Richard Allen was Rector there for 50 years (1606 to 1656)
Picture © Neil Owen
1. I have not researched his ancestry, but Church of England records consistently refer to him as having a Master of Arts Degree but do not state the college. After University he entered the church and was ordained as a priest on 24 Feb 1595 but records do not show where he served his curacy. The Church of England database (GN6). only shows that he was licensed to preach on 20 Feb 1605 in the dioceses of London, Lincoln, Bath & Wells before being appointed on 8 April 1606 as Rector of St Mary Magdalene Church in Ditcheat Somerset where he was to serve for 50 years until his death. A new curate Robert THATCHER joined him there in August 1606.
2. This 16th Century Manor House is situated right next to St Mary Magdalene church and would have been well known to Richard Allen.(GN1). The picture below is of the old Abbey formerly known as the Priory which was built as the rectory by John GUNTHOROPE who was rector of Ditcheat in 1473 and this is therefore where Richard Allen would have lived with his family. After his demise the house was altered in 1667 for Christopher COWARD and given a new facade.
3. Rev. Richard Allen (1575-1656) married at St Nicholas Church in the parish of Bromham in Wiltshire on the 21st April 1607 to Joan WEBB (GN2), and remained Rector of Ditcheat throughout his life. As a Puritan Minister of some zeal Richard Allen would have known the tremendously well respected Rev. John White who was appointed deacon at St Peters Church in Oxford in 1602 and became a well respected preacher around Oxford before arriving in Dorchester in 1606. They clearly kept in contact as Richard Allen's name appears among the list of investors in the Dorchester company set up by John White to establish a settlement in New England and traded between 1624-1626. Richard and Joan had two famous sons both of which feature in the Dictionary of National Biography and are listed below among their children :-
3.1 Marie ALLEN (1608 - 1623) was baptised at St Mary's church in Ditcheat on 2nd March 1608 and buried there 7th Jan 1623.
3.2 Rev. Richard ALLEN (1610-1681)
He was baptised at St Mary Magdalene church in Ditcheat Somerset where his father was Rector on 18th Oct 1610 (GN3).
Richard was initially educated by his father until at the age of 16 he was elected commoner in 1627 and matriculated at Oxford where he entered St Albans Hall on 15 Oct 1630. His bachelor of Arts degree quickly followed on 20 June 1631. He then transferred to 'New Hall Inn' where he was awarded his MA degree on 29 Apr 1634. Having completed a distinguished academic course he was ordained as a priest into the church on 2 Mar 1634 and became ‘assistant’ (curate) to his father and was licensed to preach throughout the diocese of Salisbury on 25 May 1635.
Marriage Bond and Allegation dated 11th Oct 1634 between Robert Allen and Lettice Goughe of Ditcheat Somerset (GN8)
He entered into a marriage contract on the 11th October and married in his fathers parish of St Mary Magdalene in Ditcheat Somerset 3 days later on the 14th October 1634 to Lettice GOUGH [GAUGHE] (GN4). Lettice was the daughter of William GOUGHE a tailor by trade and had been baptised at St Ebbe Church in Oxford on 27th April 1611 so in all probability they met whilst he was at University. They had a daughter Theodosia ALLEINE (d.1677) but parish registers for the 1630's have not survived and I have not researched. According to the Dictionary of National Biography (image 381 Ancestry.com) Theodosia married Joseph Alleine the son of Tobias c1654.
On 18 Mar 1642 Richard Allen (GN6) succeeded the Rev. Richard BERNARD BD as Rector of Batcombe in Somerset. In the Civil War (1642-1651) he sided with the Puritans by subscribing the ‘Testimony of the Ministers in Somersetshire to the Truth of Jesus Christ’ - a calm and statesman-like paper - and the ‘Solemn League and Covenant’. In August 1654. He and his father were appointed assistants to the commissioners of parliament for the County of Somerset for ‘Ejecting scandalous Ignorant and Insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters’.
For twenty years he remained at Batcombe, and was idolised by his parishioners. At the restoration he showed a willingness to acquiesce to the new government's demands concerning religion 'being of the old-fashioned type of believer in monarchy' but the Act of Uniformity came and he felt compelled by loyalty of conscience to cast in his lot with the ‘ejected ‘. Because of the ‘Five Mile Act’ which prevented him preaching at Batcombe, he removed to Frome Selwood , and preached there and in the neighbourhood semi-privately until his death on 22 December 1681.
