Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-28
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK.
Ethan Aliens Birth Place.

The Litchfeld County, (Conn.) Historica
and Antiquarian Society has been giving somt
attention to the vexed question concerning the
birthplace of Ethan Allen, and not long since
appointed Hon. Charles B. Phelps, of Wood
bury, and Payne X. Kilbourne ESQ.,, of Litch-
field, committee to investigate and report up
on the matter. On the l4th uIt, Mr. Kilbourne
presented to the Society the following report
which appears to settle finally the question
Our readers cannot fail to be interested in it.
REPORT UPON THE BIRTHPLACE OF ETHAN ALLEN.
The undersigned member, of the Special
Committee of the Litchfed Historical and An
tiquarian Society to whom was referred the ques-
tion of the birth place of General Ethan Allen,
begs leave respectfully to report:
That on referring to the published authori-
ties relating to the place of Nativity of Ethan
Allen, he finds the following divers statements,
viz: "The American Biographical and Histor-
ical Dictionary by President Allen of Bow
doin College, states that he was born in Rorbary:
Pea@a and Niles Gazetteer of ConneSicut and
Rhode Island" gives Cornwall as his birth
place; The Universal Biographical Dietiona-
ry," by the Rev. DR.. John L. Blake, says he was a
native of Salisbury: while Barber's Historical
Collections, and DR.. Jared Sparks life of Allen
assures us that he was born in LitchfeM NV
friend, the Hon. William Cothren, in his admir-
able History of Ancient Woodbury." occu-
pies some four or five pages of that work in an
ingenious argument that Allen was born within
the former limits of that town.
1t is worthy of remark that all the towns
named by these different authors are in Litch-
field County so that there appears to be no dis
pute as to the native County of the Hero of Ii
conderoga
Twill now proceed to give, briefly, the facts
and data which have led me to the irresistible
conclusion that he was born in the town of Iitch-
| field.
And (lst.) itappears from the Litchfeld Land
Records that the widow Mercy Allen, (grand-
mother Of Ethan,) was resident of Litchfed
as early as 1920, and that she died in that town
in 1928.
(2,) In Marchof the year last named. (172S,)
portion Of the landed estate of Mercy Allen
was laid out to her son Joseph Allen of Litch-
field" who was the father of Ethan.
(3.) During the years 1882 and 1875, Joseph
made frequent purchases and sales of land, in
the records of which he is Invariably styled of
LitchfeH."
(4th.) At the annual town meeting in Liteh-
field, held in December, 1885, Joseph Allen was
chosen g Leather Sealer."
(5th.) On the first page of the first Book of
Births, Marriages and Deaths, among the Litch-
field Town Records, occurs the following entry
Joseph Allen and Mary Baker was ioyned together in
marriage by Rev. Mr. Anthony Stoddard of Woodbury.
March II, 1861"
(6th.) Asubsequent entry on the same page
is as follows:
Ethan Allen We of Joseph Allen and Mary his wife
was born January ye 10, 1873"
(7th.) At the annual Town Meeting in Litch-
field, in December, 1898, eleven months after
Ethan was born,) Joseph Allen was again cho-
sen Leather Sealer.
(8th.) Joseph Allen removed to Cornwall in
l74O, where he died, (aecording to Mr., Goth
ren,) April l4th, 1855.
These facts and dates are sufficient indication
that Joseph Allen was never resident of Wood
bury; or, at least, that he resided in Litchfeld
continuously, from 1928 until his removal to
Cornwall in l74O-at which last date his son,
Ethan was two years old or upwards. It is con-
ceded that Mary Baker, the wife of Joseph Al
len, resided in Woodbury. previous to her mar
riage; as they Were married by the Rev. Mr..
Stoddard, then minister at Woodbury., it seems
not improbable that the ceremony was perform
ed in that town.
The record of the marriage of Joseph Allen,
as well as that of the birth of Ethan, is in the
handwriting of the Town Clerk, John Bird.
who was succeeded in Office by Joshua Garret in
December l738-a fact which proves that the
entries were made soon after the events took
place.
All of which is respectfully submitted by
p. X. KILBOURNE."
1t has been ascertained that the man who
held on to the last was n shoemaker