BENJAMIN ALLEN was born in Tisbury, on the island of Martha's Vineyard, in the year 1680, the seventh son and tenth child of James and Elizabeth (Perkins) Allen, of Sandwich and Tisbury, and grandson of Samuel Allen, of Braintree, Massachusetts.
He is said to have studied theology with the father of his classmate Russell, in Barnstable, and in 1710 was preach ing for a few Sabbaths in Chatham, on Cape Cod. He appears to have joined in the resettlement of the town of Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1715, and to have remained there for two years; and on August 18, 1717, he preached for the first time in the newly incorporated (June 1, 1716) South Parish in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. He was ordained pastor in Bridgewater, July 9, 1718, “but being an unsuccessful manager of his private secular concerns, he fell into debt, and his parish after often relieving him, became at last weary of it, and he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council.” He preached his last sermon there, October 11, 1730.
His next field of labor was in Falmouth, then the most considerable town in the Province of Maine,—including the present city of Portland and the town of Cape Elizabeth. The inhabitants of the part of Falmouth then called “Purpoodock,” now Cape Elizabeth, held a parish meeting, September 18, 1733, and voted to build a meetinghouse, and called Mr. Allen to be their minister. A church (the Second Church in Falmouth) was gathered, and the pastor installed, November 10, 1734, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Samuel Willard (Harv. Coll. 1723), of Biddeford. Mr. Allen retained this charge until his
death.
He married, April 5, 1712, Elizabeth, daughter of Deacon Job and Hannah (Taylor) Crocker, of Barnstable, who was born May 15, 1688.
His eldest daughter married the Rev. Stephen Emery (Harv. Coll. 1730), of Chatham. Another married the Rev. Caleb Upham (Harv. Coll. 1744), of Truro, also on Cape Cod, and another the Rev. Joseph Crocker (Harv. Coll. 1734), of the South parish in Eastham, now Orleans.
The following sketch appeared in the Boston Gazette of June 25, 1754 :
“Falmouth, June 13, 1754. No more Account having been given of the late worthy Pastor of the 2d Church in this Town, the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Allen, I think it proper to inform the Publick, that the said Rev. Gentleman died here on Monday the 6th of May last, in the 65th year of his age; and on Thursday following was honourably interr'd at the Expense of his Flock. God sent him to us in the height of his Powers and Usefulness and continued him a Blessing for upwards of 20 years. He was justly accounted a Person of superiour intellectual Powers, and withal a good Christian and Minister of Jesus Christ, well accomplished for the sacred office and faithful in Discharge of the Trust committed to him, as well in pastoral Visits as publick Administrations, thereby making full Proof of his Ministry, and being an Example to the Flock: His Discourses were nervous and solid, his Method clear and natural, his Delivery grave, serious and pathetick, more adapted to reach the Hearers' Hearts and Consciences, than with Words and Phrases to gratify the Fancies of the curious. He was of a healthy, strong Constitution, his Eye never dim while he lived; and tho' he used a strong Voice, yet it was easy, and without straining, and seem'd not to spend him for most of his Days. He was in some of his last years much impair'd by Lethargick and repeated Shocks of paralytic Disorders, yet continued in his Lord's Works, till they with a Fever returning with greater Force, Nature could no longer bear up. . . . After being last seiz'd, he continued to the tenth Day, but scarce speaking a Word, much disordered in his Senses, and taking little Notice of any Thing. . . . He was exemplary in every Relation, a kind Husband, a tender Father, a wise Counsellor and affectionate, faithful Friend. His Conversation very agreeable and entertaining; and tho' so well accomplish'd a Person, he was withal affable, condescending, humble and modest, never that I could observe or hear elated with Pride upon any Occasion. His disconsolate Yokefellow continues still struggling with her Infirmities, waiting for her change. He had Nine children, six of which survive him, a Son and five Daughters."
AUTHORITIES.
W. Allen, Genealogy of the Allen Family, 1882, 6, 7.
Freeman, Hist. of Cape Cod, ii, 288, 569, 591.
Lincoln, History of Worcester, 47, 221.
Mass. Hist, Society's Collections, xvii, 164.
Mitchell, Hist, of Bridgewater, 47.
N. E. Hist, and Geneal. Register, vi, 200.
T. Smith and S. Deane, Journals, ed. by Willis, 80, 81, 89, 154.
R. D. Smyth, College Courant, August 8, 1868, 83.
