Taken from www.ancestry.com
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12745070/person/12550709178/story/3a51d433-2d18-481b-8247-c069527169b3?src=search
The Allen Family in Northern Ireland
The Allens came to Northern Ireland from the Lowlands of Scotland, probably from Greenock, a town along the Clyde, down river from Glasgow. They first settled near Ballygalley on the Antrim coast in the 1620s. They were tenants of James Shaw of Greenock, who had received a land grant from the Earl of Antrim. As far as we know, they lived under his protection at least until the 1660s, and probably well beyond. (This information comes from census records of the 1660s.) During this time, William's grandfather Robert, probably the son of the original Allen emigre, lived and died.
One account of these years states that Robert Allen "took a prominent part in the war James II waged in Ireland for regaining his crown." This bit of hyperbole is misleading. It is likely that the entire family became embroiled in the conflict, since most of the Presbyterian population of Northern Ireland had to repair to Londonderry in the spring of 1689 to avoid the carnage of war. The seige of that city lasted from April to August, killing tens of thousands of the refugees through bombing and starvation. Though we have no evidence of their participation in this event, it is unlikely they would have survived if they had remained at home.
William's father Robert (b. 1676) has always been associated with his farm in Ballycraigy, just north of Larne. It is most likely that he settled there when he came to adulthood in the mid 1690s. His farm was in the area held by Patrick Agnew, who would have been his landlord. He married Janet Hare (b. 1679), daughter of William Hare of Larne (a tavern keeper) in 1695.
Robert was reported by his descendents to have been a ruling elder in the local Presbyterian church starting in 1715. As of 1712, there were two congregations in Larne, when the congregation of the "Old Presbyterian Church" split over the selection of a new minister. Robert's name does not appear in its records, so it is most likely that he was a member of the new "First Presbyterian Church", the more conservative of the two.
Robert and Janet were quite long-lived for their time. He died in 1770 at the age of 94. Janet lived until 1754, age 75--remarkable in that she had 23 children. Of these, eighteen are said to have lived to maturity. We have the names of a few of them:
Ann (c. 1700)
Mary (c. 1703, married Samuel Smith in 1721)
David (1710)
William (1711)
Jean (c. 1712, married John Hay in 1729)
Thomas (b. 1720, married Janet Neilson June 1, 1749)
Patrick (baptized March 8, 1721, married Ann Knox)
The Allen farm was about two miles north of Larne in a district called Ballycraigy (pictured here, looking north along the Antrim coast). It sat on a hill which slopes down to the North Channel of the Irish Sea to the east, and has a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. On a clear day one can see Scotland in the distance. The property was in the Allen family until the early 20th century. As of 1994 it was still agricultural land, though just barely. The town of Larne has expanded to what is apparently the property line. No house or other structures remain.
The graveyard of the local Church of Ireland has a head stone for the family, though it has been separated from the grave itself. It reads:
"Here lieth the body of Janet Har who died March ye 31, 1754 aged 75 years Who was wife to Robert Allen of Bally-Craigie and he died 1770 aged 94 years. Also his son Thomas Allen who died 15th August 1804 aged 84 years Also the remains of Martha Anne widow of the late John Boyle of Ballycraigie died 7th January 1866 in the 93rd year of her age."
(This is just a guess, but Martha (b. 1773) may have been Thomas Allen's daughter.)
There are still descendants of William's brother Patrick Allen living in Larne.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12745070/person/12550709178/story/3a51d433-2d18-481b-8247-c069527169b3?src=search
The Allen Family in Northern Ireland
The Allens came to Northern Ireland from the Lowlands of Scotland, probably from Greenock, a town along the Clyde, down river from Glasgow. They first settled near Ballygalley on the Antrim coast in the 1620s. They were tenants of James Shaw of Greenock, who had received a land grant from the Earl of Antrim. As far as we know, they lived under his protection at least until the 1660s, and probably well beyond. (This information comes from census records of the 1660s.) During this time, William's grandfather Robert, probably the son of the original Allen emigre, lived and died.
One account of these years states that Robert Allen "took a prominent part in the war James II waged in Ireland for regaining his crown." This bit of hyperbole is misleading. It is likely that the entire family became embroiled in the conflict, since most of the Presbyterian population of Northern Ireland had to repair to Londonderry in the spring of 1689 to avoid the carnage of war. The seige of that city lasted from April to August, killing tens of thousands of the refugees through bombing and starvation. Though we have no evidence of their participation in this event, it is unlikely they would have survived if they had remained at home.
