ALLEN, MATTHEW/ALLEN, WILLIAM/ALLEN, RALPH (ALLEN BROTHERS)--Page 1

Before he became a persecuted Quaker, Matthew Allen was to grind the grain for the citizens of Sandwich, MA.

According to Deyo's history, (see sources) the Town of Sandwich gave permission to Edward Dillingham and Richard Bourne to negotiate with Thomas Dexter to build a mill in 1654. The plans fell through, and then John Ellis, William Swift, William Allen (Matthew's brother), and James Skiff were "engaged to build a mill, the town paying £20." Twenty-two freemen covered the bill and the mill was completed in 1655, when the town records of May 18 of that year recorded that "the town agreed that Matthew Allen should grind the corn and have the toll for his pains."

But the Freeman version of the story (see sources) says that Matthew was contracted for the first mill--the one that fell through--and that the contract, when renewed, was with Thomas Dexter.

There was a grist mill--Dexter's Grist Mill--which served Sandwich for over 200 years. If you go to Sandwich, what you will see on the site of the mill is a very accurate historical reproduction of what mills were like over 300 years ago.

From "Sandwich: The Oldest Town On The Cape"

"GRIST MILL"

"Sandwich's original old-time grist mill was built around 1654 and served the town for over two hundred years. During the latter half of the 19th century new methods of grinding corn replaced the water-driven grist mills. After that, Sandwich's mill was used for a variety of other commercial purposes, the small building got enlarged and added onto a number of times. However, as the town grew, with more and more visitors and more and more cars, the building's usefulness as a business location began to wane for lack of adequate parking space. In 1961 the Town of Sandwich bought the property as a major step in a program of historical rehabilitation. The old building with its rambling additions was torn down and carefully replaced by the 100% authentic and workable reproduction of a typical 1600's grist mill. Its mill machinery is one of the earliest kind used in Colonial days...water wheel, main drive shaft, and gears all largely made of wood and driven by water power from adjacent pond. Visitors can watch the corn being ground and buy bags of the fresh, fragrant meal to take home."

But, to get back to the Allens:

Matthew Allen and his brothers are found all over the Plymouth Colony treasurer's accounts; fined again and again for attending Quaker meetings, refusing to take the oath of fidelity, etc. Brother William had a rough go of it especially. Although he was an industrious man and a hard worker, he adhered to simple Quaker doctrine (In other words, he was poor.) Plymouth Colony had appointed a sheriff--George Barlow, "The Quaker Terror." Kittredge (see sources) says Mr. Barlow "had no imagination, his technique never varied." He never took from the Quakers what would be considered things of great value, he just took those things that were valuable (i.e.; most necessary) to the Quaker families. Handed down as legend and oral tradition, it is reported that while William Allen was in Boston (in jail), George Barlow paid a visit to William's wife Priscilla. He confiscated first the family cow, then all the corn in the house, a bag of meal, and then took the only kettle she had left. George said to her, "Now Priscilla, how will you cook for your family and friends if you have no kettle?" Priscilla replied, "George, that God who hears the young ravens when they cry will provide for them. I trust in that God, and I verily believe the time will come when thy necessity will be greater than mine." Her words appear to have been prophetic. (See George Barlow and Andrew Hallett stories.)

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