We don't know much about Peter Allen.
He was baptized on June 28, 1837 at the church in Dangan. His father was listed as "Dick" Allen and his mother as Margaret Sweeney. His baptismal sponsors were Pat Sweeney (his uncle) and Cath McCan.
The only census we have for him is the 1900 census. On that document, he reports that he arrived in the U.S. in 1881. So, Peter was one of the last Allen siblings to immigrate from Ireland.
We notice in the Allen documents and especially in the census records that there is a lot of discrepancy about birth dates and ages. Peter clarifies this for us by simply stating his birth date on the census as "Don't know." This is despite the fact that he states that he can read and write. Birth dates were apparently not all that important to the Allen's in Ireland, and since many could not read and write, they were not readily recorded. It is a good thing that we have the church baptismal records!
In 1900, Peter was a naturalized citizen, and owned his own farm, adjacent to that of Mary Allen, his brother Edward's widow. With 6 children under the age of 15, Mary was probably very glad for Peter's help on the farm. Edward had only died 3 years earlier.
Peter died 5 years later, on January 5, 1905. He was 67 years old. He was buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Burchard, near his brother Edward. His grave gives us a great clue as to where the Allen family lived in County Meath. It is inscribed "Aged 61 y. born in Umberstown, Ireland."
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 August 2020), memorial page for Peter Allen (20 Jun 1837–5 Jan 1905), Find a Grave Memorial no. 33061916, citing Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burchard, Pawnee County, Nebraska, USA ; Maintained by LoNe Searcher (contributor 46845051) .
We know now that Umberstown is the tiny townland where the Allen family farm was located- near Dangan, where they attended church in Summerhill Catholic Parish in County Meath.
The inscription on Edward's grave says " born in Summerhill Parish, Meath Co., Ireland." His birthdate on findagrave is given as March 14, 1844 and his death date as May 27, 1897- aged 53.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 August 2020), memorial page for Edward Allen (14 Mar 1844–27 May 1897), Find a Grave Memorial no. 33302035, citing Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burchard, Pawnee County, Nebraska, USA ; Maintained by LoNe Searcher (contributor 46845051) .
Mary (Bryan) Allen would also be buried there in 1932, as would her son, John J. Allen, buried in 1966.
There is a puzzle in the Burchard Cemetery as well-
James Allen, b 1888, died May 25, 1897 (two days before Edward)- age 9. Edward's son James was still listed on the 1900 census as 12 years old. He did not die until 1930. So- who is this child?
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 August 2020), memorial page for James Allen (1 Jan 1888–25 May 1897), Find a Grave Memorial no. 33302068, citing Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burchard, Pawnee County, Nebraska, USA ; Maintained by LoNe Searcher (contributor 46845051) .
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