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Roger Allen d.1488
Roger Allen left a will dated 08 April 1488 which is our only record of this man. The will reference is PRC 17/4/165; there is no probate date.
He is identified as Roger Allen of Staplehurst. The will is very difficult to read.
He ask that his moveable goods be used to pay his debts but if insufficient then he ask his trustees to sell some land to pay his debts.
Anne, his wife, is to have his tenement for the terms of her natural life.
After her decease, then John, his son, is to have the tenement. If John has no heirs of his body, then the tenement is to be equally divided among his daughters. He leaves each of his daughters 11 marks when they marry to be paid by son John.
If all his children should die before they inherit his estate, then his tenement is to be sold and the money divided between the church of Staplehurst and another parish I cannot read.
His daughters are not named.

John Allen c 1510
In the third year of the reign of Edward VI (1549), John Allen & John Porter purchased 2 messuages with 10 acres of land and 2 acres of meadow in Staplehurst for £40 from  Thomas Scranton and his wife Julyan. Reference: TNA CP 25(2) 59/443/ 3EDWVI Easter.

 Godleve Alen c1520
Godleve Alen, a maiden, married  John Byrche in Staplehurst on 15 July 1541.

Thomasen Alen c1520
Thomasen Alen, widow, married  Anthony Bankes in Staplehurst on 03 May 1545.

Margaret Alen c1520
 Margaret Alen, a widow, married Stephen Bucherst (Buckhurst) in Staplehurst on 18 November 1544.

Margaryt Alen c1530
Margaryt Alen of Staplehurst married Wylliam Bredger of Maydstone on 05 August 1555 in Staplehurst.

Margred Allyn c1540
Margred Allyn married John Baker 08 September 1566 in Staplehurst. They were recorded as ‘yonge folke’.

 Roger Allyn c1515

 

As Roger’s entries are among the first in the register, it is highly probable that there were children born prior to registration. The following children were registered in Staplehurst.

Roger Allyn had 3 children registered as baptised in Staplehurst.

 There is no burial record for Roger in Staplehurst.

Thomas Alen c1510 - 1558
It is probable that Thomas is the brother of Roger. We know that Thomas’s first wife was Margret from her burial record in 1550. Thomas appears to have been married 3 times.


Thomas had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

Margret Allen ‘the wif of Thomas Allen’ was buried in Staplehurst on 03 May 1550.
Thomas Allen married for a second time to Margett Benckes, ‘synglewoman’, on 25 May 1551 in Staplehurst. Charles Alen was a child of this marriage.
There is a burial on 02 November 1556 of ‘Alyn yn childbirth’ where a blank spot has been left as opposed to entering the first name. I am fairly certain this is Margett Benckes, Thomas’s second wife.
In all probability, Thomas married for a third time just a few months before he died. The register records Thomas Alyn married Joane Sare, widow, on 26 June 1558.

Thomas Alyn was buried 12 November 1558.

Lenarde Alen c1525
The only mention of Lenarde is the baptism of his daughter Myldred Alen on 02 May 1551 who was buried on 21 May 1551.

John Allin c1550
There is a marriage in Staplehurst on 04 November 1583 of John Allin of the parish of Chart to Joan Brunger of Staplehurst.

Edward Alyn d 1561
The only record we have is a burial of Edward Alyn on 08 August 1561.

Robert Alyn c1525 - 1592
Robert Allen married Joane Paytwyn on 18 October 1551 in Staplehurst.


 

Robert Alyn had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

Robert Alyn, “howsehollder”, was buried 18 October 1592.

Margery Alyn c1545
The parentage of Margery is not known. The only record we have is the illegitimate child baptised.

Thomas Allen b.1573
Thomas Allen married Marye Parson on 01 October 1598. Thomas is probably the son of Robert Allen c1525 and would have been baptised 28 February 1573/4.

There is no further reference to this couple in Staplehurst.

William Allin c1540-1619
There is some uncertainty on whether both the children mapped here are from the same William Allin. There is a 22 year gap between the children and we have not found a burial for the first John Allin. We do not know who he was married to and whether he had more than one wife.

What we do know is that he had property. There is a reference to William in John Pickenden’s will 1564 and he is stated to be a householder in the burial register.

It may be that we will find more about this William in neighbouring parishes.

