My Great, Great, Great Grandmother.

Susannah DeCastro

Susannah was born on 28 JUL 1822  in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father was Domingo DeCastro, a new immigrant from Spain, who arrived to live in Boston. Her mother was Susannah Nichols from Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Susannah was half Spanish, my only ancestor from Spain.

Me > Ruth > Sara Kohler Balentine > Inez Allen Kohler > John Vinton Allen b.1856 > Susannah H. Decastro Allen b.1822

Susannah’s husband

Abijah Allen

At the age of 20 years old, Susannah married Abijah Allen, also 20 years old, of Braintree. They married on November 20, 1842

This is the only photo I have of Abijah, regretfully, he is older here. He was also 20 when he married. I am noting this here so you don’t mistakenly believe Susannah married an older man…. She did not, they were both 20.

Susannah and Abijah’s Home

Susannah and her husband lived at 393 Commercial Street, Braintree, Massachusetts.

The home still stands today and has an historical marker that reads, Jacob Allen House 1777. Jacob was Abijah’s Grandfather and lived here during the Revolutionary War.

(Some resources list the home as 404 Commercial St. Either way, you can find it on Google maps, put in the address and then zoom in to see the marker posted on the home’s right hand side.)

Therefore, we can say with certainty that Jacob and Hepzibah Allen lived here in 1777, followed by their grandson, Abijah and his wife, Susannah. Also worth noting is that Abijah was named after Jacob’s father, who was also an Abijah.

Lineage—— Me > Ruth > Sara Kohler Balentine > Inez Allen Kohler > John Vinton Allen b.1856 > Susannah and Abijah Allen b. 1822 > Abijah Allen b. 1786 > Jacob Allen b. 1754, original homeowner.

Susannah’s Children

Here is the list of Children

  • Inez b. 1844 – 1920 (named after Spanish Great, Grandmother, Inez De Castro)
  • Francis b. 1846 – 1909
  • James b. 1848 – 1850
  • Sara b. 1851 – deceased
  • Susan b.1853 – 1903
  • John b. 1856 – 1930 (from whom we descend)
  • Charles b.1857 – 1877
  • William b. 1859 – 1935

The Photo on the left is titled, William Allen. He is their youngest child. The photo on the right is Inez, their first child. She is named after Susannah’s Spanish grandmother, Inez De Castro. We have a photo album owned by this family with over 20 photos contained therein but only half the photos are named. Most of the named photos are of distant cousins and uncles. Only two of of them are their own children but I will continue toward to identify the other photos.

Susannah DeCastro Allen

We are not sure how old Susannah is in this photo. The photo was found in the album along with the above photo of her husband. We can assume the photos were taken at the same time..

Susannah passed on 27 MAY 1902 in Braintree, Massachusetts. She would have been 90 years old and had lived seven years after her husband passed.

Looking at old Braintree maps, her neighborhood was littered with family members. She was surrounded by extended family, even living up and down the same street. Verbal history tells us that the Allen’s were a funny, loving family. And with so many relatives close by, we can assume that Susannah was well cared for in her elderly years.

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