In 1944 I met an American GI who was a cousin, (?1st once removed) of my father, with surname Allen. He came from New York, but I do not recall whether it was New York City or State. My immediate family was living in Brentwood, Essex, Uk at that time, and I imagine our visitor who would have been 19 or 20 was part of the American force that took part in the invasion of Europe. I do not know whether he survived the war or not.

My family comes from Antrim, NI. My grandfather James Allen (1855-1901) was born there, in Tullynamullen, and his father (my great grandfather, was Andrew Allen a cottage linen weaver. Andrew married twice. From his 1st marriage to Jane Allen (1834 - bef.1861) the children were James, Margaret (1859-?) and John (1856 - ?); I have no more information about the latter two. Andrew's 2nd wife, Martha Allison, had six children. Two, Andrew (b.1865) and another Andrew (b.1868) died when very young. The others were Mary (1866-1946), whom I knew personally, Matilda (1870 - ?) who emigrated to South Africa, yet a third Andrew (1871 - ?) and David (1875 - ?).

My father, Samuel Allen (1888-1964), told me that one or more of his "cousins" had emigrated to North America, probably in the first decade of the 20th century, and this was confirmed when we had the visit from the GI mentioned above. I would be interested to hear from anyone claiming to have descent from my great grandfather Andrew Allen as I have been unable to trace the life of any of my great uncles.

Geoffrey Allen. Perth, Western Australia