies. On his return he joined the crew of Gideon BAKER of New London.
Shanghaied in New Bedford
After a single trip on this ship he went to New Bedford to seek another berth on a whaler. Once there he stopped at a saloon for a glass of beer and a few hours later, when he found himself in a semi-conscious condition in the hold of a strange ship, discovered that he had been shanghaied. The ship was the brig "Isabelle," a whaler.
When the brig touched at the Bermuda Islands, Major ALLEN escaped. He made his way into the interior of the island and persuaded a farmer to give him employment. Later he worked his way back to New York from Hamilton on a coaster. From New London, he shipped on his last whaler, the "Roman."
The voyage on the "Roman" was Major ALLEN's last long experience at sea. His tales of hunting sea elephants among the islands of the Antarctic seas as a boy of 17 and the stories of his adventures in both Artic and Antartic regions, were interesting to the people with whom he came in contact.
When the Barnum & Bailey combined circus came to Hartford in July of last year, Major ALLEN for the first time in 60 years had an opportunity to see some of the huge animals he encountered while on his whaling trips.
48 Year's With Colt's Company
Upon his return from sea, Major ALLEN came to New Britain and secured work with the firm of Allen & Russell, lockmith. A few years later he married Miss Julia ALLEN of Broad Brook and moved to Norwich where he became associated with the Norwich Pistol Company. He remained there for about five years and then came to Hartford where he became connected with the plant of Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. He had been associated with Colt's for 48 years, retiring a year ago. HE was foreman of the stock department at the time of his retirement.
Major ALLEN was drum major of the Governor's Foot Guard Band for 14 years. He was also drum major of the Putnam Phalanx and instructor of the Girl Scout Drum Corps and other organizations. He often acted as judge in drilling contests and fife and drum corps contests.
He leaves two sons, Albert O. ALLEN of Hartford, and Robert C. ALLEN of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and two grandchildren. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Whitney's funeral home, 65 Buckingham Street. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery.
(Published in The Hartford Courant (CT), May 18, 1930.)
~
Aged 79 years, 4 months, 20 days.~MAJOR ALLEN, 79, DIES AT HOME HERE
Veteran of Civil War an Well-known Band Musician Led Life of Adventure As Boy
Major Alden J. ALLEN, a veteran of the Civil War, and well-known for his connections with band and drum corps in Hartford, died Saturday morning at his home, 11 Buckingham Street, following a long illness. He was 79 years old.
Born in East Windsor, December 28, 1850, the son of Rev. Albert M. ALLEN and Emily S. (Ellsworth) ALLEN, Major ALLEN in boyhood was adventurous. At the age of 14 he ran away to enlist as a drummer in the Civil War. He later was agent for the United States Christian Commission at Harper's Ferry and a camp in Maryland.
Ships on Schooner
In March 1865, the following his discharge from the Army, he first took to sea as a boy of 15. He sailed with a fishing schooner out of New London in preference to following in the footsteps of his father. The smack was returning from off Newfoundland when the first words to greet the sailors were that Lincoln had been assassinated a week before.
On leaving Martha's Vineyard, the smack shortly afterward was wrecked in a storm off the Newfoundland coast. Major ALLEN swam to shore. Eight other men on the vessel were lost at sea. The survivors were picked up by a passing boat and taken to New Bedford, at that time a whaling center for New England.
When he was 16 years old, Major ALLEN shipped aboard his first whaler for a six months' trip to the South American coast and the West Indies. On his return he joined the crew of Gideon BAKER of New London.
Shanghaied in New Bedford
After a single trip on this ship he went to New Bedford to seek another berth on a whaler. Once there he stopped at a saloon for a glass of beer and a few hours later, when he found himself in a semi-conscious condition in the hold of a strange ship, discovered that he had been shanghaied. The ship was the brig "Isabelle," a whaler.
When the brig touched at the Bermuda Islands, Major ALLEN escaped. He made his way into the interior of the island and persuaded a farmer to give him employment. Later he worked his way back to New York from Hamilton on a coaster. From New London, he shipped on his last whaler, the "Roman."
