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The first comes from David Back, descended from Adella Back's brother,
and the rest come from Gary Readio's old shoebox full of family records.
From Amzi Allen's Records
My father (Joseph Allen) was a soldier of the Revolution part of 4 yrs
as I have many times heardhim say. but no longer than 8 months under 1
enlistment. He first went at the age of about 16 as a substitute for
his father who was drafted and helped to build Fort Griswold which is,
or was, near the mouth of the River Thames, and opposite New London.
Ct. He afterward enlisted and went to West Point N.Y. and served 4 mo.
Icannot give the date or duration of is other terms of service but he
was one of the detachment of troops that escorted the specie borrowed from
France and Holland from Springfield Hill to Philadelphia. Thre were said
to be 12 Tons of Silver and 2 of Gold.
Daniel Sizer, father of my first wife who was born in Middletown CT
Mch 31 1754 served through the whole period of the Revolutionary
War excepting 3 or 4 mo as did also his brother Jabez.
His Revolutionary experience was greater than that of any other man with
whom I was ever acquainted. He suffered many privations and hardships
especially when a prisoner to the British, a period of several months I
believe. He died at Middletown CT Mch 24 1826. His father Daniel
Sizer b Middletown Ct 1733 or 1744 was an officer (Lieut) in the old
French War.
From Connecticut records in Boston Libr:
Joseph Allen
2d Regt at large July 25 '80 to Dec 3 '80
Fairfield, Litchfield and vicinity April 1 '77 to Jan 9'78
From Conn Records found in Boston Library
These may be Grandfather's father Joseph Alle
Daniel Sizer, father of Mary Sizer Allen wife of Amzi Allen
2nd Conn regiment 4th Company officers from Middletown May 1 to Dec
19 1775
Additional infantry Apr 21, 1777 to the end of the war.
taken prisoner, exchanged in July 1778. made corporal.
March 1780 made sergeant July 1, 1681
Corporal in 3rd regiment Jan 1, 1781 to July 1, 1781
I can give you the record of Joseph Allen from the same source -b ut
there were others of that name and I am not sure of the identity.
Letter from Amzi Alen to his grand-daughter Lucy Luthera Allen:
Miitineague Dec 12, 1875
Dear Lucy:
In answer to your leter received some weeks ago, and which deserved
an earlier reply, I have now to say taht if the weather is propitious
and other things are favorable we propose to go to Florence on Friday
afternoon Dec 24, hoping to meet the "busy bees" that evening wherever
they meet. We shall probably return on MOnday forenoon.
Please answer this as soon as convenient.
Affectionately,
Amzi Allen.
My love to the "bees". Tell them to gather honey while the day lasts.
********************************
Letter from Amzi Allen to his grand-daughter Lucy Luthera Allen then at
Loon Lake, New York for the summer.
Florence July 16, 1882
My dear Grand daughter,
When you kindly bade me "good bye" a little while ago, I promised to write
you a letter soon after the receipt of one from you. Well I did receive
a charming one from you, and I undertook to fulfill my promise and after
working an hour or more last Friday, I found myself unequal to the task,
as my mental powers have fearfully failed in my old age. At last I was
compelled to postpone it for that time as I had a faint turn.
I now propose to leave other matters to your folks at home, andgive you
a few extracts from my personal history written in the Summer of 1854.
Although I have for the last 20 or 30 years generally appeared ruddy
and robust, I never had a firm constitution, or possessed much physical
strength or power of endurance, but have always been considerably
below average in those respects. At school I generally made good
proficencyin whatever studies I undertook except writing which was always
hard for me. In the autumn of 1807 my father built a house which he
occupied as long as he lived, and in which my sister was born, my oldest
brother (Joseph) and my mother died.
On the 30th of the next September, being a few days short of 10 years old,
I went to live with Hervey Frink in Northampton, who told my father that
he wanted a boy to do a few light chores and attend school. I lived
there 7 weeks, and was kept at drudgery, ad did not see the inside of a
schoolhouse during my stay. In short I was very roughly and unkindly
treated especially by Mrs. Frink. The next year I lived with Doctor Frink
he built a splended brick house now (1854) occupoied by President Allen.
