Family:Samuel Allen and Mary Pratt (1)

Some secondary sources name the 2nd wife of Samuel Allen as Mary Alden. Unfortunately Joseph Alden did not name any daughters in his will, but a grandson said there were three daughters, who are thought to be Mercy wife of John Burrill, Elizabeth wife of Benjamin Snow and Hopestill wife of Joseph Snow. Because a marriage record has been found for Joseph Crossman and Sarah Alden, it is speculated that Sarah is also, but there is no proof this is the right family for her. No marriage record has been found for Samuel Allen's second marriage so there is no proof that her maiden name was Alden.

This identification of Samuel's 2nd wife as Mary Alden apparently started with Mitchel's History of Bridgewater, a somewhat discredited source, who calls Mary "D. perhaps of Joseph Alden". One can only guess what prompted this, possibly the naming of their first son Joseph and a sympathy with the marriage of brother Isaac Alden and Mehitable Allen, Samuel's sister. However, Samuel Allen tried to name a son Joseph with his first wife Rebecca Cary, only to have it die in infancy, and this was simply his next chance to use that name, so the naming of the son may indicate nothing. Mary is not listed in the Joseph Alden family by the Alden Kindred of America (view here).

While proof is not conclusive that Samuel Allen's second wife was Mary Pratt, it is at least based on some evidence. The will of Matthew Pratt, dated 1711, names his daughter "Mary Allen". Samuel and Mary Allen named a son Matthew.