Ethan Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethan Allen
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An engraving depicting Ethan Allen demanding the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga
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| Born | January 21, 1738 Litchfield, Connecticut |
| Died | February 12, 1789 (aged 51) Burlington, Vermont |
| Buried |
Greenmount Cemetery, Burlington
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| Allegiance | Great Britain United States Vermont |
| Service/ |
Connecticut militia Continental Army Vermont militia |
| Years of service | 1757 Connecticut provincial militia 1770–1775 Green Mountain Boys |
| Rank | Major General (Vermont Republic militia) Colonel (Continental Army) |
| Commands held | Green Mountain Boys Fort Ticonderoga |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | farmer, politician, land speculator, philosopher |
Ethan Allen (born January 21, 1738 – died February 12, 1789) was an American soldier, farmer, and writer. He is most famous for helping to found Vermont. He also led a group of brave soldiers called the Green Mountain Boys. They captured Fort Ticonderoga at the start of the American Revolutionary War. Ethan Allen was the brother of Ira Allen and the father of Frances Allen.
Allen grew up in rural Connecticut. He had a frontier upbringing but also received a good education. In the late 1760s, he became interested in buying land in the New Hampshire Grants. This led to legal fights over the territory. These problems led him to form the Green Mountain Boys. Allen led them in a campaign to drive New York settlers away from the Grants.
He and the Green Mountain Boys quickly took action at the start of the Revolutionary War. They captured Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. In September 1775, Allen led a failed attack on Montreal. This resulted in his capture by British forces. He was held prisoner on British ships. Later, he was released in a prisoner exchange in 1778.
After his release, Allen returned to the New Hampshire Grants. This area had declared independence in 1777. He continued his political work there. He also kept resisting New York's attempts to control the territory. Allen asked the Congress to officially recognize Vermont as a state. He also took part in talks with the British. These talks explored if Vermont could become a separate British province.
Allen wrote about his adventures during the war. These stories were very popular in the 1800s. He also wrote about philosophy and Vermont's formation. His businesses included farming and land speculation in Vermont. Allen and his brothers bought land that became Burlington, Vermont. He was married twice and had eight children.
Contents
Ethan Allen's Early Life
Ethan Allen was born in Litchfield, Connecticut Colony. He was the first child of Joseph and Mary Baker Allen. Both parents came from English Puritans. His family moved to Cornwall soon after his birth. They sought religious freedom during the Great Awakening.
As a boy, Allen was good at quoting the Bible. He was known for debating its meaning. He had five brothers: Heman, Heber, Levi, Zimri, and Ira. He also had two sisters: Lydia and Lucy. His brothers Ira and Heman were also important in Vermont's early history.
Cornwall was a frontier area in the 1740s. By the time Allen was a teenager, it looked more like a town. Wood-frame houses replaced rough cabins. Joseph Allen was one of the richest landowners when he died in 1755. He ran a successful farm and served as a town leader. Allen began studying with a minister in Salisbury. He hoped to get into Yale College.
First Marriage and Young Adulthood
Allen had to stop his studies when his father died. In 1757, he joined the militia. This was in response to the French siege of Fort William Henry. But his unit learned the fort had fallen and turned back. The French and Indian War continued, but Allen did not fight again. He likely worked on his farm.
In 1762, he became part owner of an iron furnace in Salisbury. He married Mary Brownson from Roxbury in July 1762. She was five years older than him. They first lived in Cornwall. The next year, they moved to Salisbury with their baby daughter, Loraine. They bought a small farm and worked on the iron business. Expanding the iron works was costly for Allen. He sold parts of his Cornwall property for money. He eventually sold half his share in the works to his brother Heman. The Allen brothers sold their interest in the iron works in October 1765.
Allen met Thomas Young when he moved to Salisbury. Young was a doctor living in New York. Young taught Allen a lot about philosophy and political ideas. Allen shared his love for nature and frontier life with Young. They decided to write a book together. It was meant to challenge organized religion. Young convinced Allen to become a Deist. They worked on the book until 1764. Young then moved away, taking the manuscript. Allen found it many years later, after Young's death. He expanded and rewrote it. He published it as Reason: the Only Oracle of Man.