William's father Robert (b. 1676) has always been associated with his farm in Ballycraigy, just north of Larne. It is most likely that he settled there when he came to adulthood in the mid 1690s. His farm was in the area held by Patrick Agnew, who would have been his landlord. He married Janet Hare (b. 1679), daughter of William Hare of Larne (a tavern keeper) in 1695.
Robert was reported by his descendents to have been a ruling elder in the local Presbyterian church starting in 1715. As of 1712, there were two congregations in Larne, when the congregation of the "Old Presbyterian Church" split over the selection of a new minister. Robert's name does not appear in its records, so it is most likely that he was a member of the new "First Presbyterian Church", the more conservative of the two.
Robert and Janet were quite long-lived for their time. He died in 1770 at the age of 94. Janet lived until 1754, age 75--remarkable in that she had 23 children. Of these, eighteen are said to have lived to maturity. We have the names of a few of them:
Ann (c. 1700)
Mary (c. 1703, married Samuel Smith in 1721)
David (1710)
William (1711)
Jean (c. 1712, married John Hay in 1729)
Thomas (b. 1720, married Janet Neilson June 1, 1749)
Patrick (baptized March 8, 1721, married Ann Knox)
The Allen farm was about two miles north of Larne in a district called Ballycraigy (pictured here, looking north along the Antrim coast). It sat on a hill which slopes down to the North Channel of the Irish Sea to the east, and has a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. On a clear day one can see Scotland in the distance. The property was in the Allen family until the early 20th century. As of 1994 it was still agricultural land, though just barely. The town of Larne has expanded to what is apparently the property line. No house or other structures remain.
The graveyard of the local Church of Ireland has a head stone for the family, though it has been separated from the grave itself. It reads:
"Here lieth the body of Janet Har who died March ye 31, 1754 aged 75 years Who was wife to Robert Allen of Bally-Craigie and he died 1770 aged 94 years. Also his son Thomas Allen who died 15th August 1804 aged 84 years Also the remains of Martha Anne widow of the late John Boyle of Ballycraigie died 7th January 1866 in the 93rd year of her age."
(This is just a guess, but Martha (b. 1773) may have been Thomas Allen's daughter.)
There are still descendants of William's brother Patrick Allen living in Larne.
Taken from www.ancestry.com
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12745070/person/12550709178/story/3a51d433-2d18-481b-8247-c069527169b3?src=search
The Allen Family in Northern Ireland
The Allens came to Northern Ireland from the Lowlands of Scotland, probably from Greenock, a town along the Clyde, down river from Glasgow. They first settled near Ballygalley on the Antrim coast in the 1620s. They were tenants of James Shaw of Greenock, who had received a land grant from the Earl of Antrim. As far as we know, they lived under his protection at least until the 1660s, and probably well beyond. (This information comes from census records of the 1660s.) During this time, William's grandfather Robert, probably the son of the original Allen emigre, lived and died.
One account of these years states that Robert Allen "took a prominent part in the war James II waged in Ireland for regaining his crown." This bit of hyperbole is misleading. It is likely that the entire family became embroiled in the conflict, since most of the Presbyterian population of Northern Ireland had to repair to Londonderry in the spring of 1689 to avoid the carnage of war. The seige of that city lasted from April to August, killing tens of thousands of the refugees through bombing and starvation. Though we have no evidence of their participation in this event, it is unlikely they would have survived if they had remained at home.
William's father Robert (b. 1676) has always been associated with his farm in Ballycraigy, just north of Larne. It is most likely that he settled there when he came to adulthood in the mid 1690s. His farm was in the area held by Patrick Agnew, who would have been his landlord. He married Janet Hare (b. 1679), daughter of William Hare of Larne (a tavern keeper) in 1695.
Robert was reported by his descendents to have been a ruling elder in the local Presbyterian church starting in 1715. As of 1712, there were two congregations in Larne, when the congregation of the "Old Presbyterian Church" split over the selection of a new minister. Robert's name does not appear in its records, so it is most likely that he was a member of the new "First Presbyterian Church", the more conservative of the two.
Robert and Janet were quite long-lived for their time. He died in 1770 at the age of 94. Janet lived until 1754, age 75--remarkable in that she had 23 children. Of these, eighteen are said to have lived to maturity. We have the names of a few of them:
Ann (c. 1700)
Mary (c. 1703, married Samuel Smith in 1721)
David (1710)
William (1711)
Jean (c. 1712, married John Hay in 1729)
Thomas (b. 1720, married Janet Neilson June 1, 1749)
Patrick (baptized March 8, 1721, married Ann Knox)
The Allen farm was about two miles north of Larne in a district called Ballycraigy (pictured here, looking north along the Antrim coast). It sat on a hill which slopes down to the North Channel of the Irish Sea to the east, and has a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. On a clear day one can see Scotland in the distance. The property was in the Allen family until the early 20th century. As of 1994 it was still agricultural land, though just barely. The town of Larne has expanded to what is apparently the property line. No house or other structures remain.
