The Unpublished Correspondence of Rev. Thomas Allen, the “Fighting Parson” of the American Revolution

Note on provenance: These letters were acquired by our firm directly from the heirs of Thomas Allen and have never before been seen by the public or offered for sale. Most are unpublished and previously not known to exist.

Thomas Allen

Thomas Allen graduated from Harvard College in 1762, and in 1764 became the first settled minister in Pittsfield, MA where he was ordained. Twice he served as a volunteer chaplain during the Revolutionary War and fought as a combatant in the Battle of Bennington, in which battle he earned the name the “fighting parson”. Learning of the fact that British General John Burgoyne was marching on Bennington he rallied his people in the meeting house and made them a speech. “All of you who will go to meet the enemy follow me,” and away the parson went gathering volunteers all along the route. By August 15, 1,600 Americans under Bunker Hill veteran General John Stark had gathered at Bennington. The force consisted of New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts troops. The Vermont troops were led by Colonel Seth Warner and militia from Bennington and Wilmington. Last to arrive, wet with drenching rain, were volunteers from the Berkshires, led by Reverend Allen. In Edward Everett’s “Life of Stark”, Allen said to General Stark, “We, the people of Berkshire, have frequently been called upon to fight, but have never been led against the enemy. We have now resolved; if you will not let us fight, never to turn out again.” On the morning of the battle, Allen prayed that the Lord would “teach their hands to war and their fingers to fight.” The battle lasted until dark of the 16th with the British in full retreat. The patriots took 750 prisoners, 1,000 muskets and four cannons. Allen would be forever known as the Fighting Parson.

Moses Allen

Moses Allen was born in 1748, the son of Joseph Allen and Elizabeth Parsons and younger brother to Thomas. In May 1773, Allen went to Philadelphia to apply to the Presbytery and, in spite of the objection of Madison and others, received his license. His ordination took place at Christ’s Church Parish on March 16, 1775, by the Rev.Zubly, Mr. Edmonds, and William Tennent. Allen was one of the earliest clergymen in Wappetaw, Christ’s Church Parish. When Moses married Elisabeth Odinsell of Georgia, he removed to St. John’s Parish in Midway of that state. Here was the center of Revolutionary fever. In spite of threats, he called upon the people to take up arms against Great Britain and gained a reputation as one of the most influential revolutionaries of Georgia. He volunteered to be chaplain to an expedition of militiamen organized to fight loyalists and natives and was assigned to the forces of General Robert Howe. When the British sent an expedition against Georgia, Midway got special attention, due in part to Allen’s vehement opposition to English rule. Allen, in the thick of battle, was captured, and his church was burned to the ground. He was incarcerated on a British prison ship, and on February 8, 1778, he drowned attempting to escape.

Jonathan Allen

Thomas Gage was an influential figure in the lead to the Revolutionary War. In 1774 he was also appointed the military governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, with instructions to implement the Intolerable Acts, punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. His attempts to seize military stores of Patriot militias in 1775 sparked the Battles of Lexington and Concord, beginning the Revolutionary War. In March 1775, the writing was on the wall and minute companies began to form to respond, should the conflict escalate. One of the commanders of those minute units was the brother of Thomas and Moses, Jonathan, whose company did in fact join combat on April 20, the day after Lexington. Thomas was witness to all these events and joined the patriot cause immediately. Thomas also reports on supposed efforts of the British to enlist “negro” soldiers to revolt against their masters.

Thomas begins leading the first congregation in Pittsfield.

“As you are embarking in a glorious cause that of preaching the everlasting gospel to fallen Man I desire you would earnestly beg the divine presence with you, that you may yet engage in it in your own strength nor with wrong Views.

Thomas Allen’s ecclesiastical collar

This archive comes with preacher’s collar of the “Fighting Parson” and an engraving showing him wearing it.