Heman stayed in Salisbury and ran a store until he died in 1778. Allen's movements are not well known for the next few years. He lived in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1766. His son Joseph was born there. He also invested in a lead mine. Authorities asked him to leave Northampton in July 1767. The reason is not known. Allen briefly returned to Salisbury. Then he settled in Sheffield, Massachusetts with his younger brother Zimri. He likely visited the New Hampshire Grants during these years. Sheffield was his family home for ten years. However, Allen was often away for long periods.
The New Hampshire Grants Dispute
New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth began selling land grants west of the Connecticut River in 1749. New Hampshire had always claimed this area. Many grants were sold cheaply to land speculators. Wentworth also kept a share of each grant for himself. In 1764, King George III decided the land belonged to New York.
New York had also sold land grants that overlapped Wentworth's. New York authorities demanded that Wentworth grant holders pay a fee to New York. This fee was almost as much as the original purchase price. Many landowners had a lot of land but little cash. So, they strongly resisted this demand. By 1769, the situation was bad. Surveyors and New York officials were threatened and driven away.
Some Wentworth grant holders were from northwestern Connecticut. Some were related to Allen, like Remember Baker and Seth Warner. In 1770, they asked Allen to defend their case. He was to represent them in New York's Supreme Court. Allen hired Jared Ingersoll for the trial. The trial began in July 1770. Allen was against powerful New York grant holders. These included New York's Lieutenant Governor Colden and James Duane. Robert Livingston, the Chief Justice, oversaw the case.
The trial was short and the result was expected. The court did not allow Wentworth's grants as evidence. They said the grants were issued fraudulently. Duane visited Allen and offered him money. He wanted Allen to "quiet the people." Allen said he took no money. He claimed Duane was angry and threatened him. This meant attempts to enforce the judgment would be met with resistance.
Many historians believe Allen took these actions because he already owned Wentworth grants. However, there is no proof he received any grants until after he was asked to defend the case. He bought grants from Wentworth for about 1,000 acres (400 ha) in Poultney and Castleton before the trial.
The Green Mountain Boys
When Allen returned to Bennington, settlers met at the Catamount Tavern. They discussed their options. These talks led to the formation of the Green Mountain Boys in 1770. Local militia companies formed in nearby towns. Allen was named their Colonel Commandant. His cousins Seth Warner and Remember Baker became captains.
Further meetings created committees of safety. They also made rules to resist New York's authority. These rules included not letting New York surveyors work in the Grants. This applied to all land, not just Wentworth grants. Allen helped drive away surveyors. He also spent much time exploring the territory. He sold some Connecticut properties. He began buying land further north in the territory. He sold this land for a profit as southern settlements grew.
Tension with the government grew in October 1771. Allen and the Green Mountain Boys drove off Scottish settlers near Rupert. Allen held two settlers and made them watch their new cabins burn. New York Governor William Tryon issued arrest warrants. He offered £20 (about $4,400 today) for six people, including Allen. Allen and his friends responded with offers of their own.
The situation worsened over the next few years. Governor Tryon and the Green Mountain Boys exchanged threats and truce offers. Allen often wrote these in strong, teaching language. The Green Mountain Boys continued to drive away surveyors and new tenants. Most incidents were not violent. But people were sometimes handled roughly. The Green Mountain Boys sometimes caused much property damage. By March 1774, Tryon increased some rewards to £100. This was due to the harsh treatment of settlers.
The Onion River Company
Allen joined his cousin Remember Baker and his brothers Ira, Heman, and Zimri. In 1772, they formed the Onion River Company. This group bought land around the Winooski River, then called the Onion River. Their business success depended on defending the Wentworth grants. They bought about 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) from Edward Burling and his partners. They sold land for a profit to Thomas Chittenden, among others. Their land became the city of Burlington.
The Wentworth landowners were angry again in 1774. Governor Tryon passed a law with harsh rules. These rules clearly targeted the "Bennington Mob." Vermont historian Samuel Williams called it "an act which for its savage barbarity is probably without parallel in the legislation of any civilized country." It included the death penalty for interfering with a judge. It also outlawed meetings of more than three people "for unlawful purposes." The Green Mountain Boys made their own rules. They forbade anyone in the Grants from holding "any office of honor or profit under the colony of N. York."
