James Stephenson Whelen, the first American ancestor, a son of Malachi, came from Hampshire, England, to America in the last decade of the seventeenth century. He was married by Rev. Simon Smith, a chaplain of His Majesty's forces in the Province of New York, May 29, 1694, to Sarah Elizabeth Dennis, of a family that was among the earliest settlers at Woodbridge, New Jersey. Her mother whose maiden name was Jacques, was of Huguenot ancestry, the daughter of an eminent barrister in Paris, who becoming a Protestant was driven into exile on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He found refuge for a short time in England and came from there to America, locating first in South Carolina and later in New York, where his daughter married one of the early Dennises of Woodbridge, New Jersey. Mrs. Henry Whelen of Philadelphia has in her possession a portion of a hanging of antique pattern painted in colors by hand that is said to have been brought to this country by Madame Jacques, born Cuissant, the ancestress of the Whelens of Philadelphia. The portrait of the Madame Jacques is also in possession of a collateral branch of the family. Both the Whelen and Dennis families were zealous adherents of the Protestant Episcopal church.

Source: Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Volumes I-III
Henry Whelen, Jr.

Rev. John Allen of Woodbridge

The people of Woodbridge, founded in 1665, made repeated efforts to secure a settled pastor, but during the first fifteen years of the new town enjoyed only nine months of religious services, with the brief pastorate of the Rev. Ezekiel Fogg, in 1674. On July 15, 1679, they commissioned Captain Andrew Bound, on a voyage to England, to treat for a minister, at £50 per year, with the use of 200 acres of parsonage land, and probably a residence, and to bring him over at the expense of the town, in case he was unable to pay his own passage. They also sent by the Captain two letters, one to Dr. Ovin and one to the famous Richard Baxter, setting forth the needs of the Woodbridge congregation. The results of this mission are not known, but in September, 1680, John Allen became the settled preacher in the town. On November 16, 1680, the inhabitants agreed to a voluntary subscription toward his salary, instead of the usual custom of a town rate for the purpose. On January 1, 1681, it was resolved in town meeting:

"We the freeholders and inhabitants of Woodbridge having sent to England to have an honest, able, godly minister to Come over to us to preach the word of God sinserly and faithfully--and Mr John Alin by the providence of God being for that End Come amongst us, and we having had Sum Experience of his good Abilities: are willing and doe hereby make Choise of him to be our Minister and desire to put ourselfe under his ministry According to the Rules of the gospel."

In February it was voted in town meeting that if Mr. Allen would consent to remain in the place as its clergyman he should be made a freeholder. He consented, and on November 15 ensuing it was voted to present him with a house-lot of ten acres. In pursuance of this resolution and agreement, John Dennis, carpenter, deeded to John Allen, clerice, both of Woodbridge, January 26, 1681-2, "a messuage there on the road from the Meeting House to the Common Court House and Prison, nineteen acres and a half, bounded on the north by Elisha Parker, on the west by Daniel Greasy, now Thomas Leonard, on the south by Samuel Moore, with said road between." Also seven and a half acres of meadow, bounded on the east by a small creek dividing it from Elisha Parker, on the south by Crane Neck Creek, on the west by Samuel Moore, and on the north by the first lot.

On September 26, 1682, the townsmen petitioned the Governor and Council to induct Mr. Allen formally as their minister, and the message was sent by Capt. Pike. We have no account of the result of this application. Of course, this was entirely unnecessary, but the people were probably so proud of their new pastor that they wished to have him honored by the most public official recognition.

Unhappily, they were destined to have his ministrations for only a little more than three years. On January 2, 1683-4, John Dennes, of Woodbridge, planter, was appointed administrator of John Allen, late of Woodbridge, Clerk; Nathaniel Fitzrandolph, of Woodbridge, and William Looker, of Elizabeth Town, planter, going on his bond. It is not unlikely that in this proceeding Mr. Dennis was acting for the town. It does not appear that he ever filed an inventory or any account.