The graveyard of the local Church of Ireland has a head stone for the family, though it has been separated from the grave itself. It reads:
"Here lieth the body of Janet Har who died March ye 31, 1754 aged 75 years Who was wife to Robert Allen of Bally-Craigie and he died 1770 aged 94 years. Also his son Thomas Allen who died 15th August 1804 aged 84 years Also the remains of Martha Anne widow of the late John Boyle of Ballycraigie died 7th January 1866 in the 93rd year of her age."
(This is just a guess, but Martha (b. 1773) may have been Thomas Allen's daughter.)
There are still descendants of William's brother Patrick Allen living in Larne.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/12745070/person/12550709178/story/3a51d433-2d18-481b-8247-c069527169b3?src=search
The Allen Family in Northern Ireland
The Allens came to Northern Ireland from the Lowlands of Scotland, probably from Greenock, a town along the Clyde, down river from Glasgow. They first settled near Ballygalley on the Antrim coast in the 1620s. They were tenants of James Shaw of Greenock, who had received a land grant from the Earl of Antrim. As far as we know, they lived under his protection at least until the 1660s, and probably well beyond. (This information comes from census records of the 1660s.) During this time, William's grandfather Robert, probably the son of the original Allen emigre, lived and died.
One account of these years states that Robert Allen "took a prominent part in the war James II waged in Ireland for regaining his crown." This bit of hyperbole is misleading. It is likely that the entire family became embroiled in the conflict, since most of the Presbyterian population of Northern Ireland had to repair to Londonderry in the spring of 1689 to avoid the carnage of war. The seige of that city lasted from April to August, killing tens of thousands of the refugees through bombing and starvation. Though we have no evidence of their participation in this event, it is unlikely they would have survived if they had remained at home.
William's father Robert (b. 1676) has always been associated with his farm in Ballycraigy, just north of Larne. It is most likely that he settled there when he came to adulthood in the mid 1690s. His farm was in the area held by Patrick Agnew, who would have been his landlord. He married Janet Hare (b. 1679), daughter of William Hare of Larne (a tavern keeper) in 1695.
Robert was reported by his descendents to have been a ruling elder in the local Presbyterian church starting in 1715. As of 1712, there were two congregations in Larne, when the congregation of the "Old Presbyterian Church" split over the selection of a new minister. Robert's name does not appear in its records, so it is most likely that he was a member of the new "First Presbyterian Church", the more conservative of the two.
Robert and Janet were quite long-lived for their time. He died in 1770 at the age of 94. Janet lived until 1754, age 75--remarkable in that she had 23 children. Of these, eighteen are said to have lived to maturity. We have the names of a few of them:
Ann (c. 1700)
Mary (c. 1703, married Samuel Smith in 1721)
David (1710)
William (1711)
Jean (c. 1712, married John Hay in 1729)
Thomas (b. 1720, married Janet Neilson June 1, 1749)
Patrick (baptized March 8, 1721, married Ann Knox)
The Allen farm was about two miles north of Larne in a district called Ballycraigy (pictured here, looking north along the Antrim coast). It sat on a hill which slopes down to the North Channel of the Irish Sea to the east, and has a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. On a clear day one can see Scotland in the distance. The property was in the Allen family until the early 20th century. As of 1994 it was still agricultural land, though just barely. The town of Larne has expanded to what is apparently the property line. No house or other structures remain.
The graveyard of the local Church of Ireland has a head stone for the family, though it has been separated from the grave itself. It reads:
"Here lieth the body of Janet Har who died March ye 31, 1754 aged 75 years Who was wife to Robert Allen of Bally-Craigie and he died 1770 aged 94 years. Also his son Thomas Allen who died 15th August 1804 aged 84 years Also the remains of Martha Anne widow of the late John Boyle of Ballycraigie died 7th January 1866 in the 93rd year of her age."
(This is just a guess, but Martha (b. 1773) may have been Thomas Allen's daughter.)
There are still descendants of William's brother Patrick Allen living in Larne.
Inscription
Here Lyeth ye Body of Janet HAR who Died March ye 31 1754, aged 75 years, who was wife to Robert ALLEN of Ballycragie.
And he died in 1770, aged 94 years.
Also his son, Thomas ALLEN, who died 15th Aug. 1804, aged 84 years.
Also the remains of Martha Anne, widow of the late John BOYLE of Ballycraigey, died 7th January, 1866 ,in the 93rd year of her age.
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