Allen spent much of summer 1774 writing. His 200-page book was called A Brief Narrative of the Proceedings of the Government of New York Relative to Their Obtaining the Jurisdiction of that Large District of Land to the Westward of the Connecticut River. It argued for the Wentworth landowners. He had it printed in Connecticut and began selling copies in early 1775. Historian Charles Jellison called it "rebellion in print."
Westminster Incident
Allen traveled to northern parts of the Grants in early 1775. He sought quiet and looked for land. A few days after he returned, news came of bloodshed over land. Most resistance had been west of the Green Mountains. But a small riot broke out in Westminster on March 13. Two men died.
Allen and a group of Green Mountain Boys went to Westminster. The town meeting decided to ask the King to remove them from "so oppressive a jurisdiction." Allen was on the committee for this plea. The American Revolutionary War began less than a week after the Westminster meeting. Allen and the committee were still working on their request.
Revolutionary War Hero
Capturing Fort Ticonderoga
In late April, after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Allen got a message. Members of a Connecticut militia planned to capture Fort Ticonderoga. They asked for his help. Allen agreed and gathered the Green Mountain Boys. Sixty men from Massachusetts and Connecticut met Allen in Bennington on May 2. They discussed how to plan the attack.
By May 7, these men joined Allen and 130 Green Mountain Boys at Castleton. They chose Allen to lead the mission. They planned a dawn attack for May 10. Two small groups went to find boats. Allen took the main group north to Hand's Cove in Shoreham. They prepared to cross the lake.
On the afternoon of May 9, Benedict Arnold arrived unexpectedly. He showed a paper from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. He said he had the right to command. But the men refused to follow him. They insisted they would only follow Allen. Allen and Arnold privately agreed. They would both be at the front of the troops during the attack.
Around 2 a.m., the troops found a few boats. Only 83 men crossed the lake before Allen and Arnold decided to attack. They were worried about dawn approaching. The small force marched on the fort in the early morning. They surprised the lone guard. Allen went straight to the fort commander's rooms. He wanted to force his surrender.
Lieutenant Jocelyn Feltham woke up from the noise. He called to wake the fort's commander, Captain William Delaplace. Feltham demanded to know why they were entering the fort. Allen famously said, "In the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!" Delaplace finally came out and surrendered his sword. The rest of the fort's soldiers surrendered without a fight. The only injury was a British soldier. He was hit on the head by Allen's cutlass. His hair comb saved his life.
Raids on St. John
The next day, a group of Boys led by Seth Warner went to nearby Fort Crown Point. They captured the small group of soldiers there. On May 14, 100 more men arrived. These were recruited by Arnold's captains. A schooner and some bateaux were also captured at Skenesboro. Arnold and 50 of his men sailed north. They planned to raid Fort St. John. This fort was on the Richelieu River. Prisoners said a small British warship was there. Arnold's raid was successful. He captured the ship HMS Royal George, supplies, and several bateaux.
Soon after Arnold left, Allen decided to take Fort St. John himself. He and about 100 Boys got into four bateaux. They began rowing north. After two days without much food, Allen's small group met Arnold's. Arnold's group was returning to Ticonderoga. Arnold kindly shared his food with Allen's hungry men. He tried to talk Allen out of his plan. Arnold said the alarm was likely raised and troops were coming to St. John. Allen, stubborn and perhaps jealous of Arnold, kept going.
When Allen and his men landed near St. John, they scouted the area. They learned that 200 or more regular soldiers were approaching. Allen decided not to ambush them, as his tired group was greatly outnumbered. He pulled back to the other side of the river. The men collapsed from exhaustion and slept without guards. They woke up when British guards found them. The British began firing grapeshot from across the river. The Boys panicked and quickly got into their bateaux. They rowed quickly upriver.
When they returned to Ticonderoga two days later, some men were disappointed. They felt they had nothing to show for their effort. However, capturing Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point was very important. It protected the colonies from the British in the North. It also provided vital cannons for the colonial army.
Promoting an Invasion
After Allen's failed attempt on St. John, many of his men left. They likely returned to their homes and farms. Arnold then began to claim authority over Allen for Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Allen publicly said he was stepping down as commander. But he hoped the Second Continental Congress would name "a commander for this department." He believed they would be rewarded for their efforts.
