Harry James ALLEN (1881–1916)
Harry James Allen was born in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire in 1881, the son of Spencer Henry Stephen Allen (born in Wootton near Woodstock in 1855, registered third quarter) and Ellen Bartlett (born in Wootton near Woodstock in 1856 and baptised there on 30 November 1856).
When Harry’s parents were married at Wootton on 22 October 1878, his father was described as being from Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire and his mother from Woodleys. They had seven children:
- Alick Spencer Allen (born in Wootton near Woodstock in 1879/80, registered first quarter of 1880)
- Harry James Allen (born in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire in 1881, registered second quarter)
- Ernest John Bartlett Allen (born in New Hinksey, Oxford in 1884, registered second quarter)
- Ellen Mary Allen (born in Leamington, Warwickshire in 1889, registered third quarter)
- Reginald George Allen (born in St Aldate’s, Oxford in 1895/6, registered first quarter of 1896)
- Edith Jane Allen (born in St Aldate’s, Oxford in 1899, registered second quarter)
- Wilfred Edward Allen (born in St Aldate’s, Oxford in 1900, registered third quarter).
Harry’s father Spencer Allen was a butcher, and he and Harry’s mother began their married life in their home village of Wootton near Woodstock, but by the time of the 1881 census they had moved to Clapton Row, Bourton-on-the-Water with their one-year-old son Alick. Harry himself was born shortly after the census.
They were at New Hinksey in Oxford when their next son was born in 1884.
By 1889 the family had moved to Leamington, and the 1891 census shows them living at 110 Regent Street, Leamington Priors, with Harry’s father still employed by someone else to manage a butcher’s shop. There were now four children, including Harry, who was a ten-year-old schoolboy.
By 1895 they were back in Oxford, this time in St Aldate’s, and the 1901 census shows them there at 1 Speedwell Street, now over their own butcher’s shop. Harry himself was now a butcher’s assistant of 19, but he spent census night at 32 James Street in East Oxford with his uncle and aunt, Harry and Elizabeth Holloway. His brother Alick was also away somewhere, but five youngest siblings were at home.
Harry’s father, Spencer Henry Allen, died in Oxford at the age of 47 in the fourth quarter of 1902.
♥ In the third quarter of 1908 Harry James Allen married Amelia Mattock (born in New Headington on 20 March 1880 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 27 June 1880) in Oxford: she was the daughter of the famous rose-grower John Mattock. They had two children:
- John Henry Allen (born in New Headington on 5 October 1909 and baptised at the Wesleyan Chapel in Tyndale Street, East Oxford on 5 January 1910)
- Mary Margaret Allen (born in Headington on 25 December 1916 and baptised at the Wesleyan Chapel in Tyndale Street, East Oxford on 28 February 1917).
They were living at The Hollies in Gardiner Street (then called South Street) in Highfield parish when their son was baptised in 1909. The 1911 census shows Harry Allen and his wife and son living on the east side of Gardiner Street: Harry (30) was no longer a butcher, but had evidently come into the Mattock family business and was working as a florist and fruiterer, assisted in the shop by his wife.
Meanwhile his widowed mother was still running the butcher’s shop at 1 Speedwell Street in 1911. Her four youngest children were still at home: Ellen (21) was an assistant saleswoman for the Singer Sewing Machine Company; Reginald (15) was a boy assistant in the Bodleian Library; and Edith (12) and Wilfred (10) were still at school. Harry’s brother Ernest (27) was now a married man with a wife and child, living in Huddersfield and working as a borer for a bobbin turner.
During the First World War, Harry James Allen served as a Private in the Army Service Corps (Canteens) (Service No. A/394554). He died in Mesopotamia (Iraq) at the age of 37 on 18 November 1918 and is buried in the Basra War Cemetery (III.S.11). He is listed on the roll of honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.
Postscript
Harry’s widow
- Mrs Amelia Allen was listed at their Gardiner Street home in Kelly’s Directory of 1919. She married Albert Harris in Oxford in the first quarter of 1922, and they lived at the present 43 Osler Road (then called 21 Manor Road) in Old Headington. Mrs Harris is listed at the house by 1945, and she was still there in 1960.
Harry’s mother
- Mrs Ellen Allen died at the age of 65 in 1921 (registered Headington District fourth quarter).
Harry’s son
- John Harry Allen married Beatrice F. E. Washbrook in Oxford in the fourth quarter of 1933.
Harry’s siblings
- Ernest John Bartlett Allen (born 1884) married Matilda Andrews (born in Ledbury, Herefordshire in 1879, registered second quarter) in the Fulham registration district in 1904. Their daughter Doris Allen was born in Ledbury in 1905/6. The family was living at 12 New Street, Horley, Huddersfield at the time of the 1911 census.