He spent his property by a course of extravagance and dissipation and ended
his days a common soldier aabout the year 1814.
About the age of 13, I commenced the study of Latin and continued about a
year. I did not like the study very well, but made fair progress and
still retain all I learned (I have forgotten some since that time
1882). In May and june 1812 I spent a few weeks in trying to learn the
Druggist business with Doct. Joseph Lynde in Hartford Ct., but the
rudiments were too severe for me, the Pestle was as I thought and felt,
enormously heavy. I went home a few days before the declaration of
War which was the 18th of June.
In December 1813, being a little over 16 years old, I commenced teaching
a school at a place called Skipmuck on the North side of the Chicopee
river about 1 1/2 miles North East of Chicopee falls. Being young
I failed considerably in the government of the school, but my learning
was sufficient for a school of much higher attainments, although some
of them were older than myself.
In May a814 I commenced weaving broadcloth by hand in the mill of Ames and
Wells near the U.S. Water shops in Springfield. I continued there
about 2 years, at which time the war with England had closed and
manufacturing business was exceedingly dull, and the first permanent
employment that I got after that was in Middletown, CT. Sept 1, 1817.
Dear Lucy:
I am aware that myletter today will fail to interest you, as my hand
tremmbles so that I can not with a pen, and pencil writing is not
pleasant reading. Ihave plenty more of my own history for at least
one more letter and if you wish I will try once more
With warm affection
Your only grandfather
Amzi Allen
It took me until the end to realize this letter is from Daniel
Sizer, and not from Amzi Allen. It seems to be TOO Amzi Allen.
Middletown, Nov 21, 1820
Dear Children we received your Letter the 18th Jan, and was glad to hear
that you arrived to your New habitation all well and hope that your
health may continue and your new Situation will prove pleasant and
profitable, we are well and all connections in usual health, we wish
you to write as soon as convenient how you are and particularly how
little Bennett gets along has he eat his Tamarind, yet if he has not
let him have them and let us know how they relish G Mother in the
evening Sitting by the fireside and Sighs and says from little Bennet
Misses had Grand Mother please to let us know the first opportunity
whther you have wrote to Margaret and if you have had anny answer of
them let us know your Mother is anctious to know whether she calculates
to send for her, we remain in the house alone at present Wm Brown has not
moved and it at present is a matter of uncertainty whether he will this
Winter or not
Your Mother has not been abroad any since you left home and says that if she
must be deprived of the company of her Children she wants none all the
comfort she has is when she has is when she is asleep and dreams she has
her children about her. Wm Fowler and his Lady (Esther Savage) called
on us on their return from Guilford the Saturday after you left here
Wm Tappers to be a likely Man and they very well pleased with her new
situation Miss Bulkley has entered a Voiage that may prove a passage
of months After sending four times to MIss Babcock your Mother got her
pay in Parmucka She has not seen Tirza nor heard from her since you went
away but intends to embrace the first opportunity she has to collect
that.
When you went from here you left your long Shawl umbarilla and a pair
of Black worsted STockings and Wm Allens Bottle of Shoe Blacking all
which we will keep safe until you return unless we have an opportunity
of sending them.
I Shall make frequent calls at the Post Office if I find any letters
Diverted to you at Middletown shall order them Directed to you
I conclude bythis time you are enjoying how is father and Mother a
going to live this winter. And I have a Quarter of belonging
That is (fraid)(hard) for in my work, whihc I shall receive in a
few days and am like to be fix or __ ed with Bread Sufficient to our
(worth)(warmth) we eat Vegatables Sufficient said in adn wood (fraid)
(paid) for if I can get it our Cow Does well and we make all the
Butter we want and a little to share now and then I get a few Cents
to furnish Tea and Sugar. When Levy comes here he says Aunt Mary V
Bennet is gone Anne Says she dreamed that Aunt Mary came home and
said that she want never going away again thus I end my Scroll
Subscribing my Self
Affectionately yours,
Daniel Sizer
W Amzi & Mary Allen
On next page In this you have your Fathers respects as much as mine
the ___ to know how your _____ fared on the passage and whether
___ arrived safe
Address to: M Amzi Allen, Shepard Factory, Northampton (Mass)
Contact Dora Smith at [email protected]