Born on 12 March 1804 at Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, and baptised on 9 April 1804 at St. Phillip's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, the son of Samuel Allen, gunsmith, and his wife Hannah, nee Crook. He married on 10 April 1826 at Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England, to Mary Ann Vowles, daughter of George Vowles and his wife Hannah. Lived variously at Tipton, Staffordshire; London; Reedness, Yorkshire; and South Cave, Yorkshire. He was the first Superintendent of the London City Mission. Later ministered in the Seaman's Chapel, Glasgow, Scotland, and sought admission to the United Presbyterian Church prior to coming to Port Phillip in 1849 in response to Rev. Dr. John Dunmore Lang's call. Arrived on 1 November 1849 per "Travancore" and shortly afterwards he founded the Independent Presbyterian 'Church of the Tabernacle' in Fitzroy. A founder of the first gaslight company in Victoria, and sometime secretary and accountant of the Melbourne Hospital. Died on 10 November 1861 at Buninyong, Victoria and was buried on 13 November 1861 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Vic.

[death certificate; will; Garryowen Chronicles of Early Melbourne; Ward & Prentis Presbyterian Ministers in Australia 1822-1901]

Back to Home Page