Congress at first did not want to deal with the forts. They voted to abandon them. Both Allen and Arnold protested. They pointed out that this would leave the northern border open. They both proposed invading Quebec to Congress. Allen once wrote, "I will lay my life on it, that with fifteen hundred men, and a proper artillery, I will take Montreal." Allen also tried to talk to the people of Quebec and local Native American tribes. He wanted to gain their support for the revolutionary cause.
On June 22, Allen and Seth Warner appeared before Congress in Philadelphia. They argued for the Green Mountain Boys to join the Continental Army. After discussion, Congress told General Philip Schuyler to work with New York's government. Schuyler was leading the Army's Northern Department. They were to form a regiment of the Boys and pay them Army rates for their service at Ticonderoga. On July 4, Allen and Warner presented their case to New York's Provincial Congress. Despite having a price on their heads, the Congress agreed to form the regiment. After a short visit home, they returned to Bennington to share the news. Allen went to Ticonderoga to join Schuyler. Warner and others raised the regiment.
Allen Loses Command
When the regiment companies were formed in the Grants, they held a vote. This was to decide who would lead the regiment. Seth Warner was chosen by a large margin. Brothers Ira and Heman also received command positions. But Allen was not given any position in the regiment. This rejection hurt him. Allen wrote to Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, "How the old men came to reject me I cannot conceive inasmuch as I saved them from the incroachments of New York."
The rejection likely had several reasons. People in the Grants were tired of disputes with New York. They were also tired of Allen's proud and self-centered behavior. His success at Ticonderoga had made this worse. Finally, the failed attack on St. John's was seen as reckless. These were not qualities they wanted in a leader. Warner was seen as more stable and quieter. He also commanded respect. Allen accepted the rejection. He convinced Schuyler and Warner to let him join the regiment as a civilian scout.
Capture by the British
The American invasion of Quebec began on August 28. On September 4, the army occupied Île aux Noix in the Richelieu River. They then prepared to attack Fort St. John. On September 8, Schuyler sent Allen and Massachusetts Major John Brown into the countryside. They were to spread news of their arrival to the French-speaking habitants and Native Americans. They were successful in gaining support. Quebec's governor, General Guy Carleton, reported that "they have injured us very much."
When Allen returned eight days later, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery was in command. Schuyler was ill. Montgomery, likely wanting to avoid trouble, sent Allen out again. This time, Allen was to raise a regiment of French-speaking Canadiens. With a few Americans, he traveled through the countryside to Sorel. Then he followed the Saint Lawrence River towards Montreal. He recruited over 200 men.
On September 24, he met Brown at Longueuil. Brown's company was guarding the road between St. John's and Montreal. According to Allen, they planned for both to attack Montreal. Allen and about 100 men crossed the Saint Lawrence that night. But Brown and his men, who were to cross at La Prairie, did not. General Carleton learned of Allen's presence. He gathered all the men he could. In the Battle of Longue-Pointe, most of Allen's force was scattered. Allen and about 30 men were captured. His capture ended his role in the revolution until 1778. He was imprisoned by the British. General Schuyler, learning of Allen's capture, wrote, "I am very apprehensive of disagreeable consequences arising from Mr. Allen's imprudence. I always dreaded his impatience and imprudence."
Imprisonment
Most of what we know about Allen's time in prison comes from his own writings. Other records often confirm his story.
Allen was first put on HMS Gaspée, a brig ship in Montreal. He was kept alone in chains. General Richard Prescott had ordered him to be treated "with much severity." In October 1775, Gaspée sailed downriver. Her prisoners were moved to the merchant ship Adamant, which sailed for England. Allen wrote that he "was put under the power of an English Merchant from London, whose name was Brook Watson: a man of malicious and cruel disposition."
When they arrived at Falmouth, England, Allen and other prisoners were put in Pendennis Castle, Cornwall. Conditions were bad at first. Allen wrote a letter, supposedly to the Continental Congress. He described his conditions. He suggested Congress treat British prisoners the same way. Allen did not know that General Prescott was now a British prisoner. The letter reached the British cabinet. They also faced opposition in Britain to how North American captives were treated. King George ordered the men sent back to America. They were to be treated as prisoners of war.
In January 1776, Allen and his men were put on HMS Soledad. It sailed for Cork, Ireland. The people of Cork learned that Ethan Allen was in port. They collected money to give him and his men clothes and supplies. Much of the next year was spent on prison ships off the American coast. At one point, on HMS Mercury, the ship anchored off New York. The captain entertained William Tryon and other visitors. Allen reported that Tryon looked at him without recognition. However, the New York governor likely knew who he was.