 

In 1553, John Pekynden. Bought from: Thomas Alen & William Alen & wife. 2 parts (of 3) of 1 messuage, 2 gardens,10 acres land, 12 acres meadow, 8 acres pasture in Staplehurst. £40.     Ref: CP 25/2/59/457/52.

In the will of John Pyckynden, dated 24 April 1564, it states “All my lands in Stapleherst I bought of William Allen and one parcel of lande called Sharpes and certayne other landes called the Brookes to the saide Jon Cokill”.

William Allen senior, “an ancient househoulder” was buried 4 February 1618/19.

William Allen c1580
William Allin married Margaret Burridge in Staplehurst on 22 January 1609/10.  We do not know if he is related to the William above.


 

William and Margaret had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

Margeret Allen, wife of William Allen junior, was buried 08 April 1617 in Staplehurst; the same day her daughter Susan was baptised. Susan was buried 2 months later.

William must have married again fairly quickly as he has two more children baptised in Staplehurst.

There is no burial record for William in Staplehurst.

Thomas Allen c1580
It is not impossible that Thomas is the son of Thomas Allen c1520 but it seems unlikely.

Thomas was married to Mary, maiden name unknown. Mary Allen, wife of Thomas, was buried 27 April 1637. Daughter Jane was buried two days later so cause of death is likely to be an infectious disease.

Robert Allen c1600
The parents of Robert are not known.

 

Robert Allen married Susan Allington (or Adlington) on 25 October 1631. The couple had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

No burial record has been found for Robert or Susan.

Mary Allen c1680
Mary Allen of Staplehurst married Richard Shirley of Hollingborn in Staplehurst on 29 October 1711.
I have not identified where Mary fits into the Allen family; she may not have originated from Staplehurst.

John Allen d. about 1740
The only reference I can find to this John Allen is his will. It raises far more questions than it resolves. Reference is PRC 17/92/74.

The will is dated 16 April 1736. The will was proved 03 February 1743. He must have died between these 2 dates but there is no burial record in Staplehurst, nor is there a baptism record which fits. From this, I assume he is from another parish and that he was probably buried in the parish he came from.
The will identifies him as John Allen of Staplehurst, chandler.
He leaves to his ‘loving cousins’ William, Mary, and Hannah Wimset his house and land in the parish of Yalden (spelt Yaulden) occupied by Robert Dapis, after the decease of his mother Elizabeth Allen ‘as far as it will yile after the mortgage is paid and my debts paid and discharged’.
To his brother Walters two sons Beether? And George Walter one guinea each.
To his brother Daniel Allen one shilling and also the same to the further hiers of their body.
He makes his brother and sister George and Elizabeth Walter full and sole executors.

Thomas Allen c1665
I have not identified a baptism for Thomas in Staplehurst.

Thomas Allen married Martha Saywell on 23 June 1689 in Staplehurst. Both were said to be of Staplehurst. Neither Thomas nor Martha is found in the burial register of Staplehurst and it is presumed they left Staplehurst sometime after 1702. However, son Solomon settled in Staplehurst where his descendents lived.

 
The couple had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

Solomon Allen 1693 - 1741
Solomon Allen is the son of Thomas and Martha Allen. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 07 May 1693. Solomon married Alice Nash in Staplehurst on 01 October 1716.

 

 The couple had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

Solomon’s wife, Alice, was buried in Staplehurst on 04 June 1733.

Solomon Allen of Staplehurst married Elizabeth Sharp of Hunton on 14 April 1734 in Hunton. There are no children registered from this marriage. Given the death date of Solomon’s wife Alice, I think this marriage is of Solomon senior. His son Solomon, married Mary, surname unknown, few years later.

Solomon was buried in Staplehurst on 02 November 1741.

Solomon Allen 1719 - 1790

Solomon Allen is the son of Solomon Allen and Alice Nash. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 11 November 1719. A marriage has not yet been found for Solomon but we know from the baptism of his children that he was married to Mary.

 

Solomon and Mary had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

Mary Allen was buried in Staplehurst on 07 November 1775. I have assumed this is Solomon’s wife Mary, but it could possibly be his daughter Mary who had a second illegitimate child baptised in December 1775; she may have died in childbirth.

Solomon Allen was buried in Staplehurst on 09 May 1790.

Also, to confuse matters further, there is a burial of Jane Allen aged 70 on 01 September 1794. This gives an approximate birth year of 1724. All of Solomon’s children had their mother identified as Mary except for the last child William whose mother is said to be Jane. Was she possibly Mary Jane? Or did Solomon marry for a second time even though no burial of appropriate date has been found?

