Allen, James

James Allen has been hard to trace, but a possible candidate was a younger son of a family at Oade Street near Sittingbourne who acquired arms at the beginning of the seventeenth century.  He may or may not have been the Clothier who died in Marden in 1680 leaving two houses in Maidstone near the Great Bridge.

The family of Allen was "formerly of good account in Borden, and resided at Hoad, or Oade street. John Allen resided here in the very beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign, and then held among other premises in this parish, the yoke of Boxfield. His descendant John Allen, Gent. Of Oade Street, died in 1679, and was buried in this church. They bore for their arms, Or, a chevron, between three blood-bounds, passant, sable, collared of the first; which coat was granted to Christopher Allen, by Sir William Segar, bart." [Edward Hasted 1800]

The 1619 Visitation of Kent gives 6 children for the above mentioned Christopher Allen and Mary nee Barham of Boughton. [p.16] Christopher Senior (or his son below) died in 1643 in Borden.

1. John Allen d.s.p

2. Christopher aged 23 in 1619 (born 1596) succeeded to the family estates.

3. Mary who married Jonae Ciux [sic]

4. William aged 16 in 1619 (born 1603)

5. James aged 13 in 1619 (born 1606) If this was the Maidstone jurat (quite likely since he was a younger son who might well have been apprenticed) he would have been 49 when he was Mayor and 75 if he was the Clothier who died in Marden in 1680.

6. Richard aged 8 in 1619 (born 1611) who died in 1648 in Borden.

1647 Richard Crispe of Maidstone, Gent. named the overseers of his will 'Roberte Swynoke and James Ruse of Maidstone, Gentlemen and James Allen of Hunton Clothier. ' His executors were 'my loving friends Richard Beale of Loose ... Esq, Lambert Godfrey and George Hall of Maidstone Esqs and Elizabeth my wife'

Neighbouring tombs of the Allens of Stonewall in Hunton at the east end of Hunton Church are inscribed ' Here lyeth the Body of Joane Allen the wife of James Allen' and 'Heare lieth the body of James Allen the sonne of John Allen of Hunton desesed the 9th June in the yeare 1648' [Kent Archeological Society website Kent MIs]

1652 Aug 11 Election of Sanders, Heath, Allen, Troughton in that order, first two sworn Aug 12 Heath and Allen sworn NB Heath and Allen DID not appear in Common council or freedom lists.

1655 James Allen was Mayor.  In the Commonwealth Mayors conducted marriages.  Two records have survived:-

1655 May 24th Richard Chittenden, the sonne of Roger Chittenden of Otham, yeoman & Frances Halsnod, this parish, were published in the market place upon April 19th, the 26th & May 3rd 1655 & were married in this town by James Allen Esq, Maior of this towne & parish 24th Day of May 1655.
1655 May 31st William Hills the son of John Hills of Otham, widower, and Ann Chittenden of Otham, the daughter of Roger Chittenden of the same, Yeoman was published in this market place May 3rd, the 10th and the 17th 1655, and were married by James Allen Esq, Maior in this town & parish the 31st of May 1655

1664 Mr James Allen was taxed for 5 hearths in the Maidstone assessment of 1664. [CKS: Q/RTh transcribed by Duncan Harington]