With: Autograph letter signed, Pittsfield, May 24, 1774. Thomas to Moses

“… For my own part I am abundantly satisfied that it is your duty to settle with that people so far as I can understand the matter by the means of Information you have given me. I shall be at Northampton next Week & communicate the important Intelligence. I hope you’ll make Choice of Mr. Tennent to preach your Ordination Sermon, as you know I can’t make so long a journey so soon. I hope to visit you after two or three years should providence continue us both so long in this world…. If your settlement with that people you should have contracted Liberty to visit your Friends in New England once in three years: this might prevent future Trouble by being mentioned so early. I would have you give me a particular amount of the place, its Numbers, Commerce in some future Letter. I would have you make it your Rule to write every Month or oftener. Your letters are next to your bodily presence. Brother Joseph read your Letters this Morning. He is very well pleased with your Situation. I suppose he means to set out for Susquehanna soon… I should have you (should this reach you before your Ordination) look to God for direction in sovereignty, a cause as your Settlement with the People, take the Devine of the Judicious, act not against your own Judgement nor depend too much upon it.

“As you are embarking in a glorious cause that of preaching the everlasting gospel to fallen Man I desire you would earnestly beg the divine presence with you, that you may yet engage in it in your own strength nor with wrong Views. Seriously ask yourself what is my End in View; the mark I am at; be satisfied you undertake take this work from hearty Love to Christ the unfeigned Benevolence to Mean & then you shall prosper if Israel be not gathered you will obtain your Reward & be a sweet Saviour in them that perish. In order hereto set apart a Day of private fasting & prayer to seek God. O how glorious is intimate Communion with an all Present Deity.

“Fix good Rules with yourself in your first setting out. As you begin so will you hold on. Old practices are with difficulty changed. For Instance Devote Monday & Tuesday to visiting your Peoples & catechizing the Children & reading Having chose your subject Lords Day Evening for the ensuing Lords Day. Meditate upon it the Succeeding Days as you are visiting & take notice of what you read in relation to your subject. Then Wednesday and Thursday compose your Sermon. Good rules strictly observed in relation to various Matters you’ll find of great Service in future Days. Study hard consider not the Ministerial work only as a Means of Subsistence. Beware of worldly avocations that Disgrace too many of us & hurt our glorious cause. Take heed that you imbibe not a worldly spirit.

“You will I hope be prudent in the Management of your worldly affairs whereby you will avoid many Troubles, owe no Man anything but Love…”

The Minute Men and Preparation for War

“Brother Jonathan (Allen) is Captain of the Minute Company of Northampton & was at Boston when I was at Northampton viewing the Regulars. We expect hot work here in May.”

Autograph letter signed, Pittsfield March 14th 1775. Thomas to Moses. Left margin missing, affecting the very edge of text. Separation at folds.

“…Brother Jonathan (Allen) is Captain of the Minute Company of Northampton & was at Boston when I was at Northampton viewing the Regulars. We expect hot work here in May. General Gage has ordered Shackles made for the Rebels. But he must catch them before he puts them on. Our Provincial Congress meets again the 22nd of this Instant when we shall immediately raise an Army of 20 thousand Men. The Connecticut Assembly have agreed to raise 10 Thousand immediately after our Congress sits if we desire it to, which time they have adjourned their house. By the Beginning of April we shall have an Army to take the field as large as our necessities call for & will undoubtedly be collected then if we should have no more favorable news from home which none expect. We are all vigorously preparing for war. We have lately purchased 21,800 pounds worth of Ammunition which is stowed in the province, a part of which lately came in & was lodged near Salem. General Gage having information of it detached a Regiment from Castle William Sabbath before last in Transports to go & Seize upon it. They landed at Marblehead & Marched to Salem in time of Divine Service. The People all fled to Arms surrounded them, disappointed them & turned them back ashamed without taking any of their Lives. As you will see in the public Papers, they are disappointed in every plot. A plot has lately come to light black as hell. 300 Dollars have been granted by General Gage to enlist negroes in a private manner. Their negro officers have been appointed. The Design was as soon as General Gage should strike some blow they were to murder their Masters & fly to his Standard. We find 300 had enlisted. The chiefs we committed to Gaol. I tremble for our Southern provinces, where the Negroes are so Numerous. They are no doubt this Moment at work among you. 300 Negroes in Connecticut have been just now discovered to have armed themselves with long Daggers and have confessed the plot. O Carolina look out sharp.

