AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 



Early Surroundings and Training (1838-1858). 



I was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, July 19, 1838, the eldest son 

 of Joel and Harriet (Trumbull) Allen, both of early New England stock. 

 My father was a descendant, in the seventh generation, of Samuel Allen, 

 who settled in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1640. The date of his birth is not 

 positively known, nor has a definite record been found of when he emigrated 

 from England. He is supposed to have come over with the Dorchester 

 Company in 1630, in the ship 'Mary and John.' 1 The Windsor land 

 records show that he received a grant of land from the plantation at Windsor, 

 Connecticut, January 27, 1640. He died at Windsor in 1648. The present 

 public library building at Windsor marks the site of the Samuel Allen 

 homestead. Joel Allen, my father, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 

 December 11, 1810. 



On the maternal side the descent is from John Trumbull, great-grand- 

 father of Governor Jonathan Trumbull (said to have been the original 

 "Brother Jonathan" and familiar friend of Washington), who was born in 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 

 1639. 



My immediate progenitors were farmers. My father, however, learned 

 the carpenter's trade and was a house-builder in his earlier days, but later 

 bought a farm on which he spent the greater part of his life. He was 

 respected by his neighbors as a man of excellent judgment and sterling 

 integrity, whose advice was often solicited in the affairs of the neighborhood. 

 In politics he was a Free-soiler, and later a Republican. He died January 

 9, 1886, at the age of 75 years and one month, survived by my mother, 

 three sons and a daughter. My mother died June 2, 1892, at the age of 

 80 years and six months. My mother taught school for several years 

 before her marriage. She was a true helpmeet, practical, conscientious, 

 and in every way lovable and inspiring. My father had little appreciation 

 for my natural history tastes, but was kind and generous, offering to share 

 his farm with me if I would remain with him on the old homestead. My 

 mother, on the other hand, was much in sympathy with my yearnings, and 

 often used her influence in my favor. 



The first leaves of the Dorchester records are stated to be missing. 

 1 



