Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-11-25

Iubec, Nov. 11.-Half way between
the frontier towns of Eastport and Luz
| bee, Washington county. Me-. and
within a gunshot Of each place. as well
as about the same distance from the
Canadian island Of Campobello. New
Brunswick. in Passamaquoddy Bay. is
Dudley's Island. also known as Allan's,
and in more recent years Treats Island.
! 1t is one Of Uncle Sans most easterly
possessions, although it has not fam
lily or even a house there at present the
ancient dwellings having been removed
few years ago by the PASSPORT own
ers.
/ On Dudley's of Allan's Island are
buried Colonel John Allan and wife OF
Revolutionary fame. Tor he lived on this
island following the close Of the war
and was later buried there; and in 1850
about 200 descendants of the distin-
guished American soldier gathered on
the island. set up a handsome monu-
ment and had substantial iron fence
placed around the lot
John Allan was born in January. 1746.
in Edinburg Castle. Scotland. where the
family had evidently gone for security
during the stirring time. for it was in
| the midst of the rebellion under Charles
! Edward Stuart, known as The Young
! Pretender.'
| His father. William Allan. was a
Scotch gentleman of means and a major
! in the British army. his mother being
the daughter of Sir Eustice Maxwell.
! 4 few years later the family emigrated
to Nova Scotia. Canada. being among
the first settlers near Halifax; and they
! later moved to Port Lawrence at the
f! Head of Cumberland Bay.
: At the outbreak of the Revolutionary
war, John Allan then at the age of 80
years. with a wife and five children. was
| living at Invermary and had large and
we'll kept farm, thoroughly stocked for
the times, and comprising about 348
acres; and he was holding a prominent
position as representative to General
Assembly of the Canadian Provinces,
justice of the peace. clerk of sessions
and of the Supreme Court as also a few
other offices in the Provinces. which in
dictated his ability and trust among the
Canadian subjects of the King of Eng
land.
ton in Massachusetts,. 1t was natural
when the war of the Revolution broke
out that John Allan should side with
the Americans. and owing to his strong
expressions to Canadian neighbors he
was obliged to leave his Nova Scotia
home. and on Aug. 8, 1875. with few
loyal companions they sailed up the
Bay of Fundy In a small open boat,
reaching Passamaquoddy Bay and later
Passport, but the principal port being
Machias. As miles away. Allan and his
friends reached there in safety. Pro-
eding to Boston. Allan concluded to
seek out General George Washington
and had several meetings with him.
also dined at the generals headquarters
Dec -, 1916. leaving soon after for
Philadelphia where Congress was in
session, and near the time of Washing
tons crossing the Delaware with his
! troops.
/ John Allan was soon appointed super
intendent of Indians In the department
comprising all eastward and northward
! OF the Connecticut River, and he was
also given command Of the American
troops then stationed at Machias.
Washington county. Maine, with the
rank of colonel of infantry. On his re-
turn to Boston he heard of the repulse
of Colonel Eddy in his attack on Fort
Cumberland which had been made in
opposition to the ad :ice Of Colonel AL
Ian and other judicious persons, and as
the English looked upon Allan as one
of the principal agitators of the re-
beliion an offer of 100 pounds had been
made for his arrest.
Alan's house, furniture and barn
near Cumberland Bay were burned
10y the british, his wife and children
forced to flee for safety TO the dense
woods without food for three days, and
being finally fed ard taken care of by
Canadian friends of Colonel Allan.
The next year, however. Mrs. Allan
was arrested by the British and taken
to Halifax where she was kept in pris-
on from SIX TO seven months in hope
that her husband might return and he
arrested. but later Mrs Allan was re-
leased and with her children set out 70,
he American side and soon joined her
husband at Machas. Maine.
II was no easy task for Colonial AL
! Ian to keep his Indian tribes under
American protection. and as allies of
! the. American colonists. for English
agent, were constantly working to stir
! them up enemies of the colonists.
and to visit the tribes known as the
Itnobscots. Passamaauoddys. ST. Johns
! and Nicnacs called tor frequent trips
! IN III" woods of eastern Maine. New
! Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Canada,
Whrre there was always danger for Col
| onci Allan, and he had many thrilling
escapes.
! At one time being short of provi-
sions. he started TO- Boston, but the
Indians. fearing he might not return
, demanded some kind of security, so
Colonel Allan left behind two of his
sons William and Mark. aged IL and 10
years who remained among the Indians
for almost year. AMI suffered the pow.
erty and privations Of the savages
At the close of the war. Colonel Allan
moved with his family to Dudley's ISL
and. SO close to Eastport. opened up a
general store and tried to make living
but there was little chance Of getting
much trade in such lonely island and
he was obliged to go to the mainland,