Elizabeth Allen c1765

There is a marriage in Staplehurst of John Mitchel of Staplehurst to Elizabeth Allen of Staplehurst on 05 June 1786. I have not identified the parentage of Elizabeth.

Martha Allen c1770

There is a marriage in Staplehurst of Henry Kemp of Staplehurst to Martha Allen of Staplehurst on 01 May 1798. I have not identified the parentage of Martha.

James Allen c1770

There is a marriage in Staplehurst for James Allen, ‘of this parish’ on 28 April 1793 to Elizabeth Eaglestone also of Staplehurst. I have not identified who this is.

Note that we also have a burial of Elizabeth Allen, aged 32 on 20 June 1802. She was said to be from Linton.

I wonder if this could possibly be a first wife of James Harris Allen below?

James Harris Allen 1770 - 1848

James is the illegitimate son of Mary Allen (daughter of Solomon Allen and Mary.

James and Mary had 3 children baptised in the Staplehurst Congregational Chapel. I believe there were more children.

In the 1841 census James is living in Staplehurst in the area of Cuckold’s Corner.

 I presume Alice is James and Mary’s daughter but the 1841 census does not give you a relationship.

James Allen was buried in Staplehurst on 15 January 1848. He was said to be 79 years old and from Rolvenden.

Mary Allen, James’ widow, was buried in Staplehurst on 08 December 1849. She was said to be 71 years old and from the Coxheath Union Workhouse.

Alice appears again in the 1861 census working as a servant in Lambeth but by the time of the 1871 census, she is a patient in the lunatic asylum.

1861 census Newington Lambeth Alice Allen, servant, unmarried 42, general servant, born Staplehurst.

1871 census finds Alice Allen, unmarried, 66, born Staplehurst a patient at the Kent County Lunatic Asylum in Chatham.

James Allen b.1813

James was the son of James Allen according to his immigration records. I think he is the son of James Harris Allen but am not 100% certain. He married Mercy Buss in Staplehurst 15 June 1834 by banns. He was said to be a bachelor of Staplehurst.  Mercy Buss was a spinster of Staplehurst. Witnesses to the marriage were Catherine and William Allen.

James and his family immigrated to Australia in 1838 under the Bounty Scheme. He was noted as a farm labourer, 25 years old and son of James Allen. He gives his religion as dissenter.

He travelled to Australia aboard the ship Palmyra in 1838 having embarked at London on 13 May 1838, travelling to Sydney, NSW. Travelling with James was his wife Mercy aged 21 and their children James aged 3 and Mercy aged 10 months.

Travelling on the same ship was the Alchin, Cousens, and Gilbert families, all of Staplehurst.

William Allen 1758 - 1841

William Allen was buried in Staplehurst on 24 February 1841 aged 83 years. He was the son of Solomon Allen and was baptised 05 February 1758. The baptismal register records his mother as Jane, however, this may be a mistake as Solomon was married to Mary at the time as far as I can tell.

William was married to Mary whose maiden name is unknown. There is a burial for Mary Allen on 17 April 1803. She is described as a pauper and 47 years old.  There is no proof this is Mary, wife of William, but it fits in time and age and there are no other possible candidates. What does not feel right is the description of pauper.
William leaves a will Dated 04 January 1841, reference PROB 11/1943. The will was proved on 01 April 1841.
There are at least 2 William Allen in Staplehurst during this period without much to differentiate between them. But using the information from the will and matching with the register details, we can sketch the family tree. William may well have had more children but there is uncertainty about who his children are and who the children of William who married Mary Snatt are.

Note that the will does not identify the parents of William’s grandchildren Elizabeth and Mary but we know that William’s son William and his wife Susanna both died prior to William; leaving 2 surviving daughters Mary and Elizabeth.

He is identified as William Allen of Staplehurst, gentleman. The title gentlemen could possibly be a slight exaggeration.

William Allen 1780 - 1817

William Allen is the son of William (1758 – 1841) and Mary. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 27 August 1780. William married Susanna, maiden name unknown.
 

William and his wife Susanna were removed from Frittenden to Staplehurst on 06 may 1802. Their first recorded child born in Staplehurst was in August 1802. The removal order states that William was a labourer.
The couple has the following children baptised in Staplehurst

William Allen was buried 02 February 1817 at 36 years old. Susanna, his widow, died a few months later and was buried on 03 November 1817, aged 35 years. They left a baby just over a year old and two daughters 12 and 15.

