Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-09-08
,PIRIT OF THE PRESS
ACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
COL. ERENEzER ALLEN.

The building of the Rutlsnd-Canadian
DAD north from Burlington by way of
he islands, is not as altogether recent
project as some may have supposed. In
"Short Biography of Colonel Ebenezer
Men," printed in a pamphlet by DR..
Melvin Barnes in 1881, he mentions the
eef which extends from Colchester
POINT to Aliens Point on Grand Isle, and
avs that the proposed extension of the
Rutland railroad north will cross from
he main land to the islands along that
eef. Aliens Point takes its name from
Jol. Ebenezer Allen, who was the first
etter in the town of South Hero. He
was prominent pioneer in the New
Hampshire Grants, an active participant
n the organization of the state of Yer
mont, brave soldier, cool leader and
typical Green Mountain boy. His bio
Eraphers say that though Ethan Allen
Ind Ebenezer Allen were associated in
various enterprises and had similar traits
bf character. there was no blood relation
hip between them. This, however, has
been discovered to be a mistake. Mr..
b. p. Allen of Palmer Mass, who is
preparing genealogy of the Allen
family, has traced the line of descent
bf each to a common ancestor. He finds
hat Nehemiah Allen, the great grand
ather of Gen. Ethan Allen, and Samuel
Allen, the great grandfather of Col.
Ebenezer Allen, were brothers, being
sons of Samuel Allen, who emlgrated
from England and settled in Windsor,
Conn.
Ebenezer Allen came from Berkshire
county, Mass, to Bennington, in 1867.
He moved thence to Poultney and made
the first settlement in that town, then a
Wilderness, in III. He was lieutenant
n Warmers regiment of Green Mountain
Boys, and captain of a company of "min
utemen." He took part under Ethan
Allen In the taking of Ticonderoga in
MAY, 1875. He was a member of the
Dorset convention in 1116, which de-
clared the New Hampshire grants to be
"a free and separate district" and dis
claimed allegiance to New York He
was also a member of the convention
which adopted the first constitution OF
Vermont at Windsor, in July III. He
commanded company in Herrick's bat
talon of Rangers, and showed conspicu
Gus bravery in the battle of Bennington
He fought later under Gates at Saratoga
In the operations against Ticonderoga, ir
September, 1777. he with forty men sur
|prised and captured the fortified post a.
Mount Defiance, occupied by superior
force of British regulars, who were taker
prisoners. When the garrison of Ticon
|deroga retreated north after Burgoyne';
Surrender, Colonel Allen with fifty
Green Mountain rangers cut off ant
captured the rear guard of forty British
soldiers, taking also over hundred
horses and other military property. He
took also at this time negro woman
named Dinah Maths, who was in {
British camp with her infant child
ALLEN thereupon gave to Dinah a certif
cate of emancipation, which he caused tC
|be recorded in the town clerks Office al
Bennington. In this he recites tina
under a resolve of the Continental con
gress, all prizes taken in war belong tC
the captors, but "being consideration!
that it Is not right in the sight of God t
keep slaves" he gives to Dinah and he
child their freedom. EbeneZer Allen wa
subsequently promoted major ant
colonel of the Rangers. He was in com
mand of the post at Vergennes in liz
and otherwise rendered important service
in the war of the Revolution. After tn
grant of the "rwo Heroes" was made il
1779 to the Aliens and other patriots
Col. Allen moved from Tinmouth t,
South Hero. 1t is related that he cut tn
lumber for house and barn OIL
Shelburne Point and made a raft of it, OF
which he plced his family and househol,
goods, and sailed with a favoring win,
and stout use of his sweeps to Allen
Point, where he camped on the beacl
and thereafter made the first clearing AM
built the first house in South Hero
Later he established ferry to the main
land, and after settlers followed to tn
island he kept public house, of cours
in rather small way. Ethan Allie
spent the night before he died in Eber
ezer Aliens house. About 1900, Col
EbeneZer removed to Burlington AM
opened public house at the head of tn
wharf. He died here, March 2G, 1906, a
the age of 60, and was buried witt
Masonic honors. His wife returned t
South Hero and died there at the age O
SS.-Burlington Free Press.