In August 1776, Allen and other prisoners were temporarily put ashore in Halifax. Conditions on the ship were very bad. Food was scarce, and scurvy was common. By late October, Allen was again off New York. The British had secured the city. They moved the prisoners ashore. As an officer, Allen was given limited freedom. With money from his brother Ira, he lived comfortably until August 1777. Then Allen learned his young son Joseph had died from smallpox.
According to another prisoner, Allen wandered off after his son's death. He was arrested for breaking his parole. He was put in solitary confinement. Allen remained there while Vermont declared independence. John Burgoyne's campaign for the Hudson River faced problems near Bennington in August 1777. On May 3, 1778, he was moved to Staten Island. Allen was taken to General John Campbell's quarters. He was invited to eat and drink with the general and other British officers. He stayed for two days and was treated well. On the third day, Allen was exchanged for Colonel Archibald Campbell. Colonel Elias Boudinot, the American prisoner exchange officer, brought Campbell for the exchange.
After the exchange, Allen reported to Washington at Valley Forge. On May 14, he was made a colonel in the Continental Army. This was "in reward of his fortitude, firmness and zeal in the cause of his country, manifested during his long and cruel captivity, as well as on former occasions." He was given $75 per month. However, this rank meant he had no active role unless called upon. Allen's services were never requested, and payments eventually stopped.
Vermont Republic and Later Years
Return Home
After visiting Valley Forge, Allen traveled to Salisbury. He arrived on May 25, 1778. There, he learned his brother Heman had died the week before. His brother Zimri, who cared for Allen's family and farm, had died in the spring after his capture. Heman's death, as they were close, hit Allen hard.
Allen then went to Bennington. News of his return came before him. He was met with great honor as a war hero. There, he learned that the Vermont Republic had declared independence in 1777. A constitution was written, and elections were held. Allen wrote of this homecoming that "we passed the flowing bowl, and rural felicity, sweetened with friendship, glowed in every countenance." The next day, he went to Arlington to see his family and his brother Ira. Ira's importance in Vermont politics had grown much during Allen's captivity.
Political Involvement
Allen spent the next few years involved in Vermont's politics and military matters. His family stayed in Arlington. But he spent most of his time in Bennington or traveling. This allowed him to avoid his wife's complaints. Soon after his arrival, Vermont's Assembly passed the Banishment Act. This law allowed Vermont to take and sell property owned by known Tories (those loyal to Britain). Allen was appointed as one of the judges to decide whose property would be seized. This law was so good at collecting money that Vermont did not need taxes until 1781.
Allen personally took some convicted people to Albany. He handed them over to General John Stark to be sent to British lines. Some of these supposed Tories protested to New York Governor George Clinton. They said they were actually New Yorkers who had lost their land. Clinton believed Vermont was still part of New York. He did not want to honor Vermont's court actions. Stark, who had the men, disagreed with Clinton. The dispute eventually reached George Washington. Washington mostly agreed with Stark, as he badly needed the general's help. The prisoners were eventually sent to West Point. They remained in "easy imprisonment."
Allen's time as a judge in Vermont was short. But he continued to find Tories. He reported them to local Boards of Confiscation. He was so eager that he even named his own brother Levi. Levi was apparently trying to cheat Allen and Ira out of land. This was surprising, as Levi had tried to buy Allen's release in Halifax. He had also visited Allen in New York and given him goods and money. Allen and Levi argued publicly, often in the Connecticut Courant. They eventually made up in 1783.
In early 1779, Governor Clinton said New York would honor the Wentworth grants. This was if settlers recognized New York's control over Vermont. Allen wrote another pamphlet in response. It was called An Animadvisory Address to the Inhabitants of the State of Vermont; with Remarks on a Proclamation under the Hand of his Excellency George Clinton, Esq; Governor of the State of New York. Allen criticized the governor for "romantic proclamations ... calculated to deceive woods people." He also called him foolish. Clinton's response was another similar proclamation. Allen's pamphlet was widely read, even by members of Congress. It helped make Vermont's case look good.