Thus Mary, Elizabeth and William were orphaned as minors. Young William only survived his mother by 6 months but Mary and Elizabeth survived to adulthood.

From their grandfather’s will and their father’s brother’s will, we know that they both married.

Mary Allen married  William Gransbury  but not in Staplehurst. In the 1851 census, they are living in the village near to Bly Court.

Elizabeth Allen married John Reeves alias Love in Staplehurst on 27 Jun 1824. in the 1851 census, the family are living in Staplehurst.

Susanna Allen c1790

We have a baptism of Caroline Allen in Staplehurst on 13 June 1813. She is said to be base born, the daughter of Susanna Allen, a pauper. Caroline was buried on 28 February 1815, aged 2. I have not identified Susanna.

John Allen 1786 - 1855 

John Allen is the son of William (1758 – 1841) and Mary Allen. 

There is no record in Staplehurst of John Allen marrying or having children in Staplehurst. We know he was married as John and his wife Rachel are found on the 1841 Census and 1851 Census in Staplehurst. It is possible that John left Staplehurst and returned after his father died when he inherited property in Staplehurst or possibly he is a non conformist. It is probable that he did have children; he leaves property to Mary Ann Usherwood and her children which I am fairly certain is his married daughter. He also mentions Eliza Paine. At the time of the 1841 census, Mary Paine, age 8 is living with John and Rachel – is she his granddaughter?

In the 1841 Census, John Allen is 50 years old and living in Staplehurst with his wife Rachel Allen age 58. Interesting that he is noted as an agricultural labourer yet he leaves considerable property, however most of this he inherited from his father in 1841. Living with the couple is Mary Paine age 8. The address is not given but it is almost certainly the Martin Hill property in Staplehurst as it is listed immediately after Fuller House.

In the 1851 Census, John Allen, aged 64, born Staplehurst is now noted as a ‘general dealer’. He is living with his wife Rachel Allen aged 68 born Woodbridge Suffolk at Martins Hill.

Rachel Allen, wife of John, was buried in Staplehurst on 10 January 1855, aged 70.

John Allen was buried in Staplehurst on 09 February 1857 aged 71.

John left a will (reference PROB 11/2258) dated 09 February 1856 and proved 23 October 1857. He leaves property to Mary Ann Usherwood and her daughter Rachel, to nephew John Allen, to Ann, Charles and Sophia Willard, and to Eliza, Rachel and Jarvis Paine. They are almost certainly related to John but I have not yet established the relationship.
John is identified as John Allen of Martins Hill, Staplehurst.
John begins his will by saying that he is in perfect health “but knowing the uncertainty of life and the frequent disputes about property when no will is left”, he is making his will. John does not state the relationship to himself of the people he leaves bequest to.

¼ to Eliza Pain

¼ to Rachel Pain, daughter of Jarvis Pain of London.

¼ to the children of Charles and Mary Ann Willard of Biddenden.

¼ to Sophia Willard of Cranbrook for her natural life. On her death her share is to go to the children of Charles and Mary Ann Willard.

·        His executors are empowered to let Yew Tree Farm, paying the owners defined above their share. The portion belonging to the children of Charles and Mary Ann Willard are to be placed in the Savings Bank and paid to them when 21 years of age.

·        John states that he is entitled to £10 from the burial club of Staplehurst. This is to be used to pay for his funeral and any remainder to be divided into four parts to be paid to Mary Ann Pain, Elizabeth Pain, Rachel Pain and Elizabeth Chaxfield.

·        He leaves 2 watches; one to Mary Ann Usherwood, who is to have first choice, and one to her daughter Rachel Usherwood.

·        To Elizabeth Chaxfield 5 shillings and to her husband and children 1 shilling each.

·        To Mary Gransbury and Elizabeth Reeves/Love, two shillings and six pence each and to their husbands and children 1 shilling each.

·        He appoints Mary Ann Usherwood, John Allen and Sophia Willard as executors.

A codicil is added on 19 June 1856 where he leaves to Sophia Willard of Willby “my bunch of six keys and ring with all the things that are under lock in box by the same” to hold until Rachel Usherwood is 21 years old. Witnesses: Charles Bradley and John Mitchell.