3.3.Joan ALLEN (1612-1612) May have been stillborn as no baptism recorded but buried at St Marys 28th July 1612.
3.4 Rev. William ALLEN (1614-1677)
A younger brother of Richard he was baptised at St Mary Magdalene Church in Ditcheat on 13th Feb 1613. His initial education was also undertaken by his father. He then went to Oxford entering New Inn Hall where he matriculated on 4 Nov 1631 at the age of 17. He was awarded his BA on 29 April 1634, and his MA on 19 Jan 1636/7.
On leaving University he became private chaplain in ‘a noble house’ (Lord Digby) in London. He was married in his fathers parish of Ditcheat to Marie STEEKE [STERRE] on 6th March 1640. At the beginning of the great Civil War he is found residing at Ilchester, and ‘consulted by great officers’. For his letters to them he is proclaimed by the cavaliers to be a traitor in three market towns. He held them, in turn, for traitors against the kingdom. He was repeatedly plundered and maltreated. Hairbreadth escapes for his life were long remembered. Having removed to Bristol, he was there brutally ill used. In the ‘Commissions’ of 1650 and 1653 he is entered ‘ William Allen a learned orthodox, able divine, the present incumbent’. When the Act of Uniformity was passed he was vicar of Blandford but never hesitated. His parishioners held him in the utmost veneration,and he dearly loved them, but he freely quitted his living, and ministered to people in private. A few years after the ejection he took up his residence again in Bristol, where he carried on his ministry with ever increasing acceptance. From there he went to Yeovil where he died in October 1677 aged 63.
3.5 Joane ALLEN (1616 - aft 1654) named after his wife, was baptised at St Marys on 28th June 1616. Described as' Mrs. Jone ALLEINE the daughter of Mr Richard Alleine of Ditcheat' she was married after banns of marriage were read on the 22nd and 29th of October and the 5th of November, in her fathers church to Mr Thomas STIONE (Sic), on the 9th Nov 1654
3.6 Margaret ALLEN (1618 - aft 1653) was baptised at St Marys by her father on 13th Sep 1618. Described as' Mrs. Margaret ALLEINE the daughter of Mr Richard Alleine of Ditcheat' she was married after banns of marriage were read on the 4th; 11th and 18th December, in her fathers church to Mr Toby [Tobias] TYDCOMBE [TIDCOMBE], on the 28th Dec 1653. Known children:- Joanna baptised at Ditcheat on 17th April 1656; Mary bap 4th Nov 1657; Samuel bap 20th Jan 1658; Jeremiah bap 17th July 1660;
3.7 Susanna ALLEINE (ALLEN) (1620 - ?) was baptised at St Marys on 26th Nov 1620. She may have married Edward SCHALLER 7th Feb 1644?
3.8 Anne (Annah) ALLEIN (ALLEN) (1622 - 1635) Anne was baptised at St Marys on 10th Jan 1622 and buried there as Annah on 14th Oct 1635
In August 1654 an Act of Parliament was issued entitled "An ordinance for ejecting scandalous, ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters" (GN7),. Richard Allen of Ditcheat's name appears (along with that of his son Richard Allen of Batcombe) as assistants to the Commissioners for the County of Somerset. Richard Allen Senior's burial appears in St Mary Magdalene parish registers shortly after June 24th 1656 (GN5).Sources:- Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum 1642-1660 CH Firth RS RAIT Published 1911; Chamber's Biographical Dictionary: Encyclopedia Britannica Vol I; Dictionary of National Biography; British History on Line; CCED; OXA; Parish Registers of Ditcheat in Somerset and St Ebbe Oxford available for members on Ancestry.com; Andrew Gough descendant of Lettice Gough.
Genealogical Notes :-
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GN1: Pictures of the church on this site are frames 1025465 and 1025470 by Derek Harper; and 376684 by Barbara Voules.