The voyage on the "Roman" was Major ALLEN's last long experience at sea. His tales of hunting sea elephants among the islands of the Antarctic seas as a boy of 17 and the stories of his adventures in both Artic and Antartic regions, were interesting to the people with whom he came in contact.
When the Barnum & Bailey combined circus came to Hartford in July of last year, Major ALLEN for the first time in 60 years had an opportunity to see some of the huge animals he encountered while on his whaling trips.
48 Year's With Colt's Company
Upon his return from sea, Major ALLEN came to New Britain and secured work with the firm of Allen & Russell, lockmith. A few years later he married Miss Julia ALLEN of Broad Brook and moved to Norwich where he became associated with the Norwich Pistol Company. He remained there for about five years and then came to Hartford where he became connected with the plant of Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. He had been associated with Colt's for 48 years, retiring a year ago. HE was foreman of the stock department at the time of his retirement.
Major ALLEN was drum major of the Governor's Foot Guard Band for 14 years. He was also drum major of the Putnam Phalanx and instructor of the Girl Scout Drum Corps and other organizations. He often acted as judge in drilling contests and fife and drum corps contests.
He leaves two sons, Albert O. ALLEN of Hartford, and Robert C. ALLEN of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and two grandchildren. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Whitney's funeral home, 65 Buckingham Street. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery.
(Published in The Hartford Courant (CT), May 18, 1930.)
~
Son of Albert and Emily (Ellsworth) ALLEN.
Aged 79 years, 4 months, 20 days.~MAJOR ALLEN, 79, DIES AT HOME HERE
Veteran of Civil War an Well-known Band Musician Led Life of Adventure As Boy
Major Alden J. ALLEN, a veteran of the Civil War, and well-known for his connections with band and drum corps in Hartford, died Saturday morning at his home, 11 Buckingham Street, following a long illness. He was 79 years old.
Born in East Windsor, December 28, 1850, the son of Rev. Albert M. ALLEN and Emily S. (Ellsworth) ALLEN, Major ALLEN in boyhood was adventurous. At the age of 14 he ran away to enlist as a drummer in the Civil War. He later was agent for the United States Christian Commission at Harper's Ferry and a camp in Maryland.
Ships on Schooner
In March 1865, the following his discharge from the Army, he first took to sea as a boy of 15. He sailed with a fishing schooner out of New London in preference to following in the footsteps of his father. The smack was returning from off Newfoundland when the first words to greet the sailors were that Lincoln had been assassinated a week before.
On leaving Martha's Vineyard, the smack shortly afterward was wrecked in a storm off the Newfoundland coast. Major ALLEN swam to shore. Eight other men on the vessel were lost at sea. The survivors were picked up by a passing boat and taken to New Bedford, at that time a whaling center for New England.
When he was 16 years old, Major ALLEN shipped aboard his first whaler for a six months' trip to the South American coast and the West Indies. On his return he joined the crew of Gideon BAKER of New London.
Shanghaied in New Bedford
After a single trip on this ship he went to New Bedford to seek another berth on a whaler. Once there he stopped at a saloon for a glass of beer and a few hours later, when he found himself in a semi-conscious condition in the hold of a strange ship, discovered that he had been shanghaied. The ship was the brig "Isabelle," a whaler.
When the brig touched at the Bermuda Islands, Major ALLEN escaped. He made his way into the interior of the island and persuaded a farmer to give him employment. Later he worked his way back to New York from Hamilton on a coaster. From New London, he shipped on his last whaler, the "Roman."
The voyage on the "Roman" was Major ALLEN's last long experience at sea. His tales of hunting sea elephants among the islands of the Antarctic seas as a boy of 17 and the stories of his adventures in both Artic and Antartic regions, were interesting to the people with whom he came in contact.
When the Barnum & Bailey combined circus came to Hartford in July of last year, Major ALLEN for the first time in 60 years had an opportunity to see some of the huge animals he encountered while on his whaling trips.
48 Year's With Colt's Company
Upon his return from sea, Major ALLEN came to New Britain and secured work with the firm of Allen & Russell, lockmith. A few years later he married Miss Julia ALLEN of Broad Brook and moved to Norwich where he became associated with the Norwich Pistol Company. He remained there for about five years and then came to Hartford where he became connected with the plant of Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. He had been associated with Colt's for 48 years, retiring a year ago. HE was foreman of the stock department at the time of his retirement.
