James ALLEN
Biography

Captain Allen commenced his seafaring life at the age of fourteen. His first voyage was as a cabin boy with Captain Abram Gardner in ship "Canton", Jireh Perry was the owner. It sailed from New Bedford August 19, 1831 and returned May 31, 1834. Second voyage as a boat steerer, with Captain Abram Gardner, ship "Canton", which sailed from New Bedford October 25, 1834 and returned May 21, 1838. Third voyage was as first mate with Captain Rhodolphus N. Swift in ship
"Lancaster", owned by T. and A. R. Nye. It sailed from New Bedford November 15, 1838 and returned March 25, 1842. Fourth voyage as captain of ship "Charles Frederick", owned by J. A. Parker & Son, sailed from New Bedford June 20, 1842 and returned April 18, 1846. Fifth voyage as captain of the "Eliza L. B. Jenney", Gibbs & Jenney owners. It sailed from Fairhaven December 1, 1846 and returned May 15, 1851.

After spending twenty years in the sperm whaling service, one half of these years as master, Captain Allen retired from the sea and became a resident of Acushnet, where he built a house and purchased a farm, the cultivation of which he thoroughly enjoyed, showing judgment and achieving success rarely to be seen in a man who for so many years has followed the ocean. He united with the Long Plain Baptist church, of which his wife was also a member, December 13, 1857, he died September 9, 1860.

"A History of the Town of Acushnet, Massachusetts" pub. 1907

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