In 1779, Allen published his account of being captured. It was called A Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity ... Containing His Voyages and Travels, With the most remarkable Occurrences respecting him and many other Continental Prisoners of Observations. Written by Himself and now published for the Information of the Curious in all Nations. First printed in parts by the Pennsylvania Packet, the book became an instant best-seller. It is still available today. While mostly accurate, it leaves out Benedict Arnold from the capture of Ticonderoga. It also does not mention Seth Warner as the leader of the Green Mountain Boys.
Talks with the British
Allen appeared before the Continental Congress in September 1778. He asked for Vermont to be recognized as an independent state. He reported that Congress was hesitant. This was because Vermont had expanded to include border towns from New Hampshire. Between 1780 and 1783, Allen, his brother Ira, Vermont Governor Thomas Chittenden, and others held talks. These were with Frederick Haldimand, the governor of Quebec. The talks were supposedly about prisoner exchanges. But they were really about making Vermont a new British province. They also sought military protection for its people. When details of these talks became public, opponents of Vermont statehood called them treasonous. However, no formal charges were ever made against anyone involved.
Later Years and Writings
The war ended with the 1783 Treaty of Paris. The United States, under the Articles of Confederation, did not take much action regarding Vermont. Allen's role as a rebel became less important. His public role in Vermont's affairs decreased. Vermont's government also grew beyond just the Allen and Chittenden families. This was due to the territory's fast population growth.
In 1782, Allen's brother Heber died young at 38. Allen's wife Mary died in June 1783 from consumption. Their first daughter Loraine died several months later. Though they were not always close, Allen felt these losses deeply. A poem he wrote for Mary was published in the Bennington Gazette.
In these years, Allen got back a manuscript from Thomas Young's widow. She lived in Albany. He and Young had worked on it when Allen was young. He began to turn it into the book published in 1785 as Reason: the Only Oracle of Man. The book was a typical Allen strong argument. But its target was religion, not politics. It strongly attacked Christianity, the Bible, churches, and the power of priests. As a replacement for organized religion, he supported a mix of deism, Spinoza's ideas, and early Transcendentalism. This meant people acted freely within the natural world. Historians disagree on who exactly wrote the book. But the writing clearly shows Allen's style.
The book was a complete failure financially and critically. Allen's publisher made him pay for printing upfront. Only 200 of the 1,500 copies printed were sold. The rest were destroyed in a fire at the publisher's house. Allen took the financial loss and criticism well. He noted that most critics were clergymen, whose jobs he was attacking.
Second Marriage
Allen met his second wife, Frances "Fanny" Montresor Brush Buchanan, in early 1784. She was a young widow. After a short time, they married on February 16, 1784. Fanny came from a Loyalist family. She inherited land in Vermont from Crean Brush. But they were both in love, and the marriage was happy. They had three children: Fanny (1784–1819), Hannibal Montresor (1786–1813), and Ethan Alphonso (1789–1855). Fanny had a calming effect on Allen. For the rest of his life, he did not go on many big adventures.
One exception was when land was claimed by Connecticut owners. They had titles to land in the Wyoming Valley, now Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania also claimed this area and did not recognize Connecticut's titles. Allen was promised land. He traveled there and began causing trouble. He angered Pennsylvania authorities and his old enemy, Governor Clinton of New York. He suggested a new state be made from the disputed area and parts of New York. This was mostly talk. The issue was solved when Pennsylvania agreed to honor the Connecticut titles.
Allen was also asked by Daniel Shays in 1786 for support. This led to Shays's Rebellion in western Massachusetts. Allen did not support the cause. This was despite Shays offering to crown him "king of Massachusetts." Allen felt Shays was just trying to avoid paying debts.
In his later years, independent Vermont grew quickly. Allen sold much of his land. But he also put much of the money back into more land. A lack of cash, plus Vermont's money problems, strained Fanny's spending. This was made worse by the cost of publishing Reason and building a new home near the Onion River. He was threatened with debtor's prison at least once. Sometimes he had to borrow money or collect old debts to get by.
Allen and his family moved to Burlington in 1787. It was no longer a small frontier settlement but a small town. Allen liked it more than the larger Bennington. He often visited the tavern there. He began writing An Essay on the Universal Plenitude of Being. He called it an appendix to Reason. This essay was less argumentative than his earlier writings. Allen stated God's perfection and creation. He said intuition, as well as reason, could bring people closer to the universe. The work was published long after his death. It is mainly of interest to students of Transcendentalism, a movement it predicted.