Major ALLEN was drum major of the Governor's Foot Guard Band for 14 years. He was also drum major of the Putnam Phalanx and instructor of the Girl Scout Drum Corps and other organizations. He often acted as judge in drilling contests and fife and drum corps contests.
He leaves two sons, Albert O. ALLEN of Hartford, and Robert C. ALLEN of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and two grandchildren. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Whitney's funeral home, 65 Buckingham Street. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery.
(Published in The Hartford Courant (CT), May 18, 1930.)
~
Aged 79 years, 4 months, 20 days.~MAJOR ALLEN, 79, DIES AT HOME HERE
Veteran of Civil War an Well-known Band Musician Led Life of Adventure As Boy
Major Alden J. ALLEN, a veteran of the Civil War, and well-known for his connections with band and drum corps in Hartford, died Saturday morning at his home, 11 Buckingham Street, following a long illness. He was 79 years old.
Born in East Windsor, December 28, 1850, the son of Rev. Albert M. ALLEN and Emily S. (Ellsworth) ALLEN, Major ALLEN in boyhood was adventurous. At the age of 14 he ran away to enlist as a drummer in the Civil War. He later was agent for the United States Christian Commission at Harper's Ferry and a camp in Maryland.
Ships on Schooner
In March 1865, the following his discharge from the Army, he first took to sea as a boy of 15. He sailed with a fishing schooner out of New London in preference to following in the footsteps of his father. The smack was returning from off Newfoundland when the first words to greet the sailors were that Lincoln had been assassinated a week before.
On leaving Martha's Vineyard, the smack shortly afterward was wrecked in a storm off the Newfoundland coast. Major ALLEN swam to shore. Eight other men on the vessel were lost at sea. The survivors were picked up by a passing boat and taken to New Bedford, at that time a whaling center for New England.
When he was 16 years old, Major ALLEN shipped aboard his first whaler for a six months' trip to the South American coast and the West Indies. On his return he joined the crew of Gideon BAKER of New London.
Shanghaied in New Bedford
After a single trip on this ship he went to New Bedford to seek another berth on a whaler. Once there he stopped at a saloon for a glass of beer and a few hours later, when he found himself in a semi-conscious condition in the hold of a strange ship, discovered that he had been shanghaied. The ship was the brig "Isabelle," a whaler.
When the brig touched at the Bermuda Islands, Major ALLEN escaped. He made his way into the interior of the island and persuaded a farmer to give him employment. Later he worked his way back to New York from Hamilton on a coaster. From New London, he shipped on his last whaler, the "Roman."
The voyage on the "Roman" was Major ALLEN's last long experience at sea. His tales of hunting sea elephants among the islands of the Antarctic seas as a boy of 17 and the stories of his adventures in both Artic and Antartic regions, were interesting to the people with whom he came in contact.
When the Barnum & Bailey combined circus came to Hartford in July of last year, Major ALLEN for the first time in 60 years had an opportunity to see some of the huge animals he encountered while on his whaling trips.
48 Year's With Colt's Company
Upon his return from sea, Major ALLEN came to New Britain and secured work with the firm of Allen & Russell, lockmith. A few years later he married Miss Julia ALLEN of Broad Brook and moved to Norwich where he became associated with the Norwich Pistol Company. He remained there for about five years and then came to Hartford where he became connected with the plant of Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. He had been associated with Colt's for 48 years, retiring a year ago. HE was foreman of the stock department at the time of his retirement.
Major ALLEN was drum major of the Governor's Foot Guard Band for 14 years. He was also drum major of the Putnam Phalanx and instructor of the Girl Scout Drum Corps and other organizations. He often acted as judge in drilling contests and fife and drum corps contests.
He leaves two sons, Albert O. ALLEN of Hartford, and Robert C. ALLEN of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, and two grandchildren. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Whitney's funeral home, 65 Buckingham Street. Burial will be in Zion Hill Cemetery.
(Published in The Hartford Courant (CT), May 18, 1930.)
~
Gravesite Details
Info of the Old North Cemetery was compiled by Charles R. Hale, 1932.
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