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In mid-October of 1633, the two ships, "The Ark and The Dove" left Gravesend with an unknown number of passengers, (some records state 200 passengers) all of whom had presumably taken the oath of fidelity to Charles. Their next stop was Cowes on the Isle of Wight, where at least three Catholic priests, Fathers Andrew White, John Altham and Thomas Gervais, came on board. Father White kept a journal of the voyage, in which he wrote in Latin and was later translated.
Thomas Allen, born about 1610 in England came on the ship larger ship "ARK" to Charles County, Maryland in 1633. They left Gravesend in the winter for their four month venture so they would arrive in Maryland in the spring time. This bit of information was found helpful from the Jamestown settlement when they arrived in the winter. Lord Baltimore made the adjustment for this trip and planned much better.
I can find no mention of Thomas Allen being an indentured servant. Since he was listed as a freeman in 1638 and had married it is assumed he paid his own passage and was chosen to come establish the colony.
Thomas Allen name was given on the list of freemen in 1638 when his name appeared on the list who wished their loving friend Nicholas Brown planter to be the Burgess at the Isle of Kent during the next General Assembly at Saint Marys summoned to Begin on the 25th. of February next. As a free man, meaning his passage on the ship Ark was satisfied.
Once Thomas Allen was settled in Charles County, he needed to find himself a wife. Thomas came as a single man. He found a wife immediately and had three sons born before 1640. That is only a six year span to find a wife, marry and have three children. (fast work)...
He left his will in St Charles County. It appears from the English records that Thomas felt he was going to be attack, injured or killed by Irishmen, in his will he ask if he died suddenly that an inquest be held. Four months later he was found on Point Clear.
Capt. Thomas Allen was apparently killed by Indians, not Irishmen, and at least two of his sons, Robert and Thomas, kidnapped
Because Thomas' children were missing, and a ransom demanded by the Indians it was necessary for the court to determine how to handle the expense of the ransom. The final determination was that they would be indentured to whomsoever ransomed them; i.e., they would be placed in servitude to white men instead of Indians
Court and Testamentary Business, Province of Maryland, 1648. Liber A, pp. 170-4.
In the name of god Amen. I Thomas Allen in the prouince of Mary-Land Plantr for many good causes me thereto moueing. being well in body, & in prfect health & memory thanks be to god for it, & praysed be his holy name.
I doe make my last will & testamt
ffirst I bequeath my Soule to god tht gaue it, trusting only in the meritts of Jesus Christ my Sweet Sauiour. Secondly I bequeath my Body to the grownd, whence it shall please Allmighty god to call it, trusting in a ioyfull & hopefull resur rection by Jesus Christ. Thirdly I doe make my sonne Thomas Allen, full & whole Exequutor of all my wordly goods: Thus far tht he doth admister uppon all tht is mine, for the use of him selfe, & his Brothers William Allen, & Robert Allen, & lett it bee, more or lesse. & I doe giue them share & share like. And if eyther of them should dye; Lett the other Two take all, Or if it please god, tht Two dye; Then the longest liuer take all. And because they are yowng, & tender of age I doe appoynt my louing ffreinds John Hatch (or in his absence Willm Marshall) & Rich: Banks to bee Ouer seers of this my last will & Testamt And if it should soe please Allmigty god tht I should dye this summer, or this yeare: That my Man Conquerour may stay, & worke in the Crop. And tht an Inuentory of all tht is mine, may be taken & secured by the OurSeers Jno Hatch & Rich: Banks, to pay my debts, & the remayner for the good of my children according to their best discretion. Now for the disposall of my children I would not haue them to liue wth any Papist. ffor my Eldest sonne Thomas, if hee please to liue wth eyther of the Ouerseers of this will hee may during his pleasure. I know he will yerne his uictualls & cloaths: if not lett him take his course. And for the other Two I would not haue them sold for slaues, or Morter-Boyes, but according to their best discretion I meane, of my uery louing ffreinds John Hatch & Rich: Banks. I haue an old freind att Accomack called James Bruse, I could wish tht he had my sonne Robert, if he haue none of his owne & tht he would use him well, & nott sett him to the Mortar. or eyther Vrmstrong ffoster. Phillip Conner of the Ile of Kent, did desyre once to haue my Sonne William, as his child, & soe he would use him. & I told him, if it pleased god to take me to his mercy I would leaue him, to him, Soe I desyre you my freinds to use yor discretion in it. And for yor paines & labor in it, you may pay yor selfes, out of this estate. But I beseech you my freinds, doe yor best for my children. And soe I conclude desyring god to bring us to (in his good time) euer lasting glory & mercy in Jesus Christ our Sauiour. Now to him be thanks both now & euermore. Amen.
The words him, his, & god was enterlyned before the Signing & Setting to of my hand. Now in wittnes of the truth I haue sett my hand this Twenty third day of Aprill. An: Do: 1648
Signd Thomas Allen.
On the backside of the will
I desyre that & if I should sodenly dye, & the cause how, should not be directly knowne how, or where, or when. That there bee speedy Enquiry made, how & where, & what was the cause. And if it be not directly fownd tht then I would have Nick: & Marks att Pyney-neck, Irish-men, questioned as suspitious persons: for reasons to mee best knowne. This more I desyre of you my freinds John Hatch, & Richard Banks, & soe likewise of you my Sonnes Thomas, William, & Robert Allen. This is my desyre. Wittnes my hand this Twenty third of Aprill Ano Dni 1648. Signd Thomas Allen.
(Archives of Maryland, Vol. IV, pp. 403-4)
Editors: This will is also abstracted in the Maryland Calendar of Wills, Volume I, pp. 1-13
Since Thomas Allen did not list a wife on the voyage, he married in Maryland. His wife's name has been listed as Mary and either she came on the Ark and Dove as a family member or she was in Virginia. It can be assumed she had died by the time Thomas wrote his will.
1. Thomas Allen, son of Thomas proven by his will. Born after 1633 and before 1640
2. William Allen, son of Thomas Proven by his will. Born after 1633 and before 1640.
3. Robert Allen, son of Thomas Proven by his will. Born after 1633 and before 1640.