CHAPTER 2

The Allens and The Kings

@ beginnings of the Boughton Island family, the Allens, took place on 204 acres situated about a quarter of a mile from a previous lease to Hugh MacCormack and running from Cardigan Bay across the Island to the Eastern shore. Joseph Allen of Three Rivers, farmer was the pioneer of the Allen family. The date of the lease was Nov. 4, 1818. The infamous lottery of 1767 by which Prince Edward lsland was divided up among a number of proprietors, didn’t include the three islands, Lennox, Panmure and Boughton. They remained in possession of Great Britain until October 1, 1774, when they were granted to Sir James Montgomery. Lease details of payments for Boughton Island are found with the rent rolls of Lot 34. A few details of payment for leases shows that William Ball who had 55 acres on the Southern end of the island made a payment of a quintal of codfish Feb. 12,1847 for which he received a credit of 13 shillings. Joseph Allen on his lease of 68 acres delivered bay to Kempt and was credited with 4 pence. Bartlett Allen on 112 acres delivered 2 tons hay to Young and received a credit of 7 pounds. It would appear that if leases were not paid, the settler was billed for a “Declaration of Ejectment” of 1 pound, 12 shillings, 10 pence.

Successive leases were given after the initial leases of Hugh MacCormack and Joseph Allen. The divestment of the Montgomery holdings began fairly early, especially in areas that were not very productive of rentals and continued for the next forty years culminating in the sale of Boughton Island to the PEI government in 1876, in accordance with the transfer of ownership to the settlers.

At this time, John King relates, there were two different families of Allens on the island, unrelated. In the 1880’s the Allens began to intermarry. John F. Allen married Fanny, daughter of Joseph Allen. They had one child, Edna, who married Dan King. All their eight children were born on

Boughton Island and they and the MacCormacks who were 14