GN2: Apr 21st 1607 : Source: Marriages Bishops transcripts for the Parish of Bromham in Wiltshire image available ancestry.com File 1607-1693 image 6 of 74. " Marriages here in the year 1607 - - April 21 Richard ALLEN Minister of Ditcheat in the County of Somerset and Joan WEBB"
GN3: Transcript of Richard Allen Junior's original baptism entry in Ditcheat Parish Registers for 1610: available on Ancestry.com " Richard the sonne of Richard ALLEN (* Rector) was Christened the 18th of October 1610. [*Note there is a later side line entry in the register in a different hand which states "M.A. Saint Albans Hall Oxon Curate to his father at Ditcheat. Rector of Batcombe 1641, Ejected 1662 - died Frome Selwood Dec 22. 1681 aged 70"]
GN4: Dec 2021: I am grateful to Andrew Gough for additional information about the family and drawing my attention to Richard's marriage to Lettice Gaugh (Gough) in 1634 as now recorded (Dec 2021).
GN5: Richard ALLEINE's burial appears in Mary Magdalene Parish Register (ref image 12 of 51 on ancestry.com - Ditcheat file 1653-1704) It states Mr. Richard ALLEINE buried June 2? [2nd digit not visible on image as edge is turned over into the binding, but previous burial was on 24th June 1656 and the next on 9th July 1656 so between those dates.] "Rector of Ditcheat"
GN6: Richard ALLEN Senior's church record [available on line at CCEd] is indexed under Richard ALLEN (1565-1639) and out of date order -- Richard ALLEN Junior's church record is indexed under Richard ALLEYNE (1634-1689) where his ordination as a priest is recorded as Richardus ALLEINE. Batcombe is in the County of Somerset and was under the Diocese of Bath and Wells, where his surname appears as Richardus ALLEYNE.
GN7: August 1654: An Ordinance for ejecting Scandalous, Ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters. ---- For the County of Somerset --- assistants listed separately
GN8: Transcription of Marriage Allegation 1634 - Robert Allen and Lettice Goughe: The two images shown above are on Ancestry,com under Somerset parish records 1531-1812 - sub file Various (Marriage Licences) 1612 and is difficult to locate as wrongly indexed as a marriage between Richard Allen and Lettice Comphe {should be Goughe] and given the date of 30th Oct 1634 when in fact it is the 11th Oct 1634.
The condition of the obligation within written is such that whereas by authority of the within named Reverend father in God, License is granted to the person, vicar, or curate of Ditcheat within written - - - - - - - - -of the one part , and Lettice GOUGHE - - - - - - - of the pishe [parish] of Ditcheat aforesaid - - - - - - in the County of Somerset Spinster - of the other part, as by the said License bearing date hereof more at large appeareth.
If therefore the said Richard ALLEN - - - - - - do and shall for and hereafter keep defend, and save harmless the said Reverend father in god, and all other the officers and Ministers of his clerical court of & from all & all manner of actions suits losses hindrances & incidences which or which may happen to them or any of them by means of the said license or granting thereof
AND further if the said Richard ALLEN or Lettice GOUGHE - - - - - - be free from all previous contract or contracts of matrimony with all and every other persons or persons whatsoever & that there be no suit depending in controversy of law between the said parties or any other person or persons whatsoever which may happen to them touching or concerning any such previous contract or contracts of matrimony.
AND likewise that they are of no degree of consanguinity or affinity [i.e. not descended from the same ancestor] see no prior impediment to the contract but that they may lawfully be joined together in matrimony. Then this obligation to be void & of no effect for else to remain & be in full force & virtue.
The accompanying Marriage Bond written on the back of the allegation:
The bond is on Ancestry.com image 149 and not itself indexed just attached to the previous image 148. Unfortunately at this date bonds were written in Latin, and my Latin leaves a great deal to be desired, but they are generally in a common format so I know what to look for:- .
Legally bound within the bond are Richard Allen of Ditcheat in the County of Somerset, George Bull of Wells in the same County, and Thomas Shattocke also of Wells a feltmaker. George Bull and Thomas Shattocke were both from the parish of St Cuthbert’s in Wells and both are buried there; George on 31st March 1634 and Thomas 28th March 1639.
They are bound unto William the Bishop of Bath and Wells [He was Bishop there 1632 to 1670] for I think the sum of £20 but this would need confirmation.
The next bit as far as I know confirms that there is no moral or legal reason they cannot marry and the groom undertakes not to change his mind (the bond would be forfeited if he did).
Then comes the date “dat undecimo - - - - die mensis Octobris” etc i.e. “dated in the 11th day in the month of October in the year of the reign of Charles [1st] King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland defender of the faith etc in the year of our Lord 1634.”
Signed Richard Alleine : George Bull; Thomas Shattocke in the presence of the notary public.