John Grant Allen from Peoria, Illinois, owned deeds dating back to the 1720s documenting land transactions. He used these papers to write Our Mayflower Lines in 1935. Allen's ancestor, James Allen, probably came to Dedham, Mass in 1637. David Allen (1683-1746), his grandson, was one of the early settlers of Pomfret, Mass. In 1751, David Allen's land, lying both in Woodstock and Pomfret, was divided between his children, Jonathan, David, Joseph and James. This land became part of Conn. in 1755. In 1816, Jonathan Allen, Jr., (1771-1826) moved his family to Dover Township, Athens County, Oh. because of tax problems. Wilmarth Allen (1798-1880) bought more land in Athens County. John Woodbury Allen (1827-1903), John Grant Allen's father, was a farmer in Athens County. He purchased heavily wooded land to clear for farming. Born in Ohio in approx. 1865, John Grant Allen moved to Illinois where he married Sadie Allen. Their son, Harold, was born in approximately 1898.
From the description of Allen family papers, 1722-1849, 1939 [manuscript]. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 52298472
