The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-08-08
4 HISTORIC INCIDENT

IRISH HOSPITALITY TO AN AMER
IcAN SOLDIER OF THE REvoLU-
TIoN-coLoNEL ETHAN AL
LENS DAUGHTER BECAME A
NUN AND BROUGHT OTHERS
INTO THE FOLD.
The following letter was found in
the archives of State Library in New
England. 1t is not only interesting in
itself, but in it's sequel.
January, 1776.
Dear Sir:
The following occurrence will give
satisfaction to the friends of suffering
America: When Colonel Ethan Allen
with about ninety 600 other prisoners
arrived at Cork, in the Solebay, two
gentlemen went abroad to inquire into
their situation, and to assure them of
the disposition of several gentlemen
in the city Cork to elevate their
distress.
Colonel Allen was SO affected with
this instance of unexpected generosity
that the expression of his gratitude
could hardly find utterance. His treat
ment on board the Solebay was far
different from the barbarous and cruel
usage he experienced in his passage
from Quebec, being then handcuffed
and ironed in the most dreary part of
the vessel, and basely insulted with
cruel and unmanly reflections by some
of the officers of the ship, whom he
challenged in Cornwall without OBJ
tanning satisfaction.
A subscription was begun among
some friends of the cause of liberty
and in single day nearly fifty (50)
guineas were collected to purchase
clothes for all the men and necessaries
for himself; and if liberty can be got
of Captain Williams to put live stock
on board, can assure you that Colonel
Allen will be exceedingly well pro-
vided.
We, this day, sent him hamper of
wine, fruit, chocolate, etc., on board,
for his immediate use, and tomorrow
intend to prepare the sundry articles,
of which he sent list.
I enclose you "a rough copy of his
answer to our letter to him. Should
he have permission to come on shore,
he will be entertained by some of the
Of %hic aitU have
not been refused by single person
on the subscription.
Yours most respectfully,
Copy of Colonel Aliens note in an
swer:
Gentlemen:
l received your generous present
this day with a joyful heart. Thanks
| to God there are still the feelings of
humanity in the worthy citizens of
Cork towards those of your bone and
flesh, who, through misfortune, from
the present broils in the empire, are
needy prisoners.
Cove, Jan. oath, 1875.
Colonel Aliens Daughter Became a
Nun.
| 1t has always been supposed that
| Ethan Allen was an aVoWed Atheist.
| 1t may be that he became such in
after years, but certainly, in 1776, he
was a believer in God, for no man
who disbelieved in the existence of a
Supreme Being could have penned the
words: Thanks to Cod
This is distinctively Celtic express
sion and it is possible that under the
stress of feeling, at the generous out
pouring of Irish charity, he felt that
God should be praised.
1t is interesting to recall that his
daughter, Fanny Allen, was the first
lady of New England birth to become
nun, in the Congregation of Notre
Dame in Montreal, where she died in
1919.
Previous to her going to Montreal
presumably to become proficient in the
French language, her mother, who was
Ethan Aliens second wife, insisted
upon her being baptized by Rev. Daniel
Barber an Episcopalian minister in
Claremont, N. H.
other Distinguished Converts.
After her profession, he visited her
in Montreal and what he saw con
WINGED him of the truth of Fanny AL
lens new faith. A short time before
| he had been in correspondence with
Father Cheverus of Boston, who loan
ed him several Catholic books These
books he gave to his son, Rev. Virgil
Barber, the principal of an academy in
New York State. Virgil Barber had
had religious doubts also, and was be
| ing advised by Jesuit, Father Fen
wick, in New York City.
In 1916, a year after his visit tc
his father, when he obtained the Cath
Ollie books, he and his wife became
Catholics.
In company with a Dominican, Fa
Their French, he visited his father in
Claremont, and the result was thai
Daniel BARRIERS wife and all his chill
dren became Catholics, together with
his sister-in-law, Mrs. Noah Tyler, ant
her daughter, Rosetta. Later Mr.. Ty
Ter became a Catholic and all the
children entered the Church. -Four
daughters became Sisters of Charity
and one son, William, became the frs
Bishop of Hartford, Connecticut.
Daniel Barber did not enter thu