There is nothing to indicate that Mr. Allen had wife or children in America. If a widow had survived him here she would most naturally have applied for letters of administration on his estate. Had there been minor children a guardian would have been appointed. It seems, however, that the minister left behind him in England a son, John Allen. The news of his father's death drifted slowly across the ocean, and it was fifteen months later, or on April 15, 1685, that he applied for letters of administration, which were granted to him (in Latin), by the Archbishop of Canterbury, by virtue of his prerogative to exercise jurisdiction over estates lying in more than one Diocese, or over the seas. These letters were "on the estate of John Allen, senior, of the Island of New Jersey." The Archbishop's knowledge of his prerogative was better than his geography. The administrator did not act himself, but immediately (May 1, 1685) executed a power of attorney to Daniel Allen, of Boston, New England, for the collection of debts, and for managing the land business of his (John's) father. This Daniel Allen was perhaps either a brother or a younger son of the deceased clergyman. He does not appear to have acted, and nothing further was done in the matter for ten years, when the older son, now designated as "John Allin, late of London, England, now of Boston, New England, son and sole heir of John Allen of New Jersey, deceased," gave a power of attorney, dated September 9, 1695, to Captain Samuel Walker, of Boston, as his land agent in New Jersey. Next, we find on record a deed, dated February 21, 1695-6, from "John Allin, late of London, now of Boston, son of John Allin, Clerk, by Captain Samuel Walker, late of Boston, New England, now of Piscataqua, Middlesex county, New Jersey, his attorney," to William Ellison, of Woodbridge, tanner, for the messuage of nineteen and a half acres, and the meadow of seven and a half acres adjoining, conveyed to John Allin, Clerk, by John Dennis, January 26, 1681.--Dally's History of Woodbridge and Vicinity, 81-84; N. J. Archives, XXI., 56, 78, 223, 226, 237-8; XXIII., 9.

In addition to the Rev. John Allen, of Woodbridge, there appear to have been two other John Allens, contemporaries of his. Dally, in his excellent History of Woodbridge, has confounded them or one of them with the clergyman, assuming that the latter retired from the ministry, but continued to reside in Woodbridge, where he married a wife, Deliverance, and that he was chosen by the townspeople to various local offices, which he held for several years. As shown above, the clergyman was retired by death, probably in December, 1683.

In this connection it will not be out of place to give a few particulars, not in Dally's History, regarding the

Other John Allens, of Woodbridge.

In a deed dated May 2, 1685, from William Camptone, of Woodbridge, to Richard Powell, of the same place, for a home lot of ten acres there, the tract is described as bounded on the south by lands formerly "of John Smith, now John Allan."--N. J. Archives, XXI., 120. This John Allen doubtless married a daughter of Thomas Alger, of Woodbridge, who in his will, dated January 4, 1687-8, names "grandchild John, son of John Allen of Woodbridge."--Ib., 108. When William Brown, of Woodbridge, died, the inventory of his personal estate was made by John Allen, January 10, 1698-9.--Ib., XXIII., 66. John Allen, of Middlesex, made his will on January 4, 1702-3, naming son John, and daughters (names not given), under age. He left real and personal estate. His executors were John Fitzrandolph and Nathaniel Fitzrandolph, junior, both of Woodbridge. His personal estate was inventoried and appraised at œ45, 14, 1. The will was proved the same month, January 28, 1702-3, indicating that it was made on his death-bed. No wife is mentioned, she having doubtless predeceased her husband.--Ib., 10.

John Allen, of Woodbridge, cooper, doubtless son of the last-named, made his will January 16, 1715-16. He names wife Deliverance, and children Samuel, John, Ursula and a younger daughter, whose name is not given. He devises lands bought of Moses Rolf, and other lands inherited from his father, John Allen. The executors named were his wife, and his brother-in-law (? John Heard). The will was witnessed by Daniel Britten, John Thomson and Adam Hude, and was proved before James Smith, Secretary of the Province, in due course. The inventory of the personal estate was appraised at œ103, 3s., including a great bible valued at 1, 10s., and a small one at 6 shillings.--N. J. Archives, XXIII., 10.

