This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: lacvt Surnames: Allen, Hammond, Shepard, Contine, Dodge, Tallman, Rose, Swift Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.dutchess/9680/mb.ashx Message Board Post: It has been a long time since I've posted and it's time to update. I'm looking for information and to correspond with descendants of Samuel Allen of Dutchess and Rensselear Counties in New York. Samuel was a brother to Alexander Allen and possibly a John Allen. He married Sarah Shepard Hammond, daughter of William Hammond and Elisabeth Shepard (migrated from Dartmouth, Bristol Co, RI to Dutchess Co, apparently via Wales, Hampden Co, MA). In the 1790's Samuel and his family moved to Pittstown, Rensselear Co, NY where his Hammond in-laws had already settled. Alexander remained in Dutchess Co. Samuel and Sarah had 17 children. They are buried in the Millertown Cemetery in Pittstown with their son Isaac. Per Samuel's will, children include sons: Abraham or Abram, John, Samuel Jr, William Hammond, Thomas, Shepard, Peter, Jacob, Isaac, Ethan, Henry; and daughters: Ruth, Mercy, Sarah, Martha My direct ancestor, Samuel Allen, Jr. married Mary (Molly/Polly/Margaret) Drake, daughter of Asahel Drake, Jr. and probably the widow of William Cheney who owned land contiguous with the Allen property in Pittstown. Despite references to the contrary, he did NOT marry Phebe Thorne and he is not buried in Mechanicsville, NY. There are confusions in secondary records on this matter. In about 1820 Samuel Allen, Jr. went to Plymouth in Luzerne Co, PA (near Wilkes-Barre) where his wife's Drake family then lived. His Allen siblings scattered further west. Samuel's 1816 will is transcribed and posted on the Rensselear Co Genweb. His daughters Martha Tallman, Ruth Swift (m. Jabez Swift), and Sarah Rose mentioned in the will have not been positively identified. It is strongly possible that Sarah married Cornelius Rose at the Schaghticoke DR Church in Rensselear County. The reference in the record is that a Sarah "Ellens" married Cornelius. Different sources have transcribed this as "Earl". I believe is is more probably a phonetic Allen. This Allen family is referenced in Dougherty's Settlers of the Beekman Patent, but the proposed linkage outlined in that text between this Samuel Allen as presented may be incorrect. Recent DNA studies suggest that it is not (e.g. that this line is NOT from Ebenezer Allen of Woodbury, Litchfield,CT and before that through Samuel Allen/Mercy Wright back to Samuel Allen of Braintree, MA and Windsor, CT. More DNA studies are needed to establish the correct linkages. Several sources such as a Boston Transcript reference and original material in the Ritchie collection in the Ballston Spa Library in Saratoga Co, NY yield clues to the back ground of this family but again, nothing has been firmly established. References are made to this Allen family possibly being from "Southbridge, Stonington, Stockbridge, Stratford, and Still River" as well as Rhode Island. I would dearly love to connect with other researchers of this family and perhaps find living direct male descendents who might be willing to participate in additional DNA study. I have considerable information in the family at this point. Laurie Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.