8 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
Well-Known Manchester Man Passes Away. 
Geo. Forster Allen 86 Years Old. 
George Forster Allen, one of Man- 
chester’s oldest citizens, passed away 
last Monday evening, at his home in 
Elm street, at the age of 86 years, 
His demise removes another of the old 
generation of men who have been 
prominently identified with the his- 
tory of the town for the last two or 
three generations—since the town nas 
grown into a summer resort. 
As proprietor of “Ye Olde Corner 
Store,” for half a century, Mr. Allen 
was probably one of the best known 
men of the town. Since his retire- 
ment from business some five years 
ago the old building, one of the land- 
marks of the town, has been removed. 
For some months Mr. Allen had 
been in failing health, though it was 
not expected the end would come so 
suddenly. Ten days ago he was taken 
with a slight attack of grip and the 
latter part of last week he was quite 
miserable. Sunday he was decidedly 
weak and feeble. Monday morning 
he was. able to get down stairs, but 
went to bed again in the afternoon, 
and his condition suddenly changed. 
He passed away in the early evening. 
Mr. Allen was one of the oldest of 
the old line of Allens whose ancestors 
first settled in Manchester. He was 
six generations removed from the 
William Allen who was one of the 
original settlers. A glance at the fam- 
ily tree, at this time, will renew our 
memory somewhat of Manchester’s 
early history. 
William Allen was born in 1602, 
came to this country and landed at 
Gloucester in 1624. He moved to Sa- 
lem in 1627. He was one of the peti- 
tioners for a grant to “erect a village” 
at Jeffrey’s Creek, now Manchester, 
in 1640. He was acarpenter and 
probably erected the first house built 
in Manchester. Tradition has it that 
this house was on the Plains, near the 
Union cemetery, and there he resided. 
The records of Salem speak of him 
as an enterprising and influential citi- 
zen and a freeholder. 
He died May 10, 1678, aged 76. He 
had three sons, Samuel, Onesiphorus 
and William. Samuel was born in 
1631 and resided on “Ye Great Neck.”’ 
He owned considerable landed estate. 
He was selectman in 1676 and 1693. 
He died about the year 1700. 
Jonathan, a son of Samuel, was 
born in 1686, and built a house near 
where the Orthodox parsonage now 
stands. He died in 1769. 
Jacob Allen, son of Jonathan was 
born in 1716, lived at North Yar- 
mouth (now Forest street), was in the 
old French war as sergeant ,and also 
in the Revolutionary War. 
Nathan Allen, son of Jacob, was 
born in 1768, lived at North Yar- 
mouth on the estate inherited from 
his father, was deacon of the church 
for 26 years. He died July 19, 1837. 
Grorce Forster ALLEN 
Nathan Allen, Jr., son of Nathan, 
was born in 1794. He married Lucy 
S. Allen. He lived at North Yar- 
mouth on an estate purchased of the 
widow, Elizabeth Lee. Before that 
the property belonged to one of the 
Allens called the Governor. He died 
there Nov. 9, 1826. 
George Forster Allen, who died Jan. 
20, 1913, was the son of Nathan Al- 
len, Jr., and was born Sept. 10, 1826. 
The above information was furnish- 
ed the writer by Mr. Allen last sum- 
rer, that we might be in position to 
state the facts accurately when the 
tine came. 
Mr. Allen has been honored by his 
fellow townsmen on many occasions 
by election and appointment to town 
office and also in connection with the 
church and parish. He was appointed 
postmaster in 1849 for four years, 
and he served the town as its clerk for 
six years, as selectman five years, 
water commissioner two years, school 
committeeman five years. His record 
as clerk of the Congregational church 
for forty years is unprecedented. He 
gave up the office four or five years 
ago. He was also treasurer of the 
church for 25 years, and clerk of the 
First Parish 39 years and a member 
of the Parish committee 20 years. As 
trustee of the Mary C. Martin fund 
he served twelve years. 
As holder of office, however, Mr. 
Allen will be best remembered in con- 
nection with that unique organization 
Ye Elder Brethren which has made 
Manchester famous. He was one of 
the originators of the organization and 
was its president since its inception. 
He was the president of the Histori- 
cal society for a few years when it~ 
was first organized. 
Mr. Allen became affiliated with the 
Congregational church in 1866, and 
was the second oldest member at the 
time of his death. He served as clerk 
during the pastorate of Revs. Gleason, 
Clark, Marvin, Fate, Ashley, Lin- 
coln and Ruge. 
Fifty years ago he married Miss 
Arabella McCollum of Mt. Vernon, 
N. H., who survives him. They had 
no children. He is also survived by 
a half-sister, Miss Susan Leach of 
Manchester. 
Funeral services were held yesterday 
afternoon in the Congregational 
church, the Rev. Albert G. Warner of 
the Baptist church officiating. It was 
expected that Rev. E. P. Tenney, a 
former pastor, would arrive from 
Maine in time for the funeral. A 
mixed quartet sang two 
The pall-bearers were Deacons Oliver 
T. Roberts, Edward A. Lane and 
Frank P. Knight, and Wm. J. John- 
son. 
That the parcel post is almost too 
popular is evidenced by the query of 
a person at Fort McPherson, Ga., to 
the postmaster-general at Washington 
asking what the specifications are for 
mailing a baby via the parcel post. As 
bees and bugs are the only live things 
that may be transported by mail, Mr. 
Hitchcock is wondering what he can 
do for his Georgia correspondent. 
What good is wealth to you if you haven’t 
your eyesight to enjoy it? Take care of 
your eyes. When they smart and burn and 
your head aches, it often comes from the 
eyesight pleading for aid. We can give it 
just what it needs by testing the sight by 
scientific methods and fitting you with prop- 
erly adjusted glasses. 
Starr C. Hewitt, 158 Essex st., Salem 
selections. 
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