Death
On February 11, 1789, Allen traveled to South Hero, Vermont. He went with a worker to visit his cousin, Ebenezer Allen. They also went to collect hay. After an evening with friends, he spent the night there. He set out for home the next morning. Accounts of the return trip are not fully consistent. Allen apparently had a stroke on the way. He was unconscious by the time they got home. Allen died at home several hours later. He never woke up. He was buried four days later in Green Mount Cemetery in Burlington.
Vermont government leaders attended the funeral. Many common people also came. They paid respects to a man many saw as their champion. Allen's death made headlines across the country. Most obituaries were positive. But some clergymen expressed different feelings. It is not known how New York Governor Clinton reacted to the news.
Family and Legacy
Allen's widow Fanny gave birth to a son, Ethan Alphonso, on October 24, 1789. She later remarried. Allen's two youngest sons graduated from West Point. They served in the United States Army. H.M. Allen was the 7th graduate, from the Class of 1804, and served until 1813. E.A. Allen was the 22nd graduate, from the Class of 1806, and served until 1821. His daughter Fanny became known for converting to Catholicism and joining a convent. Two of his grandsons were Henry Hitchcock, Attorney General of Alabama, and Ethan Allen Hitchcock. Ethan Allen Hitchcock served as a Union Army general in the American Civil War. General Hitchcock reportedly looked very much like his famous grandfather. Two of Henry Hitchcock's sons were Henry Hitchcock and Ethan Allan Hitchcock.
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Ira Allen
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Fanny Allen
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Alabama Attorney General Henry Hitchcock
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Union General Ethan Allan Hitchcock
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Henry Hitchcock
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Ethan Allan Hitchcock
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Disappearance of His Grave Marker
Around the early 1850s, the original marker on Allen's grave disappeared. Its original words were saved by historian Benson Lossing in the 1840s. The inscription read:
In 1858, the Vermont Legislature approved a 42-foot (13 m) column of Vermont granite for the cemetery. It had the following inscription:
The exact spot of his remains in the cemetery is unknown. There is a vault under the 1858 cenotaph. But it holds a time capsule from when the monument was built. According to the 1858 report on the Ethan Allen monument, his funeral was in Green Mount Cemetery. However, his remains were not found at his memorial plaque. This was because "... by the fact that some twenty years since, the dead of the Allen family had been arranged in a square enclosed by stone posts and chains, by Herman Allen, the nephew of Ethan Allen, and this tablet, then lying upon a dilapidated wall of brick work, was reconstructed with cut stone work, and it is presumed that, as a matter of convenience in giving a regular form to the enclosure, was removed some feet from its original position ..." So, it seems Benson Lossing sketched a rebuilt memorial, not the actual tomb.
Likenesses
No pictures of Allen made during his lifetime have been found. This is despite many attempts to find them. Members of the Vermont Historical Society and other groups have followed rumors of pictures. But they have always found nothing. Photographs of Allen's grandson, General Ethan Allen Hitchcock, exist. Hitchcock's mother said he looked very much like her father. The closest possible images include one said to be by engraver Pierre Eugene du Simitiere. But it turned out to be fake. There is also a mention of a portrait possibly by Ralph Earl that has not been found.
Memorials to Ethan Allen
Allen's last home, on the Onion River (now the Winooski River), is part of the Ethan Allen Homestead and Museum. Located in Burlington, Allen's home is open for guided tours.
Two ships of the United States Navy were named USS Ethan Allen in his honor. Two 19th-century forts were also named after him. One was a Civil War fort in Arlington County, Virginia. The other was a cavalry outpost in Colchester and Essex, Vermont. The Vermont Army National Guard's facility in Jericho, Vermont is called the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site. A statue of Allen represents Vermont in National Statuary Hall of the United States Capitol. A city park in the Montreal area of Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve is named after him. It remembers his capture there.
The Spirit of Ethan Allen III is a tour boat on Lake Champlain. Allen's name is the trademark of the furniture and housewares manufacturer, Ethan Allen Inc.. This company was founded in 1932 in Beecher Falls, Vermont. The Ethan Allen Express, an Amtrak train line from New York City to Burlington, Vermont, is also named after him.
The Ethan Allen School was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
See Also
In Spanish: Ethan Allen para niños
