ISAAC ALLEN
(1741 – 1806)
Isaac Allen was born in New Jersey but fought as a Lieut. Colonel for the British forces in the American Revolution. Following the war he and his family moved first to Nova Scotia. When New Brunswick became a separate province in 1784 they moved to St. John and then to an area several miles north of Fredericton where Allen had received a large grant of two thousand acres of land.
On November 25, 1784, Allen was appointed as one of the Judges of the newly constituted Supreme Court of New Brunswick. At the same time he was appointed as a member of His Majesty’s Council in the new province. In 1798 he was promoted to Brig. Gen. of the York County Militia. He was to retain these positions until his death in 1806.
Among the notable cases heard by Allen was a 1786 case which resulted in the execution of a white man, David Nelson, for the shooting death of an Indian. It was suggested that because justice was seen to be done in this case, the Native population was appeased. In 1791 Judge Allen ruled in favour of Benedict Arnold when Arnold&rsq Read More
(1741 – 1806)
Isaac Allen was born in New Jersey but fought as a Lieut. Colonel for the British forces in the American Revolution. Following the war he and his family moved first to Nova Scotia. When New Brunswick became a separate province in 1784 they moved to St. John and then to an area several miles north of Fredericton where Allen had received a large grant of two thousand acres of land.
On November 25, 1784, Allen was appointed as one of the Judges of the newly constituted Supreme Court of New Brunswick. At the same time he was appointed as a member of His Majesty’s Council in the new province. In 1798 he was promoted to Brig. Gen. of the York County Militia. He was to retain these positions until his death in 1806.
Among the notable cases heard by Allen was a 1786 case which resulted in the execution of a white man, David Nelson, for the shooting death of an Indian. It was suggested that because justice was seen to be done in this case, the Native population was appeased. In 1791 Judge Allen ruled in favour of Benedict Arnold when Arnold&rsq Read More
ISAAC ALLEN
(1741 – 1806)
Isaac Allen was born in New Jersey but fought as a Lieut. Colonel for the British forces in the American Revolution. Following the war he and his family moved first to Nova Scotia. When New Brunswick became a separate province in 1784 they moved to St. John and then to an area several miles north of Fredericton where Allen had received a large grant of two thousand acres of land.
On November 25, 1784, Allen was appointed as one of the Judges of the newly constituted Supreme Court of New Brunswick. At the same time he was appointed as a member of His Majesty’s Council in the new province. In 1798 he was promoted to Brig. Gen. of the York County Militia. He was to retain these positions until his death in 1806.
Among the notable cases heard by Allen was a 1786 case which resulted in the execution of a white man, David Nelson, for the shooting death of an Indian. It was suggested that because justice was seen to be done in this case, the Native population was appeased. In 1791 Judge Allen ruled in favour of Benedict Arnold when Arnold’s former partner accused him of setting fire to the firm’s store. Since Arnold viewed the fine of only 20 shillings in damages levied by the jury as an insult, he left the colony and returned to England.
It is the 1800 slavery case involving Caleb Jones, one of the most prominent slaveowners in New Brunswick, and a Black woman named Nancy that gained great attention. Although he was the owner of slaves, Judge Allen joined Judge Saunders in supporting the freedom of Nancy. Since the two other judges, both slaveowners, sided with Caleb Jones, the deadlock resulted in no judgment being made. Following the trial, Judge Allen granted freedom to his own slaves. George Leek, a Black man, had generally been regarded as the illegitimate son of Judge Allen and one of his slaves.
Isaac Allen is buried along with several of his family members, in Fredericton’s Old Burying Ground.
- information compiled from several sources including Graves Papers, vol. I, and “The Judges of New Brunswick and their time,” in Sources in the History of Atlantic Canada, No. 4, (Acadiensis Press, 1985) edited by P.A. Buckner, a reprint of articles printed in Acadiensis from 1905 to 1907.
(1741 – 1806)
Isaac Allen was born in New Jersey but fought as a Lieut. Colonel for the British forces in the American Revolution. Following the war he and his family moved first to Nova Scotia. When New Brunswick became a separate province in 1784 they moved to St. John and then to an area several miles north of Fredericton where Allen had received a large grant of two thousand acres of land.
On November 25, 1784, Allen was appointed as one of the Judges of the newly constituted Supreme Court of New Brunswick. At the same time he was appointed as a member of His Majesty’s Council in the new province. In 1798 he was promoted to Brig. Gen. of the York County Militia. He was to retain these positions until his death in 1806.
Among the notable cases heard by Allen was a 1786 case which resulted in the execution of a white man, David Nelson, for the shooting death of an Indian. It was suggested that because justice was seen to be done in this case, the Native population was appeased. In 1791 Judge Allen ruled in favour of Benedict Arnold when Arnold’s former partner accused him of setting fire to the firm’s store. Since Arnold viewed the fine of only 20 shillings in damages levied by the jury as an insult, he left the colony and returned to England.
It is the 1800 slavery case involving Caleb Jones, one of the most prominent slaveowners in New Brunswick, and a Black woman named Nancy that gained great attention. Although he was the owner of slaves, Judge Allen joined Judge Saunders in supporting the freedom of Nancy. Since the two other judges, both slaveowners, sided with Caleb Jones, the deadlock resulted in no judgment being made. Following the trial, Judge Allen granted freedom to his own slaves. George Leek, a Black man, had generally been regarded as the illegitimate son of Judge Allen and one of his slaves.
Isaac Allen is buried along with several of his family members, in Fredericton’s Old Burying Ground.
- information compiled from several sources including Graves Papers, vol. I, and “The Judges of New Brunswick and their time,” in Sources in the History of Atlantic Canada, No. 4, (Acadiensis Press, 1985) edited by P.A. Buckner, a reprint of articles printed in Acadiensis from 1905 to 1907.
© 2006, Heritage Branch Province of New Brunswick. All Rights Reserved.
