Trying to find an Allen/St. ledger connection between 1750 - 1850.
I'm trying to see if there was a connection between these 2 families.
I'm working on notes left by my late father.
I've not had much luck in finding Johns ancestors or where he finished up in the States.
I know his father, a John Allen and his mother Margaret Cotter-Bennett of Rockhill estate in Charleville, Co. Cork.
Below a section of my fathers notes:
"As a teenager, John Allen was sent to Lord Doneraile’s stables at Doneraile Co Cork, to train as a Jockey. The Donerailes, whose family name was St Ledger, were related to him through his ancestors, the Allen’s of Patrickswell. Perhaps it should be mentioned in passing that John Allen’s grandaunt, Agnes Allen of Patrickswell, was, at this time of which we are speaking, the wife of The McCarthy-Murrough. She had a sister called Elizabeth Allen, Hence the names Agnes and Elizabeth in our Aherne family.John Allen immigrated to America as a young man. He became attached to the Payne- Whitney stables, in Carolina. As a Jockey, he was quiet famous on the American scene Our Mother, his sister, used to speak much of his attainments, saying that he rode the winner of one of the American Classics (Kentucky Derby, perhaps).At a later stage in his career, he was manager- trainer for the Payne-Whitney stables. Later he became a trainer and owner in his own right. He trained and owned several well- known horses".
I would appreciate any information or help.
Thank you.
