Family of William Allen (loyalist)
Encyclopedia
On February 16, 1734, William Allen
married Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Andrew Hamilton
, famed defense lawyer in the John Peter Zenger
case of 1735, and brother of James Hamilton
. William and Margaret had six children: John, Andrew, James, William, Anne and Margaret. Like their father, all of Allen's sons were loyalists
opposed the violent overthrow of British rule in the American Colonies.
, and served on the Council of Safety. Upon his resignation from the Continental Congress, he joined Howe's army as a non-combatant, and returned to Philadelphia during the British occupation. His estate was confiscated as a result of the Pennsylvania Attainder Act of 1778
. In 1792, he was pardoned, and unsuccessfully attempted to recover some of his assets under the Jay Treaty
of 1794. He left for England, and died in London in 1825.
) and lived as a non-combatant. He was a guest of Washington
at Harlem Heights in November, 1776, and was summoned before the Committee of Public Safety for "disaffection." He died at Trout Hall, his residence in Northampton County, in 1778.
in the 1775 Canadian campaign. Immediately after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
, however, he resigned his officer's commission in the Continental Army, and became the Lieutenant-Colonel of a regiment called the "Pennsylvania Loyalists," which he commanded throughout the war. He left for London at the war’s end, and died there in 1838.
, the last proprietary governor of Pennsylvania.
, former governor of New York
.
William Allen (loyalist)
William Allen was a wealthy merchant, Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, and mayor of Philadelphia. At the time of the American Revolution, Allen was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in Philadelphia...
married Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton (lawyer)
Andrew Hamilton was a Scottish lawyer in Colonial America, best known for his legal victory on behalf of printer and newspaper publisher John Peter Zenger. This 1735 decision helped to establish that truth is a defense to an accusation of libel...
, famed defense lawyer in the John Peter Zenger
John Peter Zenger
John Peter Zenger was a German-American printer, publisher, editor, and journalist in New York City. He was a defendant in a landmark legal case in American jurisprudence that determined that truth was a defense against charges of libel and "laid the foundation for American press freedom."-...
case of 1735, and brother of James Hamilton
James Hamilton (Pennsylvania)
James Hamilton , son of the well-known Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Hamilton, was a prominent lawyer and governmental figure in colonial Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.-Life:...
. William and Margaret had six children: John, Andrew, James, William, Anne and Margaret. Like their father, all of Allen's sons were loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
opposed the violent overthrow of British rule in the American Colonies.
John Allen
John was elected to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey in 1776, but left over his opposition to the war. He died in Philadelphia in 1778.External links
Andrew Allen
Andrew became Attorney-General of Pennsylvania, was a member of Pennsylvania's delegation to the Continental CongressContinental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
, and served on the Council of Safety. Upon his resignation from the Continental Congress, he joined Howe's army as a non-combatant, and returned to Philadelphia during the British occupation. His estate was confiscated as a result of the Pennsylvania Attainder Act of 1778
Bill of attainder
A bill of attainder is an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a judicial trial.-English law:...
. In 1792, he was pardoned, and unsuccessfully attempted to recover some of his assets under the Jay Treaty
Jay Treaty
Jay's Treaty, , also known as Jay's Treaty, The British Treaty, and the Treaty of London of 1794, was a treaty between the United States and Great Britain that is credited with averting war,, resolving issues remaining since the Treaty of Paris of 1783, which ended the American Revolution,, and...
of 1794. He left for England, and died in London in 1825.
James Allen
James Allen was the third son of Chief Justice William Allen and his wife Margaret, daughter of Andrew Hamilton, Attorney-General of the Province. He was born about 1742. He studied law with Edward Shippen and afterwards at the Temple. He was elected a Common Councilman of Philadelphia October 6, 1767, and in May, 1776, was sent to the Assembly from Northampton County. During the war, he retired to his home in Northampton(present-day AllentownAllentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
) and lived as a non-combatant. He was a guest of Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
at Harlem Heights in November, 1776, and was summoned before the Committee of Public Safety for "disaffection." He died at Trout Hall, his residence in Northampton County, in 1778.
William Allen, Jr.
William was one of the first officers commissioned by the Continental Congress, and served under MontgomeryRichard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and he is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.Montgomery was born and raised in Ireland...
in the 1775 Canadian campaign. Immediately after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, however, he resigned his officer's commission in the Continental Army, and became the Lieutenant-Colonel of a regiment called the "Pennsylvania Loyalists," which he commanded throughout the war. He left for London at the war’s end, and died there in 1838.
Anne Allen
In 1766, Anne married John PennJohn Penn (governor)
John Penn was the last governor of colonial Pennsylvania, serving in that office from 1763 to 1771 and from 1773 to 1776...
, the last proprietary governor of Pennsylvania.
Margaret Allen
In 1771, Allen's daughter Margaret married the son of James DeLanceyJames DeLancey
James DeLancey served as chief justice, lieutenant governor, and acting colonial governor of the Province of New York.DeLancey was born in New York City on November 27, 1703, the first son of Etienne DeLancey and Anne-daughter of Stephanus Van Cortlandt...
, former governor of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.