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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Tessa Spencer on Wednesday 09 August 23 08:27 BST (UK)

Title: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: Tessa Spencer on Wednesday 09 August 23 08:27 BST (UK)
The earliest record of Sydney Valentine Allen I have is from 1918 when he married Sarah Anna Jones in Swansea. His father is named as John Allen, deceased, a police sergeant.
Sydney was a vicar at Marston with Whitgreave, Staffordshire until he became rector at Iddesleigh, Devon in 1933.
There are two other Sydney Valentine Allens (would you believe!) but I don't think either of them is the one I'm looking for.
I'd be very grateful for some help in finding his parents.
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: garstonite on Wednesday 09 August 23 09:10 BST (UK)
I never take trees as gospel - his mum was Sarah Ann Ford b1851 in Brynmawr,Brecon

https://gw.geneanet.org/luciacosta?n=allen&oc=&p=sydney+valentine

added - I have just opened that link and you will be pleased to know there is a photograph of him ....lucky you ... :)

just curious - where on earth is Gellygaer ...sounds idyllic
added again
Gelligaer is a community in the County Borough of Caerphilly, Wales, in the Rhymney River valley - once had a Roman Fort
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: amondg on Wednesday 09 August 23 09:33 BST (UK)
1921 he is in Bethnal Green with his wife and daughter Beatrice.

States born Cardiff Wales

His wife and daughter born Lampeter Cardiganshire


When he married he was of Bassaleg Momouthshire
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: amondg on Wednesday 09 August 23 09:41 BST (UK)
Not the father but background helps.

He became a priest 21 December 1918 having graduated from St David's College Lampeter.
License Divinity

Reported in the Western Mail 24 December 1918.

So he married shortly before graduating and receiving holy orders
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: hanes teulu on Wednesday 09 August 23 10:10 BST (UK)
He was at Bassaleg a short time. By Jun 1919 he was curate of St Stephen's, Cardiff Docks. One newspaper item gives his age as 30 which fits the 1944 death.
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: AMBLY on Wednesday 09 August 23 10:27 BST (UK)
Very intriguing that on his Marriage cert 23 July 1918 he signed himself off as being age 24 (born abt 1894), Clerk in Holy Orders, of Bassaleg House, Bassaleg  and not just a one off..... in 1939 his DoB was recorded as 7 March '94.

He was baptised same day as his sister Beatrice Clara, on 21 April 1887, Pontlottyn, Glamorganshire. Parents John Allen, Fitter, and Sarah Ann

Cheers
AMBLY
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: hanes teulu on Wednesday 09 August 23 10:30 BST (UK)
FindMyPast has the baptism (image/transcript) of a -
Bap 21 Apr 1887, Sydney Valentine, son of John and Sarah Ann Allen, abode Pontlottyn, father's occpn "Fitter".

Just spotted same!
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: amondg on Wednesday 09 August 23 10:32 BST (UK)
Dad John is supposed to be a Police Sergeant isn't he?  -marriage certificate.

He was 54 in 1944 when he died so born circa 1890 (corrected my math error)


ADDED FreeBMD has his age as 55 in 1944
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: Girl Guide on Wednesday 09 August 23 11:34 BST (UK)
This appears to be Sydney's birth record:-

ALLEN, SYDNEY  VALENTINE     FORD 
GRO Reference: 1887  M Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL  Volume 11A  Page 490

This looks like the parents marriage:-

Marriages Jun 1879   
ALLEN    John        Knighton    11b   251    
FORD    Sarah Ann        Knighton    11b   251

The family are living here in 1891 - 23, Wine Street, Gelligaer, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire

Registration district Merthyr Tydfil
Piece number 4431
Folio 45
Page 21

John's birth year given as 1831 and Sarah's as 1847.
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: amondg on Wednesday 09 August 23 11:37 BST (UK)
Should  Welsh Patronymics be considered regarding his name?.

A Clergyman telling such a wopper when he married.

So  if he was baptized 1887 then he was 31 not 24 when he married, his wife was only 19.

Would the records of St David's College have more information?.
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: Girl Guide on Wednesday 09 August 23 11:53 BST (UK)
There is a newspaper article about his death:-

Western Times 30 June 1944 Page 4 - RECTOR'S DEATH

Mentions a list of names of those attending the funeral.
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: AMBLY on Wednesday 09 August 23 11:55 BST (UK)
John Allen's age wobbles about all over the show (as does wife Sarah's), but he's pretty consistent with occupation as a Fitter, Iron works - though in 1895 described as a Hostler.

1861: 23 Hall St, Aberdare, Glam. Age  32, married ( to Margaret nee Wigley) Fitter, b Blaby, Leicestershire.
1871: 4 Waterloo Place, Aberdare, Glam. Age 45, widower, Fitter, b Blaby, Leicestershire.
1881: 7 Saxon St,  Llantwit Fardre, Pontypridd, age 47, Fitter, Park Iron Works, b Town, Leicestershire. Sarah Ann is 37, b Brynamman, Carmarthenshire
1890: 23 Wine St Pontlottyn, Gelligaer, Fitter (baptism son Oliver)
1891: 23 Wine St, Pontlottyn, Gelligaer, age 60, ½ time Labourer Iron Works b Leicester, Leicestershire. Sarah 44, b Brynmawr, Breconshire
1895: 23 Wine St,     Pontlottyn, Hostler ( baptism of son Charles) Wesley)
1901: 21 Wine St, age 76,( no occupation)  b Blaby, Leicestershire. Sarah A is 50, b Brynmawr, Brecknock

I suppose he could have been a Special Constable? But given Sydney's notable conversion of his age and DoB, and alternative PoB - one wonders...

Interestingly, the same ALLEN family pop up in this 2020 post!
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=834059.9

Cheers,
AMBLY
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: *Sandra* on Wednesday 09 August 23 13:00 BST (UK)


Western Mail
Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales 
Wed, Dec 19, 1917 Page 12

https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-mail/129701764/

Sandra

Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: *Sandra* on Wednesday 09 August 23 13:04 BST (UK)
The Western Times
Exeter, Devon.
Fri, May 31, 1935 Page 16

Includes photograph - Iddesleigh's New Rector.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-western-times/129701847/

The Western Times
Exeter, Devon.
Fri, May 31, 1935 Page 4

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-western-times/129701886/

Sandra
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: *Sandra* on Wednesday 09 August 23 13:09 BST (UK)

Rector Shoplifter Caught

Daily Herald
London, London
Sat, Sep 20, 1941 Page 3

https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-herald/129701920/

The Cornishman
Penzance, Cornwall.
Thu, Sep 25, 1941 Page 4

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cornishman/129701965/

Sandra
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: Tessa Spencer on Thursday 10 August 23 05:53 BST (UK)
Thank you so much, everybody. Still a few anomalies but it looks as if there is enough to go on now. Thanks again. Tessa
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: Tessa Spencer on Thursday 10 August 23 06:50 BST (UK)
Just been through all your research in detail. It's all there. Thanks again. Tess
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: evanacosta on Tuesday 10 September 24 05:12 BST (UK)
Here is a picture of him with his children. Christopher, Norah, John y Gwyneth
Title: Re: Rev Sydney Valentine Allen b.1894
Post by: lacosta on Wednesday 11 September 24 21:33 BST (UK)
Tessa, I'm curious to know why you're looking for information on Sydney Valentine Allen. He was my grandfather.