Matthew Allyn, Hartford Founder

Compiled by Timothy Lester Jacobs, SDFH Genealogist

MATTHEW¹ ALLYN, HARTFORD FOUNDER (RICHARD^A) was baptized 17 Apr 1605 in Braunton, Devon, England, and died 01 Feb 1670/71 in Windsor, CT. He married MRS. MARGARET WYATT 02 Feb 1626/27 in Braunton, Devon, England. She was born in prob Braunton, Devon, England, and died 12 Sep 1675 in Windsor, CT.

Matthew Allyn of Braunton, Devon, England was in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632; made freeman 4 March 1635; was a representative in March 1635 to the Massachusetts General Court.

He was among the so-called “Adventurers Party” of twenty-five men who set out to explore the area that would become Hartford, led by John Steele in October 1635, prior to the departure from Cambridge of the Rev. Hooker’s party in May 1636. He removed probably 1637 to Hartford, where he was an original proprietor. He was a miller, and owned considerable holdings. In the Hartford land inventory of February 1639/40 he held: two acres on which his dwelling house stood with outhouses, yards, and gardens located on the south side of the road leading into the Neck of Land; two acres, one rood, and nineteen perches in the Little Meadow; two acres both sides of the Little River on which his mill stood together with an island in the Little River on the southwest side of the mill; ten acres by the West Field; eight acres and nine perches in the North Meadow; thirty-two acres and three roods also in the North Meadow; another parcel in the North Meadow of twenty-four acres and two roods; eight acres, one rood, and twenty-four perches on the east side of the Great River; sixty-four acres in the Old Oxpasture; twenty-nine acres and three roods in the Cow Pasture; twelve acres and twenty-six perches in the Neck of Land; and another seventeen acres, three roods and twenty-six perches in the Neck of Land.

He was excommunicated by the church in Hartford, and 03 June 1644, he appealed to the General Court. The records do not show how the matter was settled, but it may have been one cause of his removal to Windsor.

He was Deputy from Windsor, 1648 to 1657; Assistant 1658 to 1667; Commissioner for the United Colonies, 1660 and 1664; and was frequently appointed to important committees by the General Court.

He was the brother of Deacon Thomas Allyn of Wethersfield, later of Middletown, and their relationship was contentious. It is with great reluctance and respect I must differ with Robert Charles Anderson who, in his great migration article on Matthew Allyn, states that Thomas was not of Connecticut. The following statements from the “Records of the Colony of Connecticut”, volume 1, page 211, listing findings of the Connecticut General Court 12 September 1650 should serve to clarify the matter: “... Thomas Allyn should have his specialties of Matthew Allyn, with 10 s. damage and costs of the Courte: For the 2d which was for vnjust molestation and damage thereupon, which the jury found to bee sixty pounds, this court did finde, and declares that they doe judge that Thomas Allyn was unjustly molested by Matthew Allyn, but cannott judge the damage to be so great as the jury did finde, and therefore doe declare and determine that the dammage should be brought downe to twenty marke and costs of Courte: For the 3d, which was for expences about cattle, this Courte approues of the verdict of the Jury therevpon, which is that the said Matthew Allyn shall pay vnto the said Thomas Allyn, forty fiue pounds and costs of Courte: And this Courte doth further conclude, adiudge, and that Matthew Allyn shall pay vnto to his brother Thomas, the full fiue pounds over and above what was determined by the severall verdict of the Jury, wch fiue pounds is for the said Thomas his charges of trauells.” These passages established a clear physical proximity of the litigants, placing Thomas Allyn in Connecticut.

Matthew Allyn was also the brother of Samuel Allyn of Windsor.

Matthew Allyn made his will 30 January 1670/1, the inventory of his estate was taken 14 February 1670/1, and his will was proved 2 March 1670/1.

Genealogy: No known published genealogy.