Ethan Allen was born in Litchfield, Connecticut on January 21st, 1738. He was the son of Joseph Allen and Mary Baker Allen and the oldest with seven siblings. His siblings were Lydia, Heman, Heber, Levi, Zimri, Ira and Lucy. His father purchased some farm land in Cornwall, Connecticut. There Ethan worked along side his father, fishing, trapping, hunting and cutting down trees for firewood.
He was then sent to Salisbury to learn from Reverend Jonathan Lee. He was supposed to attend Yale but with the sudden passing of his father in 1755, he took charge of the farm and provided for his family. He worked hard and left the farm to his brothers in 1757 at the age of 19.
He decided to join the militia in a group of British and Americans who were fighting the French over territory. His regiment was supposed to secure a fort but they arrived to late and marched back to Connecticut.
He founded an iron smelting business in 1761. It was the first of its kind in Connecticut and soon he became very successful. Later on this business would be used to create weaponry and equipment for the Yankees. He became a well regarded landowner and successful business man.
(Left Pictured: A man in an iron smelting furnace.)
In June of 1762, Ethan Allen married Mary Brownson. They were very different. He was outspoken and a heretic while she was very religious. They were married for 20 years and had two children together, Loraine and Joseph. He befriended Dr. Thomas Young who introduced him to the Hampshire Grants.
In 1767, Ethan Allen left his family to hike to the Green Mountains, an area he had seen when his regiment marched through it in the French and Indian War.
He was then sent to Salisbury to learn from Reverend Jonathan Lee. He was supposed to attend Yale but with the sudden passing of his father in 1755, he took charge of the farm and provided for his family. He worked hard and left the farm to his brothers in 1757 at the age of 19.
He decided to join the militia in a group of British and Americans who were fighting the French over territory. His regiment was supposed to secure a fort but they arrived to late and marched back to Connecticut.
He founded an iron smelting business in 1761. It was the first of its kind in Connecticut and soon he became very successful. Later on this business would be used to create weaponry and equipment for the Yankees. He became a well regarded landowner and successful business man.
(Left Pictured: A man in an iron smelting furnace.)
In June of 1762, Ethan Allen married Mary Brownson. They were very different. He was outspoken and a heretic while she was very religious. They were married for 20 years and had two children together, Loraine and Joseph. He befriended Dr. Thomas Young who introduced him to the Hampshire Grants.
In 1767, Ethan Allen left his family to hike to the Green Mountains, an area he had seen when his regiment marched through it in the French and Indian War.
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Have a listen to the "The Ethan Allen Story" a soundtrack created by Bernard Herrmann |
Resources used:
Aronson, Virginia. Ethan Allen: Revolutionary Hero. Ed. Arthur M. Schlesinger. New York: Chelsea House, 2001. Print.
Ethan Allen is born. [Internet]. 2014. The History Channel website. Available from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ethan-allen-is-born [Accessed 17 Jul 2014].
Aronson, Virginia. Ethan Allen: Revolutionary Hero. Ed. Arthur M. Schlesinger. New York: Chelsea House, 2001. Print.
Ethan Allen is born. [Internet]. 2014. The History Channel website. Available from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ethan-allen-is-born [Accessed 17 Jul 2014].