“We have Men enough this Way to carry on the War for a great while. I fear we are too bare as to Money. We hope our Southern Neighbors will help us. Money is the Sinews of War. Col Hancock and Mr ______ are now in Virginia Deliberating. Two Gentlemen are to set out from this place this Day by the Appointment of our Congress to Quebec & see what they are about there. We hear there is a raising there to come upon the back of us. But we don’t fear from that Quarter. We are all alive, this way we are moving every Way for our safety. We have purchased a large Quantity of Provisions for our Army. Cannon we have laid up in store. We are exercising Soldiers every week. Do let me know what you are about. O Dear Brother exert yourself in this glorious cause & pray for us. I preached at Northampton when I was down & the Tories absented in the Afternoon. The General insists upon my going Chaplain in our Army. I have provided myself with a good flintlock & Bayonet. General Gage is watched. He cannot make one movement without our knowledge….”

War Arrives in the South

“There are reports concerning our friends at the Northward. The cause is good and therefore I hope God will still be with us as he hath hitherto been. The late accounts we have from your Quarter is dark.”

Autograph letter signed, Christ Church, January 26, 1777. Moses to Thomas

“Nothing particular hat appeared among us, time may last by General Armstrong, But there are reports concerning our friends at the Northward. The cause is good and therefore I hope God will still be with us as he hath hitherto been. The late accounts we have from your Quarter is dark. I commend you all to God & hope we shall none of us be Discouraged when we know we are in the right. I have learnt to cast to call upon God… am I very anxious or solicitous about the event of things. Surely nothing happens by chance. If a single hair of your head falls not without a providence much less shall your head if the heart & most inconsiderable matters are taken notice of by God most certainly; more important matters are not beneath his care. To hear some people speak of the evil days we live in, and express their cares & anxieties concerning what may be the event of our present troubles, you might suppose that they disbelieved in a providence & that they Imagined all things happened by chance or that they were conducted by blind and uncertain fate. When I hear so much murmurings and happenings in the Days of affliction, as if the actions of men were not also governed by God who can do nothing but for good.

“I am almost ashamed of the Christian Name.. I had always rather have that happens; because I esteem that better that God wills than that which I should will. How much more ought we to be consigned & perfectly contented under every Dispensation of Providence! It is true we have lived to see dark & troublesome days. Men have risen up against us & dreadful destruction that spreads thru our land. In the loss of New York, many of my acquaintances have suffered, some in imprisonment, some in loss of all their temporal affairs, others have been groomed & died. And this number of the distressed must be increased by the loss of Philadelphia if that be true, but may God send it be not true if it is, the Lord is still righteous & his ways holy, tho past finding out. All for the best. How soon it may become my turn to share the same fate with any my Brethren. I know not; Neither do I care. That is I am not anxious & solicitous about it; because I know that God reigns in the heavens, that he concerns himself in the affairs of time and that he careth for his people…. Major Dwight is starting upon the Mississippi a suitable berth for an enemy to his country. It is not good to defeat a good cause.

An Assessment of the Dangers to the South

“They are more eminently in danger, the enemy within their borders, & therefore in more special need of the greater word both to comfort Gods People & to awaken them from the state of security – They have been a long time striving for a supply, hitherto have been disappointed, and now have no hopes but in me”

Autograph letter signed, Pittsfield, July 14, 1777. Thomas to his Parents.

“I arrived safe at home last Evening & found all well. Brother Elijah went from the place this morning in good health. He has left his Horse with me. I have received a Letter from Brother Moses a Copy of which follows this…

“To the Congregational Church in Christ Church Parish SoC

“…You remember that I sometime since received a call, (as I then informed you) from the People of St. John’s Parish in the State of Georgia – After deliberation & frequently calling upon God for direction in so important a matter; I think it my duty & have determined to accept their invitation for the following reasons:

“1-The State of Georgia is almost entirely destitute of Gospel Preachers of every Denomination. There is also in want of new friendly to the common cause as well as of Gospel Ministers, – & therefore I have hopes of being serviceable to Church & State

“2-The People I am called to is much more numerous than this, & they can get no supply. Gentlemen at the Northward, where they must now look for a supply, are more afraid of that climate than of War, & therefore, their Prospect is more forbidding.