From sundry passages in Dally's History it would appear that these John Allens were Quakers.

Source:

New Jersey Historical Society. New Jersey Biographical and Genealogical Notes from the Volumes of the New Jersey Archives. Trenton, NJ, USA: New Jersey Historical Society, 1916.

William Henry Moore and His Ancestry: With Accounts of the Moore Families in ... - Page 408

by Louis Effingham De Forest, Anne Lawrence Marston De Forest, Edward Small Moore, Paul Moore - 1934 - 564 pages

His brother-in-law, Samuel Dennis, and his son-in-law, ... His third wife was
Ann or Hannah Jacques, whom he married on December 23, 1678, at Woodbridge.

VITAL RECORDS OF WOODBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX CO., NJ

Extracted from
The Story of a New Jersey Town
by Rev. Joseph W. DALLY
New Brunswick, N. J.
1873

• Edward CROWELL was Married 5 Oct 1707 to Sarah VEAL, by me Nathaniel WADE, Clerk (son of Edward Crow (ell)
  and Mary Lathrop born Barnstable Co., Ma.
• Elizabeth CROWELL, daughter of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 8 Jul 1708
• John CROWELL, son of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 25 Oct 1709
• Samuel CROWELL, son of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 30 Jul 1711
• Mary CROWELL, daughter of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 3 Aug 1713
• Edward CROWELL, son of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 8 Mar 1715
• Sarah CROWELL, daughter of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 17 Oct 1717
• Joseph CROWELL, son of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 24 Sep 1724
• Thomas CROWELL, son of Edward CROWELL & Sarah, his wife, b. 22 Mar 1726
• Edward CROWELL was Married to Elizabeth PIKE, 24 Nov 1731, by me the Rev. Mr. John PIERSON
• The Said Elizabeth Departed this Life 29 Nov 1732
• Annabel CROWELL, daughter of Edward CROWELL & Christian, his wife, b. 17 Apr 1741
• Agness, daughter of Edward & Christian CROWELL, b. 2 Nov 1743
• Katharine CROWELL, daughter of Edward & Christian CROWELL, b. 6 Jan 1736
• James, son of Edward CROWELL & Christian, his wife, b. 7 May 1739
• Yelverton CROWELL was Married to Hannah ADAMS, 8 Oct 1702, by Samuel HALE - Justice
• Seth CROWELL, son of Yelverton CROWELL & Hannah, his wife, b. 2 Dec 1706
• Yelverton CROWELL, son of Yelverton CROWELL & Hannah, his wife, b. 31 Mar 1710
• Benjamin CROWELL, son of Yelverton CROWELL & Hannah, his wife, b. 23 Nov 1715
• Hannah CROWELL, daughter of Yelverton CROWELL & Hannah, his wife, b. 22 Apr 1719, at 9 o'clock in the Morning
• Seth CROWELL was Married to Mary CROWELL, 11 Nov 1730, by Joseph WEBB - Minister
• Hannah CROWELL, daughter of of the aforesaid Seth CROWELL & Mary, his wife, b. 18 Sep 1731
• Enos CROWELL, son of Seth CROWELL & Mary, his wife, b. 11 Sep 1733
• Sarah CROWELL, daughter of Seth CROWELL & Mary, his wife, b. 1 Apr 173

 