John Allen b.1822

I do not know who the parents of John are. It may be that they were John and Rachel documented above but there is no supporting evidence. The only information on John comes from the census where he consistently gives his birthplace as Staplehurst. 

1861 Census 7 Cannon Street, Leeds, Yorkshire.

1871 Census 20 Gloucester Street, Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire.

1881 Census and John and his wife are still living at 20 Glouster Street, Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire.

1891 Census and John, now a widower, is living at 2e Tennyson Place, Leeds, Yorkshire.
John Allen, head, widower, 69, brewer’s labourer, born Staplehurst.
 

John Love Allen b.1824

John was baptised in Staplehurst on 18 April 1824 as John Love Allen, son of Elizabeth Allen, a single woman. He is the grandson of William and Susanna Allen and the nephew of John and Rachel Allen.

John Allen married Sarah Waterman on 28 October 1845 in Staplehurst. John was said to be of full age, a bachelor and a labourer of Staplehurst. John was the son of John Love, a labourer. Sarah Waterman was an 18 year old spinster of Staplehurst. Her father is given as William Waterman, a labourer. Witnesses to the wedding were William Waterman and Francis Bewley.

John is a remarkable character requiring some in-depth research. John appears to have had some problem in deciding what his surname was or possibly what surname he could legally use.

John was christened as John Love Allen, the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Allen and John Love. After the birth of John, his mother married John Love. John Loves’ grandparents were Robert and Avis Love. Robert was the illegitimate son of Susanna Love and John Reeve. He was sometimes recorded as Robert Love and sometimes as Robert Reeves. Thus we have 3 generations of illegitimacy and confusion of names. The will of his uncle also mentions the Paine family and I was somewhat shocked to find John also using the Paine name in the 1851 census. I have yet to discover where the surname Paine fits into this puzzle.
An explanation of the alias may help. John Love Allen was the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Allen and therefore uses the surname Allen. His father was John Love (1800-1867). His parents were married a few months after his birth. John Love, the father of John Love Allen, was the son of Robert and Avis Love. Robert Love was the illegitimate son of Susannah Love; the father was refuted to be John Reeves. Robert Love used both the name Reeves and Love. Thus John Love Allen regularly uses the names Allen, Love and Reeves. What I have no explanation for is why he was also using the name Paine.

When John married Sarah Waterman, he used the name of John Allen. 

John and Sarah had two children baptised in Staplehurst using the name of Allen, 1 using the name of Love and one using the name of Reeves. There are 2 further children that I have not found a baptism for.

I have not found John in the 1841 census when he would have been 17 years old. 

The family appear to using the name Paine at the time of the 1851 census.

John inherited the Martin Hill property in 1857 and he appears there in the 1861 census using the name of Reeves.

In the 1871 Census John is living at Martins Hill, Staplehurst and is using the name Allen.

In the 1871 census, Susan Allen, daughter of John, is working as a housekeeper at Fuller House for Stephen White who is a widower with 5 children. Susan is 20, unmarried and noted as born in Staplehurst. 

In the 1881 census, Sarah Ellen Allen, 20, at 36 High Street Drapers, Milton near Gravesend working as a servant. 

Sarah Allen, wife of John, was buried on 29 March 1867 in Staplehurst, aged 39.

 

William Allen 1771 - 1828

William Allen married Mary Snatt in Staplehurst on 21 January 1792. They were both said to be of Staplehurst.

At the time this couple were producing children, there was also another William and Mary in the village. The other William (see William 1758 – 1841) left a will which enables most of his children to be identified, leaving the rest to be the presumed children of William Allen and Mary Snatt.

William Allen and Mary Snatt are probable parents of the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

The only burial that I can identify as William is on 12 December 1828. He was buried in Staplehurst aged 57 but was said to be from Sutton Valance.

Mary Allen, widow of William, was buried in Staplehurst on 15 October 1843 aged 78. She was noted as being from Milton next Gravesend in the register where she had been living with her son Thomas.

John Allen c1805

John Allen could be the son of William Allen and Mary Snatt who was born 01 October 1803 and baptised 07 November 1803 in Staplehurst.
1861 Census 178 Parrock Street, Milton near Gravesend

1871 Census and John and his family are still living at 178 Parrock Street, Milton near Gravesend.

 Rebecca Allen c1800

We have no record of this Rebecca beyond her marriage on 25 November 1828 to John Bills, a bachelor of Chart Sutton. Rebecca was said to be a spinster of Staplehurst. Note that William Allen c1809 named one daughter Rebecca and there is, possibly, a relationship between William and Rebecca, neither of whom were baptised in Staplehurst.

