Posting on http://genforum.genealogy.com/allen/messages/13856.html

I am a descendant of Elizabeth Allen and Robert Tucker through their daughter Rebecca who married John Fenno. I have been doing Fenno-Allen research for years and have amassed bits and pieces of information which may contribute to solving the family relationship puzzle presented by Elizabeth Allen Tucker. There were several Allen (Alline) families living in the Massachusetts Bay area from the arrival of the Puritans in 1630 and before. In many instances historians and researchers do not agree with regards to which individuals belong to which families. You are undoubtedly correct, however, that Elizabeth is not the daughter of William and Ann Goodale Allen of Salisbury Mass. Abigail, the first child of William and Ann Allen and Sarah, the first child of Robert and Elizabeth Tucker were both born in 1639. Records show that William and Ann had no daughter Elizabeth. The two couples were contemporaries but were probably not related. Your marriage date for Robert and Elizabeth Allen Tucker is much too late. They were probably married by 1638.

I believe the best clue we have to Elizabeth’s family relationship, is that in his will Robert Tucker calls Deacon Henry Allen of Boston his brother-in-law. This record ,which has been available for over one hundred years, is the one used to prove that Robert Tucker’s wife was surnamed Allen. Early on, it was pointed out that Deacon Henry Allen might have married a sister of Robert Tucker but records now available show otherwise. Deacon Henry Allen married twice: (1) Anne [probably Anne Hare] the widow of William Teffe; and (2) Judith Beers, who survived him. The earliest record known of Deacon Henry Allen is his arrest for drunkenness at Dorchester in 1640 (at age 20). The owner of the house he was working on, gave the workers some “strong water”. Two of the workers, Henry Allen and Clement Weaver, drank too much. They were arrested and fined a small amount. The owner of the house was fined rather heavily for giving them the “strong water“. Genealogically this is important because it established Henry Allan, and by inference, his sister Elizabeth as residents of Dorchester. Deacon Henry is often shown as the son of George Allen of Sandwich but this is incorrect. George Allen of Sandwich did have a son Henry who moved to Boston, to whom George left land in the Sandwich area. However, when this Henry Allen sold his inherited land to his brother George, who still lived in Sandwich, he used a mark for his signature, indicating that he could not write his name. In addition to being Deacon of the First Church of Boston for many years, Henry Allen owned several Boston businesses. He was Boston city auditor for at least one term. He was a selectman for several years. He assessed many estates and copies of his signature are available. He was not the illiterate son of George Allen of Sandwich. Two other Allens who are sometimes identified as the children of George Allen of Sandwich are George Allen, a Boston mason, with Dorchester/Weymouth connections, who married Susannah (unknown) and whose children are the first Allen surname children to appear in published Boston vital records and Joane Allen who married Clement Briggs. [George Allen of Sandwich did not arrive in Weymouth, Massachusetts until 1636 and there is no evidence that he had daughters. Joane Allen is known to have been in Dorchester, Mass. by 1630. [Her marriage to Clement Briggs was considered illegal by the newly established Puritan Court, and the official who married them was fined and jailed.] A Thomas Allen of Dorchester is also mentioned by Lechford, a Boston attorney, in 1640 entries to his “Note-Book” but I have seen nothing which purports to show his parentage.

John Allen, a Dorchester Innkeeper and house builder, appears to have been the only Allen head of family who lived in the Dorchester area prior to 1636. He was likely the father of Deacon Henry Allen, Elizabeth Allen Tucker and Joane Allen Briggs as well as George and Thomas Allen.

It may be coincidence, but the Bishop’s Transcripts for Mitcham, Surry, England show the following children for a John Allen (wife’s name not given): William Chr. 26 Oct. 1600 who died within a few weeks; George Chr. 4 Jan. 1600/01; Joane Chr. 2 Feb. 1602/03; Thomas Chr. 7 Dec. 1606; Elizabeth Chr. 24 Nov. 1610; and William Chr. 25 Apr. 1613 who died soon thereafter. No Henry Allen was Christened at Mitcham, Surry, England. From his age at death, and several affidavits, we know Deacon Henry Allen was born about 1620 but I have seen no record which shows where he was born.

I believe there is considerable evidence to show that John Allen was among the Early Planters, who came to America before the Puritans arrived in 1630. He and his family appear to have been living in an area called “Allen’s Plain” when the ship Mary and John, arrived. Records show that the Mary and John passengers, established the settlement of Dorchester on “Allen’s Plain” and that the first church built in Massachusetts Bay Colony was built on “Allen’s Plain”, in Dorchester. There is still much to prove, but the above appears to be the best and most logical explanation of the Fenno-Allen data I have been able to accumulate.  - Tom Hunt