• John DENNES, son of John DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 9 Sep 1669
• Mary DENNES, daughter of John DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 7 Dec 1671
• Sarah DENNES, daughter of John DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 18 Jul 1673
• Elizabeth DENNES, daughter of John DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 14 Feb 1674
• Suzanah DILLY, daughter of John DILLY & Sarah, his wife, b. 14 Jun 1674
• Sarah DILLY, daughter of John DILLY & Sarah, his wife, b. 28 Dec 1677
• John DILLY, son of John DILLY & Sarah, his wife, b. 24 Jan 1680
• Elizabeth DENNES, daughter of Jonathan DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 8 Jan 1678
• Mary DENNES, daughter of Jonathan DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 7 Apr 1682
• Rachel DENNES, daughter of Jonathan DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 30 Oct 1683
• Jonathan DILLY, son of John DILLY & Sarah, his wife, b. Last Day of Sep 1684
• Jonathan DENNES, son of Jonathan DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 29 Jan 1685
• Joseph DENNES, son of Jonathan DENNES b. 18 Feb 1687
• Hannah DENNES, daughter of Jonathan DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 26 Jan 1691
• Mary DENNES, daughter of Samuel DENNES & Mary, his wife, b. 21 Dec 1698
• John DENNES, son of John DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 8 May 1697
• John DENNES & Sarah BLOOMFIELD m. 18 Dec 1668
• Dr. Peter DESIGNY m. Ann ROGERS, 20 Aug 1685
• Samuel DENNES Junr, m. Mary CROWELL, 3 Dec 1695 (son of Samuel Dennis, Sr.) (daughter of Mary Lathrop
  Crowell and Edward Crow (ell) born Barnstable Co., Ma.)
• Rachel DENNES, daughter of John DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 14 May 1699
• John DENNES m. Rachel HULL, 8 Apr 1694, by Samuel HALE - Justice
• Charles DENNES & Sarah DENNES, son & daughter to Jonathan DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 4 Jan 1689
• Sarah DENNES, daughter of Samuel DENNES & Mary, his wife, b. 27 Sep 1696 (Mary Lathrop daughter of Rev. John Lathrop)
• Unis DENNES, daughter of John DENNES & Rachel, his wife, b. 29 Dec 1694
• Samuel DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 17 Sep 1672
• Robert DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 17 May 1676
• Sarah DENNES, daughter of Samuel DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. 17 Feb 1678
• Jonathan DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES & Sarah, his wife, b. Feb 1683
• Jonathan DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES & Mary, his wife, b. 2 Sep 1692
• Jonathan DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES, d. 12 Dec 1688
• Sarah DENNES, wife of John DENNES, d. 5 may 1689
• John DENNES, above mentioned, d. 8 May 1689
• Mary DENNES, daughter of the above said John DENNES & Sarah, his wife, d. Oct 1689
• Mary DENNES, daughter of Samuel DENNES Junr & Mary, his wife, Departed this Life 18 Mar 1702  (This was Reliance’s sister)
• Robert DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES & Mary, his wife, d. 17 Jan 1702
• Abigal DENNES, daughter of Phillip DENNES & Mary, his wife, b. 17 Apr 1704
• Mary DENNES, daughter of Samuel DENNES & Mary, his wife, b. 9 Jan 1703
• Samuel DENNES, son of Samuel DENNES Junr & Mary, his wife, b. 8 Jul 1706
• Mary DENNES, daughter of Samuel DENNES & Mary, his wife, d. 1 Oct 1706
• These May Certify all Persons Concerned that Jonathan DENNES was Married to Agness SHARP ye 6th Feb 1710, by Mr. WADE - Minister
• Samuel DENNES, son of Jonathan DENNES & Agness, his wife, b. 25 Oct 1711
• Thomas BLOOMFIELD & Elizabeth DENNES, both of this Town, m. by Capt. John PIKE, 10 May 1676
• Thomas COLLIER was Married to Hannah DENNES 1 Mar 1693, by me John BISHOP, Justice

Perth Amboy, 24 Nov 1693 - These are to Testify that I Married Edward MAINS & Sarah DECENT By the Testimony of Samuel DENNES, Clerk in Woodbridge, this Day and Date above written, David MUDIE – Justice

To all Persons that are or May be Concerned Know ye that John LOOFBORROW was Married to Hannah BUNN, 22 Nov 1688, Before Samuel HALE - Justice; Entered by Me Samuel DENNES - Clerk