“3-I expect to be serviceable to the Army which is daily increasing there and stationed in the Parish to which I am invited. Several battalions are filling in the different States to settle in that, Now that they should be destitute of Gospel Preachers is of very melancholy thought, & Believe me Gentlemen, it had great influence in my determinations

“4-I do not leave you in so distressed situation They are more eminently in danger, the enemy within their borders, & therefore in more special need of the greater word both to comfort Gods People & to awaken them from the state of security – They have been a long time striving for a supply, hitherto have been disappointed, and now have no hopes but in me – On the other hand you have the greatest prospect of being easily & soon supplied – you have all the advantages of getting supplied, that any parish in the southward states can have. This is said to be the most Healthy Parish & new Metropolis – Mr. Trobly with his family enjoyed his health here for many years. Mr. Martin also with a very large family, lost not one; and as for myself, I have enjoyed my health much better than I expected. We are all known at the northward and have said that it is a healthy Parish; we have said more, – that the situation is pleasant & the people agreeable. Rvd Mr. Tennent is now in the Jersies ready to testify the same things. And there is no doubt, should you apply to him while there, that he will presume the same person you once sent a call to, if not him, most certainly he will engage some other –

“5-Moreover there is a Prospect of your having occasional supplies. But the People in Georgia can have none. Mr. Stewart, a young gentleman who has a call for Charlestown as an assistant to Mr. Tennent, I am told is now on his way for this Place. Should it be true you can have a supply from them till there New Meeting is finished. Before which, if not immediately, I hope that God will incline the heart of a faithful Minister of the Gospel of his son to settle with you.

“For these reasons I have concluded to spend one year in Georgia, should God spare my life. Let others Judge & condemn if I can appeal to my own conscience and be acquited there, I shall have peace & Joy that the world knoweth not of…”

Moses Praises Thomas as Word of the Actions of the Hero of Bennington Arrives

“I am glad to hear of so much bravery in so glorious a cause; Go on & immortal honor shall be your fortune here & immortal glory your reward hereafter.”

Autograph letter signed, Savannah, January 13, 1778. Moses to Thomas.

“I have had the greatest pleasure spending an hour or two with Col. Brown & he has made a mistake to bring your letters, he hath given me as good an account of the situation & conduct of my friends & relations during our present struggle, as he possibly could. I am glad to hear of so much bravery in so glorious a cause; Go on & immortal honor shall be your fortune here & immortal glory your reward hereafter.

“You will not blame me for spending every moment of time with Col. Brown as he is now ready to set off upon his Journey, & all the persuasions I can use will not engage him to stay a single day, nor to ride to my house which is but thirty miles from here; it is great good fortune, indeed kind providence, that I have seen him at all. Your letters by Doct. Houston have never come to hand nor any other that you have wrote since I saw you last except one that I received Just after my arrival to Charlestown in South Carolina; I am told that my letters have shared the same fate, you have not seen one of them… I long to see you, & wish for peace again; but I believe in a universal providence every thing is ordered for the best, God governs the world, therefore I am contented… Should an expedition be formed against East & West Florida as is expected I shall hope to see you here, to Join us in so important an undertaking. Col. Brown expects to be here again within a few months; when I hope you will send those letters which he left & others in which you will be very particular.

Aboard a British Prison Ship, Moses Allen Writes His Last Letter Home

“I see no good prospect of being exchanged soon, & may be confined many months, however she is among friends & cannot suffer. Beg her not to be troubled upon my account. Captivity agrees with my constitution much better than I could have expected”

Autograph letter signed, On board the Prison ship, January 20 1779. Moses to Thomas

“Yours of the 16th came to hand yesterday. It gives me great pleasure to hear of my family’s arrival in Carolina, when I feared they were in the Enemy’s Hand at Abercorn…. I believe Betsy [his wife] had better let out her Negroes to a good master by the month. I see no good prospect of being exchanged soon, & may be confined many months, however she is among friends & cannot suffer. Beg her not to be troubled upon my account. Captivity agrees with my constitution much better than I could have expected. The Mess I belong to is indulged the use of the Cabbin, & our friends in Town supply us with necessaries that are not allowed in our daily Rations. Such as bread, coffee, tea, sugar, rum, & the like, so that upon these Considerations, our situation is very happy. By the Kindness of friends, I am also very well supplied with Linen, Stockings etc. It would therefore be irreligious in her to murmur & repine. I hope better things of her. She will discover faith & fortitude, she will be an Example of patience and resignation. The Christian graces may be made to appear more conspicuous in adversity than in Days of prosperity…Beg Col. Roberts to write, he was once in the same Predicament. I am your affectionate friend & Brother. Moses Allen”

A note on condition: A few of the letters are fragile and have separations at folds. Except as noted, these do not affect the text in any significant way and have been re-attached using archival tape.