Jordan Allen

Jamaican-born Master Mariner, retired to England in the 1850s.

1. Born in Jamaica in 1813, the son of Isaac Allen (owner of Breadnut Valley estate in St Elizabeth, Jamaica) and his wife Cecilia. His mother died between 1817 and 1820 leaving 5 young children. His father died c. 1821; Breadnut Valley was in the hands of receivers in 1823 and by 1829 it had been bought by Edward Smith.

2. Jordan Allen was a sailor in the merchant navy. His Master's Certificate of Service from 1851 states that he had been employed as Mate and Master in the British Merchant Navy for 24 years, mostly in foreign trade. His eldest known child, Mary Edith Frances, was born in Surrey c. 1853. In the census of 1861 Jordan and his daughter were visitors in the house of John Newton junior, Hanonsley House in Godstone, Surrey when his occupation was given as 'Gentleman Fundholder' and his marital status as widower.

3. He remarried in 1863 in Hackney, to Rebecca (probably surname Statham). She was 15 years his junior. They had four children born in Hackney between 1865 and 1874. In 1881 he was living at 177 Amhurst Road, Hackney, but by 1891 had moved to Firhurst, Woodside Road, Sholing in Hampshire. "Jordan Allen of Fairhurst Woolston Hants gentleman died 29 December 1891 Probate Winchester 9 January to Edward Spencer Allen tutor. Effects 5620 7s. 1d."

1. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]. See evolutions for Breadnut Valley (JA2337), his mother's unnamed property (JA12025) and his brother's property (JA12027).

2. Ancestry.com, UK and Ireland, Masters and Mates Certificates, 1850-1927 [database online]; Familysearch.org United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen Records, 1835-1941. 1861 census online.

3. FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Marriages, 1837-1983 [database online]; 1871, 1881, 1891 censues online. National Probate Calendar 1892.