Allen Blog- The Story of Hugh's youngest brother; Edward Allen and his sweetheart, Mary Bryan Part I

Edward Allen, youngest brother of Hugh Allen

Edward Allen was born in March, 1844 to Richard Allen and Margaret Sweeney. His sweetheart was Mary Bryan, the daughter of his neighbors, James Brien and Catherine Reilly, who lived about a half mile down the road from the Allens in County Meath, Ireland. Both families were members of the Dangan church in Summerhill Parish. Edward and Mary would have known each other growing up, but Edward would not have likely noticed Mary much until she was a young girl in her teens and he a young man in his 20’s. 

Even after his brothers left for American, Edward stayed on in County Meath, working the Allen farm with his older brother John, who inherited the farm after the death of his parents. He and Mary must have been fond of each other, but young men could not marry unless they had land on which to support a family.

 It wasn’t until 1880, when Edward was 30 that he decided he had to leave Mary in Ireland and immigrate to America to join his brothers and find his own way in the world. It is believed that he took passage in Liverpool and landed at Castle Garden, N.Y., following in their footsteps. He made his way to Jerseyville, and lived with his older brother Hugh and his family, helping on the farm, and almost surely saving money to send for Mary.

 Mary is said to have immigrated across the ocean by herself, leaving her parents and her family behind in Ireland, to join Edward in Jerseyville. They were married in May of 1885.

 In time they traveled westward across America to join Edward’s brother, Patrick, in Nebraska.



Sources:

Ancestry.com. Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Ancestry.com. Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1917 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Year: 1880; Census Place: English, Jersey, Illinois; Roll: 216; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 093

Ancestry.com. Illinois, County Marriage Records, 1800-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.