There is a record of Rebecca Allen, a single woman, being removed from Maidstone to Staplehurst on 12 February 1827. This is probably the same person. 

William Allen b1809

I am not sure who William’s parents are. 

We know he was married to Catherine, maiden name unknown and that they were non conformist. They had their first child, Elizabeth, baptised at the parish church, but none of their other children are baptised there.

 

 In the 1841 Census, William and family are living at Cross at Hand Staplehurst.

·        William Allen, 30, Agricultural labourer, born Kent.
·        Catharine Allen, 30, born Kent.
·        Elizabeth Allen, 12, born Kent.
·        William Allen, 11, born Kent.
·        John Allen, 9, born Kent.
·        Emily Allen 7, born Kent.
·        Rebecca Allen 5, born Kent.

In the 1851 Census, William is living at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

In the 1861 census, William is living at 4 Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.
Edwin Reader, head, 32, agricultural labourer, born Staplehurst.
Elizabeth Reader, wife, 32, born Staplehurst.
William Reader, uncle, unmarried, 70, born Staplehurst.
William Allen, boarder, unmarried, 52, (parish pauper has been written under occupation and then crossed out), born Staplehurst.
James Allen, boarder, unmarried, 20, agricultural labourer, born Staplehurst.

Katherine, the wife of William, was buried in Staplehurst on 20 August 1854, aged 46 years.

William appears to have then gone to live in Benenden. His burial is recorded as taking place on 21 May 1869. He was said to be from Benenden and 61 years old.

John Allen b1831

John Allen is the son of William and Catherine Allen. He was born 04 Dec 1831 in Staplehurst and baptised at the Staplehurst Congregational Chapel in 22 January 1832. From the 1861 census we know he married Elizabeth but no marriage record has been found. 

In the 1841 Census, 9 year old John, is living with his parents at Cross at Hand Staplehurst. He is 19 and an agricultural labourer in the 1851 census and still living with his parents.

By the time of the 1861 census, John is now married and living a few doors down from his parents at 13 Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

The family is not found again and possibly they immigrated. 

James Allen b.1841

James Allen is the son of William and Catherine Allen. He was born in Staplehurst in 1841 but was not baptised in the parish church.

In the 1841 Census James, 3 months old, is living with his parents at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

In the 1851 Census, James now 10, is living with his parents at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

In the 1861 census, James now 20, is living as a boarder at Cross at Hand along with his father.

In the 1871 Census, James Allen, now married, is living at 18 Samsons Row, Langley.

The family is not found again.

James Allen 1830

James Allen was born in Marden about 1830. He appears to have lived in Staplehurst from about 1855 to 1865 roughly. He had 3 children baptised in Staplehurst, all of whom died as infants. The register records his wife as Emma although the census records her as Esther. Their daughter was named Emma Esther so possibly her name was also. James was a blacksmith and appears to have moved about frequently based on census information.
 

James and Emma (or Emma Esther) Allen had the following children.

In the 1861 Census, James and his wife Esther are living in Staplehurst Village.

In the 1871 Census, James and his wife Esther are living at 1 Knightrider Street, Maidstone.

I have not found the family in the 1881 census.

In the 1891 Census, James and Esther are living at 3 Jubilee Terrace, Knockholt.

In the 1901 Census, James is now a widower and living at 307 Woolwich Road, Greenwich.

William Allen 1830

William Allen is the son of William and Catherine Allen. He was born in Staplehurst but not baptised there, it is possible his parents were non conformist. William was married to Hannah, maiden name unknown. They had a remarkably large family of 11 surviving children over 25 years. The family appear to have always lived at Cross at Hand in Staplehurst. William was a labourer. 

In the 1851 Census William is married and living with the King family at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

The 1861 Census shows William Allen and family living at 9 Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

The 1871 Census shows William Allen and family living at 6 Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

The 1881 Census shows William Allen and family living at 6 Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

Daughter Rebecca is now married to George King, an agricultural labourer, and living at Couchman Green, Staplehurst with 3 young children. Rebecca’s brother John, aged 28, and her sister Esther, aged 19, both said to be agricultural labourers, are living with Rebecca and her husband. Presumably their parent’s home had become grossly overcrowded.

