The 1939 England Census shows that John Tom Allen was married. But, to whom? Did John and his wife have any children? If you are a descendant of this family, you might know the answer to this question.

John Tom Allen

Born: 18 JAN 1887 in Bagworth, Leicestershire, England

Father: George Henry Allen (1853 to 1933)
Mother: Frances Blower (1851 to 1930)

Spouse: Unknown

Married: Unknown

Children:  Unknown

Died: 21 DEC 1970 in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, England

Probate:

Timeline:

1891 Nailstone, Leicestershire, England
1911 Death of sister, Sarah
1911 Nailstone, Leicestershire, England
1930 Death of mother, Frances
1933 Death of father, George
1939 Ibstock, Leicestershire, England
1941 Death of brother, David
1961 Death of sister, Eliza
1962 Death of brother, Jim
1970 Death and Burial

Occupation: coal miner

Records:

1891 and 1911 England Census Records
1939 England Census Record
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995

Variations of Surname: none

While researching John Tom Allen, I hit the proverbial roadblock:

The 1911 England Census shows that John lived with his parents in Nailstone, Leicestershire, England. He was 24 years old and unmarried.

The 1939 England Census shows that John lived in Ibstock, Leicestershire, England. He was 52 years old and married. No wife was included in this entry. Was she visiting family or friends?

I then searched the “England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005”. There were four entries for John T Allen in the Market Bosworth Registration District and three entries in the Leicester Registration District.

John could have married any of these seven women. He could have been married more than once between 1911 and 1970.

There was a death announcement in the Leicester Mercury newspaper. This notice did not include a wife’s name.

The 1971 probate record, shown above, was not helpful. This entry did not name a wife or executor of John’s estate.

Are you a descendant of this Allen family lineage? Do you know the answer to this question? If so, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

The Allen Family:

The Surname Database indicates that the surname Allen is of Gaelic and Breton origins:  

“The Bretons, who were originally British settlers in France, returned as invaders with William, Duke of Normandy, otherwise known as ‘The Conqueror’ in 1066, and in so doing it is claimed, re-introduced the name into England.”

The House of Names website explains:

“The name was popular among the Breton followers of William the Conqueror due to St. Alan (St Alain), a 5th-century bishop from Quimper, Brittany. During the Middle Ages, parents often named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.”

“The surname Allen was first found in the lands of Shropshire, where Walter Fitz Alan of Brittany held a family seat after the Norman Conquest of 1066.”

An article on Wikipedia indicates that Walter was a son of Alan Fitz Flaad:

“Alan Fitz Flaad, a Breton knight, was awarded lands in Shropshire by King Henry I.  Although the surname was also common in Scotland and Ireland, it was probably Alan’s descendants who populated these counties.”

The Allen ancestors that you find in this family tree settled in the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire in England. Shropshire lies directly northwest of these counties.

The progenitor of this family tree was Philip Allen. He was the second illegitimate son of Lucy Allen. Her parents were William and Mary Allen. They remain a mystery at this time.

Do you have Allen ancestors who lived in this area of England? Do you have information on Lucy’s parents? If you know the answer to this question, please contact me. My email is dlwakenight@yahoo.com. You can also leave a message in the Comments Section of this post.

Creating Your Family Tree:

Are you interested in building a great family tree? Do you want to preserve your family history? Here are some tips on how to become a family genealogist.

Genealogy:

Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” You start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add parents, grandparents, etc., and continue down the line. Your family tree will grow when you add your ancestors’ descendants, their children, their grandchildren, etc.

Choose a Family Tree Website:

There are family tree websites that require paid memberships. These include Ancestry, My Heritage, and Find My Past. If you want a family tree website that is free of charge, you can try FamilySearch. These family tree websites allow you to search millions of records and build your family tree.

WikiTree is another family tree website that is free of charge. This site does not have searchable databases.

Add Photographs and Documents:

Have you heard the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words“?  All of these family tree websites allow you to upload photographs and scanned documents to your family tree.

Ask your parents, grandparents, and cousins for copies of their family photos. They may also have documents such as letters, diaries, family bibles, and newspaper articles. These are all excellent sources of vital records.

Create Family Stories:

Every family has a story to tell! Did you have an ancestor who served in the military? Did your ancestor become a doctor, lawyer, or well-known actor? Did your ancestor have a “skeleton in the closet“? These stories can be uploaded to your family tree website.

What’s In A Name?

Have you ever wondered what your last name means?  The SurnameDB.com is a great website for finding the origins of English surnames. There are also websites for other parts of the world like Eastern Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

Thank You!

I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Family Tree Insider. If you notice an error or want to comment on a post, please contact me.  I appreciate any feedback that will improve your experience on this website.