Son William, 29, labourer, is a lodger at 180 Luton Road, Chatham.

The 1891 Census shows William Allen and family still living at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

Son Thomas is a lodger living in Boxley.  He is 22, a farm labourer born Staplehurst.

The 1901 Census shows William Allen and family still living at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst.

At the age of 75, William must have been ill. He was admitted to the Maidstone Union Workhouse initially on 08 May 1905. He was discharged on 22 May but readmitted on 01 October 1905, discharged 11 May 1906; admitted again 24 September 1906, discharged 26 April 1907; admitted 25 June 1907, discharged 17 April 1908; and admitted 24 April 1908 and recorded as having died on 25 September 1908.

What is a surprise is that he recorded his religion as Baptist despite the fact that all his children were baptised in the parish church of Staplehurst. He records his next of kin as his daughter Mrs King (Rebecca) of High Street, Staplehurst; son George Allen of Mr. Gibson’s Farm in Boughton Monchelsea;  and Mrs Fuller (Mary Ann) of East Half Cottage, Boughton Monchelsea.

George Allen 1851

George Allen is the son of William and Hannah Allen. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 05 January 1851. George was an agricultural labourer.

George married Elizabeth Latter on 29 Sep 1888. Elizabeth was the daughter of James and Winifred Latter. She was born in Cranbrook about 1865. Her family moved to Staplehurst and on 16 March 1875 the family had five children baptised in Staplehurst including Elizabeth.
George and Elizabeth couple had the following known children.

There may have been further children after 1901. 

In the 1851 census George is 3 months old living at Cross at Hand with his parents. At the age of 10 in the 1861 census, he is a scholar. In 1871 census, aged 20, George is a waggoner’s mate and still living with his parents. Still at home with his parents in the 1881 census, he is 30 years old and an agricultural labourer. 

In the 1891 Census George is now married and living at Cross at Hand close to his parents.

In the 1901 Census George and family are living at Ell House Farm, Boughton Monchelsea.

In 1908, when George’s father died, George was living at Mr. Gibson’s Farm, Boughton Monchelsea.  

William Allen 1853

William is the son of William and Hannah. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 21 December 1859 although from census information we know he was born about 1853.

In the 1861 census William, aged 8,  is living with his parents at Cross at Hand in Staplehurst. He is shown as a scholar. By the 1871 census, now 19, William is still living with his parents at Cross at Hand and is a waggoner’s mate. In the 1881 Census, William, 29 years old and a labourer, is a lodger at 180 Luton Road, Chatham. 

In the 1891 Census William is now married and living in Bredhurst.

In the 1901 Census William and family are living in Bredhurst.

Alfred Allen b.1859

Alfred Allen is the son of William and Hannah. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 21 December 1859. Alfred married Rose who was from Headcorn but whom we do not have a maiden name for.

Alfred and Rose Allen had the following children baptised in Staplehurst.

The 1861 Census shows Alfred, aged 1, living with his parents at 9 Cross at Hand, Staplehurst. Alfred, now 12, is still living at his parents home at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst at the time of the 1871 Census. 

The 1881 Census finds Alfred married and living at 4 Cross at Hand.

The 1891 Census finds Alfred married and living at Cross at Hand next door but one to his parent’s home.

The 1901 Census finds Alfred and family are living at  Cross at Hand.

James Allen 1865

James Allen is the son of William and Hannah. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 01 January 1866. James does not appear to have married. In 1891 and 1901, he is living with Mary Jane Couchman, a married woman, and her son Charles Couchman. While Mary Jane is recorded as his housekeeper, James was an agricultural labourer and it would be extremely unusual for someone with his low income to employ a servant. 

In the 1891 census James is living at Newstead Cottage, Staplehurst.

In the 1901 census James is living at Lake Farm, Chart Sutton.

Thomas Allen 1870

Thomas Allen is the son of William and Hannah. He was baptised in Staplehurst on 22 Mary 1870. 

In the 1871 Census, Thomas aged 1, is living with his parents at Cross at Hand, Staplehurst and in 1881 he is 11 years old and still with his parents. By the time of the 1891 census, he is recorded as 22 years old, a farm labourer living as a lodger in Boxley.

He married Harriet, maiden name unknown, around about 1894. 

In the 1901 Census Thomas is living at Dunn Street, Bredhurst.

 There are no monument inscriptions for the Allen family in Staplehurst.